Awaken, and Look to Christ

The writer to the Hebrews, has just given many examples of faith to the Hebrew Christians…who were fainting under their trials.

       Faith is imperative if we are to please God (Hebrews 11:6)….and the writer knows that one of the besetting sins of the Hebrews is unbelief. (Hebrews 3:7-4:1)

( A quick definition of unbelief might be helpful.   It is not that they do not believe in God….but that they do not trust God, and go on and fulfill HIs Will for themselves.    

       Unbelief is personal….as belief is placing all the weight of our lives upon God….so unbelief is choosing to place ourselves on God, and….  It could be “ and our intellect”,   or “and our friends”,    or “and counselors”,   or “and the world’s reasonings”…

….but unbelief will not be content with God, alone.   

       This was beginning to show up in the Hebrew Christians,  who had been sorely tried)

So the writer  has set before them a feast for their weary souls.   Faith  in God was the distinguishing factor….before the flood….before the Ten Commandments….and all during every phase of the Israelites history.   It has been faith in God which has given them the greatest promises, and the best blessings.

Here, at the beginning of chapter twelve….he puts before them the greatest example of faith….Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  

      Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;  who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The writer now exhorts (awakens) these tried Christians to follow the examples of these Old Testament witnesses of faith….for Christ’s sake.

How?          Let us…..the writer always includes himself when he speaks to them.   When are we ever out of danger?   When can we say that we have so much of God, we need not consider that we too need to:

“Lay aside every weight”.   Weights are those things in our lives that we pick up here, and there.   They do not help our running in the race or Way of God,  but they seem harmless.   But ultimately, they hinder….for they steal time and attention away from our main goal….Christ’s Will and Way for me.

      “And the sin which so easily besets us”   or as Luther said,  “so easily clings to us”.

Remember the besetting sin of the Israelites was unbelief….and we, too are warned against it,…for it can appear in our thoughts and attitudes…at any moment.

The answer for these…and us:   “looking unto Jesus”.

The Name used here is Jesus….Savior.(Matthew 1:21).   He is Savior from the love of sin, as well as the guilt and penalty of sin.

Jesus is above all other examples of faith…for He is the Author (really leader or Captain) of our faith.    And He is the finisher of our faith.

When there is storms in life….He speaks peace, both to the storm and us.

When there are long miles of road before us, with no rest….He is our companion and guide.

When there are enemies before….or sometimes all around us…..He is our Shield and our Fortress.

      He walked through this world in faith….looking forward to the “joy set before HIm”….which is us.   He did all…that we might be partakers of HIs life of faith.

Hebrews 12:3-4 “For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

      Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”

Look to Jesus:

He endured the cross:  hating the shame of sin,  bearing the cruel mockings, and nakedness—for our sakes.

He endured such “contradiction of sinners”  for our sakes.

Endured is said twice.   What it means is “to stay under”.    Jesus endured the cross….the suffering from God that was for our Salvation…only Christ Jesus could endure.

But the persecution and suffering all through His life, in words and deeds….all His own will have some of the same.

      Everything that touched Christ Jesus came through the hands of God….for His purpose of Salvation, and Sanctification.

      Everything that touches us, comes through the hands of God…but He allows it for our discipline.   Which we, too, must endure…or stay under….till He removes it,  so that we may learn from it…

…and that it will increase our faith.

Look to Jesus….Who is at the right hand of the throne of God.    Here, now, we need to look at the right hand of the throne of God…the place we have been already called to come…to get mercy and grace! (Hebrews 4:16)

    Jesus paid every price that our sins merited….

…but now He is seated in honor at the right hand of God….in power and authority for us.  Look to Him, there.

But notice,…”lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

     This awakening suggests that one of the Hebrew Christian’s troubles were their “minds”.

It was what they were considering might happen….worrying about could happen.   

They had been through persecution before….famine before….

….but they were growing weary and faint—ready to give up…..in their minds.   They were becoming despondent….and letting their work and walk stop.

“Looking to Jesus” is what they needed to do.   He is the answer.   Look and remember what He did….and look, and know that He is before the throne of God for us.

      Faith in Jesus will lead us into finishing the race.

If you will look to the heroes of the faith chapter, you will see that the heroics mentioned are things that were right before them.    The next step with God.   

    Our perfect example of faith,  Christ Jesus,   lived His life….a perfect life….without sin….and in the right time became the perfect sacrifice for our sin…

…and has gone on to become our life….giving us faith,  showing us faith, and drawing out from us the devotion to HIm….in our life of faith.

So let us, too, awaken…and look to Jesus.  For He will awaken our love to Him….for in our love to Him, we are stronger.

To Know the Lord

Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

“Then”.

This is a time word: not before, but “then”.

“Then” what? We shall we know the Lord, “If” we follow on to know the Lord.

This might seem like a revolving door. We will know, if we follow on to know.

But Jesus said the same thing when He was here:

John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My words, then are ye My disciples indeed;

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Now these people believed on Him; but they were to continue in His word……..

Then they would know the truth,……and the truth would make them free. (Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. John 14:6)

You see, we are called to a walk with Jesus. That is taking each step, each day, each forward move: with Him.

And what does He promise those who “follow on”?

“His going forth (with us) is prepared as the morning;”

As certain as this old earth keeps turning, there will be sunrise tomorrow.

There may be clouds, or the day dark and dreary; but the sun will be there: prepared as the morning.

He knows everything that will come to us each day. He is there, preparing in us the grace we need to deal with each thing.

He will rise with us; hit the highway with us; go into our work place, or school with us; and all along the way He will:

“Come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain upon the earth.”

Rain in scripture speaks of His mercy:

This rain was essential for a good harvest in Israel.

You had to have the early rain to soften the ground; and the latter rain to grow the crops.

All this was by the mercy of God.

And He will come unto us: in the circumstances we are in now, today; and “rain” the blessing of grace and mercy for us. (He will be there; guide us, help us, and lift us up; in this time, whatever is going on.)

He wants us to know Him as Lord and Savior.

He wants us to know Him more each day: what He wills for us, and what He will do for us.

He has prepared each grace that we need; “prepared as the morning”—it is that sure.

And He wants us to go with Him, into all our circumstances and relationships; and know more and more of Him: “to follow on to know”.

For “then”, we will know:

And let’s face it: knowing the Lord is: truth, life, and everything we will want.

He fills our hearts and lives with joy: “If” we continue in His word.

The issues of our lives

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

This is one of my husband’s favorite verses…..for it shows the importance of mastering our hearts…..by giving them to the Lord….and working to keep them there.

How many times have we “put our all” on the altar….and then shortly removed some of it.

The heart in scripture is the soul….made up of our thoughts, emotions, and will.

In our “hearts” lies all that we have become….and is the source of all that affects our life and character.

“The issues of life” are those things that count for time and eternity.

They are what we think is important….what we put first….what we guard.

(When you hear a politician, you look to see the issues he believes and stands for….

….so with a Christian. What are the issues of our life that we believe and stand for? Shouldn’t they be the Will and Way God leads?)

Now to speak of issues, we must consider…..who we are? And where are we going….and what we were brought into being for?

As Christians, we need to remember that we do not belong to this world,…..we are pilgrims and strangers here…..passing through to heaven.

So the issues of our lives must be looking forward to eternity….What would my Lord want for me, and by me?

Remember Abraham and the testimony he had before God:

Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whether he went.”

As born again ones, we have been called to go out of this world’s system and influence…..following the leading of Christ Jesus, (in the world but not of it)….not always knowing what is next….but following Him.

Hebrews 11:9 “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:”

Abraham did not possess the land that God gave him,….but lived in it, giving a testimony throughout: “thou art a mighty prince among us” (Genesis 23:4-6).

We, too, should live as priests and princes of God here…..seeking the good of our fellow Christians,….and as much as we can…the good of all.

Hebrews 11:10 “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Here is the choice verse:

Abraham looked for a city which hath foundations…..for he knew that everything in this world was sinking sand (Matthew 7:24-27)

He looked and lived each day……by faith…..

….keeping his eye on the promises, and what he should obtain now….and then…..for his place in the inheritance he would have in eternity future.

We are called to do the same…..this world is a snare, and the influence of it corrupts and poisons our souls….

….so we are to “leave it alone”…..

Colossians 2:8, 20-22 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ (free with Him) from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

(Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;)….

Rudiments is to fall into line with the thinking and the ranks of others, of the world.

We are not to do this….

….but what we are to do, is…..by faith…..keep our eye on the promises He has given…..for now, and eternity…….and walk each day in His Will for now.

The issues of life…..which come from our hearts….how can we rule them?

By giving….and keep giving our hearts and lives to the only One who can keep us by His faith.

Christ Jesus made us free…..free to be all that He wills us to be.

To have all that He promises….now and in eternity.

To know….by faith….the foundation beneath us is sure…..for it is Christ, Himself.

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

To keep with all diligence means,…..above all that we guard….guard your heart for God.

Keep giving it to Him….watching over our affections and emotions….watching over our reasons and attitudes….

…and in faith live to Christ Jesus.

The issues of our lives

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

This is one of my husband’s favorite verses…..for it shows the importance of mastering our hearts…..by giving them to the Lord….and working to keep them there.

How many times have we “put our all” on the altar….and then shortly removed some of it.

The heart in scripture is the soul….made up of our thoughts, emotions, and will.

In our “hearts” lies all that we have become….and is the source of all that affects our life and character.

“The issues of life” are those things that count for time and eternity.

They are what we think is important….what we put first….what we guard.

(When you hear a politician, you look to see the issues he believes and stands for….

….so with a Christian. What are the issues of our life that we believe and stand for? Shouldn’t they be the Will and Way God leads?)

Now to speak of issues, we must consider…..who we are? And where are we going….and what we were brought into being for?

As Christians, we need to remember that we do not belong to this world,…..we are pilgrims and strangers here…..passing through to heaven.

So the issues of our lives must be looking forward to eternity….What would my Lord want for me, and by me?

Remember Abraham and the testimony he had before God:

Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whether he went.”

As born again ones, we have been called to go out of this world’s system and influence…..following the leading of Christ Jesus, (in the world but not of it)….not always knowing what is next….but following Him.

Hebrews 11:9 “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:”

Abraham did not possess the land that God gave him,….but lived in it, giving a testimony throughout: “thou art a mighty prince among us” (Genesis 23:4-6).

We, too, should live as priests and princes of God here…..seeking the good of our fellow Christians,….and as much as we can…the good of all.

Hebrews 11:10 “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Here is the choice verse:

Abraham looked for a city which hath foundations…..for he knew that everything in this world was sinking sand (Matthew 7:24-27)

He looked and lived each day……by faith…..

….keeping his eye on the promises, and what he should obtain now….and then…..for his place in the inheritance he would have in eternity future.

We are called to do the same…..this world is a snare, and the influence of it corrupts and poisons our souls….

….so we are to “leave it alone”…..

Colossians 2:8, 20-22 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ (free with Him) from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

(Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;)….

Rudiments is to fall into line with the thinking and the ranks of others, of the world.

We are not to do this….

….but what we are to do, is…..by faith…..keep our eye on the promises He has given…..for now, and eternity…….and walk each day in His Will for now.

The issues of life…..which come from our hearts….how can we rule them?

By giving….and keep giving our hearts and lives to the only One who can keep us by His faith.

Christ Jesus made us free…..free to be all that He wills us to be.

To have all that He promises….now and in eternity.

To know….by faith….the foundation beneath us is sure…..for it is Christ, Himself.

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

To keep with all diligence means,…..above all that we guard….guard your heart for God.

Keep giving it to Him….watching over our affections and emotions….watching over our reasons and attitudes….

…and in faith live to Christ Jesus.

Jonathan

We first meet Jonathan when his father, Saul, becomes the first king of Israel.

Saul had reigned three years, when the Philistines became overbearing and impossible to stay at peace with.

So Saul called out three thousand men to be soldiers…..two thousand were with Saul, and one thousand was with Jonathan (1 Samuel 13:1-4).

Jonathan was a brave man, and one which believed in God.

He had a battle with the Philistines over a fort….and won. (Saul took the credit, but Jonathan was content in the victory, whoever got the credit.)

When the Philistines heard of this loss on their part, they gathered together to fight Israel, and it’s new king.

This was terrifying to Israel…..and many in the army deserted.

But again, Jonathan was the one who stepped up and gave a victory.

1 Samuel 14:6 “And Jonathan said unto the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.”

Notice Jonathan’s faith……it was an active one…..it did not just speak of God, but acted upon what he believed….

….and this encouraged others.

1 Samuel 14:7, 13, 15 “And his armor-bearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

And Jonathan climbed up….and his armor-bearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor-bearer slew after him.

And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.”

The Lord honored Jonathan’s faith, and gave a victory over the enemy, in those that kept guard……and even down into the field of Philistines.

The Lord sent an earthquake to terrify the enemy, as well.

But Saul hindered the battle with the Philistines by making everyone swear not to eat! Or they would be put to death!

(When people fast for God’s good, the Lord blesses it…..but fasting just to twist God’s arm, so to speak, is worth nothing…..even hinders…as here)

But Jonathan was not there when the order was given. (1 Samuel 14:24-27)…and ate some wild honey he found in the field.

When Saul found out….he was going to kill Jonathan…..but the Israelites stepped in and stopped it.

Saul’s love of admiration became his downfall….and when he refused to obey God’s command….

….and let the people take spoils of war that were not to be saved….he lost his kingship.

(although it would be years before God took it from him….so much time to repent….but he died, as he lived without God.)

Jonathan was there when Goliath came and dared Israel to fight him…..and when David did just that,…..

Jonathan recognized that David’s courage was in the Lord…..

…and loved him for it. (1 Samuel 18:3)

They were fast friends and Jonathan defended David when Saul became jealous and angry over the people’s love of David. (1 Samuel 18:8-9)

…..reminding Saul of David’s loyalty to God and him….in battle and in life.

1 Samuel 18:14 “And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.”

This is what Jonathan loved about David…..his love and devotion to God….and his courage because of it.

Several years passed, where Jonathan and David worked together…..for God and Israel.

Yet Saul’s jealousy raged….till he wanted to kill David.

Jonathan came between Saul’s murderous thoughts and David, several times…..always siding with David…..because he knew the Lord delighted in David.

1 Samuel 19:4,6 “And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant…..

And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not die.”

Notice that Jonathan was concerned lest the king….sin.

As I said, Jonathan was a believer in God.

Jonathan stood, so far, with the Lord and David.

But there was a day, when Jonathan had to choose between God and David, in hiding…..and Saul, in the palace, with his men.

1 Samuel 20:42 “And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, (not: I will go with you), forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.

And he (David) arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.”

What a difference in their direction!

The outcast David….and the son Jonathan….

….one to caves and hiding…..the other “to the city”.

I want to mention here, that it was not the throne that came between Jonathan and God…..but time and circumstances.

Jonathan did not care that David was to be king…..he would be at his right hand as he had been with his father.

It was not praise that he sought.

But the circumstances of Jonathan’s life were what stopped him.

Jonathan had a wife, but David did too….and had to leave her.

Jonathan felt an obligation to his father,…..but did not seek God’s Will concerning it…..

….he just felt that a short time would pass, and God would remove Saul….and put David on the throne…..and David would remember their covenant….and all would be well.

But it would be years….two or three years….before that happened!

And though Jonathan never entered into any chasing of David…..he never joined him and put the weight of his status with him.

This is called settling for second best…..leaning on our own understanding…..being double-minded.

(In Psalms 12:2 it is called “double-heart”)

This is what Jonathan should have done…..and so should we, for we are all warned of this:

James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, yet double minded.”

How could this happen to such a brave, and God fearing person, as Jonathan?

Time and circumstance.

When we expect things to happen in a certain time…..and they don’t

When the days roll by and we just stay in our habits…..without diligently seeking God’s Will….and Way of bringing that Will to pass.

(Perhaps he thought he could change Saul’s mind….how many times we have good reasons for doing the wrong thing!)

And how many times do these put hinderances between us and God’s Will, for us?

Jonathan should have left the palace…..taking his family to safety and followed David.

How much sooner would the kingdom have come to David…..because the king’s son had decided for God’s Way.

Yet Jonathan did not…..choosing to stay with his father…..and he died following him into an impossible battle:

Saul had brought his army into a valley…..surrounded by Philistines in the hills around! The army tried to flee up into mount Gilboa…..but were slaughtered.

What kind of leader brings his men under the enemy?

But Jonathan was there…..and fought bravely…..but died.

1 Samuel 31:3 “And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malachi-Shula, Saul’s sons.”

(David kept his covenant with Jonathan….and took his son into the palace with him, when he was king of Israel. 2 Samuel 9:1, 6-7, 13)

God’s Will leads us in varied and often hazardous places.

As one writer, years ago said…..”we are not called to beds of ease….but to the battlefield of life…..wherever that takes us.”

Let us keep our armor on…..and know the Lord’s Will…..and Stand with Him….wherever that takes us…however long it takes us.

Acts….of the Holy Spirit.

Some say that “the Acts” is for…..the Acts of the Apostles….or Acts of the beginning Church….

…but really, it is the Acts of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus ascended back to heaven, He left instruction to go to Jerusalem and wait….

….the disciples were to wait for the giving of the promise of the Father….the Holy Ghost.

He was to be their internal Guide and Instructor.

Ten days later, the Holy Spirit is given on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-2, 4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost….”

From that time onward….the Acts show the workings of the Holy Spirit within the believers.

All of the first eight chapters deals with them in Jerusalem….

…..God giving Israel a second chance to believe on Christ Jesus as the Son of God…..by the works of the Holy Spirit through the church.

And that is the amazing thing about the Holy Spirit….and the thing which infuriated the rulers….

….everyone which was saved, had the Spirit’s power….some more….some less…

….it seems like a wave of God’s presence was filling the city……and that just made them want to stop it even more…..

….for it reminded them, of their guilt in crucifying the Lord Jesus.

So they are determined to prove this Way wrong….

Finally, the rulers get their chance to try and stop this wave of power by the Holy Spirit.

And it comes…..by the stoning of Stephen, the church’s first martyr.

But instead of stopping this power of the Holy Spirit…..they simply send it out, with the believers who leave the city……into Samaria….and into the world.

Peter preaches Christ to the first gentiles….and as they believe….the Holy Spirit is given to them.

Christ Jesus, by His Spirit, is fulfilling within the believers, the great commission….

….for Jesus told them it would be a ministry to all the world:

Matthew 18:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

But there was a witness there at Stephen’s stoning…..Saul, who would become Paul the apostle to the gentiles….

At first Saul is furious at these…of “this Way” (Acts 9:1-2)….but….

….God gets Saul/Paul’s attention…..knocked down by The Light……on the way to Damascus….and spoken to by The Lord Jesus Christ…..he becomes converted……acknowledging God’s Purpose and Salvation through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

How good and gracious God is, in saving the worst sinner (his words…..1 Timothy 1:15)….and bringing him to be sent as a missionary out into the world.

Paul was diligent in his efforts, often burdened “in weakness and fear and trembling”….

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Paul set forth the real power of the life of Christ within us,…by the Holy Spirit.

Paul had three missionary journey’s….

……and the more he saw of these places….the more completely he realized

……there was only One power which alone could lay hold of the minds and hearts of these souls,….

……which were so filled with terrible darkness….and the sensual appetite of the times.

Philippians 2:15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

Those to whom he preached were living as nothing…..slave or master…..rich or poor,….there was no meaning to life…..

…….they were nothing….going to nothing….spending their short time in searching for meaning in empty lives.

When Paul came……he set forth Christ crucified….and why God’s Son had to die….for the sins of the world….

…and His glorious resurrection….that we might have His life by the Holy Spirit, in us,…..now and for eternity.

Paul loved fervently each church that he ministered to and in, always leaving some spiritual helpers, if he could,….. to see to them and build them up.

There was Timothy, Titus,…..and Luke, who wrote Acts. There was Pricilla and Aquila….there was Apollos, a fiery preacher.

Yet in all….it is the Holy Spirit working….sending…..and preaching.

The last eight chapters, set forth Paul’s imprisonment….and subsequent trials….till at last he appeals to Caesar.

And that is where Acts ends….with Paul in Rome waiting for his trial….still preaching, still setting forth Christ crucified and risen as the Savior of the world.

Acts 28:30-31 “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”

(Acts shows that the salvation of the world is through individuals. Wherever these Christians went….there were converts to Christ…..and persecution to Him.

“……In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The gospel was shown…..in power….to Israel [How God loves Israel]…..and then outward into the world…..even to the capital of the known world at that time….Rome…..

…..all to show us….that God saves the worst sinners….in the worst places…..

…..His power and grace by the Holy Spirit, brings men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the same time, it shows that the governments of the world will refuse subjection and salvation in Christ….because the Holy Spirit demands repentance….

“…He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:…John 16:8

The only time that the governments of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord….is at the end Revelation 11:15…Revelation 21:3-4)

The first generation of believers, set forth how the guidance of the Holy Spirit would lead.

He was in charge…..He was the power….in each believer….

…..and that is the message of Acts.

To have the power of the first church…..we must be filled with the Spirit, and we must have the devotion and obedience to the Holy Spirit, that they had….

….we must expect persecution…

….for we are never very far from it in any age….men will not hear the claims of Christ without a fight…(think of Saul/Paul)…

….but Christ is still the Victor….He is still giving His Holy Spirit in fullness to all who seek after Him.

Ephesians 3:16-19 “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Do you want this fullness of the Holy Spirit….

…….and the devotion and obedience to Christ, that it costs?

Hast thou Faith?

Romans 14:22 “Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which He alloweth.”

When we begin to walk by faith and not by sight; we begin to deal with those things that we “condemn” ourselves with.

Faith is the active ingredient of our Spiritual lives. It comes to us by the Holy Spirit, when we are born again; but it (usually) takes us a while to use it.

Faith tells us to trust and stand…..and our eyes tell us that what were about to do is impossible.

Faith tells us to “Get out of here, now.”…….And our eyes do not “see” anything wrong.

Faith nudges us to speak to someone about Jesus;…..we wait…but then the subject is changed, the opportunity is gone.

We learn (it is called “growing” in scripture: 2 Peter 3:18) to use the faith given in each situation of our lives;….and when we do, we come into Christian Liberty.

Our Christian Liberty should make us free to be what we ought: to be what God’s wants us to be.

1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought into the power of any.”

1 Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

Twice in the same book, Paul warns these Christians to be careful not to let what “other people” do, or social norms, to be their rule of life.

Rather, they should be fully committed to God’s Will and Way; no matter what anyone else does.

Paul gives his testimony: “I will not be brought into the power of anything; even though it might be lawful (or nothing, that would seem to be wrong).”

Paul said, “I will”, for we must will with God’s Will.

For the Christian there are certain things we know are wrong: stealing, lying, adultery, to name a few.

But for each Christian there are “convictions” of the Holy Spirit (for them) that say, “This is not for you.”

(I, years ago, when I was a teenager….was dealt with, by the Lord, to give up make up. Not because I felt that the make up was sinful; but rather for me, it was wrong to wear it….because of the attachment to the world, it suggested.

This is a conviction of the Holy Spirit to me….and I still do not wear it.)

True Spiritual Life is following the Lord Jesus wherever He leads in my life.

True liberty is freedom from the power of sin in my life.

Faith is the “sight” that makes both of these possible.

“Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God.”

Simply, use the faith the Holy Spirit has given you, and follow the Lord Jesus into the happiness He has for you.

Don’t “allow” anything that He does not want,….though it may be hard to part with at the time……

……and joy and peace will be your heart’s companion.

And the Very God of Peace Sanctify you.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is He Who calleth you, Who also will do it.”

Now He will do this, but not against your will.

Can two walk together except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)

To walk with God, you must be in your place. We are creatures…..created to please our Creator.

Sin has marred that beginning way…..but not our purpose.

So to walk with God, we must agree with God as to our place before Him.

We each have a place to fill.

But it is all according to God’s Will and plan. We can not fill someone else’s shoes…..nor can they, fill ours.

But once we have our place as dependent creature before God, then we can go on.

And once the creature has come to the place where they agree to be the creature before the Creator….letting Him be God of all my circumstances….

…it is then they walk as friends.

John 15:15-16 “Henceforth I call ye not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.

Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.”

As friends He wants us to know what He will do…..and very especially what He does through you.

He has chosen us….and ordained us….

(ordained means that He has provided everything that we need to do the job)…

…that we should “go and bring forth fruit”.

We should walk in the lives He has given us, and bring forth the fruit of peace, joy, gentleness, patience, etc.

That whatsoever we shall ask of the Father in Jesus Name, He may give it us!

All this He has done, and seeks our willing cooperation in it all.

“Now the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly”.

We can not be at odds with God in anything and know this peace. This peace in not judicial, but personal peace between us and He.

To start this sanctifying, we must start with subjection to the Holy Spirit in our spirit.

2 Peter 1:5 “And besides this giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;”

Here Peter shows the road map to fruitfulness….

…we are to add to the faith given us at new birth,….”virtue”…

Virtue is “Arte”….or force. By giving all diligence on our part, we are to yield to the force within us by the Holy Spirit.

He is there, pulling us on, pushing us out of situations, and molding us.

(Diligence is giving all earnest speed to do it.)

Through this virtue you will bring your spirit into subjection to the Holy Spirit.

These things are all brought about by acts of the Will.

And as you yield your will to the Holy Spirit, you find yourself borne along….

…as a sailing ship before the wind.

Our part is to hoist our sails….giving all diligence….to catch all of the wind of the Holy Spirit, we can…

….by listening to His Word to us…

….by yielding to His power in us…

….by being what He has molded us to be.

The Promise of Christ to my soul

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

I believe the whole Bible was written to the people of God.

Not to the world who will not, and can not (except the Holy Spirit convicts and enlightens) understand it.

I also believe that the whole Bible speaks of Christ…..from “In the beginning, God”…..which was Christ speaking the world into being….

….to “Behold, I come quickly…”

As HIs people, we need to find the treasures of blessing and correction,….and grow thereby.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul has just been talking to these proud Christians (proud of their gifts, although they had cliches and arguments)….

….and spoke of their calling from the world to Christ and HIs Will.

Paul puts into perspective the reality of all of us…..no matter education, personality, place, or ability…..we are really:

1 Corinthians 1:26-28 “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

But God hat chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:”

Ouch! This a list of people we do not want to be like, in this world…..

….but that is just it…

……we are not to be part of the world’s judgement any more…..we are to see as God sees.

We are to see ourselves as God sees us…..unable to understand, or lead, or do rightly…..without Him and HIs grace.

1 Corinthians 1:29 “That no flesh should glory in HIs presence.”

(That is not just in heaven…..but now, when we come before His throne of grace to pray for ourselves or others.)

This is to see ourselves as we are…..to get honest with God….not just about “them”….or about the situation….but about how we are….and think…..

……then,….the Lord gives us this promise:

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus,…”

Here is the beginning of all blessings and help…..to be “in Christ Jesus”….born again by the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 1:30 “….Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

Wisdom (how much we need this!): Wisdom is personal knowledge of God in ever expanding ways.

James 3:13, 17 “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?…..

But that wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be untreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

The Wisdom from Christ, never puts down anyone…as though it is superior…..

…….but raises others up with…..”The Lord showed me this, I hope it helps you too.”

It brings peace…..not strife.

Righteousness: Christ applies and imputes His Righteousness to us…..and then we are to be righteous…..to work those obediences and good works that He has for us…..working out what He has worked within

Philippians 2:12-13 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

This is righteousness.

Sanctification: this is to be set aside to God for sacred use….in our personal, everyday lives.

It is to become holy, or complete….to fulfill the will of God in attitude, action, word, and thought….

……..and it is only done by yielding to and obeying the Holy Spirit within.

Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men,, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

(Notice, we can not be holy….or set aside to God, without the right attitude toward our fellow man…..to follow after the peaceful attitude that seeks the good of all men.

This is not pacifying…..but seeking their peace with God, and being at peace with them….allowing no anger, resentment, or bitterness to linger or stay, concerning them.)

Christ Jesus has this for us.

Redemption: we would think this should have been first,….but….

…..this redemption is…….to be claimed and brought to your original purpose, in the Will of God.

Christ has redeemed us……are we fulfilling in our lives that redemption?

Are we living as we should….having and proclaiming liberty to the captives of the devil and this world?

Have we known the claim of Christ Jesus on our lives…..not just at some altar…..but everyday?

This is Redemption……

…and again Christ Jesus has it for us.

The Promise of Christ Jesus to my soul is wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption…..in my life!

…my life! Think of it.

Christ Jesus knew our sin and selfishness…..yet saved us by His sacrifice.

Christ Jesus knew our pride and strife…..yet gives us all we need in HIs life.

Will we have this promise? Will we yield to the Holy Spirit within….and get the life of Christ….within us….today?

Wretchedness.

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

The Faithful and True Witness calls us this.

So let us consider the facts of the accusation:

First, to understand the term “Wretched”….it is “To be deserving strong condemnation in condition or circumstances.”

(This is the Bible’s definition…..the world has added “pitiful”…..but that is not what God thinks. We are wretched because we choose to be….for everyone there is a way of being saved from it.)

And we, Laodiceans are wretched….for we could be different.

First, we are sinners, and as such, all our righteousness is as filthy rags ( Isaiah 64:6).

True, we are saved sinners, if we are born again; but are we acting like it?

We are also the Church, but living among a world that thinks the Bible is out of date, and that Christ’s words can be ignored.

Do we agree?

Aren’t we just what, He says we are?

Now the only other place that this term wretched is used in the New Testament, is:

Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

Now just what is it that Paul wants here?

He wants to be saved from himself.

Self examinations are for the most part useless; because it is calls upon self to examine self! What?!

It is:

“How could I ever do such a thing?”

“How can I change, to be a better I?”

But when you begin to see you are wretched, in the same way Paul saw, by the power of the Holy Spirit, then you also see that Christ Jesus is the only hope for deliverance.

It is not a “better” I, that I need…..it is to lose all the “I’s” in my life and exchange them for “Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20)

Woe is me! Paul said.

And so does everyone who realizes that they can not deliver themselves, from themselves.

And when this happens, then we turn to the Lord to be saved from ourselves.

Romans 7:15, 22-23 “For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”

Paul saw his natural man (flesh), fighting against his spiritual man; and winning a lot of times.

This is the wretchedness Paul saw in himself…….does any of it ring true to us?

Do you know anything about this, personally?

Wanting to do the will of God;….

……but finding that root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15),……

……or that anger turn to hatred,……or finding that you are willing to do anything, but that…

……all the things which deal with covetness (the desire for something we do not have: Whether it is prestige, riches, other people in our life, different circumstances, or great ability.)

This was the sin in Paul’s life which showed to him, his “wretchedness”: it was the sin of covetousness.

(Romans 7:7)

Romans 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”

Paul is saying, “I do not have the reality of His power working in my life, now.”

Paul later wrote concerning some who stayed in this position:

2 Timothy 3:7 “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Because that is the crux of the matter.

Will you stay in the same position, when you see your wretchedness?

James 1:23-24 “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”

God in Christ has offered us so much; how much have we obtained?

How much of Christ’s deliverance from ourselves, have we sought after?

We are as Christ says:

Revelation 3:16 “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”

Our lukewarmness, is our lack of zeal.

We set so little store by the things God has given us; the things we are called to do.

They are just not that important.

Maybe we think…….”We don’t really count for much; God does not really care about my obedience.”

This is lukewarmness in our Spiritual Life. We are sick….and we do not even know it.

And Jesus Christ, the Faithful and True Witness, says we make Him sick because of this. (I will spue thee out of My mouth.)

So what do we need to do?

We need to see in honesty, our condition before the Lord; like Paul did.

We are what He testifies to: wretched. Sad, but true.

But what are we going to do about it?

We can:

Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

This is how we repent:

We turn from our ways, our thoughts and our feelings…..and yield….give in to the Holy Spirit….in all our ways, thoughts, and feelings.

Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

Being lukewarm, and wretched…….or repentance, and being boiling hot towards God, and getting His life.

Which will we do?