Are We Like the Morning Cloud?

Hosea 6:4-6 “O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, as early dew it goeth away.

Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain by the words of My mouth: for thy judgements are as the light that goeth forth.

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

The morning cloud promises much. “Maybe there will be the rain we need.”

But the day gets hot and the morning clouds go away.

The early dew evaporates as soon as there is a little sun.

Both look good, but give no lasting benefit.

So were the “revivals” and changes of Ephraim and Judah.

God would send a prophet to preach repentance to them; to restore them to His fellowship and blessing.

But though they would often “repent” when God was chastening them; yet as soon as that was removed, they would resume their idol worship.

We all know what an idol is: it is a fabricated god. We worship it. It is what we put into first place in our lives.

Worship is worthyship: counting God, or whatever, worthy of ourselves. (Our time, our awe, our confidence.)

Worship comes from the Hebrew “to fall down before”.

Sadly, though Israel saw miracle after miracle in deliverances, and blessing; yet they kept choosing to put their confidence in stones, and wood; rather than the Living God. (Jeremiah 10:10-11)

(If you really want to see God’s thoughts about the idols, read: Isaiah 44:15-17. One part of the tree, warms the man, another he bakes bread with, and the rest he fashions into a god! God is laughing at their devotion to stocks!)

Many even came and brought sacrifices to the Lord; and then went out and offered sacrifices to idols.

God said, “If your heart was not in the sacrifice you offer Me. It is nothing……

I desired mercy and not sacrifice.”

The Lord wanted them to obey Him….with their hearts….then the sacrifice they brought would really be looking forward to the great sacrifice, Christ Jesus.

He wanted them to give mercy….had not He given them mercy many times?

This is what He wanted for them:

For Israel to know Him,……to get their hearts right with Him,…and their brothers.

He has always wanted this: for His people to know Him.

To “see” Him as He is: the Almighty God, who rules the heavens and the earth; and yet loves us.

And with this love, He seeks fellowship with us.

So God says:

Hosea 5:15 “I will go and return to My place (heaven), till they acknowledge their offense, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early.”

When God leaves us (though not really, but in our feelings)……when we quench the Spirit by unbelief, disobedience, or seeking some other way to do His Will;…….then He will wait to see if His absence makes us “wake up” to our need of Him.

The prophet Hosea calls to his people “to return”

Hosea 6:1 “Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.”

The call to everyone who has gone away from God is always: “return”.

Return to God, and return to His way for you.

He will heal us; and will restore (bind us up).

Korah…and his sons.

Numbers 16:1-3 “Now Korah,….the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram…the sons of Reuben,  took men:

       And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly…men of renown:

       And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them,   Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them:  wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?”

Now we all know the story of Korah (he is spoken of in 2 Peter and in Jude concerning rebellion and apostasy):

He and his friends decided that Moses and Aaron were setting themselves above the people.   They said,  “Hadn’t God said they were all holy?”

(Actually, He had said to be holy….Leviticus 19:2)

     “So why was only Moses’ word to be followed,…..and Aaron chosen for the priesthood?   We, too, should be able to come before God…like them!”   

(“And do what we think is right, instead of listening to Moses”….is really what they wanted)

It was sad, because Korah…the leader….was a Levite.   He had a particular ministry with the Tabernacle….for they were to bear the holy things in the travels of the children of Israel (Numbers 4:3-4,15)…

….but as is so often….he was not satisfied with the work or place the Lord had given him.

(Our innate rebellion is against God’s Creative Authority….

Romans 9:20  “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to HIm that formed it,  Why hast Thou made me thus?”

How much is said in this!  If we will but bow to the Creator and HIs Will for us….peace instead of conflict within….a settled rest instead of contentious dissatisfaction!)

So the rebellion spread…and among some of the great princes of the congregation.   (And how easy it is, when anger and jealousy are around, to feel the same…and get involved in those things!)

Numbers 16:5 “And he (Moses) spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying,  Even tomorrow the Lord will shew who are His, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto Him: even him whom He hath chosen will He cause to come near unto Him.”

Moses spake unto Korah, and those gathered with him….and he sent unto Dathan and Abiram to come and hear what the Lord says, to them as well….

Numbers 16:12 “And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram,….which said,  We will not come up:”

So the next day…

Numbers 16:19 “And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.”

The rebellion has gained hearers….the whole congregation comes….

The Lord appears…and suggests that He will consume the whole congregation, if Moses and Aaron will get away from them! 

      But Moses and Aaron fall on their faces and cry for mercy for the congregation! 

 (How different an attitude than those gathered against them!)

God will speak to spare the congregation…..but will not spare the ones who have started this rebellion….for you see, it was never really about Moses and Aaron…..it was always really against the Lord and His Ways.

Numbers 16:25-27 “And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram;  and the elders of Israel followed him.

        And he spake unto the congregation, saying,  Depart, I pray you from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

       So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah,  Dathan, and Abiram,  on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood in the door of the their tents,…”

Now I want to explain….repentance has been suggested by Moses all the way along.

      First, he chides Korah for seeking a position that God did not intend for him.

      Then, he calls Dathan and Abiram up to the Tabernacle to stand with the others of their rebellion….(this might have saved their families)

      Finally,  he warns all who are standing about….undecided about who to follow….to get away from these “wicked men”.            “Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.”

God’s mercy often speaks again and again….but then when warnings are unheeded….(and in this case, even mocked)….then chastening and judgment for those who continue in flagrant wickedness will come.

Moses then announces that…

….”If these men die a normal death….God hath not sent him.   But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up….and they go down quick into the pit;  then ye shall understand that these men….have provoked the Lord.”

Numbers 16:31-33 “And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words,  that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

     And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

     They,…went down alive into the pit,…and they perished from among the congregation.”

(Shortly after this all the rods of the princes of the tribes…and Aaron’s rod was brought before the Ark, overnight….each with their name written upon them.

      Only Aaron’s rod budded,…and blossoms….and yielded almonds! (Numbers 17:7-9)

      God chose to not judge those still troubled with the contamination of Korah’s jealousy…..but to use a sign of blessing…to encourage them to receive His Word, and submit to HIs Will.

Aaron was not chosen because he was a superior man….or more holy than the others.

      Aaron was chosen…..by God, for HIs own purpose…

 [as we all are…2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling,  not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”]

…and He does not rule by popular demand….but by His Will and Word.)

But this message was….Korah, and his sons….

….so let us consider his sons.     

It is true, that some of Korah’s sons perished in the sin of their father…..sad but true that where we lead, even in sin….our children often follow.

But it is equally true that some “gat away” from these wicked men….and perished not.

Numbers 26:11 “Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.”

1 Chronicles 6:31-37 “And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after that the Ark had rest…..they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing….

….Heman a singer,…the son of Korah,”

These sons of Korah, the rebel….took Moses words and heard aright.    They ran from the sin of their father….and went into the land of promise  (1 Chronicles 6:33-37)

Many generations later …. they became the “sons of Korah”  you read of in the Psalms 42, 44, 45-49, 84-85,87…singers of God’s praise in the Tabernacle and Temple!

How much we,…. like the sons of Korah,….who have been delivered from going down into the pit…by the Word of warning to us….

…..should become singers….praising God before others.   

Korah rebelled and refused the extended mercy for repentance…..

….but his sons…ran from his sin, when warned….and became a legacy of praise to God.

Be Strong in the Lord

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of

His might.”

Paul tell these Ephesians that each one of them, which are seated in Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), and still walking in this world….

….. must now also take a stand against the wiles, or tricks of the Devil.

In order to do that, Paul tells them that they must be empowered, or enabled in the force of the Lord’s might.

The original word means to be “constantly empowered”.

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Put on, Paul exhorts them, the whole armor of God.

While God has provided this, the individual Christian has the responsibility of putting it on.

We must consciously appropriate the power the Lord Jesus Christ makes available to us.

This armor is not so many imaginary pieces you put on; but it the truth of what that piece pictures.

Ephesians 6:13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

We must put it on, so we can stand in the evil day; that day of trouble for us.

Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

Paul says the Christians foundation piece is the Truth. It is to know that we are saved, first. Then a growing knowledge of the Scriptures and how they apply to life; our life.

God wants us to have defensive armor against the wiles of the Adversary.

A soldier does not put on his armor after going into battle, but in preparation for the battle.

The belt of truth must be secure, or everything else will fall off.

It is given to us, we must put it on; but it is God’s armor, it is not of ourselves.

Connected to the truth, is the Breastplate of Righteousness. This is, of course, Christ’s Righteousness. We are covered with the very righteousness of Christ.

But there is a little more to it than that.

If you want the protection of the breastplate, over the heart, that you must live righteously. You must practice righteousness.

Your life must be clean, there must not be hidden sin, or unholy thinking tolerated.

They must be confessed and forsaken.

God wants to empower. He wants us to be protected by His Truth and Righteousness. And He wants us to live in that truth and in obedience to His righteous commands.

Then we will have the sure footing of peace.

Ephesians 6:15 “And your feet shod with the gospel of peace;”

There is peace of mind for every Christian. And we need it, for we are to walk, and resist our Adversary, the Devil.

He will knock us off balance and have us down before we know it, by worry, tension, and fear.

But the sure footing of the Gospel of Peace, given by the God of all peace, will keep us standing.

He has given us His promises to use. We need to use them.

He wants to guard or garrison you about with His Peace (Philippians 4:7).

As we stand, we will need the extra protection of the the Shield of Faith.

Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

The Adversary is always trying to get inside our head, or heart with some accusation.

(Many of which are true.)

But the fiery darts can be put out by lifting up our faith in God and His Word.

Did we sin? Yes, but it is confessed and I have forsaken it.

This is removing the ground of accusation.

(Some of the fiery darts are: “Why you big phony, you don’t really believe that!”

“You witness for Christ? Are you kidding? You’re the biggest sinner around!”

“You don’t want to deal with that person; they will make fun of you, or make trouble for you.”

“No really saved person would think such a thought as that.”)

Which leads us to the armor for our heads:

Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

We need to think saved.

Simply trust that the Holy Spirit, which has borne witness in our spirits that we are a child of God (Romans 8:16); does not make mistakes.

If we are saved, will wrong thoughts present themselves to our mind? Yes, but it is what we do with them that makes the difference.

If you allow wrong thoughts (anger, lust, greed)…to stay in your mind, contemplate them,….

…..then they will have wrong effects upon your walk; and you will not be able to stand against the Adversary.

Confess the sin, and forsake it. Remove wrong thoughts as soon as possible, and seek that power of God to overcome them.

To stand against the wiles of the Devil, which is all defensive, so far; we must have an offensive weapon. And that is the Sword of the Spirit.

This is the Word of God. (This is not throwing the Bible at him.)

This is a “saying” of the Bible. Something given you as a promise, or right at the time when the Adversary is attacking you.

And this is by the Holy Spirit; and by saying it, in your mind, or out loud; the power of God, the Holy Spirit will be at work, right then.

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereinto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

The Sword of the Spirit and prayer are a Christian’s offensive weapons.

As James said:

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, ye double-minded.”

Submit yourselves to God…say “yes” to God’s will.

Resist the Devil….say “no” to the anger, resentment, or the suggestions that come.

Draw nigh unto God…use prayer; All-prayer…every kind of prayer to bring down the help you need, now.

The Battle of the Ages: Christ must Reign

There are two principles at work in all the Universe.

God’s Principle of Obedience.

And the Principle of our Adversary, the devil; which is rebellion.

The battle of the ages, for me is: Who will rule in my life?

As Christians we can be obedient to God’s Will by the determination of my will to do it; and the power of the Holy Spirit within.

When we are, we are standing with God in the battle of the ages, for me.

2 Timothy 2:6 “The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits.”

Years ago the Lord told my husband that anything he got into his own experience, the Lord would require at his hearer’s hands.

The experience of salvation….of obedience…..of denying self….of growing in grace and knowledge….of the personal relationship with Christ Jesus( “let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth”)……of losing his self-life to find his Christ’s life….of battles, and adversity….

Not that anyone would have the same experiences….but that those general experiences would be required at their hand…..

“Required”. What does that exactly mean?

The verses which cover the meaning are these:

Luke 12:47-48 “And that servant, which knew His Lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His Will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

The Greek word here in these two verses, for “required”, means “to seek to worship God”.

And both have to do with “faithfulness”…or being faithful with what has been given us.

What has been required at our hands? How much we have been given over the years.

His Word preached, and taught, and lived….

It is to be a life open to and receptive to Christ Jesus….who is standing and knocking on His church…..but speaking to us, who have ears to hear.

It is in what we hear, that we are required to respond to.

The experience of Spiritual Life is always: first in me, then by me and then through me.

And His power is Life. Life flowing into me, and helping me in everything I do.

His power must be at work in me, before I can see this power used through me, in the calling God has given me to do.

He showed me these verses:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (childish), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

We are not to use the world’s weapons to fight the Lord’s battles.

It is not a matter of “letting things go”; but forgiving from the heart.

Colossians 2:8 “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.”

If I am to think God’s thoughts after Him, then His thoughts must prevail.

And for this to happen, our minds must be transformed by His grace; so that our natural and normal way we think, becomes Spiritual.

We are to pull down the strongholds.

These are strongholds of reasoning. They are the reasonings that prevent us from believing God, and acting on what we believe.

Like this:

“That is impossible. Yes, I know God is God…but He just won’t do that…for me, even if I thought He would do it.”

Or…

“That person will never be saved. There is no use in witnessing to them; what good will it do?”

We are to pull these down, by our willed obedience, even when we do not see how God will do these things.

We are to cast down imaginations. Those flights of fancy which come across our minds.

We are not to give them credence, or continue in them.

We all have thoughts which come into our head: What would I do if….?

But it is what we do with our thoughts, that counts.

Do we bring them to the light of Jesus Christ, or go ahead and fly into fantasy?

And we are to destroy every barrier which is raised against the genuine knowledge of God.

And there are a lot of barriers.

Such as the barrier of:

“I can’t read the Bible, because it is too complicated. I just do not understand everything there. I just let others explain it.

But I am not really sure they are right either.”

This is a barrier which the Holy Spirit can easily destroy. He can give you understanding and light for your path, through the Word of God.

You may not understand in the original language.

But you will understand what the Holy Spirit tells you. He speaks clearly.

“Taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

This is stop thinking angry thoughts; stop wanting to be angry, because we want to be right…or are right; and others do not agree. (Tell the Lord everything…and He will set it right with you.)

This is to start thinking that the awful neighbor is not to be hated, but to be prayed for; or ignored. To be at peace with them.

All our thoughts should lead us to Christ; It is really siding with Jesus about what comes into our heads; And staying with Him, through it all.

This is never easy; that is why the Lord calls it a “battle”. But it can be won. The victory is assured….in Christ.

1 John 5:4-5 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

For the Son of God is able to save to the uttermost. (Hebrews 7:25)

The Battle of the Ages has been going on through all time.

God is Victor.

Will we enter into His victory for ourselves, by the deliberate acts of our will?

Will we give Him all praise, by using all He gives us to make Him King in our lives?

Faith, Grace, Love, Peace, Joy: All are ours in Christ Jesus.

We are to follow Him into our place before Him, and keep following Him.

It is the way to make Him King—of us.

He will reign in us; that we may walk through this life in victory.

Proverbs 10:17 “He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that resists reproof erreth.”

An old preacher once wrote……

“Those that recieveth instruction are good…but those that retain it—keep it for their own use…that they may govern themselves by it, are blessed.

Those that pass on that instruction. Precept upon precept, line upon line,…becoming a blessing to others.

Isaiah 28:10 “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line, hear a little, and there a little.”

But those who will not be taught what God says, but refuse it….because it brings to light their faults….are like a traveler that has missed the right turn, but refuses to be shown the map. He certainly misses the way of life, unless he turns around.”

As Christians, we know that God teaches us….through HIs Word…through the Holy Spirit within us….and through the trials of the way.

The Lord bends down and teaches us. What an amazing thought! Yet it is true.

“He leads us in the right way”….teaching us to follow, first. Then teaching us to help others to follow

Proverbs 4:13 “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.”

The person in a rain storm does not let go of his coat….but fastens it securely and hangs on to it that the storm does not get in.

This we should do in the instruction of the Word…read it and hear by the Holy Spirit what He is saying to us.

What exactly is instruction?

Instruction means a variety of corrections: From nurturing….to a check in our spirit that says. “Stay away”. “Go back”…..to more correction through the Word…training, to restrain, to warn, to reprove….even to chastening.

But anyway it comes it is the Lord seeking to get us on the right path…and stay there

It is interesting to note that The Lord Jesus used “instructed” only once…..and that was to HIs disciples concerning His beloved Kingdom:

Matthew 13:52 “Then said He (Jesus) unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”

(He was instructing….but at the same time pointing them on to the time when they should pass on and instruct concerning the kingdom.)

This verse means that when you are teaching…..even the same verse as your fellow teacher….you will add your testimony to it. “Things new and old”

The last time this word is used is:

2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction , for instruction in righteousness.”

Let us be instructed in righteousness….let us read, study, and meditate on the Word day by day…..one verse even is a lot to digest….if we will.

Not willing that any should perish

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

The Lord is not willing that any should perish….but that all should come to repentance.

But, what are we willing?

It is an interesting way of saying it: “…that all should come to repentance.”

How many times does Jesus say, “Come”……here it is come to Him for repentance!

He is so willing to save….He will help you repent….if you will come to Him!

He does not say…..you must give up this, to come to Me….but….

….He says, Come to Me…and I will help you give up this.

Our sin separates us from every good thing….from God, first….but also from true sight….true understanding….true hope and love.

And God is not willing that we perish in our sins….so He sent HIs Son to save all who will come to Him.

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Matthew 1:21 “For she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.”

It is also interesting that God always seeks us, first.

He did in the garden with our first parents….Adam and Eve…when He came down…knowing they had sinned…

….yet giving them the opportunity to come to Him and confess it….

…”And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden….And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:8-9)

And He does with us….He sends His Spirit to wake us up, to our sin….and then calls…

Matthew 11:28 “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

So the question still remains…..will you come to repentance…..come to Jesus Christ, and give yourself to Him?

John 6:37, 40 “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.

And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.”

Coming to Christ is believing,…that is in the heart……

….and calling out to Him to save us,…with the mouth:

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

God is not willing that any should perish….will we hear His call to come…..to come to Him?

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

Temperance

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

We have talked of the fruit of the Spirit before, but I wish to speak of:

Temperance.

We have heard of moderation in all things. This is a good policy for many things; but temperance here is a fruit of the blessed Holy Spirit.

It is the ability to master everything which comes to us, in our lives. (Not let them master us.)

As Christians, we face fears, tempers, passions, and opinions on all sides.

But the Holy Spirit within gives us help with all of these. He gives us God’s love, God’s joy and peace, and yes, God’s right-thinking.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

This is temperance:

Proverbs 30:7-9 “Two things have I required of Thee; deny me them not before I die:

Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty or riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

Proverbs are mostly Solomon’s sayings, and he is asking the Lord, that before he grows old and dies, he wants to learn two important things; so he asks God to “remove” or cast away from him vanity and lies.

Vanity is that nothingness that the world is full of.

The world would tell us that we should all look like this model, or that actress or athlete.

Or the world would get us to concentrate on physical, or intellectual pursuits.

Solomon did all of these:

Ecclesiastes 1:16-17 “I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart hath great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.”

Ecclesiastes 2:8-9, 11 “I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.”

His conclusion from all his experiences in the goods of the world?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

He wanted to be removed from vanity, “And lies”. The world is full of them. Try this toothpaste and your smile will brighten a whole room! (There are many lies, which are passed around each day; silly ones, and serious ones.)

“Give me neither poverty nor riches; Lest I be full, and deny Thee”:

I will begin to trust in my riches,…..and not in You.

“Lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”

I will be angry that I do not have what others have; and try and get it in unlawful means (there are many kinds of thieves),

And blame the Lord for “making me do it.” (we often blame God for what we have gotten ourselves into)

“Feed me with food convenient for me:”. This is the same prayer as:

“Give me this day my daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)

Someone has said: This is not, Give me my daily cake,…..but bread.

It means, that we are asking the Lord to provide for us, what we need. To give us enough:

Enough peace, money, food, family, friends, joy,…enough to get us through our lives; with Him.

Because I must remind you, that temperance is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Temperance is to master a thing—not it mastering you.

And the Holy Spirit bears that fruit within us and through us, as we yield to Him in each situation.

Right place, God’s Will, our Surrender

Esther 5:1 “Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the kings house,…”

Obedience to a command from God, we often think, will turn out well….

Yet here, Esther, a Jewish woman, made queen in Persia, stands in a place of complete surrender….not to the command of God,….but to the Will of God.

You may say that there is no difference….but the Will of God transcends “good”, and “bad”.

It is what God intends done, how He intends done, and for the Purpose which pleases Him.

(As believers, we obey His commands,…..or not; but we “fit into” His Will by surrender to Him….whatever happens.)

(Someone has written that God and prayer, is never mentioned in this book…and it is true. These people, when they had the chance to return to Israel, and build lives in the land God gave them, refused….for they now had lives in Persia.

But equally true, is that wherever His people are….He has His eye on them.

He does not forget them, but brings His Will to pass,….even through them; and for them…..though it is not in the same personal way He does for those who gather close to Him.)

Background:

Persia had conquered Babylon and had given invitation “to all of a willing heart to return to Israel and build a house for God”, to do so.

They had, and God had helped them….though they had many enemies.

Yet, now, things are going to take a dramatic turn. Back in Persia…..

Two things happen: The king, Ahasuerus, wants a new queen….and a Jewish woman, Esther is picked as one of the choices.

And Haman, an Agagite (a descendent from a people who, since Israel came out of Egypt, have sought to destroy them….down through the generations Exodus 17:16)……this man comes to power, in the king’s court.

This is a battle brewing which is amazing to read…..for behind the scenes is God working His Will….even in the things which seem to work for His people’s hurt.

Esther is the niece of Mordecai. And when Esther is taken to court, Mordecai tells Esther not to lie about her heritage, but only to keep quiet about it.

Esther 2:17 “And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight…..so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen…”

And when she is chosen as queen, Mordecai warns her again, to hold her peace….at that time there was no danger….but soon enough, there will be.

He will be at the gate, sitting each day, if she needs to send a message to him.

(During this time, Mordecai has a chance to do the king some kindness: he overhears two men servants plotting the kings death…and he sends word to Esther. She tells the kings servants in Mordecai’s name, and they stop the assassination plot….and the deed is written in the Chronicles of the king. Esther 2:21-23)

Esther 3:1-2 “After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman….the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

And all the kings servants, that were with him in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman:…”

Here comes the trouble. Haman is promoted above everyone else! Exactly the kind of power this evil person would want. Real influence with the king, and in court….people bowing….this is the life.

But a man who sits at the gate…..and yes, this is Mordecai….does not bow to him.

Esther 3:2,5-6 “….but Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had showed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.”

What should Haman care?

But it infuriates him…..so much so, that he finds out that Mordecai is an Israelite….and he begins a plan….to destroy him and all his people—everywhere in the kingdom.

(As I said….the Agagite of the Amalekites, were sworn enemies of Israel…and he is taking vengeance, not just on Mordecai but on every last Israelite he can.)

Now, let me ask you….was it God’s Will that Mordecai not bow? Or just an occasion to the Adversary, the devil, to stir up trouble?

(True conviction is of the Holy Spirit…and if followed, will lead to more knowledge of God’s Will for ourselves…..but it must needs be followed through, no matter what it costs you.

Mordecai had the conviction for himself that he could not bow to an enemy of his people, so….he did not bow. But it could bring terrible trouble not just for him, but for his people.)

Haman now had to persuade the king to make a decree for all the Jews to be slain.

(It is interesting to note, that the decrees of the Medes and Persians were unbreakable…”altereth not” (Daniel 6:8)….but we will see how God changes what man decrees,…..and does all His Will.)

Haman goes to the king with a lie…”there is a people…their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them (put up with them)”. So Haman offers money to the king to pay for the cost of destroying them. The king believes Haman, and so the plan is made.

Then, Haman casts lots for the day of his vengeance…..

Esther 3:7 “In the first month,….they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month….”

…and when he does, he places his plans unwittingly under the Will of God….for the lot—like dice thrown in chance—is ruled by God. (Proverbs 16:33)

The slaughter was to be in the last month of the year, a whole year away.

It was then proclaimed through the nations under Persia….and when the Israelites heard it, they wept, and lay in sackcloth and ashes.

What could be done?

But God is not upset…His plan is already in motion, although unseen.

Mordecai did not know what to do….but he showed the decree to Esther, and asked her to talk to the king. She was saddened, but she did not know what to do either.

Even she could not go into the king, unless she be called…..and she hadn’t for thirty days.

And if she did without being called she could be killed…..unless he would hold out his scepter to her.

Mordecai realizes this is why she was there….and even though she was afraid, he was faithful, and told her the truth (“speaking the truth in love” Ephesians 4:15):

Esther 4:13–14 “Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shall escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed:

And who knowest wither thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Now was the time, to stand up and be shown as an Israelite…no matter what the outcome for her or her people. Her duty was shown to her….now it was up to her.

(This is a word in due season… Proverbs 15:23. How many times, we too need a word given us, to remind us of Jesus’ Way for us)

Plainly, after hiding in the palace for some time, Esther did not want to show the king her people. If she was out of favor, she could do no good…for them or herself.

But Mordecai’s words brought her to see the situation clearly…..and her duty.

Mordecai believed that Israel would survive….somehow. He might die, and she might die….but deliverance would come;…..but he thought maybe Esther was “come into this position,….to do this very thing.”

Esther 4:15-16 “Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise: and so I will go into the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”

This was not said in despair or passion, but in holy resolve to do her duty….no matter what happened to her.

And so she did her duty….she came into the court…..and was accepted by the king.

Esther 5:2 “And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.”

The king asks her, What is thy request?

Esther does not charge right into the matter, but….knowing the king,….she invites him and Haman to a banquet for the next two days, where she promised to tell the king what is on her mind….

They come to the first, and Haman is proud as a peacock in his privileged position;……bragging to all his family and friends.

In between the two days, the king can not sleep…..(and here is the amazing part):

The king hears in the Chronicles which are read to him,….(to help put him to sleep)…..about Mordecai’s saving him from assignation.

But what had been done for him, as a reward? Nothing…..so…

The next morning, Haman, so full of pride, comes into the king….wanting to talk of killing Mordecai, that very day….no waiting for the rest of the Israelites….he wanted his blood now.

But, he gets a surprise…the king wanted to honor Mordecai for saving him!

Esther 6:6, 10 “So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?

Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?

Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew,….”

The very person Haman wanted dead, he had to help honor……this was not what he had planned….but God has more surprises for him.

In the second banquet, Esther tells the king of Haman’s plot to destroy her people….he listens to her, and ends in destroying Haman.

The enemy is destroyed, but what about the unchangable decree against the Israelites?

How will God take care of that?

Well, the king promotes Mordecai….telling him that the decree can not be altered…..

….but, he can do what he can…..

And God made a way: they made a second decree….so that the Israelites could destroy all those that would come against them…..signed by the king….backed up by the king.

and that sent fear into their enemies,….and stopped the massacre of the Israelites!

Against all odds….God saw to His people.

And the principle is the same for us.

How many times things seem impossible and against us, and Him….but He is working His Will….perhaps puffing up those proud rebels….just enough to destroy themselves.

Perhaps putting us in a place of duty, to do His Will,……speaking His Word faithfully.

Psalm 94:21-23 “They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

But the Lord is my defense; and My God is the Rock of my refuge.

And He shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.”

God still sees to us….His Will is still being done.

Let us surrender to our part in it.

Are There Shadows in Your Christian Life?

Song of Solomon 4:6 “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.”

When we are born again, we are given the Holy Spirit and a new nature. One that loves God, and wants to please Him.

But we are Spiritual Babes, and often fail the Lord, when called to follow on with Him.

It is the Spiritual growth of our lives that brings us, as babes, to full grown children.

Ephesians 4:13-15 “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

To bring us to this point,……the Lord, through His Word, and by the Holy Spirit within us, will bring us to the Light again and again; till we are walking in it, with no Shadows between us. (1 John 1:7)

We fail, often, to fully realize that our own Natural Aversion to all things of God, is a clear manifestation of the ever present Old Nature within us. The old man wants his own will, and rebels at being in subjection to God.

Galatians 5:16-17 “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

For the flesh lusteth (fights) against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to another; so that ye can not do the things that ye would.”

It is the flesh which “attacks” the new nature which is of God within us,….for it still seeks to rule us, with our old habits, attitudes, and affections.

Romans 8:13-14 “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.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

The “flesh”, “old man”, is our old nature; and remains in us, even though we have become born again.

We are to choose to obey the Spirit of God within us, and walk in the Light; so that the old nature is kept in subjection to Christ.

God’s Light, when it is submitted to, yields Power within us to do His Will.

It is a process.

This is an act of the will.

“…If ye do through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

And what a life! A life with the power of the Holy Spirit in us, and helping us, to do and be His Will!

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Quicken is to make alive, active, and effective. As I said, What a life!

Mortify is to “put to death”.

That is, it is brought to the place where it has no influence in us.

Thus by an act of our wills, willing with the Holy Spirit, we do put to death the natural life, that it might become Christ’s life in us.

Song of Solomon 4:6 “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.”

Where Shadows are in our life, full Light has not come.

Shadows are cast by something between the Light source (Christ’s Life), and that which is lighted (us).

It is a mountain of myrrh (which speaks of death), because it takes a lot of denying ourselves, and yielding to the Holy Spirit.

And then it is, the hill of frankincense (which speaks of reigning authority) comes in.

For when we yield to Him, and get out of the way; it takes very little of the power of God, to empower us for His Will….in anything.

To consider these Shadows, we must go back to our very beginnings, and first consider: “Why hast Thou made me thus?”

Romans 9:20 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him who formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?”

It is a point of our rebellious old man, that we were never consulted in our being.

But just brought into being,…with the parents I had,….in these circumstances,…looking as I do;…..and then forced to deal with it.

(How many of these thoughts have we had? The sad thing: we do not bring them to the Lord and deal with them.)

Sadly, many seek meaning in things, or emotions; or in oblivion, and finding it not.

(The death wish the Psychiatrist talk about, is not just a wish to die, but a desire for non-being. To never have been; or to go into nothingness.)

But once we are, we are Eternal beings.

We will exist forever, either in Heaven with God in bliss; or in agony with the Devil.

But God has for us an “expected end”.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Our expected end is Christ, and the joy and peace He has for us, as we walk in His Light.

As the thing formed, we must be reconciled to God, Who formed us…..As we are.

This is a deep thing of the soul, and worked within us by the Holy Spirit in our spirit.

It is not just living because we have to; Or trying to find joy in “things”….but…

We can come to the place where we love who the Lord has made us…..really….and to enter into the life He has for us.

Here is where subjection is real…not just words.

Your spirit, with the Power of the Holy Spirit, by an act of your will, brings your soul (the place of your intelligence, affections, and will) into subjection to God’s Will.

And you do it on that mountain of myrrh.

He begins as soon as you are born again, to encourage you to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Christ. (Matthew 16:24-25)

Every time you do this, His power works in you; creating in you that image of Christ in you.

Romans 8:29 “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

God’s Will for you, has had it’s “beginnings” in Eternity past:

2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began;”

He thought of you in Christ Jesus before He created the world. And so has made provision for your complete Salvation from sin: the guilt, penalty, and power of sin.

These shadows, are not the sin itself; but are the influences of our sin. They cast a shadow, a darkness over us.

It may be because of self pity because we have done these things: “Oh, how could I do that? How could I be so stupid?” (I have said this to myself)

It may be that the sin is gone; because you know it will cause problems, or because of God’s chastening.

But the desire for that thing, still remains.

And must be removed, before the Shadows will “flee” away.

There is still an element of darkness in your life.

He can do it, keep coming to Him.

So many of these Shadows are of our Adversary, the Devil; deeply implanted within us , down through the years.

Things done by others, to us!

To which he has whispered many angry thoughts: “God should not have let them get by with this.”

Or thoughts of revenge.

Again, let us consider Christ Jesus’ “expected end” for us: Joy and Peace in believing.

Do you have it? Are you obtaining it everyday, by denying yourself and picking up your cross, and following Him into the Light He has for you?

You don’t have to walk in Shadows. Keep coming to Him. Listen to Him, and His Word to you.

Hang on to His Love; and know He is hanging on to you.

The man with the withered hand

I am going to speak about a poor soul….a man with a withered right hand….a man shunned in the normal life of the Israelites, yet who yields to Jesus command….even though it puts him and his infirmity, in the spotlight….

Luke 6:6-7 “And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that He entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him, whether He would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against Him.

But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.”

To have a deformity….a withered hand….in Israel, usually meant that someone in your family had sinned….you, or your parents.

It was something to hide or keep covered.

That this man wanted to hear the scriptures, and have fellowship with God and HIs people, is apparent…..for though he might be looked down upon….he was gathered to the place of worship,…anyway.

He was in the back of the men gathered….for Jesus said, “stand forth”

Jesus had come to their synagogue to teach….and He did.

He knew what was in the heart of each man there. Whether they were there to hear Him….or the Word….

…or merely to find an occasion to trip Him up.

“But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.”

This would have been putting a spotlight on his deformity….

….yet he did it. First standing,….then stepping out before everyone….”in the midst”.

This is faith. For faith sees God, and believes Him.

Then Jesus did something unusual…..He did not speak to the man….He did nothing where he was concerned….at first…

….He just left him in the midst of everyone….a spectacle….or so it might have seemed.

But again, I must stress here…..faith sees God. This man saw God in Christ, which separated him from many others here in this synagogue….

…so he stayed put, waiting….in faith.

(How often we feel that Christ is going to do something for us….and we feel His love, and gladly “step forth”….but then there is a wait.

Do we begin to doubt His love? Do we begin to “wobble” in our obedience? Will we “back away” from the Lord’s command?)

….instead Jesus turned and spoke to the scribes and Pharisees.

Luke 6:9 “Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing;….”

Jesus broke right through to the truth. He asked them to answer….with the truth.

“…Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it?”

Then Jesus turned and looked at each man there….

…not in anger,…..but sadness.

Saddened by the hardness of their hearts. There was no love of God….or man within them!

(In Matthew. 12:11-12….Jesus says, “What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it and lift it out?

How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.”)

….then Jesus finally spoke to the man with the withered hand…”Stretch forth thy hand.”

Luke 6:10 “And looking round about upon then all, He said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”

When God asks us to cooperate with Him,….

….we must first believe Him….this man had;….

….then we must obey Him.

This is an amazing healing….and one we can have, for it was by HIs Word alone that this man was healed….both spiritually and physically.

For Jesus did not touch him. It does not say Jesus came close to him.

Jesus spoke….

….it was His Word, first to the man, to give him faith in Him (Romans 10:17)…”rise up and stand forth”…making him trust in Jesus…

…then HIs Word to the man for obedience to Him….faith, if it be true faith, always leads to obedience. For what kind of faith would believe, but not obey?

And that man’s faith and obedience was honored….his hand was made whole as the other.

Jesus speaks to us, today, as well……giving faith in Himself….and encouraging our faith in Him.

And He speaks to us, today….commanding us to obey, that we might be “a spectacle “ (1 Corinthians 4:9)……for He shows Himself strong in us….in salvation, in healing, and in joy and peace….

….are we hearing what He is saying to us? Are we having what He is calling us to?

What are we facing today…..and in what are we “infirm”? (Not up to the task, not able to do.)

Well, He is.

And His Word of faith and instruction still comes to us, today.

Let us stand forth with Him; and trust and obey.