Of what spirit are you?

Hebrews 5:13-14 “For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the Word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

As Christians, we are to learn to discern, for ourselves what we feel….and whither it is of the Holy Spirit,….or of the unholy spirit,….or if this is just us, leading us into this situation.

We are to learn to discern both good and evil.

The Lord showed this, when He was here….the angry spirit:

Jesus was going to Jerusalem….it was the end of His ministry…and shortly He would be arrested and crucified.

On the way there, they came to a Samaritan village….where they were going to rest and get food…..but they “did not receive Him”.

Luke 9:54-56 “And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?

But He turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”

Jesus said, “What manner of spirit are ye? You are going to ask me to destroy? Because of a slight? An insult?

This is not what I came to do…..for I came not to destroy but to save!”

We are to know what manner of spirit we are….so we can speak and act as the Lord wants.

There is the proud and haughty spirit:

James 4:6 “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Pride was what brought Lucifer to be the devil….pride came and making him rebel at his place….”I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12-15)

Pride was one of the first sins the devil tempted Eve with….”Ye shall be as gods…knowing just like God!” (Genesis 3:4-6)

And we are often tempted the same way…..

“Why should you always be yielding to God? This isn’t so bad, just do it…..for yourself! After all, you deserve to have what you want…sometimes!”

If we listen….(and we might not even want what is being offered, that much)….we might think….we are owed this!

This is pride.

But He gives more grace. Grace is the unmerited favor of power….

…….and against pride, the Holy Spirit in our spirit, will give more grace….if we will humble ourselves….

…..which simply means, that we take our proper place in this situation, and let the Lord lead us….not the devil, the world, or ourselves.

An unforgiving spirit:

Jesus told this parable….to Peter’s question, “how many times should I forgive my brother?”

There was a man who owed his lord a lot of money…..

So he was brought before him, and the payment was demanded.

But this man could not pay….so he threw himself down and begged for patience.

The lord thought…..but then forgave the man all his debt!

Thank you, thank you.

But then the man went out…..and as he left, forgiven….he sees a man who owes him a little money.

What does he do? He grabs the man and demands payment!

But the man, also, has no money to pay….and begs for patience.

Unlike the lord, this man does not forgive…..but sends this man to prison for the little money he is owed.

Sad, though this is…..the lord who forgave the debt of the first man, found out….and brought him back in…..and treated him like he treated the other man.

Matthew 18:35 “So likewise shall My Heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.”

We must through the power of the Holy Spirit, forgive from our hearts,….and know we have forgiven.

There is the spirit of faithlessness and unbelief:

Though the children of Israel had been redeemed from Egypt, and had seen the miraculous crossing at the Red Sea, yet….

….time and time again, they refused to believe God.

Finally, they just lost the privileges and inheritance that God had saved them for…….. “they do alway err in their heart; and they have not known My ways.”

Hebrews 3:18-19 “And to whom sware He that they should not enter into HIs rest, but to them that believed not?

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

The spirit of faithlessness and unbelief can only be cured by Obedience to the Lord!

The last is a broken spirit….which the Lord loves:

Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.” (Isaiah 57:15)

When God calls us to “brake” our spirit’s….He is calling us to repent of our willful disobedience…..

…..to come to Him, with sadness for having treated our Lord with contempt….and dishonoring Him.

He is calling us to surrender….

….this is an old fashioned term….that means giving up fighting with God…..and coming into peace with God’s Will and Way.

As Christians, we are to be able to discern good and evil…..and the Holy Spirit is the Discerner in us……yield to Him…and know where you stand.

Make Room For Christ, by Repentance

Luke 3:2-6 “…the word of God came unto John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

And he came into all the country about Jordon, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Baptism was done to proselytes (Gentiles who wanted to be admitted into the worship of God). Then they could go into the Temple. (There was a court of the Gentiles)

But here, John the Baptist comes to Israel, God’s chosen people; and preaches repentance from their sins, as he was told to do…..by baptism.

Prepare yourselves: for the Lord is coming.

If you want to be in the kingdom of God, prepare your hearts by repentance, and bring forth fruit in your life that shows that you have repented.

Luke 3:8-9 “Bring forth therefore fruits of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the tree: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn (cut) down, and cast into the fire.”

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” But how? Bring all who would hear, to the place that they know that the Christ is coming to set all things in order…..

Malachi 4:4-6 “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant….

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

“To turn the hearts”…..that is repentance. To remember who we are….the called of the Lord,….and what should be first….in our lives.

Luke 3:10-11 “And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”

These were simple things which were written in the Law. But the poor state of most of the people, had caused them to think only of themselves.

Luke 3:12-13 “Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

And he said unto them, Exact no more then that which is appointed you.”

Publicans were tax collectors, and were most often cheats.

They demanded extra taxes to be paid, and kept the extra. The people could not say anything about it, for they were under the authority of Rome.

Luke 3:14 “And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”

Again, these would have been things which were written in the Law. Things which they should have already been doing.

But everyone had stopped paying any attention to God’s Word: going, instead, after their own way, or the way of the times (everyone else is doing it, so I can too.).

The “valleys to be filled”, were those who had given up: depressed, despondent; they were to be given joy in the Lord.

The mountains and hills to be “brought low”, were the proud and rich, with the attitude of piling up riches, to gain power or influence. Not caring about their responsibility in caring for their brethren. They were to come to a new understanding about mercy. (Matthew 9:11-13)

The “crooked” were the flagrant sinners; those who everyone knew to be sinners.

They were to be saved and “sin no more”. (John 8:11)

The “rough ways” were the practices of the scribes and Pharisees, which instructed the people in the traditions; yet did not practice them, themselves.

All needed repentance. To change their hearts and lives. To live according to the Word they had already received. To make room for Christ.

Isaiah said, “…make straight in the desert a highway for our God….And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh see it together ; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 40:3-5)

A highway is a road built up; set up above the ground around. It is a road that all can see, for it is higher than the fields and streams.

John the Baptist came building up a way that all could see and follow.

It would be straight;….and all who would repent and come,….could walk in it.

Isaiah 35:8 “And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”

“Wayfaring men” are those whose whole lives are moving from one thing to another. Yet even though they are just passing by, they will know God’s Will for them.

John the Baptist came preaching and baptizing all who wanted to have the reality of true worship of the Lord.

The people who knew they were not right, and wanted to be. Maybe they were called the “down-and-out”……

Maybe they were so far from God, they thought they would never be able to come back…..

But John preached to all: and whosoever will, may come.

Then Jesus came.

“And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

John 1:29 “The next day John seeing Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!”

Matthew 3:16-17 “And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lightening upon Him:

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

He was the Son of God, having come to take away the sins of the world.

And when He had done that by the sacrifice of Himself, and after His resurrection:…..the message to all His disciples was:

Matthew 28:19-20 “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.”

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

May I ask you: what will we do with His Word?

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s

Song of Solomon 1:1 “The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s”

Solomon wrote 1005 songs (1 Kings 4:32)….

But this book, the Song of Solomon…..is the Song of Songs, because it pictures the intimate relationship between the Lord and the seeking believer.

Song of Solomon 1:2-3 “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth: for Thy love is better than wine.

Because of the savour of Thy good ointments Thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love Thee.”

Here is the desire for that intimate, personal relationship with Christ Jesus.

She asks, for His kisses which would show to her His personal love to her.

Do we want this?

She is saved, and knows the Lord…..but has felt that there is more to knowing Him, then she has…..

….therefore she asks for the “kisses of Thy mouth”.

No one can kiss two persons at the same time, so this is what she asks for. That expression of HIs personal love for her…..which is not possessed by another.

(Every Israelite had their own land, their own possession…..yet all were in the Promised Land.

So, too, with each Christian, with their own needs and personality…..God loves all His believers,….yet He gives each their own possession of Him….their own “kisses of His mouth” to experience….if they want.)

She is saying, “I know Your love, it is better than all that I have ever had….”the wine” of the world.

And the Holy Spirit has shown me that nothing can compare to Your personal love……so I want to know You more.”

Do we want to know the Lord in a more personal way? Do we want our possession in Christ Jesus?

He has a Name so sweet that it draws her to Him.

“Savour of Thy good ointments” means that the sweet scent of Christ, seen in His Name, has blown abroad. No one has this, like Christ. No one shares the same sweetness to our souls.

(When Aaron was consecrated as High Priest, he was anointed with oil [Exodus 29:7]. The anointing oil was made of myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, and olive oil [Exodus 30:23-25]. The scent would have been noticeable….and no one else could use this particular composition….it was holy, for the Tabernacle and priests.)

It is His Name….Jesus—Savior….that is so sweet. The “good ointment” of that Name….has been “poured forth”…and we remember Him voluntarily, out of love for us and His Father’s Will…..being sacrificed, in death for us.

“The virgins love Thee”. The virgins here are the church….they love Him, they love HIs name and what it means to them….what He has done for them.

How do we feel about His precious name? How do we feel when His Name is taken in vain?

(Remember, at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow!

Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

There are many names for the Lord Jesus,….mighty names….but it is not at any one of them that every knee shall bow….

….but at the name of Jesus.

It is the name of His humanity….of HIs humility….

…but at the very sounding of His name….every knee will bow.)

This Name, Jesus, is truly precious. It means Savior (Matthew 1:21)…and the scent of His Person, coming forth to save me,…us….from our sins, that we might be forever with Him…..

….has been sent into every nation, tongue, people…

….how does it effect us?

Song of Solomon 1:4 “Draw me,…”.

This is the cry of her heart…..

“Draw me, we will run after Thee: the king hath brought me into HIs chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in Thee, we will remember Thy love more than wine: the upright love Thee.”

For a king to permit his hand, or his garment, to be kissed….was considered a great honor….

…but that the King of kings should kiss me with the kisses of His mouth….would be the greatest honor.

That the King should permit me audience into His chambers or pavilion, where only trusted friends are able to come (Esther 4:11, 5:2)…..boldly before His throne (Hebrews 4:16)…is wonderful….

…”we will be glad (inward) and rejoice (outward)….in Thee….we will remember Thy love more than wine.”

Again I ask: Do we?

Is our desire for a more personal….and a more complete relationship with Christ?

O the unsearchable riches of Christ! Wealth that can never be told;

Riches exhaustless of mercy and grace, Precious, more precious than gold!

O the unsearchable riches of Christ! Who’s shall their greatness declare!

Jewels whose luster our lives may adorn, Pearls that the poorest may wear.

O the unsearchable riches of Christ! Freely, how freely they flow;

Making the souls of the faithful and true, Happy wherever they go.

O the unsearchable riches of Christ! Who would not gladly endure…

Trials, afflictions, and crosses on earth, Riches like these to secure!

Missing the Mark

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

We are all sinners. Sinners by chance, and by choice.

To sin means to “miss the mark”…..we have missed the mark for the purpose of God for our lives.

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art Worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

God has a purpose for each of us…..not just a work or ministry….but real meaning for our days, here…..personally.

I have found that one day can be just like another….one week like last week….and so on; until time has passed, and we look back, wondering what we have accomplished….

One day, we will go before the Lord Jesus, as we are……and then our work that we have accomplished toward being conformed to His image (character), will be rewarded.

Sin is our desire to rule ourselves….to have the final say, in the way things are going to go, in our lives.

To say who will be in our lives,……and their importance.

To say or decide our place….

….when in reality, the only decision left man, after choosing sin……is “whosoever will, may come” (Revelation 22:17)….to Christ, or not.

It started with the temptation of the devil, “…and ye shall be as gods…”.

When in reality, they became like the beasts of the field….relying more on “instinct”, then on faith.

(Running away from God when they knew they were naked, instead of toward Him for forgiveness; which faith would have lead them to do.)

The purpose of God for us is to know Him, Whom to know aright is to have eternal life:

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

We have death through sin…

Ephesians 2:1 “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

But in Christ Jesus, we are offered eternal life…..which is a condition of life, here and now, as well as in heaven, for ever.

Are we living in the privileges of that Eternal life?

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:”

We can “abide” in Him, again……we can become…..in His Purpose…..all He wanted for us at the beginning…..the glory, the place with Him, the Will of the Almighty, worked in us and through us forever.

John 17:23 “I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfect in One; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.”

Let’s stop missing the mark for our lives…..today, tonight, tomorrow….and on through the rest of this year…and this next year,….until we stand in His Presence.

Let us seek His Pleasure….determination for us…..Let Him rule in us.

The Calling of Matthew

Matthew 9:9 “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.”

Matthew was a publican, or tax collector. These men were hated of their own nation, because they worked for the Romans.

They were also often corrupt, and took more than they were suppose to, or stole from their own people.

But Jesus passed that way, and did something others would not (unless it was in cursing). He spoke to Matthew.

And called him to follow Him as one of His disciples.

By this time He had called the fishermen, Peter, James, and John.

He had preached the sermon on the mount; and a conversation with the scribes, and Pharisees, had been started.

This conversation was about His authority.

Did He have the authority from God to do what He was doing: healing the sick, forgiving sins, and calling disciples?

Many people were interested in His authority; not to submit to it, but to prove it wrong, so they could go on in their own way.

(And this is what Jesus came to save his people out of:

Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”)

So the Pharisees and scribes took every opportunity to question His actions, and His words. If they could just prove Him wrong, then that would prove themselves right. Right?

(Of course, it would not; but sin makes us believe a lie. How much we need a Savior from it!)

Matthew 9:10 “And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house (of Matthew), behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.”

After his call to follow Jesus, Matthew invites Him into his home. Anxious to have others of his acquaintance, know Jesus, he has a supper for Him, and invites many.

(Perhaps Matthew was going to give his testimony about how Jesus had called him, and how he knew that it was a call from God; and he had answered it.

They would not see him at the receipt of customs any more, for he knew that Jesus was from God, and he would leave all and follow Him.)

Matthew 9:11-13 “And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

And when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus is quoting what God has told His people in the Old Testament. Verses that set forth what God wanted from His people:

Hosea 6:6 “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

Micah 6:8 “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to have mercy, and walk humbly with thy God?”

God wanted His people to love Him, and each other. The sacrifices, set forth the means of having their sins cleansed, and coming close to God. (They all looked forward to Christ’s sacrifice)

But they were to be given, along with the inward love of their hearts; not just in outward show.

“Mercy”, here, means brotherly kindness. They were always to be helping each other, as brothers. They were to be seeing to their welfare.

And what better way to give mercy to another, than to introduce them to Jesus?

Jesus then rebukes these Pharisees, by saying what His work, as the Son of God is:

“…for I am not come to call the righteous (in their own eyes)….but (to call) sinners to repentance.”

It is for all who know they are sinners to come….and “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”.

That is what this supper was about. To introduce Matthew’s Master to Matthew’s friends.

Yes, they were publicans and sinners.

But they, like Matthew, needed to hear and see Jesus.

Matthew loved his friends, so he wanted them to know Him, who was the Savior.

This is true love.

Jesus said later:

John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another.”

Surely the Pharisees knew that Matthew was now a disciple of Jesus.

How many believed on Jesus because of this supper, it does not say. But love was present; even for the Pharisees, if they would receive Jesus and HIs Word.

To “receive” Jesus, is to let Him come in as Master; into our hearts, and lives.(John 1:12)

Matthew certainly did this, for he manifested the greatest calling of a disciple: mercy and love.

Are you experiencing the Fruit of the Spirit?

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.”

When we are born again, the Holy Spirit enters our spirit and gives us new life.

But He also brings us faith: the ability to believe God, trust Him, and follow Him.

It requires us to use what He gives, but He has given it. If we yield, He gives and empowers us more.

The method of this is to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit within us.

When He says to wait, we wait. Patience is given and we can wait as long as He wants.

When He says to love, not hate……then that love is given by the Holy Spirit within,…..and as we yield to Him, we can experience that, in place of the anger and bitterness, which would come in certain circumstances.

When He says to quiet yourself in peace. His peace can take over the maddening shouts, the chaos, and the fear in your soul, and His quiet restful peace reigns in any circumstances.

But if we hesitate,….for any reason (and how many reasons we have!);….or hold out for our own way,……giving into self-expressions of anger, bitterness, fear, or self glorification:

We quench the Holy Spirit, and His power is withheld.

Then we stand in the precarious position of facing the circumstances, (not alone, for He is always with us)….

…..but without the needed power, for we have “put out the fire”……the power the Holy Spirit wants to give. (“Quench not the Spirit” 1 Thessalonians 5:19)

(I talk of “yielding” a lot. It is the term Paul used in Romans when he spoke of Christ freeing us from sin.

Romans 6:13, 16 “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members of instruments of righteousness unto God.

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whither of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

With these simple verses Paul stresses that “yielding to God” is the means of victory.)

Galatians 5:25-26 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

When Paul says “we live in the Spirit”, he means that we are born again, alive to the newness of Christ’s life within us.

So he says we should walk in the Spirit; or experience that life of Christ’s in our everyday walk.

Paul says that we should not be desirous of vain glory.

The world looks out for #1……so you will be noticed, appreciated, respected above others.

Is that so bad?

When the heart is full of myself,….my place in society,…my goals,….my attainments;…..we are not full of the Holy Spirit,…..we have left Him no room.

Paul says we are not to provoke one another. Simply seek the peaceable things to talk about. Try not to start a fight

(There is defending the faith, but that is not contentious, but:

2 Timothy 2:24-25 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient;

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”)

And Paul says we are not to envy one another.

Envy is often thought light of in this day;…..but “envy” in the Greek means to shrivel away,……or pine for something someone else has.

When we do that,…..the Adversary of our souls can tempt us to think harshly of God’s Will and Way for us.

(Why can’t I have, what they have?)

Are you yielding to the Spirit of God within you?

You can have all He wants to give,…..all the fruit of the Holy Spirit within you….and through you…..if you will.

The Faithful and True Witness says of Us.

Revelation 3:18 “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thy eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

Consider this very carefully: All these things spoken of here, every Christian should have.

We should have the gold, which speaks of God in our lives; and how rich we are with Him in our lives!

We should have the white raiment of Christ’s righteousness, to cover us; and the righteous acts of our obedience to our Lord, to adorn His mercy to us.

We should have eyes that see, by faith; for darkness brings blindness. So Christ says to anoint our eyes, by the Holy Spirit, using that honesty which removes the darkness, and brings us to the Light.

Yet the Faithful and True Witness says we lack these three essential things; and are not even aware of it.

How can this be?

It can only be if the letter of the promise is claimed; without the personal experience of that promise.

Christ promises Eternal Life to all who come and receive Him into their hearts and lives.

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:”

It is receiving Him, not heaven, which gives us the power to be saved.

In Christ is Life.

We open our lives to Him, as sinners in need of a Savior from our sin.

We do not come to Christ to receive heaven, He will not give us “pretend” life, but real life, in Him.

In Laodicea, the Church is seen as gathered in a place which does not have Christ in it.

It is not…that He does not have first place there; He does not have any place there.

He is out side the door of His own Church asking that each individual that hears His knock and voice, will open to Him.

It is not the Church door they open, but the door to their hearts and lives; for He offers communion and power to “any man” who will open to Him.

Revelation 3:20″Behold, I stand the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

This “sup” is communion, and fellowship.

And then He says that all who overcome will receive throne authority.

Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

But what do we “overcome”?

We are to overcome anything which stands in the way of God’s Will for us. Just as Christ overcame everything which stood in the way of His Father’s Will for Him.

Will you….give Christ a life open to and receptive to Him?

Will you overcome all that stands in your way of doing Gods Will?

A New Way

Joshua 1:1-2 “….the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,

      Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.”

Here was a new beginning in the history of Israel…”now, therefore, arise”.   

     And isn’t it the same for us as we begin a new challenge or a deeper experience with God…we need to arise….out of the old and into the new.

Joshua 3:3-4 “And they commanded the people, saying,  When ye see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it,  then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

     Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure:  come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go:  for ye have not passed this way heretofore.”

Two things to mention, here.

       There was new ground to be trodden…you “have not passed this way heretofore”

       And new promises to obtain….”ye shall remove from your place and go after it”

       They were to look to the Ark of the Covenant, which represented God with them…and follow it.

       They were not to come too near it….to show honor and reverence to God.   

And this is the Way they were to go from now on…following God’s Way….and doing everything in  honor and reverence to the Lord.

For us, as well, there are always new steps to be taken in our walk with the Lord.  We have growing up into Christ to be done….

…..as well as new promises to get into our experience.

2 John 1:8 “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”

“wrought” here,  means toil, labor.    Do not throw away what you have labored toward in the gospel of Christ.

This is where we face the reality of our profession. And the reality that we could lose some of the reward set aside for us.

 Life is hard at times….and there are enemies around in the world.   

Paul says that there is a danger of becoming a castaway….a worthless servant.

    (We all know the term castaway…whether by circumstances of storm or being turned out because of dishonorable actions….these are set on desert islands, or in the midst of the sea.   These are not able to do anything to regain trust….they are let go.)

1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others,  I myself should be a castaway.”

This does not mean the loss of his salvation….but the loss of reward.   The loss of being of value to my Precious Lord Jesus.

And the apostle John says….it is possible to lose some of the things we have “wrought”….worked for…and not get a full reward.

How do we hear these verses?

What do they say to us?

Again,  are the things the Lord has set aside for us, of any real value to us?

Revelation 4:4, 9-11 “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

    And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne,  Who liveth for ever and ever,

    The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 

    Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

The glory of having a crown in that day,   will be to cast it at the feet of Jesus!

(You will remember the dream my husband had once, years ago….of dying and going to heaven!

This is his testimony about it:

       “First, the joy that I had made it!   rejoicing that I was there with Christ!

       Then, the reality of facing Jesus,….empty-handed….nothing to give Him….nothing to lay at His feet.

I wish I could describe to you the absolute despair that I felt….the absolute emptiness of it!

       To be saved, yet so as by fire.   With nothing to give Him, Who had given so much for me.”)

For all of us….wherever we are in our experience….let me exhort or awaken you to “arise and go over”.

There are new steps to take….we have not passed this way, heretofore.

We are treading new ground,  things will be different.

      We are to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Both require strength and courage in the face of our enemies.

Deuteronomy 33:25-27 “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

      There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, Who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in His excellency on the sky.

      The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say,  Destroy them.”

We are to prove all things in our personal lives….God is a faithful God of Promise.

      We are to go on and prove all things in our gifts and callings….to do what we have been called to do.   

      We are not a grand experiment…but a Purpose still getting worked out…in our everyday lives.   There is a grand end in view!

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 that calleth you,  Who also will do it.”

What a Lord and Savior we have!

The Elder Brother

Luke 15:25-26 “Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.”

Here is the elder brother of the Prodigal, doing what he always does….coming in from the field after seeing to the work there.

This he had done many times since his younger brother had left.

As the eldest son, he had been given the first two-thirds of the inheritance; while his younger brother had taken his one-third and left (to squander it).

But what he had not realized was, that when the Father divided his living among them (Luke 15:12)…

…..it was a legal transaction that transferred all the substance, authority, and wealth to them.

So when the younger left with his….everything (2/3 of the estate), was now his, to do what he wanted with.

The elder son was lord of the manor…..his Father was nothing more than an honored guest in his house.

(Yes, he was to honor and to see to him as long as he lived….but the place, house, money, and servants, etc. was his….with all the legal standing of this position.

He could do what he wanted with all of it.)

But the elder son never saw or possessed this……..and that was because he never really knew his Father, and his goodness.

He still saw things as they had always been….a son just doing his chores.

There was no enjoyment of his inheritance….no enjoyment or fellowship between him and his Father….just the duty, somehow to gain……something…some day.

(that is the intangible “something”, because we should not do our duty for gain; but for love’s sake)

But sadly, he had everything….and never enjoyed it.

I am emphasizing this, because there are a lot of Christians the same way.

We have an inheritance…..yes, it will be complete in heaven….but, we have the earnest of that inheritance, now….in the Person of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

We have “all spiritual blessings” in Christ, waiting for us to get them down here in our practical life. (Ephesians 1:3)

We have the fruit of the Spirit to enjoy….and the ability to fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Do we really know this? What are we doing about it?

Or are we like the elder brother, who never really knew his Father….so did not know the enjoyment of the life he (or we) have been given.

(The Prodigal, though a mess and a failure….losing so much of his life on riotous living in the world….yet he, at least, knew his Father, and knew he would be given a place (even as a servant)…..if he returned to Him.

When he did, the Father ran out to meet him, for he had been “dead” to all the life he should have had, till he returned. Luke 15:32)

But the Father also “came out and entreated” the elder brother.

When the elder brother found out the younger was home, and the Father had killed the fatted calf for him (something that was reserved for honored guests and special occasions)….

He was angry…

Luke 15:28-30 “And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his Father out, and entreated him.

And he answering said to his Father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.”

Now you might think, having heard this….that he had good reason to be angry.

No, he did not. He could have had a party with his friends, anytime he wanted….with a kid, or the fatted calf, if he wanted.

But sadly, he did not know this.

He thought he was a servant….not a son.

He thought his inheritance rested in his merit….how hard he worked, and obedient he had been.

“I never transgressed Thy commandments….even though I grudgingly did them for merit”.

Is this obedience?…..

…….maybe to the letter….not to the heart of them.

For the heart of any commandment, or direction from the Lord is to guide you into greater enjoyment of the life of God, in you.

“I deserve better than You have given me”…

…..what?!

He did not even know or use……what the Father had given him.

“I deserve better than You have given the prodigal”….

……But, the Father said……you had it….all the time…to have and use, anytime!

No, his inheritance (and ours) rests in the fact that we are sons of God, not in our merits.

The Father had come out, and “entreated” him. He earnestly beseeched, implored, begged him to come on in, and party with them.

How this shows the desire of the Father’s heart for His sons….to have them fellowshipping with Him.

Luke 15:31 “And He said unto His son, Son, thou art ever with Me, and all that I have is thine.”

All that Christ obtained for us, in His death and resurrection, are laid up for us…..not just for the by-and-by….but for now, to own and use.

It is in Christ….but we are in Christ. (“In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance…” Ephesians 1:11)

Ephesians 1:3, 7-9, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace.

Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: “

1 John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:….”

You We have our inheritance now….which is Christ in you the hope of glory…..now, and forever…

….what will we do with it?

The Fountain of Life Springing up within You

Psalm 36:9 “For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.”

John 7:37-38 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.

He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

In this feast, the celebration of God’s Salvation is told under the type of water.

The priests and Levites would gather certain vessels, and in procession, take them out the water gate, to the wells outside the city.

They would be filled and carried back to the sanctuary; where they would be poured on the floor between the Brazen Altar, where the sacrifices were given; and the Holy Place where only the priests could enter.

In the temple there were steps behind the Altar, which lead to the Holy Place.

As they poured the water onto the floor they would be quoting:

Isaiah 12:2-6 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the well of salvation.

And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted.

Sing unto the Lord; for He hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

On the last day, the great day of the feast,……they would pour no water; but gather there in the sanctuary, and quote this passage:

looking up to God to supply the Salvation in the Holy One for them.

This time, on this last day…the great day……Jesus stepped out of the crowd…to the stairs behind them and in fulfillment of prophesy,….

He cried:

“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Here was exactly what they were quoting about. Here was the Messiah, the Savior.

What would they do with Him?

John 7:40-43 “Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

Others said, This is the Christ. Some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

Hath not the scriptures said, that Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

So there was a division among the people because of him.”

They talked about Him, but none made the decision that He had offered.

He gave them Light to see that He was indeed the Savior, who had been promised.

He spoke plainly to them and gave them the offer of Life; real, flowing, powerful life; like the water.

This He would supply by His Holy Spirit, within His believers.

John 7:39 “But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”

They saw light, and knew the power of His Word, and life; but refused to yield to that truth.

John 7:45-46 “Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees: and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”

God’s Light has been shown to you; He is indeed the Savior, Christ Jesus.

What will you do with the Life He has offered you?

Are you continuing to receive all of His life within you?

Will you come to Him, and receive it;…..receive Him?

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”