Forgiveness

Matthew 6:11-12 “Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,”

As Christians we are in need of so much help from God. And God is more than willing to give it.

But He has said that our sins block His blessings to us.

Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”

So when we ask for God to “give us”, we should also pray “forgive us”.

We are kept day by day, in Christ. And we need to keep the channel of blessing open.

“Forgive us our debts”. God created us as responsible creatures. Therefore, as Christians, we are to use our faculties of mind (we are to think what God wants us to), our heart (we are to love God above all else), and our wills (we are to will to do God’s Will).

Our sins here, are seen as debts: unpaid duties or failures to do God’s Will.

◦ Christ Jesus made full payment of our debts at Calvary: on the Cross our sins and guilt was canceled.

But in the practical working of the Holy Spirit within us, we can stifle the Spirit, by our sins, which we do not take to Jesus and confess.

This causes us to feel far from the Lord, for with every sin, unconfessed, a little of the light of God is overcast.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When we confess our sins, He forgives us in practical cleansing. We do not feel them, or the darkness from them. We feel as though light has been given to our souls.

We are cleansed. The burden removed, and a settled peace comes within us.

We can draw near Him again with joy and a clear conscience; because He has forgiven us.

Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

His Word to us is always: “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

If we are ever feeling burdened by coming to Christ, sin has come between us.

Confess it, and get the peace that He has for you. Continual cleansing by His blood, as we walk in the light He shines for our path.

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Moses and the mountains

In scripture, mountains represent two things….impossible difficulties, which only God can surmount (and we all have those in our lives)….

….and places of close, personal dealing with God; where we grow intimately closer to Him.

Moses had several such experiences in the mountains.

Exodus 3:1-3 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.”

Here Moses “turns aside” from his everyday routine……and meets God.

He hears His Voice in a bush which burned, without burning up….on a mountain.

This was his calling….”come close to Me, and go for Me…..and deliver My people from the bondage of Pharaoh”.

Moses is given God’s Word….and told…”return unto thy people”.

(Our calling is often among the people around us…whether in our own home or church, or town…..though it may lead elsewhere.)

Moses did that….bringing them by God’s Word, out of Egypt….and across the Red Sea, on dry ground.

Three months later:

Exodus 19:1-3 “In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

….and there Israel camped before the mount.

And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying….”

Again Moses hears God’s Voice,….this time with a promise for His people….

Exodus 19:5-6 “Now therefore , if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine:

And ye shall be unto a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Those are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

Sinai was where God entered into a covenant relationship with Israel….there they became a nation, not just a family.

Four times Moses went up into the mountain:

(Exodus 19:19-20) When God came down on Mt. Sinai, Moses was called up in the mountain for instruction to the people.

(Exodus 24:12-13) God called Moses the first time to receive instruction for the Tabernacle and to get the Ten Commandments written on stone….these tablets he threw down and broke, when the people sinned, worshipping the golden calf…Exodus32:19.

(Exodus 32:30-33) Moses went up to God in the mountain to intercede for Israel, because of their sin with the golden calf.

(Exodus 34:1, 4) God called Moses up to the mountain to receive a new tablet containing the Ten Commandments….and saw His glory.

Each time God spoke to him, giving Moses His pattern for access to Him.

(And often our mountain experience is when we have new insight from God for our lives….which brings us into a closer relationship with Him.

Like Moses we have often prayed…..”I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory.”

But we notice, Moses had to leave the people at the bottom of the mountain….and even Joshua, his minister….was left at a low level.

He had to travel up….alone. Most of the time, we too, need to leave the crowd, to gain closer union with God.)

The next mountain Moses climbed was about thirty nine years later….that mountain was mount Hor, for it was time for Aaron, the high priest (Moses brother)…..to die.

Numbers 20:25-26 “Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:

And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.”

All three went up the mountain, but only two: Moses and Eleazar, now as high priest, came down, to continue to minister.

It was time for Aaron to die….and that shows that there is a time for all of us…whether sickness, or accident….death will come to those we love. He was not alone….Moses and Aaron’s son were there….and God, of course….to take his hand.

And they mourned for Aaron for thirty days.

(Sometimes our mountain experience is grief…..grief is one of those things that is very hard to deal with…for often we do not know how it will affect us.

I have seen solid people fall apart….in grief.

I have seen the faithful….question God for a time.

I have seen children, bewildered….because parents lack the courage to speak about these things [instead of giving hope and confidence in God to these little ones, they give vague answers….which are not answers.]

Some cry and mourn out loud….and others silently.

Some grow angry that there was not more time….thinking of things unsaid, or things undone.

But grief….is our heart’s feeling, when a loved one goes away [in the Hebrew it means “to carve”….and their loss will “carve a place for them that is empty…unfilled in us”.]

It hurts us, for we will miss them, and their voice….speaking to us.

But, like all “hurts”….there is our Beloved Physician, Jesus Christ…..who fills their loss with good: good memories, good courage, good peace….

…..and it is good, if we like Moses and Israel here….take time to mourn.

“Mourn” means to pour out your hurt (that means the hurt is gone, but not the memories)…and for us Christians….we should pour it out to God.)

The next mountain that Moses climbed was Pisgah.

It was on the far side of Jordon….for he could not go into the land because in his anger he disobeyed God, the second time he brought water from the Rock.

(The Rock symbolized Christ….giving life giving water to His people. Moses struck it once in Horeb (Exodus 17:6)….this showed that all the blessings we receive, are because Jesus was smitten for us.

…..the next time he was to bring water from the Rock, Moses was to speak to it…showing Christ Jesus in ascension glory, giving blessing to His people, from heaven, when we ask.

But Moses, in anger struck the Rock again….having a fit, and disobeying God.

After all God had showed Moses, his temper-tantrum barred him from Canaan. Deuteronomy 32:51)

On Pisgah, God showed Moses the land:

Deuteronomy 3:27 “Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.”

Deuteronomy 34:1, 5 “And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho: and the Lord showed him all the land…

So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.”

This time the mountain brought him, not just to see the Lord’s glory….but to the Lord Himself in heaven.

His work was done….now his ministry he had accomplished by shepherding the second generation, would be blessed….but under Joshua (who was Moses helper. Exodus 24:13) all Israel went in to possess the Land.

(This is a great mountain….for when we die, as Christians, we are in the hands of God….our spirits and souls go with Him….but our body stays here(Deuteronomy 34:6) for a while….one day it will be raised to a glorified body, as well.

Moses work was done….and he had prepared others to go on…..are we preparing for our final journey….and for others to go on without us?)

But there is one more mountain for Moses: and this is a Hallelujah one!

Luke 9:28-31 “And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He (Jesus) took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistening

And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elijah:

Who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.”

Jesus is praying on the mountain, and His Father sends Him Moses, representing the Law….and Elijah, representing the Prophets to talk to Him….

……about “His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem”.

Moses finally got into the Land, in his glorified body,….standing on a mountain, talking to the Son of God/ the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, face to face.

And what other subject would they have?….but the great work Christ would accomplish for Salvation at Jerusalem….what a conversation that would have been!

(And this mountain show us that, in heaven, we will be able to talk to Jesus face to face….in our glorified bodies….and with other believers.)

The “mountain” experiences of our lives are there to bring us closer to the Lord…to give us a desire to grow even more closer.

What of us? Are we “turning aside” from our everyday lives, to hear God’s voice…even on the more difficult mountains of experience?

Are we seeking a closer view of God, no matter what others feel about Him?

God has mountain experiences for us….do we want them?

Moses did….and had them….do we?

Philemon

Philemon is a private letter sent by Paul to a householder and friend….a brother in Christ…one, it is suggested, that was won to Christ by Paul.

Philemon 19 “….albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.”

The subject is one of Philemon’s servants….who had run away from his work, and run far away, to Rome.

His name was Onesimus.

(It does not say, exactly, what Onesimus did or took when he left….but the letter suggests that he wronged Philemon in some way.

Philemon 18-19 “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account. I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it:…”)

There in Rome, Onesimus had heard Paul preach and had been converted. (Philemon 15-16)

After his conversion, he has become a faithful friend and servant to Paul….running errands, and giving his testimony and witness to others.

(1 Thessalonians 4:7, 9 “All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you….with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you….”)

Onesimus was changed by the new life of Christ within….becoming a “beloved brother”.

But the letter is not called Onesimus…..but Philemon; for the real meat of the letter is with this man,…..and what Paul was showing him….

Philemon is a Christian….he has a church in his house….most likely of friends and servants; meeting together to worship.

He is also one which has been a good witness of Christ Jesus…..and sent goods to the saints abroad….(Philemon 5)

But, let’s face it, it is not easy to receive one who has treated you badly…..or forgive them…which would put this “run-away” on a totally different status.

Also, now, Onesimus is beloved of Paul….and one who had done works for God.

He was being sent back to ask forgiveness of him (Philemon)….and to speak to the church in his house of Paul….that, too, puts him on a totally different status.

Paul, considering this good man, sends Onesimus back, with this letter….so that Philemon might forgive him…..in person….and grow in grace, and character.

The grace of equality.

Before God, Philemon and Onesimus were brothers in Christ. One was not more loved than the other. This is a hard lesson to learn…..for we are usually quite competitive when it comes to God’s blessing and the respect of others.

And Paul wanted Philemon to have the the character of God….rejoicing over a rebel, returned to God…

….(think the Father with the prodigal running to kiss and restore him….Luke 15:20-22…

….and not the elder brother’s attitude, which was full of anger that the Prodigal got forgiven….so much so, that he would not enter into the rejoicing….even complained of his “service”……which was ridiculous, because he was the owner of all…Luke 15:28-31)

You see, Onesimus still belonged to Philemon…..it was his right to do what he wanted…

….Paul wanted Philemon to know that Onesimus was his, legally…..but was also his brother in Christ. (Philemon 15-16)

Philemon 6 “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”

By forgiving Onesimus, Philemon might grow in faith and love, in himself….and his witness to his church will become more effectual.

(It is one thing to show mercy, or send goods or money to someone who is far away…..but have them stand in your face,….and forgive someone who wronged you….and let them take a prominent role in the church;…..is sometimes quite different.)

Philemon 8-9 “Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

(Paul would rather have kept Onesimus with him, for he was a help….but…he would not use his authority and seek to keep him, without Philemon’s blessing)

Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now as also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.”

Paul was writing as a friend, a fellow believer…..not in his authority to do this….but beseeching, as a fellow Christian…..for Philemon’s sake.

You see this is the meat…..Paul was not just an advocate for Onesimus…..but for Philemon, as well.

Wanting,…for love’s sake,….to do the best thing for him….and that was to guide him into true forgiveness…..and joy of any circumstances which honor and glorify God….even with a former rebellious servant.

Philemon 14 “But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.”

Here is the crux of our forgiveness…..is it willingly…..for Christ’s sake?

Philemon 17, 20 “If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.”

This is what Paul wanted:

Joy, in knowing that these two Christian brothers had been reconciled in the Lord….this was more important to Paul….even in prison, needing the help….than anything else.

The Lord Jesus said:

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

This kind of love, is always in the Lord….it goes beyond hurt, loss, boundaries of place or title….It is as Jesus loved us.

Philemon 21 “Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do more than I say.”

Let us have this testimony, as well….that we will be obedient….and more so….we will rejoice in it.

This is the Way….so walk into it.

Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ear shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the Way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, or when ye turn to the left.”

I quote this verse often, for the Lord gave it to me years ago when I was asking concerning His Will for my life.

He was telling me, that He would not let me get “bewildered”, or “lost” along His Way….but would guide me….by His Holy Spirit and His Word….to the right direction.

“Walk ye in it”. To walk sets for the fact of….one step at a time. Our everyday living.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thy heart; and lean not to thy own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

There is in our everyday paths the means of fulfilling of His Purpose for us.

We need seek no special arrangement,…..but just to be found faithful in what we have at hand.

1 Peter 3:15 (Williams Version)

“But in your hearts be consecrated to Christ as Lord, and always be ready to make your defense to anyone who asks a reason for the hope you have. But you must do it in gentleness and reverence.”

This is the Way….and Peter walked right out of prison….

Acts 12:7, 9-10 “And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

And he went out, and followed him: and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

When they were past the first and second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.”

Peter had been arrested, and put in prison after Herod had killed James….for standing with Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

He was asleep when God sent His angel to lead him out…..thinking that soon he would see the Lord Jesus face to face again.

(Peter, by this time had preached at Pentecost…and saw three thousand saved. Acts 2:41

He had healed the lame man, and preached before the counsel, when they commanded them to stop preaching in Jesus’s name….”We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29

And he had been sent to Cornelius house….a Roman centurion…to preach the gospel to them….and the Holy Ghost had been given to the Gentiles, as well as to the Jews…….through his preaching. Acts 10:44-45

He had been busy for the Lord….and, laying in the prison cell….he was ready to go to see Him again.)

But God’s Way for James was to be martyred,…..to show the devotion to Christ, in front of the people…

…while God’s Way for Peter was something more,….here on earth….for some time to come…

….so He brought Peter out of prison….for His Way.

This is the Way…

…..and Paul and Silas walked right into a prison.

Paul had wanted to go into Asia to preach the gospel….but was “forbidden of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 16:6).

Then they thought to go into Bithynia (the upper part of Turkey)….but “the Spirit suffered them not.”

Then Paul had a vision in the night of a Macedonian saying, “Come over and help us”

So they immediately went to Phillippi, one of the chief cities of Macedonia….and a Roman colony.

At first, in the city, they were encouraged by Lydia being converted with some of her friends.

She invited them to come into her home and have that for a base while they were in the city.

But….as they continued in the city….a girl possessed with a spirit of divination kept following them, day after day….when they went anywhere…..saying, “These are the men of the Most High God….which show unto us the way of salvation.”

Paul being grieved…..knowing this was not the Way the gospel was to be given out….turned and said, “I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.” She was free of this terrible spirit!

But her master’s were furious.

So now,….they were brought before the magistrates, and accused of “troubling our city”…..commanded to be beaten (“they laid many stripes upon them”)……and…they were thrown into the inner prison, in stocks (which meant they would have been bent, with their feet and hands in the wooden stocks).

Acts 16:25 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”

Paul and Silas prayed,….and I think some of their first prayers were to see if they had done the Lord’s Will….or had over-stepped themselves. (Remember Paul had been grieved by it….was it right to deal with this situation, as he had?)

And when they heard that it was His Will….it was for the greater glory of God……then praise came from their hearts,….and into song.

It was from the Holy Spirit….for after the beating they had….and in the position they were sitting….it was not of their own strength…….He would have had to empower them.

That is victory….in the Way….but there is more…..for God’s Way often leads us to the people that need us to tell them of Christ Jesus….and often it is not as we think.

(Are we ready for it, when the opportunity comes?)

Acts 16:26 “And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that that the foundation of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every man’s bands were loosed.”

Hallelujah! This must mean we are to go!

But Paul and Silas were checked in the spirit….they stayed….and God put a check on all the prisoners.

The guard waking up, was going to take his own life….thinking he was to blame for the prisoners escaping….he should not have been asleep…

….but Paul was listening hard to God…and cried out…

Acts 16:28 “And Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.”

Paul saves the guard’s life……and the guard comes in to see if this is true…..and then….is amazed at these men…..they must know some God, to leave themselves in His hands still.

And Paul leads him and his family, to the Lord.

Acts 16:29-33 “Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas.

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”

Paul and Silas were released the next day….

Acts 16:40 “And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.”

God has a Way for each of us…..it is not the same….except in the fact that He will guide and be with us……every step of it.

Will we hear Him….and so walk right into it?

Are we growing in grace?

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Peter knew a lot about this; having denied the Lord three times, once even before a maid.

Yet he was restored, and became the first preacher of the gospel after Pentecost. Three thousand were saved that first day.(Acts 2:41)

He had grown some since he had bragged about his loyalty; and then failed Jesus so terribly.

He had learned his own weakness….when his courage and devotion failed…..even when he loved the Lord….

After he was filled with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, he learned how to preach……he learned about persecution,…and determined they must obey God rather than man…

…..about the Lord including the Gentiles into the church….

….about the importance of the Word of God….

….and he learned that we are never “too sanctified” to get tripped up.

Galatians 2:11-13 “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried with their dissimulation.”

When this happened, Paul corrected him in front of everyone there…..”when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel…”

Was this Peter,….the one who had opened the door to Gentiles….yet, tripped up? How could this be?

Because we are never out of danger, this side of heaven.

And Peter was weak before the influence of men,……for he was not yielding to the Holy Spirit….he let his emotions lead him, instead.

It says, “….fearing them which were of the circumcision.”

Fear is a terrible enemy….how many have stumbled under the “roar” of the devil, causing fear

(1 Peter 5:8-9 here Peter warns of this very thing).

Peter, corrected, though….went on to preach many places….taking with him Mark…discipling him…till he was a old man…

But he knew he was not done growing….he would continue to grow as long as he would be “in this tabernacle”…..for he (and we) should never stop learning by the Holy Spirit, in our experiences of life about Jesus, and what He will do for us.

And so when he was old, he warned others about this very thing…”that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”(verse 1:16)

2 Peter 1:2-4, 12-13 “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle (body), to stir you up by putting you in remembrance:”

Every true Christian stands in need of growing in grace.

To do so, we must “eat” the Bread of Life which is Christ.

That involves fellowship with Him….in our everyday tasks.

(Are we spending time with our lovely Lord?)

We must “drink” the water of Life freely which is His Holy Spirit.

That involves yielding ourselves to His guidance and convictions.

If we are to become strong Christians, and not babes, we need to grow.

We need to use what He gives us and gain experience with Him.

(If Jesus were here on earth, and came and invited you to follow Him, would you?

But, though He is not here on earth,…..He is still inviting us to:

Come and Follow Me into the everyday experiences of today, tomorrow, and onward.)

Hebrews 5:14 “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

We have spiritual senses, as well as natural ones.

We are to have “hearing ears” to hear what the Lord says to us. There is no audible voice; but the internal Voice which guides us.

We are to have “seeing eyes”……eyes of faith…..enlightened by the Holy Spirit and His Word.

We are to have the sense of “smell”.

This Spiritual sense tells us if a thing is good or rotten, just like our nose does. It is discernment.

And we have “taste”. We are called to taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalms 34:8)

That means, we are to experience His sweetness in the comfort, help, and word He gives.

It is of the Holy Spirit, as all of these are:

but we are to use His enabling, and learn by the experience. This is how we grow in grace.

Peter did…..and when he was old, said….

….remember my example, both failures, and successes……and learn of Christ, by the Holy Spirit.

If we sit on the sidelines….we certainly may be Christians,…

….but we will not grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and become strong,….having those “all things that pertain to life….and godliness…” (think of it!)

Again, Peter did…..perfectly? No, but he learned.

Are we willing to learn of the Holy Spirit?

A more excellent Way.

1 Corinthians 12:31 “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.”

Love to God is that more excellent way. We should love Him, for He first loved us.

1 John 4:19 “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

Where serving the Lord Jesus Christ is concerned,….He looks to our hearts….do we love Him?

1 Corinthians 13:1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal”

Though I could speak in every language of this earth; proclaiming the gospel far and wide.

And if I could testify of the gospel story in angels language:

If love for Jesus is not the motivation for all that talk…

It would be just so much noise.

Loud noise; “sounding brass” like trumpets. “How great!” man will say; but to God it would be just noise.

Soft noise; “tinkling cymbal” like the end of a orchestra piece. Empty and just noise….without love to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 13:2 “And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

This is the one that used to shake me up. I am a preacher; and I study a lot. I would say I know a lot…but all of that would be useless if I don’t use this knowledge,….even in preaching His Word, out of love for Him.

And faith to remove mountains; that’s something that everyone wants….but without love to Jesus as our motive; we will be nothing. (Remember Paul was writing this; and he had great knowledge, and understood many mysteries.)

But Paul also understood, that to do for God, without love to God;……is to really doing for a reward from God.

Which is another way of saying, you are doing it for you.

1 Corinthians 13:3 “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

If I give all my possessions to God’s work of feeding the poor; and if I die a martyr’s death.

Though it cost me everything, as well as my life; if love for Jesus is not the reason I do it; then it profits me nothing.

I am none the better, for eternity, for it.

1 Corinthians 12:31 “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.”

The “more excellent way” is to love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. The first and greatest commandment.

1 Corinthians 13:13 ” And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

To truly love God is the greatest work, greatest gift, greatest sound we can do.

This is what He looks for in all our obediences…..our love to Him.

He did His work of Salvation for us, out of love for us…..and He wants us to do our work for Him….out of love to Him.

Samson

I want to mention here, that I never thought Samson was a good Bible hero. He was called….even before he was born, and….

He was given superior strength to overcome the enemies of Israel.

But he still did not impress me, for he was not a chaste person….nor one which (to me) really showed much faith….

….after all, what did he do, but embarrass and fight the Philistines?

But I was wrong…..for Samson was in the faith chapter (Hebrews 11:32)….and there are only fifteen named people there.

And here, I want to mention the fact what the Lord showed me about our calling:

What we are called to is important….for God will surely give us the ability to do what He has called us to do.

It does not matter whether it is a great work, for many years…..or a work where no one sees, in prayer….or the calling to witness….

…every work needs God’s enabling….every work fulfilled, brings reward.

(Even the one talent servant would have gotten a reward, had he chosen to use it….Luke 19:12-27)

The Lord showed me that Samson had faith……faith to follow his calling to be a Nazarite.(Numbers 6:2-5)

Here was the warning and prophesy to his mother, before he was born:

Judges 13:4-5 “Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

And that is the fact about Samson…..he did what he was called to….and did it well, saving Israel from the oppression of the Philistines, for twenty years (Judges 16:31).

As a child, the Lord blessed him….for the Spirit of the Lord came upon him for his work…

Judges 13: 24-25 “And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.

And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him….”

When he grew up, God caused an “occasion”, where he would fight the Philistines:

Judges 14:2, 4 “And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughter of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.

But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.”

This occasion was over a riddle….which he would have won; but they would not have an Israelite win….so they threatened his fiancé with death…and she betrayed him…..later they killed her.

This became the occasion where he fought the Philistines, every time they came against him.

One time it was thirty Philistines, then more than a thousand. He mocked them every time they wanted to capture him….once letting his countrymen tie him up and deliver him….only to break free and destroy them.

Once carrying the city gate and it’s posts from the wall up to the top of a hill.

On it went for years….

…Until Delilah….three times he mocked her attempts at taking his strength….but she kept at it….and then…he told her all his heart.

Judges 16:17 “That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

Now I have always thought Samson pretty dumb….after all he had told her three other things….and she did them to him.

But confidence in ourselves….in the ability to keep ourselves from being tricked, is found in all of us…..and it costs us.

And then, I must think….how “dumb” I have been when I have continued to use means that God was not blessing….or continued looking for an answer, when the Lord already told me….

Samson was caught….blinded….and put to work grinding grain in the prison house.

But God still used Samson….when he again fulfilled the Lord’s requirements:

Judges 16:22 “Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.”

And when we sin, and do “dumb” things…..God will restore us when we seek forgiveness, and cleansing….and be obedient to what He said.

Judges 16:23 “The the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.”

They brought him from the prison to make him wander around in the arena….blinded. The great Samson….now a joke.

They laughed and drank….about three thousand…..and Samson was placed between the two pillars that held the house up.

And Samson, in faith, prays to the Lord:

Judges 16:28,30 “And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be a once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.”

Samson prayed…..”remember me”…..did he think God forgot him? No, but remember me….the one you called….I am now restored in my hair….and in my spirit of faith…..

….restore now my strength, which is the gift You have promised me.

He prays to be “avenged” for his two eyes…..they blinded him by their trickery…..so he would destroy them, in their blindness to their god.

Samson fulfilled his work….which was to destroy the hold that the Philistines had on Israel….for twenty years.

I can think what I like about the failures of Samson…..but he was forgiven and restored……and finished his work.

What about us, as Christians? Are we finishing the work God has called us to do?

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

Amen, let us be watchful against the wiles of the devil, and the snares and tricks of the world around us…..and finish the work God has called us to do…..whatever it is….for His sake.

Thou art Worthy

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.”

Here the creature comes into his highest place:

The most he can achieve personally….to live for the pleasure, or the determination of his Creator…..to attain to that which he was created for.

In this, we are complete….”perfect”.

Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Colossians 1:28 “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”

God created us….set us in the circumstances of our lives….and drew us to Himself, by His Spirit….leading us to be born again,….drawing us out of our old life of habits and attitudes….into the glorious kingdom of Christ Jesus….within us.

Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

We can not go beyond what we are….but we can be…….what He has made us…

….and what He has worked within us….

….using all He gives….

….and it is to that degree, we are to be complete,……and do.

It is our will, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that is the determining factor….for as we will with God….His Will is being worked….in us, by us, and through us.

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 (determination) they are and were created.”

We bow to that Will, when we obey Him….

Romans 6:16 “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?”

Simply said,….the one you obey, is your master (Matthew 6:24)

If you obey sin, then sin is your master…

….but if we obey God, it leads to righteousness.

(Righteousness is a matter of faith.

It is faith acting on the Word of the Almighty, and doing to please Him.

It is “right living”……for all true living ends in the soul’s clinging to Christ, and in every act of obedience,….placing ourselves at His disposal.)

Real worship is “worthyship”…..counting Him worthy of my all.

Knowing I exist and am able to live because of HIs mercy.

Honoring Him in prayer, praise, and obedience.

Knowing that all that comes to me,….He has seen, thought over, and allowed….

….and will give me grace for.

He is worthy…..

It was His determination for me,….for you….to be His….amazing grace!

It was His determination for me….for you….to honor Him by our lives….to be His servants, and show His righteousness through us.

This is the song that all the saints in heaven will sing:

Thou art worthy….

Are we tuning up our voices….and our lives to sing it?

The Way of Peace

Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do His Will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight,”

God is the God of Peace….of all peace. And we should be fully at peace with Him…..instead of at cross purposes.

Luke shows this in the announcement of Christ’s work:

Luke 1:79 “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

The Way of Peace….

That Way begins, of course, when we are born again…..there is the peace of reconciliation by salvation.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Which leads to the ministry of reconciliation…telling others of our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not inputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

Sometimes our ministry of reconciliation is simply a word of testimony about our Lord Jesus,….or a prayer for another,….or a conversation.

Then there is the Way of peace by sanctification…..

…..by denying ourselves, picking up our cross and becoming His followers in deed as well as word…..in obedience to His commands and calls.

(Sanctification is the setting of ourselves aside to sacred use….to be used by God in our spirit, soul, and body.

We are in fact, sanctified by all three Persons of the Trinity:

“Sanctified by God the Father”…..Jude 1 [He willed it]

“Sanctified in Christ Jesus”….1 Corinthians 1:2 [He paid the price so that we could have it]

“Through sanctification of the Spirit”…..1 Peter 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:13 [He works it within us on a day by day basis]

The Peace of Sanctification is a great peace….leaving the wishy-washy, fence-setting, double-minded life…..to gain the pure outlook….”I belong to Christ…everything I am and do, I want to do to the glory of God.”)

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.”

Then there is the Way of peace of repentance from backsliding….like the Prodigal.

Luke 15:17 “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, while I perish with hunger!”

“When he came to himself” means when he realized, that the pigpen of the world was not where he belonged…..

….he belonged in his Father’s house.

But how to return? He could not return and ask for a son’s place at the table which he had refused…and left….

…what could he do?

Luke 15:18-19 “I will arise and go unto my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

He could return, and confess his folly and sin,…..and ask for a servant’s place….placing himself at the Father’s disposal.

Well, we all know what the Father did for the Prodigal….

….but do we know He will do the same for us?…..if we “return, O backsliding children!”

Jeremiah 3:22 “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto Thee; for Thou art the Lord our God.”

Then there is the Way of peace in the midst of the storms of life….a peace which anchors us to Him….calming, holding us, moving us forward against the onslaught of trial and fear…

Philippians 4:7-9 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful.”

God is the God of all peace…..praise Him in all three Persons, that He is a God of peace……which covers all our separations from Him….

It is because of His Will, His precious blood, His blessed inworking….

…that we have Peace….reconciliation…..a place at His table….strength…and all these through Him.

Romans 8:31-32 “What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Are we ready to get honest with the Lord?

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Sins as scarlet? They shall be white as snow.

Are they red as crimson? They shall be as wool.

How? Where? When?

When? “Come now”…..today is always the day to seek the Lord….about anything.

Where? Before the Lord…..not running away from His presence….but come before Him.

How? Let us……reason together….this is not one-sided, but the Lord and us……

….we give Him our reasons for thinking this way….and He will speak, and give us the reason for His Will.

The Example:

A godly man,….Asaph was a appointed a singer in the Temple….he loved the Lord, and his job of teaching others the songs of praise….

…yet he told of a temptation….which nearly wreaked his spiritual life….

Psalm 73:2-3 “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped.

For I was envious of the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”

Here he testifies of his spiritual battle over God allowing wicked men to not only be prosperous…..but to seemingly go on, without restraint.

Asaph had looked out on the world, and judged according to it’s judgement…for to be wealthy in the world, gives you standing, gives you success, gives you influence….which they often abused…(although they are often, not happy within, yet they appear to be so)….

….and Asaph? What do the poor, or afflicted righteous have?

When we start doubting God’s righteousness, then our steps begin to waver.

When our eyes gaze too long at the world’s view of things….our understanding becomes confused…..our affections become disoriented…..

…..we do not want to be wicked…..but….

(You will notice….my steps were “almost gone”….how gracious God is….to hold us….He will allow trials, for they strengthen our faith….

……but temptations are another matter….they come from our lusts, or desires within (James 1:12-14)…

…and we must cooperate with the Lord to defeat them…to put them to death….

….it is how quickly we do that….that tells of the victory….and Asaph came close to a terrible fall.)

Here is what Asaph sees when he looks upon the prosperous wicked…

…and he is, becoming weak in faith, because of this…

Psalm 73:4-5, 11-12 “For there are no bands in their death. But their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men.

And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?

Behold, these are the ungodly, which prosper in the world, they increase in riches.”

They sin, yet their conscience does not bother them….perhaps covering them with small acts of religion….they act like, if there is a God….He does not see or care….

They become hardened….untouched by the spiritual truths they often hear.

(But God does see…..and He often lets them alone…for they are to have horrors hereafter…so he lets them have the trinkets here.)

But Asaph is troubled….here is a stumbling block for his faith….he sees these men….and their sin….yet nothing seems to happen to them.

He saw their present, and forgot their eternity…..saw their outward show, and not their foolishness….yet.

He cries within himself:

Psalm 73:13-14 “Verily (Truly) I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.”

Asaph is a godly man….for he sees he is a sinner….and it troubles him.

In reverence,…he seeks forgiveness and cleansing from them….daily.

Why does this not happen to the wicked?

It seems as if things are turned upside down.

He wants to speak of his thoughts to someone….but is afraid of giving someone else his doubts…

…..so he bridles his tongue (he is a wise man James 3:2)…

….and he goes in to speak to God…finally.

Psalm 73:17-18 “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Surely Thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down into destruction.”

As men refuse the gospel message, their hearts and minds become more and more blind….their conscience seared.

God may indeed let them rise high….so their fall is more evident.

God may let them have all they can here….because eternity awaits….and the “blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 12-13) will be their end.

When God holds judgement….He gives time….time to repent….

But when God comes forth in justice and judgement….the pride and wealth of this earth will vanish…and then the soul….and what it did about God’s claims will only remain.

As soon as he sees this….Asaph is restored in faith….God judges righteously…in HIs time.

Psalm 73:21-23 “Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee.

Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand.”

Asaph realizes his folly….he had acted foolishly….

(a fool is one who does not consider that God sees, rules, and overrules in the everyday affairs of men.

As a poet once said, “A fool is he who through this life, pursues a cloud he can not own….and leaves a wealth of things undone, his tomb a finally stepping stone.)

….Asaph had acted like he did not know God at all…..his mind had started to be embittered….

But….once he sees….he repents….and praises.

He realizes that God has kept him from falling completely……

“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” (Verse 26)

….”my portion for ever.”

We need not envy the prosperous wicked….or the worldling.

For God is my portion for ever.

How much are we seeking our True Portion?….which abides from now and forever.

Are we ready to get honest with God?

It is as we come before Him, and “reason with Him”….that we are truly cleansed from the envy of the wicked….and value our portion in God, as we should.