If we walk in the Light

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.”

This is a personal, private, and powerful cleansing.

A child of God, walking in the Light, confesses his sin the moment he sees it, honestly before God.

A child of God, walking in the shadows of life, says, “Oh, I can explain that away; that is because of this reason,…..or that person,…..or some other thing, that I am doing that.

Like when a child says, “It just got broke”……not, “Sorry, I broke it.”

When once the Light breaks into our hearts and minds, the conviction of sin of any sort, comes; and I then, have a choice.

Cover my sin…….or confess it to the Lord.

Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sin shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

The difference is the submission of the heart to Christ.

We many accept His Lordship in a general manner….

But He is not Lord, where obedience is left out.

Light makes manifest.

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

When there are shadows between you and the Lord; then there is the influence of the Adversary and the sin that was once there.

Shadows are not substance; that has been dealt with by confession, but the influence of them is there, casting a shadow.

(Why did I do that? How could I be so stupid! Look at what I’ve lost by my sin! What are people thinking about me now? All these and more, makes shadows.)

Until the day break, and that perfect day of nothing between, to separate you from your Lord. Light makes even the shadows flee away.

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

That “perfect day” is the high noon of your experience with Jesus Christ…there is nothing between to cast shadows.

When the dawn breaks; light comes! But that light manifests places of darkness because of this thing and that thing which needs to be dealt with in our lives.

(We are what we are, by a series of choices we have made. And through the circumstances we have been brought up in; or the pain of the moment.)

As the sun rises on the day, less and less shadows appear, because the light is “taking over” the day.

(As we let Christ “take over” in our lives, we are given the knowledge and ability to do His will in our times.)

When the sun gets to high noon, all things are clear and bright.

That is the experience the Lord wants for each of us. Things clear and bright in His Light.

No darkness. No shadows. Nothing to separate us from the love of God.

God is Light. He manifests clearly what is in our lives, if we will with Him, and come to the light.

Jude 21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

But the final thing is: our choice.

What we choose to do with what we have: Live in the Light He has shown us, or hide among the shadows.

This should be the blessing of our life, that the Almighty God, who loves me, sees, and will help me by His light and love.

Now According to the Faithful and True Witness

Revelation 3:14 “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God.”

I will say here, that we believe that we are called to this Laodicean age. In other words we believe that we are called to Awaken the church to God’s claims on their lives.

As Christians, we are redeemed; we belong to Him, therefore His Will should be the purpose of our lives.

(Yes, we believe that these letters each represent both a real church being written to; and an age within the Church dispensation.

In each letter, the church or the true believers is the focus—not the lost. Jesus Christ is dictating these letters so they will know how He feels about their problems, their tribulations, and their failures; and the grace they need to get, to deal with them.)

Thus saith the Amen.

Now, He alone can say this: this means “Let it be, Let it happen.” He alone is the Affirmation and Confirmation of every Word of God.

We must say, “If God wills.” (James 4:13-15). But He can say Amen, and it will be.

The Faithful and True Witness. A witness just states what He sees and what He knows.

And what does Jesus see when He looks at Laodicea?

Revelation 3:15-16 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.”

(Indifference to God, after He has done so much for us; is the very worst state we can possibly be in.

And if continued in, will result in being “spued out of His mouth”.)

And the reason of our indifference?

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

Because we say, that I am rich, and increased with goods….and our attitude is

I “have need of nothing”….not even God’s direction, anymore.

This attitude is:

“I am saved, and for that I will praise You; but let me have my place in this world with all of it’s goods…..

……for I can have heaven and earth; both salvation and the world…..

and do what I want for now.”

But Jesus sees their true condition before Him, and says: And knowest not!

Is it possible to be in such a state and not know it? According to the Faithful and True Witness, it is; and we Laodiceans, are.

We do not know that we are really wretched:

This is a terrible word, but Paul used it of himself when he was testifying of his battle with himself, his “old man”.

Paul was a very religious Pharisee, but he discovered from the Spirit of God, his covetousness.

To covet is to “set the heart upon”.

(When we set our hearts upon something, it takes over our emotions, our reason, and our wills…..we even become unwilling to listen to God,…to have this thing.)

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

Why did he say this? Because he saw that even as a Christian, we have our old nature within us.

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

Paul was having trouble with his old self. He was trying to do what God wanted, but found that his trying often failed.

Paul knew he was wretched.

So what did he do? He sought freedom from self, by the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:2, 4 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Here was the answer to his wretchedness: walking in the Spirit, not in the flesh.

We Laodiceans are trying to do both: be in Christ, and in the world……for ourselves.

Christ Jesus plainly teaches that if you would be a follower of Christ you should deny yourself, pick up your cross [does that sound like something the world would like to be around?] and follow Him.

We are to lose our self-life, to have our Christ- life (Matthew 16:24-26)

That is why the Faithful and True Witness says we are also:

miserable…..how many Christians today are unhappy, discontented.

and poor….not rich in God’s grace by His Spirit, but barely getting by.

and blind….someone has said, we are blind because we have our eyes shut, so we can not see ourselves as Christ sees us.

And naked…..without the righteous acts which are those obediences to God, which separate us from the world, and give a “covering” of peace, and power.

Christ’s witness has been against us so far……..but our blessed Lord Jesus does not leave us (never!); but counsels us, as our Advocate, with the best advice:

Revelations 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 thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

When we “buy” from Jesus, we are not buying salvation; that is a free gift.

But when we are His, we are to come to Him and get what we need.

He calls it “buying” here because we are to come with the attitude of getting real gain, real value.

To come with the knowledge of our lack; and seek Him for His precious grace, being obedient to His call;….this is to “buy” from Him.

He knows all and counsels us to get gold—gold always speaks of God. So we are to get the true riches of His commanding presence and power in our lives.

(Tried in the fire, is true gold with the dross or admixture burnt out, by the trials of standing with Him)

He counsels us to get white raiment, or the covering of righteous acts, so we will not be ashamed at His coming. (2 John 8-9)

He counsels us to stop being blind, by getting honest (by the Holy Spirit’s help) with Him and with ourselves.

As the Lord told me once: that if any true Christian would get a good look at their own heart, they would want to do something about it immediately.

Then Jesus says to His Laodicean church:

Revelation 3:19-20 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Behold, I stand at 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 is fellowship…

And the power of His presence.

(Psalm 23:5 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”)

“I will come into him and will sup with him”….these two things the Lord says He will do…..if we will repent and open our lives to Him, again.

Do you hear Him today, calling you to repent of your lukewarmness to Him?

Then answer His voice:

To answer the call of Christ in this Laodicean age, requires not an answer of words at some altar;

But the answer of a life open to and receptive to Him.

None other will do.

He says, “I will”. Will you?

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,…..but (to call) sinners to repentance.”

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.

The Good Ground Hearer

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.”

“If we walk in the light”. We know that “light” means knowledge and understanding from the Holy Spirit, by the Word of God.

We are to walk in that light, that the Holy Spirit gives us; to be obedient to the light we have received.

Does that mean sinless perfection? No, it does not!

What it does mean, is: that you get honest with God, in all your dealings with Him.

Prayer, Bible Study, witness, and worship. You get honest with Him.

You, in fact, become a “good ground hearer”.

Matthew 13:23 “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

All that have the seed sown unto them, “hear” it. It is what we do when we hear, that separates us in Christ’s sight.

“And understandeth it”. The good ground hearer, understands the right of those claims made on his life by Christ; and answers them with a life that is open to and receptive to Christ.

(If you think Christ has not made any claims to your life, then you have not heard aright. And you have not understood His claim as Lord and Savior.)

Mark 4:20 “And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

The good ground hearers are those individuals which: when they hear the Word given to them, they receive the Word.

They do not reject it, or say, “that is for someone else”.

To receive is to do what that Word requires of them.

Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Here we see the reason behind the good ground: honesty.

Our hearts are never good, in themselves:

Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

(In other words, our hearts [feelings and thoughts] lie to us. They tell us that we are alright. When the Bible and our conscience tell us something else.)

But in Luke it says: “honest and good heart”. That is the only way it is good. We get honest with God and allow Him to search us and show us if there is anything we need to get straight with Him.

Then we can bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Christian; which is another Christian. (We are all called as witnesses of Christ’s life in our life)

This honest heart, “keeps” the word.

It obeys, and perseveres in that obedience.

And in keeping it, we are changed into His character: His lovingkindness we can show.

His truth we can share.

His prayer for all, we can follow.

When we keep the Word,…..we show that God is true,…..and we stay with Him in all the trials that come up.

To understand the Word is to see Who speaks to me. It is to know the reality of the creature before the Creator. We understand that God is God, and does command me to follow Him, wherever He leads.

This is the first agreement in walking together in the light with Him.

Then we receive the Word, that we might be changed into “a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21). In other words, bringing forth fruit…some thirtyfold, some sixty, some a hundred.

Then,….

(and in the Christian life, there is always a “then”. We are never to be stagnant; but always going on to more mature things.).

Then, we “keep” the word. As creature before the Creator, because we have learned that He does all things well…..

….so I’ll keep His Word, and with patience, waiting on Him to bring things to pass; I’ll stand.

Doing what He says, bringing forth fruit….maybe not a hundredfold, but I will bring forth fruit to His glory.

Thank you Heavenly Sower, the Lord Jesus Christ, for allowing Your Word to come to me.

May it bring forth fruit, abundantly to You….in me.

Lovest thou Me more than these?

John 21:15-17 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith unto Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, yea, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

He saith to him a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, loves thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

Love Me more than “these”, Peter?…..what were “these”. “These” were the things of Peter’s life that he had gone back to……

(Jesus found them fishing, again catching nothing, when He invited them to “come and dine”).

Peter had been afraid and denied the Lord, and then been afraid that because of his denial, he had been turned out of being a disciple of the Lord……fear does bad things to us….but….

Jesus restored Peter after his three denials……with three affirmations of love.

Jesus knew Peter loved him. But there is a big difference in loving the Lord, as long as it is not going to cost me anything…

….or loving Jesus, even though it costs you everything to do so.

Peter fell into sin and denied the Lord, because he stood outside with those waiting to see what would happen….rather then go in with John to the palace and be there with Jesus during the judgement of the Sanhedrin.

Outside, neither with or against, is a dangerous place to be. For surely someone or something will make you choose.

And when you do; you may find, like Peter, you have just denied your Lord.

But Jesus knew Peter’s heart; and had made provision for it:

Luke 22:31-32 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not : and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

The Lord has also made provision for us (1 Timothy2:5 As our Mediator He prays for us)……that we might be restored any time to Him and that we might go on and be used for Him……..Peter certainly was.

We, too, are asked, “Lovest thou Me?”

What does our heart answer…for Jesus knows if we love Him, by our obedience.

And He calls us to do it, for His sake.

The Christian walk is a love story–or should be.

Yes, in every relationship where our hearts are concerned, there are going to be arguments.

(Some call these differences of opinion, some call them having a fit with God)

Even in the Old Testament times God wanted a love relationship with His people and asked them to:

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.”

He wanted them to come and talk to Him about what was between them.

What reason had they for seeking idols?

What reason had they for refusing to understand His corrections?

Proverbs 1:23 “Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.”

He was…and is ready…..always…..to give more understanding and grace by His Holy Spirit, to us in any situation (yes, even the ones we are not suppose to be in…..to help us out of them)

His call to us , is always, to come and go with Him,….because we love Him.

What about us?

Lovest thou Me more than these?

Obedience

Obedience will not save us…..but once we are born again…..obedience is the road on which we walk with God

Genesis 2:16-17 “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest therefore thou shalt surely die.”

And the Lord God commanded…..this was different than the walk in the garden in fellowship that the Lord had done with Adam….

Adam’s Lord God…was commanding obedience….it was the one virtue of Paradise….the one condition of man’s abiding there.

God had planted a garden, and placed Adam there….to dress and keep it. Every herb and plant, and the animals that came there….all were under the authority of Adam…..

….because God had given it to him….and for no other reason.

All was from the Lord God….to bless the man and woman….with everything they could want and need.

The one condition…..and the only one….was that they do not eat of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil….

…that they obey this command….but they disobeyed, and sinned.

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

To be obedient for the glory of the Lord was man’s original Purpose. He was to honor the Lord, and obey HIs God….

…but Adam sinned.

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

“The conclusion of the whole matter”

Let us hear the end of everything concerning all our life here.

“Fear God”….Yield in Awe of the Eternal, Covenant God by Whose Purpose we are….remembering He has a Purpose for us.

“And keep His commandments”….hold them fast, not just in our memories….but in our hearts….to do them.

“For this is the whole duty of man.”….for to do HIs commandments is the whole arrangement of our lives…..

….that is why we are here, now….

…that is the reason we have been given the ability and strength that we have been….

….His Purpose…HIs arrangement for our lives…to be for His glory.

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, arrangement) they are and were created.”

I was not a happenstance….a mistake.

You were not a happenstance….a mistake.

The Lord God saw you, when He created Adam….desiring your blessing.

When Adam sinned, and you became a sinner through our first father….God did not forget you….

….He then saw you, born again, in Christ Jesus….working out your blessing…in Him.

That blessing is obedience.

(It is not just that we get a blessing by obedience…though that is true. But obedience is a blessing. That I can please my Lord and Savior,….by living in His power….what a blessing!)

Today we receive the privilege to have the Holy Spirit work through us….giving us guidance, understanding (light), ability, and strength….of mind, heart and will….

….”for it is God who worketh in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure”.(Philippians 2:13)

We are called to that obedience, where we “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)

Which simply means we do His commandments to us (which are our salvation in the practical day by day walk)….yielding to that reverence of God…not sure of ourselves, but always confident in Him.

One day that blessing of obedience will give way to the glory of praise and obedience in heaven. Amen.

Obedience is the one thing that decides our destiny…..it is the one thing needful.

For the lost, obedience seems a burden….they want to do “their own thing”….have “freedom”….

…..but that simply means they are still eating of the Tree of the knowledge of good…and evil.

They eat it…taking it into themselves and their lives….but never getting the devil’s promise of “freedom”….for evil is great bondage.

The devil’s promise….”Ye shall not surely die:…for in the day ye eat (take it into their lives)…, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5)

But they did die….all mankind, because of sin, dies….both spiritually and physically….

….unless you receive the new life in Christ Jesus. (John 6:40)

But when you are born again…..Christ Jesus gives you Eternal life:

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

And obedience is the road in which we walk with God.

In our obedience, we side with God….walking through this world in our everyday lives….receiving the blessing of His Presence, His Spirit, His joy and peace….His life.

This is true freedom….for it is freedom from sin, and self, and the world.

It is freedom to do what we ought, in love to the One Who arranges all things in our lives for a blessing, as we yield to HIm.

A New Thing

Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Of course these verses apply to Israel….but once I was praying about something, and the Lord showed me this verse.

I needed a “new thing” right about then….a “new way” in my wilderness….

(Notice….”it shall spring forth”. I love the Lord’s Words! Right when we see a wilderness, or a desert…..He shall make things “spring forth”….like the seed coming into a plant; like the blossoms on a fruit tree! All the things….the new things of life! God-given life to us!)

Isaiah 43:18 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.”

They are back in the past….if confessed and forgiven….forget them…

….and get on with the Lord’s Will for our lives….now.

He showed me that I should commit each day into His hand….asking His Will done in it….with me.

Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

We should live each day as if it were our most important time.

I have often gone through a month….thinking of an important date, at the end of the month….when each day, should have been my concern.

The past we can do nothing about….

….the future we do not have….but we can live today for Christ Jesus, giving Him our time, and efforts….to honor Him.

And we should seek His blessing, guidance and supply, for this day.

It really is, our most important time.

How many of us seek His blessing for each day…..true we are grateful for the blessings that come…..health, encouragements, helps.

But the blessing He wants us to experience is…..the blessing of knowing His Will is done by us,…..the rest and joy it brings.

If we are to truly “apply ourselves to wisdom”….it will be on a daily basis….with the Lord.

(Wisdom is God’s Light to show us the practical use of knowledge. We may know certain facts…..even Bible facts; but are at a loss to be able to use them in my situation. Wisdom lights things up, practically,…..it shows us how to take what we know….and get the job done.

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.)

“I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”. This is God speaking….He, will “make a way”….

The wilderness in scripture is a place of trials, and discipline.

When the children of Israel needed water….water was given from a Rock (Exodus 17:6)

When the children of Israel needed food….manna was given…along with instruction as how to use it. (Exodus 16:12-16)

When they needed deliverance from attack….instructions were given for Moses and Joshua. Moses to lift up the rod (prayer)….and Joshua to fight with the sword and men of Israel. (Exodus 17:10-11)

The cloud during the day….and the light at night never left them…but they were told to follow it. (Exodus 13:21-22)

The lessons varied….they were to learn that God will supply, when there is no supply…

….To learn to be a warrior and leader….

….To learn that they are not alone, or abandoned….no matter the correction.

The wilderness is often compared to our spiritual journey here:

Psalm 68:7 “O God, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people, when Thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah.

It was God’s “march”…..a ordered set of circumstances which led them through trials…..to prepare them for the step ahead….and their life ahead.

(Some failed….because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:19)……

….some learned….the generation which were children when they came from Egypt…went in and took the land (Joshua 24:31)

…and those that learned, reaped the benefits of God’s training.)

But the most important thing for us to remember is……no matter the trial they went through:…..God provided.

He made a way in the wilderness….and rivers in the desert….and He will do the same for us.

Perhaps today is the time to turn your back on the past….not to look to tomorrow……but to see today….and what your God would have you to learn, to do, to see, to know, to share…with Him…..today.

1 Peter 1:6-8 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”

There is a “new thing” He wants to do,…in us…..for us…..through us…

Will we let Him give us wisdom for today, and walk in His light,….in that way He is making for us?

As many as I love…

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

Jesus Christ loves us,…..therefore He will not let us go on and drown in self-will, or be deceived by sin, without throwing us the lifeline, administered by His Holy Spirit: of His Word, messages, and testimonies.

All given to help us hear Him, and repent (turn around).

When we get to heaven, the Lord’s Word will judge us: He will bless the works we have done out of love to Him.

John 12:48 “He that rejecteth Me, and recieveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the words that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

(Remember: “..If a man love me, he will keep my words: “John 14:23)

Paul tells us plainly, it is not how much we do for Christ, but of what sort it is.

1 Corinthians 3:13 “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

Only those works which were done by the Holy Spirit through you, will count for eternity.

And only those acts done for the love of Jesus, will stand the fire of the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 3:14-15 “If any man’s work abide which he hath built there upon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

Saved. In Heaven. Yet so as by fire.

The works that we do are of two sorts (for they are all imperfect):

those that are done according to God’s Will by yielding to the Holy Spirit, out of love to the Lord Jesus.

And those that we do because we feel me must, or from our own self motives (appreciation, applause, or status).

1 Corinthians 3:11-12 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;”

You can see how the fire of God’s Word will devour up the wood, hay and stubble, of self will.

But the fire will just refine the gold and the silver more. And will not touch the precious stones.

These are those acts which we have let the Holy Spirit work through us.

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

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

These are the fruits of the Holy Spirit that we allow to come through us into the circumstances of our lives.

They reveal themselves in kindness, forgiveness, and peace and faithfulness to God in adversity.

These are the things that the world is searching for. That can reach a hungry soul for Christ. And (amazingly) God uses us!

To have my Christ-life, I must deny my self-life: both cannot rule my life. We choose one or the other.

It is through the fires of my everyday trials, I am brought to see the true value of “Christ in me, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Paul says:

Colossians 1:29 “Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.”

Does the Holy Spirit work in you mightily?

Well, He is waiting to give you what you need, “above all that ye ask or think”.

But it is according to the power of the Holy Spirit that works within you.

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

Let this power work in us, that it might work by us and through us, to a hungry world, for Christ Jesus our Lord.

The man with the withered hand

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

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

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

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

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

It was something to hide or keep covered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

…so he stayed put, waiting….in faith.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then Jesus turned and looked at each man there….

…not in anger,…..but sadness.

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

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

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

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

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

When God asks us to cooperate with Him,….

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

….then we must obey Him.

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

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

Jesus spoke….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Well, He is.

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

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

We are Created in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

There are two creations: the natural creation, and the spiritual creation.

We were created in Adam; naturally he was the father of all people.

We were created in Christ Jesus; spiritually, when we were born again.

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

This shows what we have as a new creation, in Christ Jesus.

First there is Wisdom:

Wisdom is that sudden light from above which illuminates our lives.

We were afraid: wisdom came, and suddenly the thing we were afraid of, is seen against the background of God.

We were without understanding: wisdom came, and suddenly the “muddle of our minds” disappears, and we know.

And with the knowledge, that wisdom gives power (grace) to do, for this wisdom is from the Lord.

Second, there is Righteousness:

There is the imputed righteousness of Christ which is given to us. But this righteousness spoken of here, is also the righteous acts of obedience which we do for His sake.

When we see what He wants us to do, with the wisdom He gives, then, we will do those acts of obedience to please Him.

(I also believe that with these righteous acts, comes a knowledge of God’s goodness and love which flows through us to others.)

Third, there is Sanctification:

Sanctification is the setting yourself aside for sacred use. To be used by God, for His glory and honor.

This sanctification is in Christ Jesus, but it is worked in us by all three of the Trinity: that is how important God thinks it is!

It is by our Heavenly Father that we are sanctified.

Jude 1: “Jude the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”

It is by the Lord Jesus Christ that we are sanctified.

1 Corinthians 1:2 ” Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”

It is by the Holy Spirit we are sanctified.

1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ : grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

Fourth, there is Redemption.

(Now, I would have put this first…but Paul puts it last, for here is where we fit into God’s redemptive purpose for us; and become showcases to the world of Christ’s redemption.)

Redemption is to be bought back. The ransom for our lives was paid in full by Jesus Christ. We are saved from the guilt of sin, forever.

We are redeemed in every part of our lives….spirit, soul and body.

We are redeemed in our personal lives; Our school and work lives; Our habits and our hobbies.

We are redeemed in our thought life…..Jesus Christ has redeemed us wholly.

Not any part is left out of His perfect redemption plan……are we entering into what He purchased us for?

We are His purchased possession, and now nothing in the world (unless we let it have a hold on us) owns us. We are His.

Now all these things we have in Christ Jesus….for in Christ we are a new creation…..clean, whole, alive unto God…

….do we realize what we have?

Open up your eyes to what Christ Jesus has for us……and then let us open up our lives, anew,….to have more of Him and what He has purchased for us….in us.

1 Corinthians 1:31 “That according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”