The Strait Gate and the Narrow Way

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”

“Strait” here means “narrow, with obstacles standing close about”.

“Narrow” is a thin path.

Is Jesus trying to discourage people?

No, He is just telling the truth….for all of us have “turned everyone to his own way”.

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.”

Now we must turn from that way, and seek to enter into His Way, which is Life.

Isn’t He the door….by Him, if we enter in, we will be saved?

Yes! Absolutely! But getting to the door, or the “gate” as it is referenced here, is often the problem…..for we try and bring all that we are, with us.

This is not our possessions….but our old life, old habits, old way of doing things, our old way of seeing things.

Luke 18:25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through a needles eye, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

I use this verse….for it exemplifies that we need to set everything aside to “enter in”.

In the old walled cities of Israel…..there were gates….wide and broad; which the caravans of camels and carts came in and out all day. There were guards, it is true….but they seldom restricted the merchandise from coming in and out.

But at night, when robbers and enemies were about….the gate was shut; and any caravan,….having missed the time…..would be stuck outside,….a easy prey for these bandits. For the guards would not come out to fight for them.

If this happened, the only other recourse, was to empty every animal, and squeeze them through a door, which was set beside the gate for travelers at night. One guard could easily hold the door if bandits or an enemy tried to come in.

This door was called the needle’s eye. For no animal could come through it, carry all they had.

(I know some people say that the Lord Jesus was telling a ridiculous joke….that He meant it for the impossible. For He goes on to say….”The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.” And it could be true….for Jesus was illustrating the impossibility of those that hold on to “my things”, to be saved.)

So let us see, what we hold on to:

Our opinions,…..formed when we were under the influence of the world.

We often continue to see things the same way….and God wants us to see through His eyes…

Mark 6:34 “And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things.”

Mark 3:5 “And when He had looked round about on them in anger(on those who did not want Him to heal on the Sabbath)….being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts…”

We often hold on to alliances,….people we had the same interests with before,….but now?….which will we choose?

2 Corinthians 6:17-18”Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

We often hold on to habits…whether games, T.V., or being fans of a particular thing……

Habits of speech, or a certain way we do things….all of these are formed when we were not born again….

And I must stress…….we should be willing to lay any of these things aside.

Not that the Lord always asks us to…..but anything that will “weigh us down”, or burden our following Him…..you have to be willing to take off. (Hebrews 12:1)

Matthew 10:37-38 “He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.”

How much do you want Him in your life? And how much of your life is yours…..and how much is His?

These are the things He was addressing in the broad way and the strait gate….our willingness to give Him all.

Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways.”

Not that He gains by us….He is self-existent, eternal, Almighty. But that the more we love Him, the more free we become from sin, self, and the world.

The more our heart grows with love for Him…the more it expands in light, peace, and joy.

It is for our benefit He asks us, as He asked Peter by Galilee….”Lovest thou Me more than these?”

It was not just his fellow fishermen, the Lord was asking about……but fishing, the sea, the old life…..”Do you love Me, Peter, more than all of them?”

Twice in the Psalms, David says, “my heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” (Psalm 57:7, Psalm 108:1). Both times he is speaking of God’s mercy to him.

The “fixed” in these Psalms is “prepared”. David had prepared his heart to receive mercy from God….and had run straight to His God, trusting Him, to receive it.

Psalm 57:1 “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee: yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpassed.”

Let me ask….are we preparing our hearts to hear Him,….to follow Him,….to love Him?

Cursed or Blessed

Jeremiah 17:5 “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” I’m

When God says, “cursed” to anyone…..then He is giving that one over to the bondage of sin…..the weight of sin,….the darkness of sin….the penalty of sin.

The curse is sin. Sin is the refusal of God’s authority over our life….in thought, attitude, and action (Romans 14:23, James 4:17).

When God says, “blessed” to anyone…..then He is giving His Spirit and the influence of love, joy, peace….and liberty of obedience to that one.

(In the Bible, the heart is the personality of a person.

God gave us a personality when He formed us….

….of the dust of the ground He formed our bodies,

….He breathed into us the “breath of life” (the Holy Spirit) into our spirits,

….And we became a living soul….living personalities that responded to our Creator, God.

Ecclesiastes 7:29 “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright [righteous]; but they have sought out many inventions.”

We were made upright….fully capable of not sinning. We had the Holy Spirit within, and we did not have a sinful nature….till Adam willed to sin, instead of obey God.

Many inventions….many things which will take the place of God in the heart.

And the biggest thing we try and fill our hearts with……is us.

Our plans, our riches, our jobs, our friends, our…whatever…

…but it is “our”….”mine”.)

In Jeremiah’s time, under king Josiah, there was a “revival” of religion.

Josiah was a godly king and ordered the Temple worship re-established and had one of the few Passover feasts that Israel had.

He ordered those of the priestly family who knew the Law, to go about teaching it.

Many came back to worship God…..but many came back to the Temple,…..and still worshiped their other gods.

Time came, when Josiah died…the kings after were wicked…..and the worship went on,…but in form only.

There were still those who preached the truth, wrote the truth to be read,….and who believed God…..yet they were becoming less and less.

Jeremiah was told to tell them of their sin…..(remember sin is the curse)…

….and God said:

“Cursed is the man that trusteth in man….and whose heart departeth from the Lord.”

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.”

These are the choices every person has to make….

We trust in our own way…..departing from the God who made us and would save us…..and be cursed of God, and left to the sin we have chosen.

(every man can be saved….all they have to do is come to God through Jesus Christ.

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

In the Old Testament….it was faith in the Savior’s coming. In the New Testament time, the time we are living in….it is faith that the Savior, Christ Jesus has come.)

Or to trust in the Lord,….and be blessed of God, and saved from our sin….into liberty of love obedience.

I want to explain something…..

…God is Light. (1 John 1:5)

If you love the darkness so you can hide in it with your sin…then, face it, your sin is ruling you….and you will not want the Light….that is why you are rejecting God…and for no other reason.

…God is Love. (1 John 4:8)

God’s love in not an indulgent pat on our head….

….His love is a consuming fire which burns up our hatred, anger, resentments, and self-pity.

He will continue to love us….taking away all those emotions which destroy us….and will change our hearts into vessels of overflowing peace and praise.

…God is Truth.(John 14:16)

His truth is our safety. Never is our step more safe and firm, then when we are walking in His truth….not following the crooked ways of the world.

…God is Life. (John 14:16)

Only in His life, can we have life.

If your breathing in and out, yet without Christ….you are merely existing.

Life is walking, talking, and having a personal relationship with Christ Jesus, letting His Spirit empower, enable, comfort and encourage us.

…God is Faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9, 10:13)

Both in His promises and in His threatenings…..for He is Able to do everything according to His Will.

He is faithful “to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him (Jesus Christ)…” (Hebrews 7:25)

He is faithful….”and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)

In these titles…..I am not seeking to make you love and admire God….only the Holy Spirit can do that….

….but seeking to manifest your choice…

…cursed or blessed? Which? Choose God, or your own way.

He spoke to Israel before they were taken away into captivity….so they would turn….and be saved.

He speaks now to all…

John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

We are condemned already…..cursed already because of our sin…..

…but God, through Christ will save us….if we believe on Him.

And He speaks to Christians:

2 Corinthians 6:17, 18-7:1 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Holiness is sanctification….to set ourselves aside to God in all the parts of our lives….to keep coming after Him, who loves us and saves us.

Cursed is the man….whose heart departeth from the Lord.

Blessed is the man who trusteth in the Lord…

We have a choice…..which will we choose.

Let this mind be in you.

We often ask the question…..”How can I be more spiritual? How can I bear the trials that I am going through?”

Well, the Philippians were a church born in persecution….yet knew joy.

Philippians 2:1-2 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

“Consolation” means anything from comfort and solace….to exhortation. It is anything spiritually or emotionally that gives us what we need…..

…..Christ sends us His consolation in many ways.

A word of encouragement…..a call to a friend to see how they are doing…..a passage of scripture….a hug (I call them) from the Holy Spirit saying, I am here with you, in this.

Christ had sought them out…..He had sent Paul to them, to give them the good news of Salvation.

Christ had shown them His love by saving them and giving them the fellowship of the Spirit.

Christ had shown them mercy, and grown the church even under persecution….giving them a testimony in all the city.

Now, Paul says…..don’t become easily offended with others…..or seek a “position” in the church…..but seek to serve in the place you are….

…for Paul knew, that often when our testimony is strong….the devil seeks to get us by “strife, or vain glory”.

Instead, he says…..look to Christ…

…if we do that, we can look on others without judgement….rejoicing in any growth of grace each makes.

Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus;

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God;

But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto the death, even the death of the cross.”

“Let this mind be in you….me”

Here is the way we are to think about our path or way before us,….no matter how it is:

Christ Jesus came from the highest glory…..through His own Will and self-denial…

….moved by love of His Father’s Will, and for the love of His own, that He would save.

He came to the lowest depths….every step, giving up something….

….He humbled Himself.

He gave up the outward manifestation of His glory and power….He became man, submitting to His Father’s Will in everything.

(He who could feed 5000, waited by a well for His disciples to bring back some food, and asked a Samaritan woman to give His some water)

In everything He kept the goal in view….to honor His Father, and His law….and save all who would come to Him.

In His self-denial, He stooped to death…..even the death of the cross.

The death of the cross was not just a horrible, painful way to die,….but shameful…..outside the city….mocked, spit upon, cursed,…

…..all that went on, while the strength, and life slowly left Him…

….and it showed man’s rejection of Him and God….

….until the mass of our putrid sin was placed upon Him….but He still went on in self-denial….till all was accomplished

He did this…..He humbled Himself….He became obedient to death…..even the death of the cross.

And we are to think the same way….to follow His steps….for the love of God and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Self-denial needs to be our constant companion.

But that was not the end:

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

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

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

Because Christ fulfilled His Work….God….(can you hear the trumpets blowing in heaven?)….”highly exalted Him”.

Highly is to raise to the highest position….above all others. (Matthew 28:18, Revelation 3:21)

Here the Father manifests Christ’s Victory over all opposition…..raising Him…not just from death, but to a place in His Throne…with all power and authority….

….releasing His grace to flow out to the redeemed!

And commanding that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord….

….all for the glory of God.

(As Christians, born again ones, we will bow and confess here in our lives that Jesus is Lord…..our Lord and Savior.

As the lost, they will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord, at the White Throne Judgement….and then be cast into the Lake of Fire.

Their knees will bow…..knowing then Who they rejected here…that Jesus is the Lord and Savior with the power that could have saved them….

….and their tongues will confess it…..their will be no delight….only terror, knowing they refused to receive and confess Him here.)

What is the reason Paul states these truths?

Life is hard…..Christianity is harder. The consolation, that Christ chose them, each of them…..by the preaching of the gospel and the ministry of the Word….

….should yield unity and one accord with each other.

And the example of Christ’s humbling Himself….should yield submission and love…in all circumstances that they are….and will, go through.

To what lengths Christ came that I, a rebellious and wicked sinner might come to Him!

The glory of Christ and the Father is assured….have we entered into our part of it, by bowing to Christ? And confessing in life….His Lordship?

John 15:7 “If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

“If ye abide in Me”.

Are you born again? Then you are abiding in Him.

“And My words abide in you”

If you are not refusing His Will and Way for you, and your sins are confessed up to date (1 John 1:9)….then His Words abide in you.

This word “abide” here, means more than….just come and go…..here and there.

It means….that it is a constant part of my life.

“And ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

Notice it is not….

Through you…or by you….or for you, even.

(This was an amazing revelation to my soul, when the Lord pointed out what this said.

We sometimes zoom through scripture, thinking that we know what is being said….after all we have heard it so many times….)

But it is “unto you”.

Christ Jesus will make you what you ought to be….

If what you are asking done “unto you” is His Will….it will most certainly be done unto you.

What is the difference between “for you” and “unto you”?

“For you” denotes that God is working to increase your grace, knowledge or faith….through the Holy Spirit and circumstances.

“Unto you” shows us that some work needs to be done on what we already have.

(Like the Potter and the clay. Some shaping, or some kneading of the clay needs to be done….to make us ready to be molded and useable for what is next.)

This is amazing because what Jesus is talking about here is fruit bearing….us bearing fruit for Him….the vine and the branches.

John 15:2, 5 “Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that bears fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.”

The branch abides in the Vine….it does not hold on for dear life….it abides.

It lets the flow of life (the Holy Spirit) continue to work within.

But there are branches which do not bear fruit….or bear little fruit to God…..what of them?

First the Husbandman (Father God)….takes away the branches that just bear leaves.

They look good, but they are just taking in…and taking in…and taking in. They are hearing the Word, they are agreeing with the Word….but…

…they are not even bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit.

These are let go for a while to see what they will bear….but taken away when they only produce that which makes them look good.

Then the Husbandman “purges” the branches that bear fruit….that they may bear more fruit. How does He do this?

“Now ye are clean through the Word I have spoken unto you.” (Verse 3)

We often stop in our spiritual walk….we grow weary,….we begin to feel that we have “enough”….we let fear stop us.

Then the Word comes to us….and we are awakened to our trouble and set things right with God.

Then….”If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

We may not be able to remove the hinderance within…..but He can…

…”unto you”.

We may be willing….and this is what God requires….us willing with Him….to have it done….”unto us”.

To let God do as He wills….

….that we might “abide”…..constantly know His Presence and His Word to us.

How safe is the branch which abides in the Vine, and brings forth the fruit of His Life!

The Lord is My Shepherd

John 10:11 “I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”

In the Psalms, we are called the “sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3), denoting His ownership of us. We belong to Him, and by this…..are under His protection.

It is a good thing that we are; for the Lord Jesus warns us of the enemies which are against us:

Thieves and robbers…wolves…and those that are not sheep:

John 10:1 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

John 10:12 “But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, see the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.”

John 10:26 “But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you.”

The true flock of God, hear His voice and follow where He leads:

John 10:3-4 “To Him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.”

Do you think Jesus doesn’t know you? Certainly He does.

He calls you by name—your name; that you may follow Him.

He does not drive the sheep before…..but leads them.

Anything that is waiting for the sheep, will first be faced by Him.

He has prepared the way, we are to go.

He measures every temptation, and trial….and makes a way through it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

Rightly has Matthew Henry said:

“I shall be supplied with what I need. And if I do not have everything I desire, I may conclude that it is not good for me; Or I shall have it in due time.”

Psalm 23:2-3 “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.”

His leading us is essential; for He knows where and how we are to safely rest.

He restores me in His redemption, to God;…..in His forgiveness, to peace;….in His fellowship, to joy and love.

And we walk and rest, under the banner of His Name. (Song of Solomon 2:4)

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

Even in the darkest times…times of shadows between us…..and times when things are not so clear….

Thy rod….Your Word of correction, and instruction comfort me….for in the trials, it is so easy for me to become discouraged….and begin to “look around”.

But Your “rod” awakens me to who I am…..I am Yours; and that You are here, with me….now.

Your Staff….the Holy Spirit….nudges me along….rescuing me from dangers.

They both are used on me, to keep me safe behind You….

…and You use them on the enemies which wait for my soul.

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

We walk through this wilderness world…..with temptations, anger, and even hate, all around us…..Yet, He has supplied a feast….in Himself…..for us.

We can come to Him anytime, getting protection….and guidance through this maze of life.

The Holy Spirit gives us His “anointing”:

“But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth,….”. (1 John 2:27)

So that I may testify to others of Your overflow in my life.

Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

In this life of troubles, and trials, and joys……I will praise Your goodness to me. And praise Your mercy in my weaknesses, my doubts, my backsliding, my failures, and my discouragement under them all.

I praise You for all You have done….and I am confident it will continue forever, with You, in Your heavenly home.

The Good Shepherd is Jesus Christ….is He your Shepherd?

Perhaps you have said you would follow….but your confidence is wavering…

You know your calling….but, you are feeling anxious…

He has always known the way, and delivered you….but time has passed….

Then, read again Psalm 23…..and put your name there. For if you are born again, then He is “my shepherd”……

Call out to Him, and hear again His voice….and follow Him.

Will God’s Purpose be fulfilled?

We might say, “Of course”…..without really thinking of the things which fight against it….in us, and in this world’s system.

Let us consider sin….the ferocity and evil of sin.

Let us consider willfulness.

Let us consider a creation turned from God to the devil’s lies…..following eagerly down to a devil’s Hell. (Matthew 25:41)

Now let us consider God’s answer….

….for this is played out before the Apostle John in Revelation

Will God be able to finish His Will….His Purpose?

Revelation 5:1-2 “And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book…..

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?”

This book will tell what God has purposed for the earth….what He will do…..but who is able to open it….and bring it to pass?

Revelation 5:3-4 “And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

And I (the Apostle John) wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.”

The beloved apostle wept to even think that a part of God’s Will would not be “opened” or completed.

Do we love the Lord’s Will with the same emotion? Would we weep if we thought it might not be fulfilled…..in us?

Revelation 5:5-7 “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: Behold the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,….

And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.”

The Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ prevailed….against all that was against Him….to go and open….fulfill God’s Will completely!

Hallelujah!!

The heavens and the earth brake out in joy and praise….

….first those around the throne of God:

“Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10

Then the angels (ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousand;) saying…

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” Revelation 5:12

Then “every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea”….saying…

“Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”

Will God’s Purpose be fulfilled…..Yes! For the Lamb of God….the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Law of God in His life,….

….has fulfilled the atoning sacrifice in His death,…

….has fulfilled the power of life in His resurrection and ascension.

He has and will fulfill God’s Will….in everything.

But since Christ has and will fulfill God’s Will….does that mean He will do it without using those He has called?

No….God’s Purpose is for us….

…..in us….and through us.

His means of “opening the book” of His will for our lives,……is His power (grace) working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)

Ephesians 3:20-21 “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,

Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

One day we will join our voices in Heaven in praise and honor for the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus our Lord, that He fulfilled His Purpose…in us,…in others,….and on the earth.

Today, will we join our wills with His will, and let His power work within us to His glory? To praise Him now in our lives?

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.”

Redeeming the time

Ephesians 5:15-16 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

How can we “redeem the time”?

“Redeeming” here, means “to rescue from loss, to improve opportunities”.

Here in Ephesians,….

…(in a book written to explain the privileges we have in Christ…”who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”)

……we have a warning.

We are not to let time slip through our fingers….

….we are, in fact, to rescue each day from the loss of natural pursuits….to the gain of spiritual walking in the Spirit.

Colossians 4:5 “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”

We each have so much time….

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

This is not asking for the certain number we are going to live…..

……but rather for an understanding that we are created for a purpose.

We all have a “reason” God created us….therefore let us get His wisdom (guidance) to fulfill it.

The Holy Spirit is given us to be our Comforter….Paraclete, or Someone who comes beside to help.

But He comes with grace: the unmerited favor of power….grace which gives us ability, and knowledge, and strength.

Grace He gives us, to use our time wisely.

The saying, “we are in the world, but not of it”….should hold true.

We are not to share in its interests or opinions,….but rather let the Word of God mold us into HIs servants….faithful to Him.

Romans 13:11-13 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light,

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.”

Here is a picture of a Christian, who having heard the alarm clock of God to wake up….does so.

(How many times has God tried to awaken us! To get us to see the importance of our time. Maybe we think we are of little importance….but God does not think so.

If we gave one person the Word of God….only one person saw the Light and came to Christ….

…now think if that one person was your child, your spouse, your best friend….your neighbor.)

Well, this Christian jumps up out of the chair he fell asleep in….and sees that the light is shining….

…he is late! He best be going! For he is not sure for how long the light will continue to shine….there might be clouds rolling in.

But before he goes, he realizes that he is still wearing yesterday’s clothes….still wearing the muddy shoes from yesterday….

….he needs to change….clean himself up….and prepare himself for the day ahead….

Once he is cleaned up…..he realizes that he is going to do God’s business…..not his, so he better find out how the Lord wants him to dress.

(What is the “armor of light”?

1 Thessalonians 5:8 “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”

Our armor is the graces we have acquired under the training of the Holy Spirit.

We are given faith at new birth….but it is a covering for our heart and will….only as we use it to keep close to the Lord….in love to Him.

The Holy Spirit gives us hope (the confident expectation that God will do what He said)….to cover our reasons and thoughts….to keep us thinking….not with the world….but with the Word of God.

Faith, Love, Hope……These are enlightening….Light which shines and illuminates the dark places we must travel in this world.)

Once dressed, the Christian prepares to walk, and work…..in honesty. Determining to do….only what is fit to be seen in the light of day….

…in other words….dress in the character of Christ.

Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

And….he begins to redeem his time….this day….

Ephesians 5:14 “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

Are you awake? Or still half-asleep?

Are you prepared with the armor of light? Or still wearing the “clothes” of yesterday?

The days are certainly “evil”….full of hurtful influence to us, who want the Lord’s Will.

Let us awake….open our eyes to Christ and prepare ourselves…by putting on Christ….

…and let us redeem the time the Lord has given us.

The Everlasting Covenant

Hebrews 13:20 “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,”

The Everlasting covenant was entered into by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit……before He created the world.

Before anything that is, was….God saw all that was going to happen because of sin, to this world….and made provision for the salvation of man in the Everlasting Covenant.

God the Father agreed to draw all the elect to God the Son (John 6:44, Isaiah 54:13). If……

….God the Son agreed to come to earth as man, born of a woman. (Not man and woman…but woman. God made Jesus a body Hebrews 10:5)

Live a perfect life, and die; taking all of our sins upon Himself….to save us from them, and bring us into peace with God.

His precious sacrifice and blood was the price of redemption (John 1:29, Revelation 5:6)…

…Then God the Holy Spirit agreed to come and dwell within us, when we are born again (John 14:16-17)…….molding us into the character of Christ from with in us….to bring us to spiritual liberty from sin and self.

Revelation 3:14 “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.”

Here it plainly says that Christ Jesus when He came as a Man, (as promised in the Everlasting covenant) was the first act of Creation.

Without the promise of salvation for man, God would not have created.

But He did create…..and our salvation in Christ was “before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:9)

He is the Amen. Christ alone can say, “So be it”…..and it will be.

We must say, “If God wills…”

Since He is the Amen….and He has purposed our salvation, and our life with Him, surely He will bring it to pass.

But what He asks….is our willing cooperation in the process….for He has provided the Holy Spirit to guide us, and empower us…..if we will.

He has purposed, that our wills must will with Him.

He does not force His way into our hearts….no, He stands at the door of our lives and knocks…..and speaks, for it is His Voice that we hear…”Open to Me”.

Revelation 3:20 “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.”

If is always a life, open and receptive to Him, that He claims.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not by works, lest any man should boast.”

This is how we were born again….by grace, through faith….not of works or of ourselves……lest we boast we helped God, somehow.

It was His gift, through Christ Jesus.

But then He shows us His purpose:

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.”

His purpose is that we, under the power of the Holy Spirit within, are molded into the character of Christ Jesus….that we might do the good works He has set aside for us to do.

And He has made full provision for them….for when God ordains something, full provision is already made for it.

We are to “walk” in these good works. That means that they are our everyday activities.

That is where He wants us to serve Him,……with Him.

For we should be a willing manifestation of His presence….a positive witness of His presence and power.

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear:”

We should be able to give a reason for why we do what we do….and can’t do what He has said not to do.

(We bow our heads and give thanks over our food; whether at home, in public, or in other people’s houses…we give thanks. They may do it or not, but we do.

We are not loud or commanding others to do this….but we do, because it is what the Lord wants us to do)

(I can not cut my hair….and it was funny when I had chemo and lost my hair….all but two strands. I wore a scarf, but when it would fall off, some people asked me why I did not just cut those off. (It did look funny, as I said)

But I couldn’t. And I told people the “reason”.)

Jesus is the Amen….He will see His Will done in us:

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, 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.”

Jesus is the Faithful and True Witness….seeing how we are…”Peter, lovest thou Me?”. (John 21:15-17). Are we doing out of love for the Lord?

And He sees what we do…..are we doing the good works each day, in fellowship with Him?

Jesus is the beginning of the creation of God….because the first thing God wanted was the salvation of those He created….through the receiving of His Beloved Son.

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

(The first promise ever given in scripture is concerning the coming Christ as Man, to save us:

Genesis 3:15 [Notice the “I will”] “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it will bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.”

And the last promise in scripture is concerning His coming again as King, to reign eternally in joy and peace.

Revelation 22:20 “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”)

The Everlasting covenant is about our Salvation….formed before times eternal.

God’s thoughts have always been toward us,….He has given (ordained) provision for us,….let us walk with Him in all the good works He has for us to do and say.

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?”

Here is the beginning of the Spirit filled walk of the Christian.

And notice….the verse says….”who is this…”

The Holy Spirit fills people….people who are following Him “..that cometh..”

Are we?

And we all know that Matthew 6:10 is the verse for it.

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.”

If we are ever to see His Will done, it is first to be done in earth, as it is in heaven….in us.

And this in our everyday circumstances.

This is what we are to be empowered for.

We think it is times of special service….a time of “greatness”.

But what God wants, is the greatness of His Spirit to shine through us, each day.

The little trying days, the important decision days, the days of joy, and the days of weeping…..

….in these days, He wants our lights to shine….He wants His life to be seen in mine.

“Cometh out of the wilderness”

The wilderness speaks of this world and all that the world has gotten inside of me….us.

(How much of what the world does (and what we copy) is just “wanderings”?

The world is not going anywhere….the progress of machines, or faster transportation, or communication….

….does it give peace, or joy, or forgiveness of sins, or light for our minds and hearts?

This is sad…..but it is far worse, if we…..who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ follow along with it.)

Cometh out of the wilderness…..this we need to do.

Colossians 1:13 “

As Christians, we have this in Christ…..we are not under the authority of the darkness of this world, anymore. This is given us when we are born again.

Practically, we are delivered, as we are sanctified….set aside to God, by an act of our wills, willing with God.

Delivered from the power of darkness….this is God’s provision….

…will we get it?

We must personally, by an act of our wills, again and again….willingly translate all that we have and are, out of darkness….into the kingdom of His dear Son….into light.

Bring all to the light of Christ….walk in His light, and you will be delivered from darkness…and the power of it.

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.”

Like Pillars of Smoke.

This is supernatural deliverance.

Smoke is such weak stuff….easily,…by a puff of air…to be blown here or there.

But here it is a pillar; a thing of strength….and stability!

And this strength and stability comes from the Holy Spirit’s filling us….as we yield to Him. Less of me, more of His rule, in me.

Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense.

Myrrh speaks of death….it was the spice placed on bodies when they were buried.

It speaks of death, and because of Jesus’ death on His cross….and the power of His death…

….we can die to ourselves, that we might be alive to HIm….through our cross. (Matthew 16:24)

It shows us that to have the Holy Spirit empowering us….we must get out of the way,….deny ourselves…..

Frankincense….costly and given to kings (frankincense owes a deity nigh)…..speaks of the authority of Christ….and His resurrection power…

….first in us, as we are subjects to HIm….

…and then through us, as we are HIs Ambassadors…and we speak for Him.

With all powders of the merchant.

There is nothing we need that we can not get from Christ.

As born again ones, we are to “buy” from Him, by our devotion and obedience to Him.

How many times “fellowship” with Christ is spoken of as the means of having and being what we ought?

Need patience? Love? Zeal?

Then get obedient.

The Lord will never fill with His Spirit, someone who is still arguing about His Will.

The Lord will never fill with His Spirit, one who will only allow Him to rule…..sometimes.

But the Lord will….draw you out of yourself….show you what He will give….and then fill with His loving Holy Spirit, if we will but yield to Him….and keep submitting.

Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness?

Are you ready to leave this world’s thinking? This world’s fast emotions? This world’s influence? For Christ, alone.

Well, if you are…..Christ is waiting…with all the fullness of the Holy Spirit you will let in.

Rejoice

Luke 1:14 “And thou shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.”

Rejoice! The word rejoice is not seen in scripture, till Israel is out of Egypt….out of the bondage…into a relationship with God. (Leviticus 23:40)

Rejoice in the Hebrew means to brighten, to gladden.

And what are we to rejoice in?

Psalm 9:2 “I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: I will sing praises to Thy Name, O Thou Most High.”

Psalm 5:11 “But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee.”

Psalm 9:14 “….I will rejoice in Thy salvation.”

Psalm 31:7 “I will be glad and rejoice in Thy mercy: for Thou hast considered my trouble; Thou hast known my soul in adversities;”

We are to rejoice in Him….

We are to rejoice in His salvation…

We are to rejoice in His mercy…

We are to rejoice in His protection….

All of these are summed up in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord….for us.

Isaiah 25:9 “And it shall be in that day; lo, this is our God: we have waited for Him, and He shall save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

But are we rejoicing as we should?

We have been told to:

“Rejoice evermore” 1 Thessalonians 5:16

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, rejoice” Philippians 4:4

We are to allow the Holy Spirit within us to gladden us….in the Lord alway.

For the Holy Spirit within shows us the things of Christ….for us.

Let us rejoice and be glad….

…glad that we are in Christ Jesus

…glad that He has a plan for us

…glad that wherever we are, what ever is going on….He knows and will give us guidance….there.

Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.”

Let us prepare our hearts for that great and glorious day when we will be with Him…..forever….

….by rejoicing now in His Will and Way for us.

God sent His Son, that our hearts might come close to Him….and we might rejoice….

….how great and mighty a God we have….that He takes sinners and makes them pure….that we might have that fellowship of rejoicing with Him.