According to His Purpose.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose.”

The called according to His purpose, are those who are born again.

Everyone has “purpose”……

But God, through Christ, has opened up the way for us, as His, to know His purpose. To be included in it, by a subjection of our will……”to them that love God”

John 15:14-16 “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what His Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things have I heard of My Father I have made known unto you.

Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you.”

So when Paul says “the called according to His purpose”; he is showing that we should know His Purpose…..and he goes on to explain what our purpose is:

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

This is the purpose I am called to: to be conformed to the image of His Son, in His character.

(There are two things here, we are to know about our purpose:

1.) He foreknew us. Foreknowledge has to do with people, not things. So when He says “He did foreknow”; He means that He saw us in Christ Jesus before the world began. (2 Timothy 1:9)

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.”

2.). He predestinated us. Predestination means that God “marked out and set limits, beforehand”.

Predestination has to do with our works….the circumstances we are to pass through, and the work we are to do for Him.

He “marked out and set limits, beforehand”……for the things which would come into our lives…..and He set aside the things we need to go through them.

Ephesians 1:4-5 “According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”)

Then Paul continues to tell of our Purpose:

Romans 8:30 “Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.”

As Christians, we are to walk in the reality of this verse….

Called….making our calling and election sure…

2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”

1 Thessalonians 2:12 “That ye should walk worthy of God, Who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory.”

Our calling: We are His servants. We belong to Him. We are each given a part of His ministry, for now…..here, where we are.

Justified…..legally made free from condemnation;….and walking justly (rightly) before Him.

Titus 3:7-8 “That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

Our justification is to free us from the law and death,…..to live unto God.

Glorified…..one day in heaven, certainly;….but also tasting of that glory of God now.

(Glory is “making apparent the dignity and honor”, “splendor”)

One day we will see God’s glory face to face; and then will we see our honor and dignity…..in Him.

But now, He wants us to taste of that glory,….walking and knowing His Victory in our circumstances.

The honor of His Will being done….where we personally are concerned…..

….this is our glory.

2 Peter 1:3 “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 unto glory and virtue.”

The glory of God and our taste of it here, is to raise our thoughts and affections upward,….knowing the honor that being His child, is….even here.

According to His Purpose…….”the intention of God for our lives”……is that we be conformed to His Son….in character;…..and praise Him for the honor of doing His Will.

Ephesians 1:11-12 “In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the Purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own Will:

That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

Christian, What do you think of Christ?

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

This is not the kiss of the Father to the prodigal son. (Luke 15:20)

This is not the kiss of the woman sinner on Jesus feet. (Luke 7:37-38)

This is the kiss of the mouth. One on one relationship of love.

Our Christian life begins a personal relationship with Christ Jesus.

Saved sinner to Savior;……that should lead to disciple and Master.

Which gives way to friend to Friend;….and that can lead to Union and Communion.

There is, as this maiden here in the Song of Solomon finds, always a closer relationship with the Lord.

Have you found His love so?

For surely to know His love is more inebriating than wine. (Ephesians 5:18)

This love is not what He has done for you; but what He is to you.

She loved Him, and wanted a closer relationship with Him. She wanted nothing to come between them.

What about us? What comes between us and our Lord?

What has cooled your affections for Jesus?

What of your heart’s desire? Is it for Christ, and His Will to be done in your life?

Or is it satisfied with just hearing, (at a distance) about Christ?

Is this not the reason of our lukewarm attitude toward our Lord?

And how much of what He has given us, is spoiled because of our attitude toward it?

Song of Solomon 1:7 “Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?”

We are Christians; we are not going to desert Christ. But we often are “turned aside by the flocks of Thy companions”. We follow His ministers, or a certain doctrine, or get so wrapped up in “working for Christ”; that we become distanced from Him.

Of course, we should go to Church. Yes, we should be attentive to Gospel messages. We should always know the doctrine of faith.

But for the individual Christian, we should always keep our relationship to Christ in first place.

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

Glory to God in the Highest.

Luke 2:13-14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

When it speaks of God’s glory in scriptures it means to manifest God’s Light and character to others. That is His glory; that others may know Him and His character.

Psalm 145:11-12 “They shall speak of the glory of the kingdom, and talk of Thy power;

To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.”

It means to show God in His true beauty.

1 Chronicles 16:27, 29 “Glory and honor are in His presence; strength and gladness are in His place.

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come before Him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

Christ did this in preeminence, for angels heralded God’s glory when Christ was born.

Simeon, a godly man, praised God for Christ:

Luke 2:30-32 “For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

A Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

And Paul shows that Christ Jesus came to do just that. He was to manifest God’s Light and character in the world: His glory.

Hebrews 1:2-3 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, which He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high;”

Jesus, at the end of His work here, said He had shown God’s glory on the earth:

John 17:4-5 “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work that Thou gavest Me to do.

And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with thine own self with the glory that I had with Thee before the world was.”

And we, who are born again by His grace are to manifest His glory:

John 17:20-22 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; (Jesus prayed for us here)

That they may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.

And the glory that Thou gavest Me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one:”

Ephesians 1:5-6, 12 “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us excepted in the Beloved:

That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

And we are to use the riches of His glory (the riches of His Light and character) by yielding to His life within us.

He will manifest His glory through us by His might:

Ephesians 3:16 “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;”

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Scripture says we are to do all to the glory of God.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whither therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

The angels heralded, “Glory to God in the highest”;

And we, too, are to herald His glory by word and deed, here in our earthly lives.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

Awake thou that Sleepest.

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

When we are asleep, spiritually, our senses are dull. We don’t hear clearly. Our eyes are closed, not seeing what is going on.

That is why Paul, here, exhorts the Ephesians to “walk as children of light.”

(Ephesians 5:8)

Light is a great benefit for those who are growing sleepy in their walk as Christians.

It is like opening the curtain to let the sunshine come in, in the morning.

It makes you want to get up and get busy!

Darkness, on the other hand, tends to make us sleepy.

So with the darkness which comes to us spiritually. We are lulled to sleep. We begin to talk a great deal about “rest”, becoming discontent with the work we have been given from the Lord.

We look for ways to do God’s will quickly, or for a more “easier way” of walking with the Lord;…..for we do not want to take the action required to come to the light….for then our slothful sin will be seen.

So Paul calls on every Christian to “Awake”.

Awake, and arise; and Christ shall give you light.

Light to see what you need to do,….to get out of the darkness.

Light to see the world, as it is.

Light to see that Christ is worth the loss of everything.

Then Paul writes:

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

Circumspectly means there will be light for the path, for we are to keep our eyes on the path, that we don’t get tripped up.

Awake, and walk wisely. For Christ shall give us light.

The Potter, and the Clay

Jeremiah 18:5-6 “Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,

O house of Israel, can not I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord, Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”

Paul says the same thing in:

Romans 9:20-21 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?”

This is not our bodies; yes, they are all different, but God is speaking of molding our souls. God has used every experience of our lives to shape our souls.

Our souls are that which makes us unique. They are a gift from God that no other creature has.

Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

The soul is the apartment of self-consciousness. It is where our personality is. There, our individual character is formed, and rules our thought life, our emotions, our will, our conscience, and our social interactions.

When we are born again, we are given the blessed privilege of having the Holy Spirit come and dwell with us, for Christ said He would not leave us comfort less, He would come unto us.

John 14:16-18 “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

As Christians, Paul is saying that as God’s “clay”, we need to accept what we are,

how we are,

and even, where we are,

and then be reconciled to Him, in them.

How much of our discontent lies in this.

God wants to make us a vessel unto honor, and has given us His Spirit to enable and mold us:

2 Timothy 2:20-21 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honor, and some to dishonor.

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

To move forward with God, you must be in your place before Him. To know that He is there with us, because He loves us.

So many people say, “God knows best”;……yet doubt every time trouble comes.

They are anxious, burdened, and worried.

(Haven’t we all experienced this doubt?)

But we are called to “possess our souls”….our souls are our mind, heart, and will….which make up our personality.

Luke 21:19 “In your patience, possess ye your souls.”

We are to gain, by subjection to the Holy Spirit, real power over our affections:

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.”

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

Our thoughts:

1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

And wills:

John 7:17 “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whither it be of God, or whither I speak of myself.”

There is always trouble here, in this world; but as you submit to the Holy Spirit, the influence of the trouble is less, and less.

His power to help, strengthen, and encourage is more and more.

He is the Potter, we are the clay.

Submitting to Him we have liberty, and begin to have the fruit of the Spirit working in us and 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.”

Let us yield; or give in; or submit; or surrender; all terms which mean that for us,…we choose Christ…..and Christ will choose for my life.

A Certain Disciple

Acts 9:10 “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.”

In the world….prestige and success is everything. Who you know….or “hang around with” is valued.

But God looks on the heart….and places each of us in our place….to do good there.

So let us look at this certain disciple that the Lord spoke to.

First, Ananias knew the Lord’s Voice. He was a believer and follower of Christ Jesus….and he knew when the Lord spoke to him.

Second, Ananias answered the Lord right away….he did not hesitate, afraid of what the Lord would ask….but said…..”I am here, Lord”…denoting that he was willing to do what his Lord said.

Ananias was a certain disciple….it does not even say the leader of the church in Damascus.

He was not one of great training, or knowledge or experience;….just a certain disciple, that obeyed the Lord.

What follows is a great lesson for each of us as how to have a conversation with the Lord….about direction.

We often think of instant obedience….without question or thought. But God looks on the heart….willingness to obey, leads to submission of reasons and attitudes….and final obedience. I will do what I am told, no matter what happens.

When we come here….we are ready.

(Acts 9:11-14)

“And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for behold he prayeth,…

Then Ananias answered, Lord I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority….to bind all that call on Thy name.”

Though Ananias was willing to do what the Lord said, that did not stop him from asking for more assurance that this was God’s Will.

“For he had heard by many of this man”….

How many times what we hear about something, affects what we hear from the Lord.

Saul had indeed come to Damascus “for evil”….to destroy everyone who proclaimed Christ as Lord….”who called on Thy name.”….

….but….

….The Lord had changed everything…..

…..for He had appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, and struck down his plans….making him see the truth.

Christ Jesus was the Son of God….He did die for our sins….He was risen, and was speaking to him.

Saul had bowed to Christ….saying, “Lord what would Thou have me to do?”

Now the Lord would use His disciple to teach Saul how important each believer was to the Lord…..

…for Saul’s instruction would come simply through a fellow believer….a brother in Christ…..obedient to Jesus.

What a lesson!

(What can be accomplished by our simple obedience, we may never know!)

(In Paul’s letters to the churches….he used the term “brethren” over seventy times! We are all part of the family of God, in Christ Jesus. What a lesson was taught for Saul, from the very first.)

Acts 9:15-16 “But the Lord said unto him (Ananias), Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Ananias, was sent to Saul , the mighty persecutor….who became Paul the mighty Apostle….mightily persecuted…suffering many things for Christ’s sake….and he was told this, from the beginning.

Here, Saul heard the first prayer of a fellow believer for him….”Brother Saul,”

(Hallelujah! The Lord hath gotten Him the victory! And we can say the same Hallelujah! When any becomes a brother or sister in Christ.)

…the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way….hath sent me, that thou mightiest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Saul was healed, filled with the Holy Spirit because Ananias went and prayed…..and then Saul was baptized….and preached Christ, that He is the Son of God….

…which began his ministry of Apostleship.

And Ananias, a certain disciple at Damascus, was the instrument to show Saul the way to begin….and will receive a part of Paul’s reward for all he did.

Many times later, in his letters, Paul asks for prayer from his fellow believers for him….how important prayer is! (Ephesians 6:19)

How many are waiting to hear a word from us?

We may think we are no one of importance….or maybe think that the Word you have been given, or the prayers you have been told to have, should be done by someone else….more experienced.

Then learn the lesson of blinded Saul….and a certain disciple. When God choses you to speak or pray….

…talk to God about it….then be obedient.

….the blessing is waiting for both you and them.

Are You Listening?

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 any man (person) hear My Voice.

Are we hearing what Jesus is saying to us? Each day?

Jesus said:

Luke 8:18 “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and to whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

Take heed how ye hear.

If we have been born again, then we, as His children are to hear what He is telling us by His Holy Spirit through the Word, or by direct communication in our spirits.

He speaks to us.

The promise here is: If you have the Holy Spirit within you, and have heard Him; more will be given you. More light, more ability, more knowledge, more everything we need.

And this is because we hear Him.

But the promise also says: If you are one who has heard the invitation of Christ Jesus, and answered it with all the right words.

But it has been just that, an answer of words; not an answer of a life open to and receptive to Christ.

Then that which he “seems to have”, he does not.

[Not that that person can not be saved by opening their heart to Jesus Christ, but that, they have not, as yet, been.]

Remember, when Jesus Christ saves a life, He claims that life.

He will not be used as a “fire escape” from Hell; but He is a Savior, from sin.

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

That is me, being saved from my sins……and you, being saved from your sins. We each are sinners…..with our own particular leaning toward certain sins. Each of us has a “besetting sin” (Hebrews 12:1) which gives us a lot of trouble. Yet He saves us from our sins…..all of them, by cooperating with the power of His Holy Spirit within us.

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

When we are saved; from that time on we are bought with a price and no longer our own.

Luke 8:16 “No man, when he hath lighteth a candle, cover it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.”

This is what we are to do with what we hear: light a candle.

By our obedience to what Jesus says, we are manifesting Him in this lost world. We are lighting a candle.

It is amazing when you go into a dark room…really dark. Blackness seems to surround you. Then to light a candle, there, will make the darkness flee.

True, the whole room will not be as light, as it is around the candle; but it will force the darkness into the corners, away from the light….even a small one, like a candle.

Raise that lit candle up, and more light will be shone around, for you are not blocking the light, but it shines all around.

Amazing, right? The Lord Jesus uses this example for that very reason: a candle can bring a lot of light, if it is placed where “they which enter in may see the light.”

In another place, Jesus accused the religious lawyers of hindering those which would “enter in” to the kingdom of God. (Luke 11:52)

Let us not do this. Instead let us hear Him, and recieve the light He gives by His Word, and Holy Spirit; and then let us shine the light, by holding up Christ Jesus to others.

Ephesians 4:21 “If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:”

Are we hearing Him? Are we learning from what we have heard? Are we holding on to it, and sharing Christ?

(Years; yes, lots of years, ago, I was called to preach. I had recently been brought back to God; my rebellion and sin forgiven, and taken care of. I had started to go to church, and after a while I had been asked to sing a song for the church services.

I sang “Trust and Obey”.

Well, I sang it, and sat down; and the minister had his message. Then the Lord Jesus called me to be a preacher!

I could not believe it; me? The way I had been? This must be some mistake!

But the Lord spoke plainly to me: “You sang it [Trust and Obey], now, do it!”

So I went forward and committed my life to be a preacher of God’s Word.)

Jesus Christ always shows us the truth, for He is Truth.

And as we face the truth, He gives us grace.

Grace is the unmerited favor of power: the power in our lives, to bring us to the place where we willingly do what He has said…to be obedient to all His words to us.

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Will we receive Christ Jesus as Savior of our sin?

Will we hear His voice, and learn of Him?

Will we answer His call to lift our lights, and shine them in this dark world?

Well, if we will, He has everything we need.

He can tell us everything we need.

He is everything we need……and He will lead us into more of Him everyday.

It is High Time to Awake

Romans 13:11 “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.”

In the Greek, “awake” means to collect all our faculties, to rouse up from obscurity, sickness or death.

It is when you start using all your spiritual faculties, to do God’s Will.

It is as the Prodigal, when he “came to himself”.

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, and I perish with hunger!”

The Prodigal was the younger son of two boys. He had lived in the Father’s House, and became restless for “something more”.

So he came and asked his Father for his portion, and his Father gave both boys their inheritance: the older, as was the custom, received two-thirds of the estate; the younger received one-third.

What is this “inheritance”?

I believe it is our wills. As God’s children (Yes, these are Christians—sons of the Father), we will use our wills to will after God, and bring forth fruit; Or we will “waste” our wills on things of this world.

Luke 15:13 “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”

The “far country” seemed to be a great place, but the heart of this boy knew that it was just “wasting” time and effort, with nothing to show for it.

Luke 15:14 “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.”

See God’s hand in this?

How could he spend all his will? By wasting his efforts chasing shadows: and refusing reality.

Look at Solomon:

Ecclesiastes 2:10, 6:12 “And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor.

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?”

Solomon and this Prodigal spent all their effort of will “tasting” of things which they knew to be nothing, in comparison to God’s Will.

But they continued, till they were “spent” or like dead inside.

What to do? the Prodigal, deadened to spiritual feelings, went and begged a job from a pig farmer. (Swine were unclean to the Hebrews, but as I said, this poor boy is deadened to things as they should be….until…)

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

Now here, thankfully, he “Awakes!”. For that is what “he came unto himself” means: he remembers, “Hey, I am a Christian. I have a Father that is good to servants, and gives them the Bread of Life.”

Then, because he is awake, he begins to use his will, for God’s Will: notice the “will” here:

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.”

We know the rest. He does what he wills, and returns: confessing all to his Father.

But instead of the lowest place in the Father’s House, the boy is given the Father’s kiss of forgiveness, the best robe, a ring of authority for his finger, and a fatted calf.

Paul in Romans is calling for these Christians to “awake out of sleep”……to realize that time is moving forward……are they?

Romans 13:11-12 “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.”

Are we still living “riotously”in the far country?

Have we felt the “famine” of the Word of God to our souls? (Amos 8:11)

Are you ready to “awake”?

Well, wherever you are…..

….Gather your faculties, all the things you possess in Christ, to one grand end: to do the Will of God in these days.

To “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ (Be conformed to His character).

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

Come to yourself…who you are, as Christians, in this world. Remember the Bread of Life, and put on the armor of light. His light is real protection, for in His light we see everything clearly.

The Prodigal forgot the goodness of his Father, for a while, but was awakened, and returned to Him.

We, too, often forget the mercy, and grace of God. But we can remember Him, awaken, and come to His light.

We can use our wills to do His Will.

As Paul says, “It is high time to awake out of sleep”.

The Burning Bush

Exodus 3:1-3 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law,….and he led the flock to the back side 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.”

The bush burned, yet was not consumed.
Moses had been in exile from Egypt, and had married, and was caring for the flock of his father-in-law.

Then he saw a sight that was so unusual that he left the herd, and went to see it.
It was a dry desert bush that was burning….the flame was in the “midst of the bush”……..
…….yet it was not getting burnt up….it was not being destroyed by the flame….but was manifesting the flame.

(I want to talk for just a moment about us…..as that dry wilderness bush.
We are in a wilderness of this world….but more, we are part of the landscape; as that bush was. We fit right in to this world’s scene.
There was nothing unusual about the bush……until it glowed with the Presence of God. [When the Lord manifested Himself to men in the Old Testament, He was often called “the angel of the Lord”.]
But when the Lord “enlightened” it…..it became something which drew men toward the Light.
God does not want to “burn us up”…..but rather burn within us, so we will manifest His light.)

Years earlier, in Pharaoh’s court, Moses had thought that surely he could deliver “his brethren”, the Israelites…..and tried (Exodus 2:11-14)…and failed….
……..but the years out on the desert had withered his pride and confidence in himself…..and he was like this dry bush…….waiting for God’s flame to light him,….call him,….and use him.

Exodus 3:4 “And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses, and he said, Here am I.”

As Moses was coming to see this sight, a Voice spoke to him…..it was a Voice he recognized….

…….So when he heard this Voice, he answered: “Hear I am.”
He was answering a Person….a Person Who he believed in,…..for the scriptures plainly say that:
“by faith, Moses…refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter……esteeming the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:…”(Hebrews 11:24-26)

Exodus 3:5-6 “And He said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Moreover He said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”

Moses came forward….but not too far…….(there is that place where we must recognize the Almighty….and bow.)

Then the Lord began the process of calling Moses to do the work of deliverance.

The Lord said, “I am come down to deliver them….Come now…..and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou may bring forth My people…out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:8-10)

But Moses, instead of rejoicing…..now the time has come…..says:
“Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:11)

The wilderness had done it’s job….the confidence of Moses, the prince of Egypt was gone…..
…..but now hesitation was present.
Moses felt, that if in his earlier might and vigor he could not persuade the Israelites…..what could he do now, that he was older, and had no power?

The Lord spoke again of His Presence…..(remember Moses is standing in front of a bush burning….and hearing God)…..”Certainly I will be with thee…”

(It is amazing how many times in the Word, the Lord says the same thing to HIs people….to us!
“I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20; “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” Hebrews 13:5)

Moses then asks, Who shall I say sent me? What is Your name?

God then explains His name: I AM THAT I AM. I am from everlasting…there was no time, that I was not….And I always will be.

God explains Moses ministry, first to Israel….
…..then before Pharaoh, who, God told him, would not listen, or let them go…..at first.
But God would deal with him and his nation…

Moses is still unsure…..not of God…..but of himself, and his ability to deal with the people and Pharaoh.

So God shows him another lesson…..Moses shepherd’s rod. The rod he had been using for years, taking care of sheep.
But by God’s Word, the ordinary rod became a tool of God.

Exodus 4:2-4 “And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
And He said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:”
(You will notice, Moses ran from the serpent, but at the Lord’s command; picked it up by the tail. It was not fear for himself which hindered Moses….but fear of failing in the deliverance of Israel.)

Then God told him to put his hand into his bosom….and it was leprous.
Then put it into his bosom again….and it was whole.
God is able….the message is clear.

….but Moses turns to his speech….he was not a man of words….he did not think he could speak well enough to talk before Pharaoh and the people.

By this time, the Lord’s anger was “kindled” against Moses: The answer God gives comes as a rebuke (to backstrike with words)….
….God was displeased with Moses lack of zeal for his calling….for letting fear, rule his will.

God knew his heart….He knew that Moses wanted the deliverance of Israel….but Moses was letting imaginary hinderances block his sight.

Moses had “turned aside to see”…..and God had showed him that a bush can burn, and not be consumed by God’s Presence…
That a rod can be turned to a terrifying tool for God….
That disease can be given in a moment….and healed in a moment by the God of his fathers….I am that I am.

But Moses was letting his past failure blind his eyes from seeing that in all these examples…..God was saying “I am able….for you”.

God goes on to give him Aaron, his brother, who would speak to the people and Pharaoh, the words Moses would say.
“And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.” (Exodus 4:17)

But God says it in such a way, that there is no “backtalk” from Moses…..”And Moses went…” (Exodus 4:18)

How often do we “see” what the Lord is trying to tell us?

Are we letting past failures, or fear blind us to what God is calling us to do?

Moses went….and as we know, he dealt with Pharaoh…….”The Lord has said, Let My people go.”……..bringing the people out of Egypt, in triumph.

That rod stayed with him to the end…..he used it many times.
(The serpent before Pharaoh, the rod turned the rivers to blood, brought frogs out of the rivers, he held it up at the Red Sea, he smote the rock for water, etc.)

It was just a plain shepherd’s rod….which, when used in God’s service, became a weapon, and a guide for those that were brought out.

The lesson God showed Moses, from the fire in the bush, is just the same for us:
Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” (It is repeated in Hebrews 12:29)

Jealous means that He is zealous of His commandments and calling….He will not let anything else take His place in our hearts and lives….
He will lead us through failures,….speaking to us, to draw us on with Him…..rebuking us, correcting us….so that we may be instruments in His hands.

For Moses,…..and for all of His servants, that He calls……
……it is not what we are at the start,…..but what we let Him make us; that makes all the difference.

1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

It is God that makes the difference in any and every situation.

To be Saved Spirit, Soul, and Body

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 will also do it.”

Now the very God of peace. What a wonderful name for our God!

This is not judicial peace….that, we get when we are born again. A not guilty verdict is given on us, for our sins….which we have committed against a Holy God.

How? Because Jesus Christ died on the cross, taking all our sins on Him, and fulfilling the penalty of our sins in His sacrifice and death. (As Son of God, His was the only worthy sacrifice which could pay such a price.)

But this title: “the very God of peace”, refers to the peace He gives us as we are His, in a world of woe.

This is, of course, as we yield to the Holy Spirit of God within us.

Peter has a verse which shows this:

2 Peter 1:5 “And besides this giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;”

Add to your faith, virtue….

This virtue is the “artea” of the Spirit. It is the force of Him in our lives.

He speaks, as the cooing of a dove (Matthew 3:16-17)….distilling peace, quietness and grace, into our busy lives.

He moves in our hearts, to give purity of thought, and action.

He influences us into “…things….true,…honest,…just,…pure,…lovely,…good report,..” (Philippians 4:7-8)

Our hearts become gentle in dealing with others….for that is what He is.

And He places His love in us….for God, for the brethren, and for others. (John 13:34-35)

This is all brought about by acts of our will. As you yield your will to the Holy Spirit, you find yourself being borne along…..as the sails of a ship, which are up are filled with the wind.

This is learned….though we receive the Holy Spirit at new birth, yet we have to learn to yield to Him.

His disciples, after three years with Him, still had a lot to learn….and so do we.

But they did,….so can we:

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem…”He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,”.

(It was time for Him to go up and have the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem…whether they received Him as their King or not. Matthew 21:1-9)

As He went, He had to pass through a village of the Samaritans. But they refused His visit….because He was going up to Jerusalem, not staying with them.

(Remember He had preached and stayed at a Samaritan town, after talking to the woman at the well. John 4:6-40)

But now they refused Him….silly anger, because they thought they were being looked over. (How often our vanity leads us astray!)

And of what spirit are we? Sometimes we think the motive we have is good,……but His will is always best.

Luke 9:53-56 “…And they did not receive Him….And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?

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

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

Now, I want to point out that this is James and John, two of the Lord’s closest disciples. They wanted to defend Jesus….but He needed no defense….He came to this world, to save.

Sometimes it is better to walk away, and leave the angry, to their own fumes.

Proverbs 25:28 “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”

The cities in those days needed walls around them, or marauding bands would come through, and steal and kill indiscriminately.

So, we need to keep our spirits, so that they will be yielding to the Holy Spirit, and not the spirit of the times,

or the spirit of bitterness—looking back,

or the spirit of scorn.

Trust me, I have been corrected so many times, about feeling “insulted”,

Or thinking what others think….maybe they are smarter than I.

But…

What I need to know….is…what does my Lord think, or feel about this.

Psalms 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.”

(This “broken” here, is like a horse….you break down their independence, not destroy their spirit. They will only be able to trust and respond to you, as they are broken of their “wild” spirit.

So with us. David’s spirit of independence: he had sinned as a king, doing what he wanted…had to be “broken”; and it was.

But that had only brought him to lean on, and trust God more.)

The God of Peace offers salvation: spirit, soul, and body. Let us come to Him and yield to the Holy Spirit’s force, “artea”, within us.

Let us yield to the sweet influence of purity….the purity of the Holy Spirit within us, making us more like Christ.