Malachi

Malachi 1:1 “The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.”

I love this book,….it has one of my favorite verses in it.

It is written several hundred years after the captivity under Nebuchadnezzar………and over four hundred years before Christ (the fullness of times is come…Galatians 4:4)

God, according to His promise……has brought them back to the land, and told them to build Him a temple, and rebuild their lives.

Those of a willing heart, came back in joy….

…and though there was persecution, and problems….still the Lord has given them encouragement and instruction by His prophets.

And so, the people have built a temple, and returned to the sacrifices for sin, peace, and trespass…..and things are good….for a time…

….but…after a while…

….their greed, and love of money has led them into error and sin….again.

Not of idolatry….which was their sin before the captivity….but of impiety…..a lack of reverence to God.

In Malachi……in four short chapters, God declares His love to Israel….”I have loved you, saith the Lord.” (Malachi 1:2)…

……and shows their dishonor to that love……and to Him.

And how are they dishonoring Him?

Malachi 1:6 “A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: If then I be a father, where is mine honor? And if I be a master, where is my fear? Saith the Lord of host unto you, O priests, that despise My name. And ye say, Where in have we despised Thy name?”

Concerning the sacrifices, God had laid down some very specific laws that they were to follow….

….and had given them priests to enforce these.

The priests were to sacrifice nothing that was blemished, torn, or too old….

…for each sacrifice showed forth the Great Sacrifice of Christ.

But after returning from captivity….building houses, and estates again….and the temple…

….their affection became consumed by making “more”…..more money, more cattle, more land.

And in the process, they began to bring “second-hand” sacrifices to God….

….thinking He would not mind….after all He is getting a sacrifice!

And at the heart of this dishonoring of His sacrifice…..were the priests.

They should have stood with God, and made the people aware of their sin….but instead, they encouraged it.

Malachi 1:7-8 “Ye offer polluted bread upon Mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted Thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible.

And ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil?

Offer it now unto thy governor; will he be please with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.”

God is very practical…..

….He tells these “worshippers”…….to take these animals to the governor…..

…find out what he thinks of your present?

He is mocking them,….for He knows no man would except a defective present….

…..yet they were bring these to Him.

(They bring the blind, for they have no “sight” or understanding in their sacrifice and worship….they are blindly giving for show.

They bring the lame and those ready to die…”sick”….because that is the state of their hearts toward God.

Malachi 1:14 “But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and vowels, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and My name is dreadful among the heathen.”)

But that is not all…..the people had begun to put away their wives, and marry women of the land….

It wasn’t really divorce as we know it. The old wives were merely put into another house, and the husband would get a new wife.

The first wives were coming to the priests and weeping (looking toward the mercy seat)…..but the priests did nothing….

….but God heard.

Malachi 2:13-14 “And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that He regarded not the offering any more….

Yet ye say, Wherefore?

Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.”

And the third sin was with their tithes:

They were to give the first portion of their goods to God,….

……a sign that they were all His,….and that they thankfully received what He gave them.

Malachi 3:7-8 “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from Mine ordinances, and have not kept them.

Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.

But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings.”

These three things symbolize our everyday life in the world….things which should be sanctified to the Lord, as Christians…

….our spiritual life….worship and work….how we do, when we do, what we do.

….our family life….to our parents, our spouses, to our children.

….our financial life….giving God control of our finances…(Matthew 6:31-33)

Impractical, you say?

Frankly, there is nothing so impractical,…..as a Christian giving only part of his life to Christ.

When God is in control of our lives…in every way……we are blessed…if not with everything we want….with everything we need, for now.

Malachi 3:10 “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in My house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts,

if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

The Lord has opened His heart to them…..then He speaks of opening the windows of heaven….if they will return to Him,….and honor His Word.

And then here is one of my favorite verses: I love this….our God is so Personal….He sees everything….He is Almighty…..yet…

….speaks as if He bends down to catch these words, spoken between believers!

Malachi 3:16 “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another:

And the Lord hearkened and heard it,

And a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.”

(In every age, God has His godly remnant….those that look to His honor, and trust on His word….

….even in the worst of times….there will be such a remnant in the Tribulation period)

I love this!

Those that feared Him…..reverence and love was what He spoke to them about…..

(Though the majority thought, “It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance….”Malachi 3:14

Those wrapped up in this world always thing of “profit and loss”…..but forget their souls…Matthew 16:26)

….yet, for those that loved the Lord,….they “spake often to one another”

…..comforting and encouraging each other in the Word of the Lord…..

And when they did…..He leaned down and “hearkened and heard it”.

And when God hears, He answers (1 John 5:14-15)….

Malachi 4:2 “But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves in the stall (under His special care and protection).”

God would remember….and write their names…..in His book of remembrance,….

…..for those that “thought upon His name”.

The word, “thought” here, means “valued”…those that valued His Name….and Him.

God loves to be longed for….He loves to be sought;

For He sought us Himself with such longing and love;

He died for desire of us….Marvelous thought;

And waits for us, to be with Him in heaven, above.

God leaves this book…..and the Old Testament…..

….with a finger pointing to the coming of His Son….and to the prophet (John the Baptist. Malachi 4:5-6)…

….that will be sent, to awaken those that look for Christ,….

…..to prepare themselves….to prepare their hearts….to prepare their families for….the “great and dreadful day of the Lord.”

Great for those who received Him…..dreadful for those who thought that they could in any way….”get rid of” the Son of God.

We, too, are waiting for Christ Jesus (the rapture)…..and it is time we prepare our hearts for His return.

Are we giving Him our best, our all, in all our everyday happenings?

In this world, of so many “things”…..what do we “value”?

Don’t come short, when it comes to God’s Promises

Hebrews 4:1 “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”

Have you ever tried to reach up or out to something and it is just out of reach?

This is the way many of us think about the promises of God. They are great and we want them;…..but they seem just out of reach.

But God never intends His Word to be seen, and not used. He intends us to have what He promises us.

Faith reaches out and gets what God has for us.

Every promise in the Word, and every promise given to you personally, is nothing until entered into by faith.

And there can never be completed faith, without obedience.

Promises are only promises, until we have them.

First, we apprehend them by faith.

That is, you see that God has this for you, personally, and you reach out in belief to His Word.

When you do, you should have the hope (remember hope is the confident expectation that God will do what He says) of these promises by the assurance of the Holy Spirit within.

Second, you apprehend these promises, by obedience. You live them.

Sometimes there are conditions to the promises the Lord gives, like the seed on the ground:

one, a hard walking path—no receiving there.

Others on rocks and thorns, which received by faith, but never put it to use.

The last, the good ground, which was tilled and received it by faith, (it says it “keeps” it) and also put it to use. Some thirty-fold, some sixty-fold, some an hundred-fold.

(Mark 14:14-20)

Without the element of faith, there is nothing.

For faith is that which makes the things of God, real to us, so that we can apprehend them.

(Apprehend here means that we have them in hand. They are ours.

Like a felon is apprehended…only when they have him….not when they are just looking for him.)

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

It is a true substance. It exists within you by the Holy Spirit.

It gives us the proof within us, to use the word God gives us. In other words, you know it.

Faith is what is within us that reaches out to God in times of trouble, in praise, for help, for comfort, and for fellowship.

Hebrews 11:3,6 “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made by things which do appear.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

By faith we understand, or perceive truths which were mysteries before.

And again, we are to use our faith, and reach out to God in obedience, and get what He promises.

Hebrews 4:2 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”

Let us not lose what He promises, by not believing Him.

But let us gain all that He has for us to have, through the Holy Spirit, and His promises, which He wants to give.

Let us apprehend His promises to us, and gain one hundred-fold for Christ Jesus,……..in believing obedience to His Word.

God’s Due Order

1 Chronicles 15:13 “For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not after the due order.”

Now David wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. There he had set up the Tabernacle. This was God’s will, to bring the Ark to Jerusalem and set up His worship there.

(The Ark was the symbol of the Presence of God with them. In the Tabernacle, in the Holy of Holies, above the mercy seat, which was the gold cover on the top of the Ark, dwelt the Presence. Inside were the Ten Commandments.)

But the “way” to move it, was important.

So:

1 Chronicles 13:1. “And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds and with every leader.”

They decided that they would put it on a new cart, like the Philistines did.

(The Philistines had taken it in battle, and after God had sent judgements upon them, they had returned the Ark to Israel, in a new cart. This was the last time it had been moved.)

But David did not consult with God, as to His Way of carrying the Ark.

(What the enemies of God do, is not what the people of God should do.)

But they gathered together, and put the Ark on the new cart, with men around it; and started toward Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 6:6-7, 9 “And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the Ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the Ark of God.

And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the Ark of the Lord come to me?”

The way God had told Israel to carry the Ark, was on the shoulders of the Priests. They were to put staves (long poles) through the places on the Ark, and carry it on their shoulders.

One man died because of David’s error, and they could not bring the Ark any further. Instead they carry it into a house nearby.

Three months pass. The household where the Ark stayed was greatly blessed.

So David knows it was not their moving it, that was wrong; but the due order for the move: the way God wanted.

David then finds out what the Lord had said to Israel about moving the Ark:

1 Chronicles 15:2 “Then David said, None ought to carry the Ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the Ark of God, and to minister unto Him for ever.”

1 Chronicles 15:11-13, 15 “And David called for.. the priests, and for the Levites,…

And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the Ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.

For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not after the due order.

And the children of the Levites bare that Ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded, according to the word of the Lord.”

When they got everything according to God’s due order, they brought up the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem in joy and singing, with blessing.

What was the difference?

One was the reasonable way which everyone agreed on.

One was God’s way.

His due order. And how important that is.

We think, if a job is done, it does not matter how it got that way; but God never thinks that way.

He has a way; a higher way of doing things.

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither your ways My ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

When His due order is honored, He gives blessings upon blessings.

When it is disregarded, He will not bless as He wants.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

All scripture is given for our learning. So we can profit from others: their mistakes,….and successes.

Let us honor God, and seek out His due order in our lives, and be blessed.

This is surely what He wants for us.

Ephesians 6:15 “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

The Roman’s hobnail sandals, were for their sure footing in all kinds of terrain.

They were hard on the bottom, with little spikes to grab into the earth.

They had leather straps which tied the leather leggings….so that their ankles and legs were supported, and protected.

In the Christian life, we need sure footing, if we are to walk through this world,….and all it’s situations;

….and resist the Adversary of our souls.

That solid footing is provided by the gospel of peace. The gospel of peace, is that Word from the Lord to us about our peace….

…Judicial peace because we are born again…Hallelujah

…”Peace be still” to the storm around us.

…Hold your peace, and let Me fight for you.

We stand in His Word….on His promises to us….to uphold and keep us.

(In the world we have all sorts of things….”bombarding” us.

Not just temptations….although they are there…

….but things of our common life….bills, illness, fights with family and co-workers,….all the things with cause us to worry, and become fearful.)

But there is a place of rest, and peace of mind for every Christian.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

This peace is God’s hiding place for every believer….

Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

That “secret place” is a place of covering and protection….so is His promises to us.

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

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”

Peace “keeps” us….

For it settles our “ruffled feathers”…..it soothes our weary minds….it keeps us from sinning with our lips…..it protects us from charging after the “pie in the sky”…..

….and mostly…..importantly….it keeps us attached to God….for He is our peace….it is His arms about us.

If we do not learn how to depend upon the promises of God for peace,……than we will not have sure footing……to be able to stand against the wiles of the Adversary.

Why is it our feet? Why not our minds, or breastplate?

Because it is in our everyday life….our everyday circumstances….that we run into strife, anger (ours or others), hurt, and worry.

It is as we are walking along in the Lord’s Way, that we are attacked…..and if we do not have sure footing in God’s promises to us….then we can be thrown off balance and knocked down.

Worry, anxiety, tension, fear….meet all of these with the Gospel of peace…a promise for you from His Word.

One that you can get a hold of…and one that can get a hold of you.

The Lord wants to garrison your walk with Him….with His peace.

This is of the Holy Spirit, not something you do…..it is not your hanging on to Him….but your yielding to Him….His Word…..His promise to you.

Then He does the guarding and protecting. And He does all things well.

(My daughter, when she was just beginning High School, was in a study room that was chaos. She could not do her work for the constant noise, and antics.

The teacher that was suppose to monitor the room, just ignored the situations.

She would enter in if there things being thrown around….but mostly, the noise she would ignore.

Finally, she became so frustrated, she began to just sit there, waiting till the time was up.

I told her, that what she needed was peace……

She said, “yes, peace and quiet, so I can get my work done.”

So I told her to pray…..right before she went in….asking for peace for herself.

A few days later, she told me that the noise was not any better….

….but that, instead, she had like a barrier to it in her mind…..she could really concentrate on her studies!

And get them done.)

God’s peace comes to us….and grounds us….in Him. We feel His presence,….we know His help,….we rest in His keeping us.

This is God’s sure footing for us.

Guidance

James 3:3 “Behold, we put bits in the horses mouth, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.”

There are two ways to break a horse. Gently, over time, getting the horse to accept you, and your weight on him; till the horse and you become partners.

He is mastered, but by love.

Or severely, which makes the horse accept you and your weight—now, by wearing down it’s resistance.

He is mastered, but by force of circumstances.

How would you like to receive your guidance from the Lord?

We can be brought to the place that we are directed by the force of circumstances; which is like the bit and bridle.

We must do, because we have no choice in the matter.

But this is not what the Lord Jesus Christ would have for us.

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.”

This is gentle guidance. Remember one look from the Lord sent Peter out weeping.

The Lord would have us, all look to Him for our guidance, if we would just see Him as He is. The Creator, and Sustainer of the Universe is our Lord and Savior.

He loves us, and wants us to enter into—with Him—all the joys of service to Him.

For in Him is glorious liberty of spirit!

True freedom is freedom from the power of our sin, and self.

The bondage of…..I have to do this (which can be any addiction),

…..and the bondage of…..I want to do this (how many “things” we want: no contentment, just want).

We can be free from these, by the liberty of the Holy Spirit’s control.

The closer to God we get, the more freedom we have.

I will instruct and teach you, in the way that you shall go.

What this means, is that He will go with you in each step, showing you what to do, and helping you do it.

So often, we refuse the gentle way, for one reason or another.

We fight with Him,……even though we want what He is leading us into.

I have found that no one likes to be told what to do….and obedience is the first lesson we must learn….obedience, without knowing the way….but knowing Christ;

Obedience, without our “two cents” being added….just bowing to His Way.

We need to understand that the Lord must lead us(or we will surely go the wrong way). But how will He lead us?

Psalm 32:9 “Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee (or trample thee).”

The “something” which hinders, is our unbroken will. Like the horse, or mule; we must be broken or mastered, to be usable.

It is the method of the breaking which is spoken of here.

He wants us to yield to Him, which is what we do when we “look to Him”….

Isaiah 45:22 “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

For the look of faith and trust, in Christ Jesus our Lord, is yielding.

If we are looking to Him, we are looking away from other things. Choosing Him.

And when we look?

Ephesians 1:18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,”

We need to know….

….and we need this mighty power in our everyday walk; instructing us and teaching us in the way we must go.

I want that gentle instruction of His eye.

How do you want to be guided?

Repentance

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Repentance is a wonderful gift from the Holy Spirit to us. He takes our feet from the miry clay…..from drowning in our own choices……and He sets our feet on the Rock that can not move.

He convicts us of sin (which is a great mercy, otherwise we would continue in it to our hurt)….

….and by that conviction, He works the desire within us, to leave our sin.

Repentance is a turning from our sin….we bring it out into the light before God, and confess it…..then will to turn from it, and the habit of doing it…

….turning instead, to God.

(To turn from the sin, and the turning to God,…is once for all…..

….but the battle with the Adversary, often includes the day by day refusing to yield to the temptation….and getting the grace and help from the Holy Spirit at that time….

…..till the victory is complete…for God never leaves us in sin….but His deliverance is powerful and complete.)

True repentance is sorrow over the sin……

….not sorrow for ourselves…..or for the consequences of our sin.

True repentance leads us out of sin, and into a new life of victory.

But there is the sorrow of this world….

…..a sadness for our “mistakes”.

Seeing them as “wrongs”, “faults”,……which really blames our parents, our circumstances, and God….for making us what we are.

We are here, in this mess, because of them.

And there is another sorrow of this world…..a sorrow for what might happen because of our sin….

….this is not repentance….but self-pity.

These are “sorrows of this world, which worketh death”….for they do not lead to Christ….but to despair or resentment.

Let us again state: Repentance is a choice gift from the Holy Spirit.

It is a gift….it can be received and the fruit of that, is salvation in Christ.

Or it can be rejected, and the fruit of that, is self-importance….my opinion of myself or what I want, is more important than the truth of God in my life.

An example……Simon the sorcerer:

When persecution started against the believers in Jerusalem,….many left the city,…..and went other places, preaching the gospel.

This was the beginning of…”to all the world”.

Acts 8:5-6, 12 “Then Phillip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

And the people of one accord gave heed unto those things which Phillip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

But when they believed Phillip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

But….

Acts 8:9, 10 “But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.”

Simon was the big man of the city. He had influence, and by that influence….he had power.

The people there had thought that he had God’s power….but when the true power of God came, along with the preaching of Christ….

….then his power was shown for what it was….and many believed in the truth, and on Christ Jesus.

You might think that here was going to be the battle…

…but the battle was not outwardly….but inwardly…..in Simon.

Acts 8:13 “Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Phillip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.”

This sounds wonderful….and it appeared that Simon was a true believer….but was he a believer in Christ….or in the miracles?

….For you can not reach out to Christ….

….without leaving your world behind…

…that is repentance.

When we say we believe in the Lord Jesus as our Lord, and Savior……then, soon, something will come up to show that….to evidence our faith (Hebrews 11:1)

And we will choose:

Christ and His Way…..or self, (self-glory, self-esteem, self-pity,….but self, in some form).

The Apostles, Peter and John, came down to Samaria, hearing the good news that had received Christ.

They prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit,….for it had not come upon them yet.

And when Simon saw that…

Acts 8:18-19 “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the Apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”

Now I would like to give Simon the benefit of the doubt…..

But this was exceedingly wicked…..

…….you can not purchase God, the Holy Spirit.

You can not put Him in your pocket and draw Him out….when you want to….like a servant to you…..no!

Simon only wanted to “use” the Holy Spirit, to make himself look powerful!

Peter, looking at Simon….got right to the heart of his problem: his heart had never been given to Christ….just to the power he had seen….

…secretly wanting it…..so he could be that important man in the city again.

Acts 8:20-21 “…..Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchase with money.

Thou hast neither part or lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”

Nothing Simon had seen….the joy of people converted, the healing of the sick, the giving of the Holy Spirit….

….had drawn him away from lust of power….for himself over others….to make him the center of their lives.

What could be done?

Simon had never repented of his true life and lust….

….so Peter tells him to do so…there was hope, if he wanted it.

Acts 8:22-23. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God that perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness (a hardness of heart) and in the bond of iniquity (the lust of sin).”

Here is real mercy…..for to repent, is to clear away the old…..by confession to God……so that when we reach out to the new…..our hands are empty.

Acts 8:24 “Then answered Simon and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”

I want to tell you how sad this makes me…..

…Instead of being joyful that there was still the opportunity for repentance….

….Simon merely asks Peter to pray for him.

Not for the repentance….but that he would not suffer “these things”…..

….Oh, how much we lose when we do not repent.

Again, repentance is a choice gift from God to us…..by it, He takes our feet from the miry clay….from drowning in our own choices……and leads them to the Rock of Jesus Christ.

Are we receiving the Lord’s gift of repentance?

The Godly sorrow for a time, reaps eternal rewards, if we will have it.

A New Nature

Perhaps a explanation of what the term “nature” means, would be helpful:

Nature is the inclination of the heart and mind, and the characteristics of that creature.

As man, our nature comes from Adam, our first parent.

As born again man, our new nature comes from Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Romans 5:12 “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

When Adam sinned, death passed to his children…..spiritual death, which is separation from God, and physical death…to those of his nature: to all men.

For we are all Adam’s children, and all have his nature, or characteristics.

(Mark 7:20-23)

God in all His Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, made a way for us to be justified before God, and saved from our sins; for He loved us.

1 John 4:9 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

That way was for God’s Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth and live a perfect life; then become obedient unto death, and pay the price for our sins; be raised the third day and make a way for our eternal life.

This He did. A way, then, was opened up for life, His life (nature) to pass on to His children, to those who have received Him.

Those who are born again.

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:”

Ephesians 2:1 “And you hath He quickened (gave life) who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

The Holy Spirit, Who abides with us forever, imparts Christ’s nature to us, giving us faith.

Romans 5:18-19 “Therefore as by the offense of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.”

We are made righteous: Think of it! Sinners made righteous, or not guilty before a Holy God!

By the merits of Jesus Christ, who sought us, and saved us from our sin!

Romans 4:7 “Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered.”

But this is not all. Jesus Christ gives His new nature, His inclination and character; so that we may walk in light all our days.

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.”

We were in darkness, fear, and anger; now we are in light, and can have joy and peace.

Ephesians 5:8-9 “ For we were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)”

His new nature within us gives us access to come to God as our Father, receiving all the Father has for us, as His children; through the merits of Christ Jesus, our Lord.

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

“Spiritual blessings in Christ”……but the wonderful thing is….that we are “in Christ”….

Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

We are in Christ, and He is in us.

In Christ we have access to all the heavenly blessings God has for us

So all that the Father has set aside for us….can be in us, and for us….here and now; because we are “in Christ Jesus” and He is in us.

His new nature within us, implanted by the Holy Spirit, gives us the graces and the power to use them that we need.

To love Him.

To grow in grace.

To know His will.

To be empowered to do His will.

To obtain the many promises He has for us.

New Life is not just receiving Heaven; but receiving His new nature and becoming all we can be, to His praise and glory.

Ephesians 1:17-20 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you….

The Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;

That ye may know what is the hope of His calling,

And what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power in us-ward who believe,….

According to the working of His mighty power which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,”

He has this for us…wisdom, revelation by knowing Jesus more, understanding, hope, spiritual riches, power in us….that same power that raised Jesus from the dead….working in us….

To raise us up in our everyday struggles and trials.

Let us praise our Lord for what He has for us….and more….let us use it.

Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

What things? The things that will happen before…..”the end times”. (Matthew 24:33-42)

Everyday we see these things happening.

And what are we, as Christians, told to do?

To grow sad, as though our hope was in this world….no!

But we are to “look up”……..we are to look above the circumstances and see the Lord working behind everything that He is allowing.

We are to “lift up our heads”…..we should rejoice in the scriptures being fulfilled right before our eyes….

….don’t let our head (thoughts) hang down,….but we should be praying,…

…”Even so, come Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

And loving His appearing…for there is a crown of righteousness laid up for those who love His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).

But in order for us to “love His appearing”….we must be watching and praying….ready for His return…….not fainting under the weight of the Adversary’s attacks.

He might send darkness….but we are given Light….pray for light.

He might send hatred….but we are given joy and peace in believing….pray for that peace to fortify your heart.

We are not to faint….and Jesus gave us a parable to show us the Way we are to handle the enemies attacks….especially in our prayer life….which is so important now.

We are no one important to this world….but we are His child….and He hears us, and has already given us HIs Word for our case.

Luke 18:1 “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint:”

Here, we see plainly, that to be ready for Christ’s return:…..we must be a praying people.

Praying for His Will done….Praying for His kingdom come….within us and His church…..and on the earth….soon.

For Jesus speaks, here, of the closing days of the church age….just before He returns to Rapture the church….

….and how these times will be…….we will have enemies….those that think we are helpless and seek to ruin us…..and those that seek to take our blessings…….

…..and He says what we should be doing about them.

Luke 18:2-3 “There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary.”

This was probably a Roman judge (for Jewish judges were in three’s)….so he would not care about the needs of a Jew….especially a widow…

….she was not someone important,….she was not rich…..she did not have important friends…..she was a nothing, a nobody to him….

….but she kept coming back.

This judge did not fear God, nor man….he was appointed by Rome.

So anything he would do, was on a personal level…..only for what affected him….or for his gain.

“Avenge me of my adversary”….was the widows cry….again and again. “She kept coming back”.

This is not a request for punishment for her enemy (she had an enemy which persecuted her….sought to take things from her…..so do we.)

……but this cry was for a decree issued from that judge……that would give her protection from her enemy’s injustice…..

…..and to keep him, from harming her…..like a restraining order, today.

She wanted protection…..not vengeance…..so she kept coming back, to someone who could give it to her…..

…..but he thought nothing of her….and ignored her….for a while.

Luke 18:4-5. “And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, though I fear not God, nor regard man

Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest, by her continually coming she weary me.”

Because this widow kept crying unto this unjust judge….”I will avenge her”.

The reason? “Lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

The Greek, “she weary me”….literally means….”she give me a black eye”.

That means, that her continually coming there, might ruin his reputation…..

…..something he cared about….though he did not care about anything else.

People might get the wrong impression about him…….so he gave her that “restraining order” against her enemy…..just to be rid of her.

Luke 18:6 “And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.”

Jesus says to listen,…..to really see what that unjust judge says…..

….”I will do it, just to get rid of her, for my reputation is on the line.”

See his motives….selfish, and proud….yet the widow got her request…

Luke 18:7 “And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?”

Then, Jesus said…..look to God…..cry unto God, Who loves you.

God is just….He will issue such degrees for us, against our Adversary…

…”Heavenly Father, Avenge me of my Adversary”.

Shall not the Judge of all the earth…..and our Heavenly Father….surely do right?

(Sometimes we act as if God was unjust…..in His dealings with us, and the men of the world.

They prosper,….and we just get by.

They lie and steal and cheat….and yet are not, seemingly, chastened…..but if we try and use these means….we are rebuked.

Why? Their rebuke is coming…..for all eternity, if they do not turn and repent.

But our rebukes….are for our good, that we might grow thereby.)

Yet Jesus uses this parable…..especially for these last days….because we are not to look to our enemies…..but to God in prayer.

We are not to look for “justice”, here, in the world’s system……but to God, the Judge of all the earth.

And we are to look to God, crying……”Avenge me of my Adversary”.

“Though He bear long with them”….we are not what we ought to be in this age…

His church has Him outside the door in Laodicea….this last of the church age. (Revelation 3:20)

….He is loving, rebuking, and chastening….that we might become all He has for us….to have the victory He has for us, in our circumstances…even in these days.

He is “bearing long” with us….to bring us to one day stand before His throne, hearing….”Well done, My good and faithful servant”.

We should always cry unto the Lord for such restraining decrees against our Adversary.

“Heavenly Father, avenge me of my adversary”….

…this is especially helpful in prayer….when our thoughts roam, or as we are praying we suddenly become angry, or depressed…..

“Lord, Avenge me of my Adversary”

Luke 18:8 “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?”

Faith gives us victory. (1 John 5:4)

Our faith is increased as we pray, going before the throne of grace….the Father’s throne….and receiving from His hand mercy and grace, especially in the face of our adversaries.

Remember this began with:

Luke 18:1. “And He (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint;”

“Faint” means to weaken in our purpose, to languish, to give up.

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

When we pray, we ought to believe that our Heavenly Father….the Just God of all the earth…. is going to hear,….

….and keep at it until He does…..and gives us these restraining orders against our Adversary……..

…..for He will avenge us speedily.

And “speedily” means that God gives Himself to our request with all His Wisdom and Might…..He answers our cry’s.

“And when these things begin to come to pass”……do not faint….but cry to the Just Judge of all the earth….He hears…and will “avenge” us speedily.

“Heavenly Father, Avenge me of my Adversary”

Are we demanding the Lord prove Himself to us?

Jesus had been performing His ministry for about the three years….it would soon lead to the cross of our salvation.

From the first, His message was that the kingdom of God is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)

What does “at hand” mean? It means that it is close enough….that if you want it, you can reach out in faith and receive it.

Luke 17:20-21 “And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or Lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

They “demanded”…..a term that includes anger, pride, and imagined authority.

They demanded Him to speak….to say something to them, right then……about the kingdom of God, which He was calling men to.

It was not that they wanted this information to enlighten their hearts to believe….no….for their hearts were “far” from Him.

They demanded….

….because they wanted to “see” something from Him….and if He did not do as they wanted…..and show them….a time….or a place….or a action,….then they were right in rejecting Him.

Jesus Christ did, in fact, answer them….but not as they “demanded”, but as always….in truth.

“….He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation (or with outward show):

Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, Lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Notice the word, “said”.

They had demanded…..and “He answered them”….that would have been enough…

…but it was if the Holy Spirit wanted to emphasize the peace and calm that Jesus had in the face of His adversaries….”He answered them and said”.

Not shouted….not pointed out…not anything, but “said”.

“Take My Word, or leave it…..I am the Truth, and My Word is truth….

….My kingdom is not for pomp and show,…..but for righteousness, and peace and joy.

Right now, it is at hand….if you will “behold” it….

….right now, I, the king, am within your midst…

….and My kingdom is to be set up within you….

It is a kingdom which comes in power…..in your soul and life.”

God’s glory is not something that is “flash and bang”….but it is something that changes…lives, from the heart….outward.

But this they did not want….

…they could perform the outward commandment….to the letter….

…but refused the inward love and devotion to God.

Notice, also, He said….” For behold”.

This “behold” is in the imperative sense.

In order for them to “see” the kingdom….they would have to….absolutely, have to see….the King, Jesus Christ.

But instead of “beholding” Him, or understanding the kingdom of God….they demanded He prove Himself, and His Word.

Sad…..but how many of us do the same.

My question to all of us, Christians, is…..

Are we demanding an answer from the Lord about His call to His kingdom, for ourselves?

Are we saying: Prove that you will do this for me, if I give you my heart.

Have we gotten past the bargaining table (I’ll do this, if You do that, Lord)…..to just be devoted servants of the Lord Jesus Christ?

And this is of our hearts…..and in our hearts.

The kingdom of God is:

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Righteousness is, of course, right standing with God, which comes from Christ’s righteousness…..so that we may come into His Presence.

But it is also right living….a change in our thoughts, attitudes, actions, and yes, words.

For as His righteousness is applied to us….it transforms our hearts in thanksgiving.

Peace….peace with God, yes….but also a peace with ourselves, and with others.

Though the Pharisees grieved Jesus, yet He kept speaking to them….informing them of the Way to life.

This is a peace which settles down into our whole being….a peace which walks in Christ’s steps….and leads others there, by the same example.

Joy….a truly choice and uplifting characteristic of Jesus. Joy is not in the circumstances….but in the Presence of God, in our life.

He is with us,…amazing, powerful, and encouraging….again, no matter the circumstances.

“….He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or Lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

This is still His message….will we receive His kingdom….within us?

And when we do…….we will have righteousness, peace, and joy.

Today!

Hebrew 3:15 “While it is said, Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation.”

All our lives comes down to ‘Today’. Tomorrow is not yet. Yesterday, with its success and failures, is done.

But today we have. Today we have the opportunity to turn to God and do His Will.

We never know what a day will bring. We should, therefore, determine which direction our lives will go, while we have today.

So today, if you will hear His Voice.

We can hear God’s voice in nature; many have seen the changing seasons and heard God speak to them:

Psalms 74:17 “…Thou hast made summer and winter.”

If the seasons change, all over the world, surely that means that the sadness of today is not permanent; but will give way to rejoicing.

We can hear God through His Word. It is His revelation of Himself and His Ways to us. The Holy Spirit will help us understand it, when we ask Him.

And we can hear His Voice to us, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit within. He is Light, and will make known to us, HIs Will.

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

Jesus said, If we really want to know His Will, we can know.

God considers our “heart” the throne of our mind, emotions and will.

So when we hear Him, we are to “soften” our hearts by yielding to His Will.

To “harden” our hearts is when, we will not to do it; for whatever reason.

Zechariah 7:9-11 “Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, saying, Execute true judgement, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother:

And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor, and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.”

A hardened heart is not caused by circumstances, or birth;…….but a choice of will.

When Israel hardened their heart: they first refused to listen, for they did not want to be responsible.

They thought that if they had not heard, God could not require His Word to be obeyed.

They pulled away from the work of “shouldering” the burdens of prayer, faithfulness, and love.

Finally they stopped their ears,…..or filled their ears with other voices,…..so they would not have to know God’s Voice in the circumstances.

Again, God considers our heart, the throne of our mind, emotions, and will.

But He can give us “hearts of flesh”; or tender hearts, which will return the love He gives us,….back to Him.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stoney heart out of the flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:

That they may walk in My statues, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”

The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, is given to us in our hearts to make alive again, and guide. He rules, and over rules, in circumstances which affect His People.

Without Him we can do nothing.

But with His Almighty energy, the most extraordinary results can be produced.

Everything depends upon His manifesting or concealing His Power.

Are we anxious to obtain His help?

Are we watching so we will not provoke Him to be silent?

Oh how much we need Him to speak to our inner man and give us courage!

The Holy Spirit is not a temporary gift; He abides with us.

He does not weary of us (Amazing Love!).

But He waits to be gracious at times, till we really see our need, and seek Him.

It is love which makes a hard heart into a softened heart, yielding to God’s Spirit.

It is God’s love given to our hearts,……and then returned to Him, by us.

In love, He speaks of “Today”, if…..you will hear His Voice.

Turn to Christ Jesus, and yield to HIs Spirit within.

Receive His love,….and return it to Him.

He wants to bless each heart given to Him,……”Today”.