Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

We shall know…..if we follow on to know.

Do you want to know the Lord, more?

Isaiah 54:13 “And all Thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of Thy children.”

Do you want to be taught of Him?

(God does not yield to experimentation….He does not say….”try Me, and see whether I am God.”

No, He states….”I am God,….believe Me.”

Isaiah 40:28-29 “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.”

To know God, is to have a more personal relationship with Him.

Let me ask you…..do you talk with Him, everyday…..bringing both your sins for confession (1 John 1:9), and your deliverances and victories to Him, in praise?)

“His going forth”

This speaks of His Purpose…….which is ever going forward….

……..though we may not see it clearly……..yet,…

His going forth in His Word (Isaiah 55:11);…..His going forth by His Spirit (Romans 8:13-15);……His going forth in battle for us (Ephesians 6:10).

“And He comes unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rains on the earth.”

Rain speaks of His temporal mercies…..for He sends “rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45)

These latter and former rains were essential for a good harvest in Israel.

The latter rains in March-May, when the crop was coming to fruition….to give the best harvest.

The former rains in October-December, when the crops were first planted….to give them the best start.

And this was by the mercy of God.

Hosea was calling God’s people to know Him…..God was giving them a chance to rekindle the fire of zeal…but not in sacrifices…..but in fellowship and relationship.

Hosea 6:4 “O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as the morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.”

The morning cloud and early dew promise much for the crops and vineyards…..they look real good…..but deliver little.

For as soon as the sun comes up…..they disappear…no rain then….the dew gone, and the plants drying out.

They gave no lasting benefit.

So were the changes of Ephraim (one name for Israel, the northern kingdom) and Judah.

They showed promise of repentance….they became very religious….but it was not a lasting change of the heart.

Hosea 6:5 “Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth: and thy judgements are as the light that goeth forth.”

The Lord sought to restore them….that is why Hosea, and other prophets were sent…..to speak His Words to them….if they will hear, and follow Him again. He sent judgements to show light on their sins.

“Then shall they know, if they follow on to know…”

The sacrifices were only as good as the hearts that brought them.”

Hosea 6:6 “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

“I desired mercy”…..”mercy” here is a word which speaks of affection and loyalty under the covenant.

And this affection and love is for both God, and all the sons of the covenant.

This is what He wanted of them,…..to get their hearts right with Him…..and with their brothers.

“And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings”.

For them to really know their God…..that is what He has always wanted….not just from Israel…..but down through the ages in His church.

For His people to know Him…..

……..and that can not be done without fellowship….and following after.

To worship Him in Spirit and in truth….this He wants from all His people….heart worship.

And worship is worthyship…..counting the Lord worthy of our all.

He seeks this from us, today.

And He is still calling,……all who will, to……

(Hosea 6:1-3):

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will lead us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.”

(How often He had to stand by and let their enemies hurt them….to wake them up to their sin!

Isaiah 54:7-8 “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies shall I gather thee.

In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Lord thy Redeemer.”)

“After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.”

(Some, (I do) see the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ here…and all that it gives us. Promised so many times to those who would know Him!)

“Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning, and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain and former rain upon the earth.”

To follow on…..because He is going on…..will we go with Him?

As sure as the light in the sky tomorrow….His going forth for us, in His Purpose is prepared and ready.

And He shall…..He shall come unto us in mercy….if we follow on with Him……we will begin to have all that He has Purposed for us.

One day He will come to judge the earth….but today He still calls in mercy….

…..are we hearing Him?

Empty your Hands

What is that in thine hand?

Have you ever considered what hinders you from doing the work the Lord wants you to do?

Are you hanging on to something that you need to let go of?

Or are you hanging on to “the rod” , which will never be used for God, till you give it to God?

Exodus 4:2 “And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.”

Moses had been a prince of Egypt, a defender of his brethren, a fugitive, and a shepherd.

But now he was called of God to go and bring out the Israelites from slavery, to take them to the promised land of Canaan.

But how was he going to do this?

The Lord first called him, then showed him one of the means he was to use, to do the work….his shepherd’s rod.

Of course, this rod was not the only means, Moses used to deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt.

But it was in his hand at the time God called him.

Exodus 4:3-5 “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:

That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared into thee.”

God chose to sanctify the rod for His work: so it was given to Moses for a means of deliverance for the children of Israel.

I remember how often, as a child, a older person would tell me to “empty my hands, so you can pick up that other thing.”

Here, the Lord is telling Moses that it is time to let go of the life he had in Midian, and to do the next work….His work of deliverance.

Now we can not fill our hands with God’s work, if we will not empty them of other things.

Exodus 4:21 “And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.”

“Which I have put in thine hand.”

Only the things God puts in our hands are for His work.

Sometimes they are for a specific work and then to be laid aside. Sometimes they are for our whole life work.

The means are all at God’s disposal, not ours.

Our job is to empty our hands, and fill them with what He puts there.

One of the means we are always to use is His Word. It is always right at hand, and it is for our instruction in righteousness.

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.”

Another means we are to use is grace. Grace is the unmerited favor of power.

(We think of grace as a New Testament word…but it was first used when God chose Noah to save those who would believe God, from the flood to come. Genesis 6:8)

Zechariah 4:7 “Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, Grace unto it.”

(Whatever “mountains” of difficulties are before us; it is God’s grace that can overcome against them.)

Power for what we need in this circumstance. Given by God at the time we need it, as we ask for it. (Hebrews 4:16).

Grace can be strength, courage, words, and /or whatever we need at the time.

2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

Faith is another means we have. Faith is given to us at new birth; and increased as we follow after Christ in believing obedience. It is to be used: (“I believe, help my unbelief”. Mark 9:23-24).

The means for God’s Work, are God’s.

Our job is to empty our hands, and fill them with what He puts there.

Now According to the Faithful and True Witness

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

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

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

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

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

Thus saith the Amen.

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

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

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

And what does Jesus see when He looks at Laodicea?

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

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

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

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

And the reason of our indifference?

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

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

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

This attitude is:

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

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

and do what I want for now.”

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

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

We do not know that we are really wretched:

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

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

To covet is to “set the heart upon”.

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

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

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

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

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

Paul knew he was wretched.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

miserable [how many Christians today are unhappy, discontented],

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

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

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

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

Revelations 3:18 “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then Jesus says to His Laodicean church:

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

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

This is fellowship…

And the power of His presence.

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

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

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

Then answer His voice:

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

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

None other will do.

He says, “I will”. Will you?

Raised

We celebrate Christ’s birth….and sinless life…and honor our Lord who was sacrificed, crucified for me…..but…

…one of the great Bible facts is that:

Christ was raised the third day by the power of God, in acknowledgement of His perfect redemption.

(God’s ways are complete….He never leaves things half done. He finishes all that He begins….not always right away…not always the way we think….but He will see it finished. John 19:20)

Jesus showed His disciples what He was to suffer….but that He would be raised:

Matthew 16:21 “From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised again the third day.”

And why was this the time He began to warn them, of what was coming?

Because they had just declared faith in Him as the Son of God.

Matthew 16:13-16 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?

And they said, Some say that Thou art John the Baptist, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But Whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

They had followed Him….hearing His Words, and believing His works….that He was the Messiah, the Anointed One…..but now they knew He was the Son of God…….Who had come to call a people to believe and follow Him, wherever that led.

He warned them twice more:

(Matthew 17:22-23)

Matthew 20:17-19 “And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death,

And shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”

But then the arrest happens….surrounded with so much darkness and hatred……they fail Him….

….but God, His Father, does not.

Christ’s perfect purity, kept Him through His life.

Christ’s perfect subjection and peace, kept Him through His arrest, questions, beatings, and the cross.

(At the end, even with the horror and the weight of our sin upon Him….the agony of the pain and separation from the Father…still He “yielded up the ghost”…it was His choice to die for us….throughout it all. Matthew 27:50)

And God, the Father, raised Him up, the third day.

Matthew 28:1-2, 5-6 “In the end of the Sabbath (Saturday), as it began to dawn toward the first day (Sunday) of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

“He is risen.”

And because He lives, we can, too.

The resurrection was a choice part of the gospel that the Apostles told….as they traveled all over the world.

We have a living Lord and Savior!

(There are fourteen times that Acts says about Christ’s being raised, or His resurrection.

Peter preached it…

Acts 5:30-31 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

And Paul preached it…

Acts 17:30-31 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:

Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”)

In Romans, Paul takes the resurrection and explains it where we, as believers are concerned:

Romans 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

We are to walk……in the power of His Resurrection Life.

Wonderful that our sins are put away by His death and sacrifice……but what good would that do for my life….without His resurrection?

I am still a sinner….and without the power of His Everlasting Life flowing in me and through me….I can not live to please Him.

But…..He is risen!

His life is now given me, when I believe and receive Him:

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Paul explains it:

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

And Peter says:

1 Peter 1:3,5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Jesus said here on earth:

John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

As Christians:

By His life on earth, we are given an example as how we should live.

By His death, our sins are forgiven and put away…so we stand righteous before God.

By His resurrection, we are given Christ’s life in us, that we have power to live unto God.

He is Risen! Hallelujah! He is Risen, indeed!

Isaiah 53

No other prophet foretold as many things about the coming Christ, as Isaiah did…..in so many details.

He tells about Christ’s birth….Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7

He tells about John the Baptist’ message…Isaiah 40:3-5

But in this chapter, Isaiah gives God’s Word about the life, and ministry of Christ Jesus….as God’s Perfect Servant.

The first thing is……Isaiah is amazed, at the rejection of the One Who comes to save them!

Isaiah 53:1 “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed?”

Here is both a question and exclamation!

What, after so many prophesies telling about the incarnation and work of the Lord Jesus…..you still do not believe what you see, right before you?

John 12:37 “But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him:”

The “Arm of the Lord” is a showing of God’s Mighty Strength….and that was shown again and again in Christ Jesus.

By the miracles He did,….but especially by the powerful “arm” of salvation, which He spoke of,…if we believe on Him.

Isaiah shows about Christ’s life:

Isaiah 53:2 “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.”

Here is the reason Israel did not at first recognize Him….He came disguised as a servant…..of the kingly line, yes…..in Bethlehem, yes…..but lowly.

Even the first words of the Lord we hear are that of a servant…..

(Luke 2:49) “How is it that ye sought Me? Wish ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

He grew up as “a tender plant”…..which is the word for a “root-sprout”. It means a sprout or sapling from the stump of a cut down tree….

…God had cut down the kingly line of David, because of their continued rebellion….

….yet now….here is a tender plant….unappreciated by most,…of the line of David……beautiful in kindness and purity…but not grand to the eyes of sight.

Yet Christ Jesus grew up “before Him”….before the eyes of His Father…under HIs care and protection.

Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.”

It is hard to understand their hatred and rejection of the Son of God.

Why did we despise Him? Was it not because He showed us our sins…..and we did not like to see them?

We did not esteem, or honor Him.

To Israel……He came to save, yet they refused to be saved.

He fed five thousand……yet was often hungry and thirsty Himself.

He came preaching the kingdom of heaven was at hand, healing the sick and blind…..yet instead of praise….He was questioned and called names.

He was a man of sorrows….for He saw and felt the sorrow of the sin of this world, as He walked here…..

(He was often grieved at the unbelief and hardness of heart of the people [Mark 3:5])

…….until He bore the penalty of the sin of this world on the cross.

(Though He knew the sorrow of the sin around Him,…..He rejoiced in spirit with the Father, fulfilling the work to remove both the sin and the sorrow of sin. Luke 10:21-22)

This was our Savior’s life here on earth…..(John 1:10-11 “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.

He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.”)

Isaiah then tells of His death….yes, he foretold the Messiah would die….

Isaiah 53:4-5 “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”

All sickness, sorrow, and pain are the effects of sin.

And on the cross, Christ Jesus suffered the penalty for all our sin….pain, grief, aloneness, death….all that we should have borne because I am a sinner…..He did. (Wounded, bruised, chastisement, stripes!)

Yet…..

….what a telling word.

Yet, though He did that, they misunderstood His sufferings….and mocked Him.

They cried out, at the foot of the cross (Matthew 27:42-43) “….He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said, I am the Son of God.”

Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Here is our guilt….we have gone astray from God.

(“Gone astray” means to vacillate…to stagger or stray because of deception, excitement, agitation, or seduction.

It is a picture of a wanderer, with no fixed destination……lost, but always moving to something else.)

We have turned from Him, and the knowledge of Him. (Romans 1:19-20)

Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before His shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.”

He was the Lamb of God,….

He was very willing to speak on behalf of the faint and weak…Matthew 14:14-18

He was very willing to encourage and acknowledge faith….Matthew 8:10, 15:28,

He was very willing to speak up so that the disciples would be let go when they arrested Him…..John 18:8-9

Yet, He never spake a word in His own defense…..Matthew 26:62-63

Isaiah 53:8 “He was taken from prison and from judgement: and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken.

And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich with His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.”

He had done the rulers no harm…..only spoke the truth….but they sought His life.

He was hurried from arrest, to judgement…..let us be rid of Him.

He was killed…cut off…violently put to death.

They intended His death,…….God intended salvation through His blood and sacrifice.

He was crucified between two thieves….but even there, saving one (Luke 23:39-43)

He was buried in the new tomb given by the rich man, Joseph of Arimathea. (John20:38-42)

On the cross Jesus Christ was a victim…..but in His resurrection He is Victor.

And here is His resurrection and ascension!

All the life, and power that Christ Jesus had before,….and more honor…..is given to Him.

And in the end, this is what God thinks of the life, death, and resurrection of His Son…..for this was ever His plan for the salvation of His people, as it was foretold here:

Isaiah 53:10-12 “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors: and He bear the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

These verses are very precious….for God tells of the delight in His Son, at the cross…

Delight…..because the cross….the sacrifice, was the only way for joy and redemption to come to man….for God is a God of righteousness and justice….and by Christ, God’s righteous demands for justice are met.

Therefore God saves us…..Christ Jesus shall see His seed….those believers which come to Him. (John 1:12, Hebrews 12:2)

God shall prolong His days…..For God raised up Christ from death and the grave….and He shall ever be our Mediator…..justifying us before God. (1Timothy 2:5)

God has promised a Kingdom to His Son,……now, in the hearts of the believers;….

….with whom He shares His grace and glory (Romans 8:14-17)…..

Ephesians 1:17-22 (condensed) “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you….in the knowledge of Him:…

…that ye may know….what is the riches 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,

Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places,

And hath put all things under His feet, and have Him to the head of all things to the church,”

…..but also, one day….

….Christ will reign here, over the whole earth.

(Psalm 110:1, Acts 2:34-36)

1 Corinthians 15:24-25 “Then cometh the end, when He shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when He shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power.

For He must reign till hath put down all enemies under His feet.”

Christ is the Victor…..because He won the victory over sin, the devil, and death.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As a Servant of God, Christ came lowly, and in humiliation….and won the greatest Victory…..that we might come to God in peace.

It is the Eleventh Hour

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

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

If these two verses were not put together…..we would be in a desperate state.

The “heart” in the Bible speaks about our soul…..our personality, made up of heart, mind, and will.

Our hearts are deceitful, because they lie to us….making us “feel” things that may or may not be true.

But…..the Lord will search our hearts….and try our wills (reins)….and give us according to the tenor of our choices…..do we really want His Will….

Time is important.

We all make choices in things we can not change….

So, what can we do?

Matthew 20:1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.”

The Kingdom of Heaven, if it is to be gained, is by One man.

The householder here;…..our Lord Jesus Christ;….and His call to come to Him….for salvation….and service.

(God’s call is always to Himself: it may be to Salvation, or it may be to a work, or it may be to get more knowledge of Himself.

But His Call is always to Himself.)

This parable is concerning the work Christ has for each of His.

Christ calls those who are part of the Kingdom of Heaven, not to sit around,…..but to labor in His Work in this World.

Will you see yourself here?

Now, within every believer, there is a “clock”, so to speak.

This clock begins to tick the moment we are born again. It is like a time clock for the Work of the Lord, for ourselves.

When Christ calls to the Work:

Some respond early, and go to work for Christ.

Matthew 20:1-2 “…a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into His vineyard.

And when He had agree with the laborers for a penny a day, He sent them into his vineyard.”

(Back then, there were twelve hour days, and a penny was a good days wage.)

Some respond later, but still go.

Matthew 20:3-5 “And He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

Again He went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.”

But some stand idle all the day; they are inactive, and barren.

Matthew 20:6-7 “About the eleventh hour He went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that ye shall receive.”

Now, maybe they did not really feel that this Householder was calling them, when He had come before….after all, others went….wasn’t that enough?

But He meant,……all who would go to work for Him….should.

(We are all called as witnesses…if to nothing else. And every word of testimony for Him…..Jesus counts as fruit to His glory)

How can God’s people be idle…in a time when the world is surely dieing?

Maybe, because they are unaware that faith should lead to the total commitment of our lives to Jesus Christ as Lord.

Without any instruction that real Christian Victory, means complete abandonment or subjection of our self and person, to Jesus Christ.

So when the householder said, “Go into my vineyard”; Jesus was giving these the opportunity of doing that.

(How many times in our lives has He done so?)

Where were these “idle” ones, during the times He came before?

He accuses them of standing idle “all the day”, so they must have been there.

Yet they did not heed His call to go and work.

What about you? Has the Lord Jesus called for laborers, and you stood idle?

When others went, you were relieved that you did not “have to” go?

Yet the time (remember each of us have a clock, ticking) goes by.

Does the knowledge of our lack of fruit for Him, trouble us?

Now the day is almost gone.

Oh, if He would just call again; for the Kingdom of Heaven is wrapped up in the laborers He has called.

Then He does, rebuking us for our laziness, for our attitude of letting someone else do the work.

What will you do now?

Let this last opportunity go by again? For it is the eleventh hour…..shall we not go and work….even if it is just for this last bit of time?

Then at the end of times….when the work is done:

Matthew 20:9-10 “And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

But when the first came,……and they received every man a penny.”

Here is the “wages” of these workers.

(Not the wages of sin; Christ took those)

But in Him we receive the rewards of our obedience to His call; and our faithfulness…….even after we have been unfaithful.

Some labored longer; some a very short time.

Yet the householder, Jesus Christ, pays out the same wages to all.

Those wages are the reward for the faithful following of His call….of putting of yourself aside for Christ’s sake, and for the faithful love which follows Him.

In that day of receiving, if we have worked for Him……we will enter into His Joy, and into His courts, with praise.

Hallelujah, what a Savior! Who comes and calls again, in this eleventh hour!

Pilate

Matthew 27:22 “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They say unto him, Let him be crucified.”

This is a question each person will answer for themselves. What will you do with Jesus who is called the Christ?

Pilate was a common politician. He cared for nothing in Israel, except political gain for himself.

His headquarters were usually in a city by the Mediterranean Sea, but because of the Passover feast and the multitudes of people which could cause problems, he came up to Jerusalem.

This put him right in the middle of Christ’s trial.

(The chief priests only brought Him to Pilate, because by Roman law they could not put any prisoner to death. Only Rome had that power. (John 18:31)

Pilate knew that for envy the chief priests had brought Jesus to him. That there was nothing in their accusations.

Mark 15:10 “For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.”

And he tried three times to back out of a judgement against Jesus.

He knew Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against Him, but refused to stand with the truth; choosing rather to try and wiggle out of making a decision.

(And how many of us do the same….try and wiggle out of making a decision about Christ Jesus,….or His Word to us?)

1st. They brought Jesus to Pilate accusing Him of perverting the nation. They said He told them not to obey Caesar or pay taxes……and for being Christ, a king.

Luke 23:2 “And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a king.”

Pilate asks Jesus if He is a king. Jesus reply’s, “Thou sayest it.” And tells Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36-38)

Pilate again asks, “Art thou a king then?”

Jesus answered, “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, ad for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.

Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.”

Pilate’s classic answer: “What is truth?”

(Certainly Pilate was not usually acquainted with the truth. Deals, flattery, and deceit were what he knew. But he was standing in front of Truth.)

But he knew Jesus was innocent, so he went out, and tells the rulers he found no fault in Him. If they wanted to take Him and beat him, they could.

But His death was what they wanted.

2nd. When Pilate hears that Jesus was from Galilee, he thinks to get out of a judgement by sending Jesus to Herod.

But Jesus would not even speak to Herod, so Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate.

Luke 23:7, 11 “And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was at Jerusalem at that time.

And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.”

Pilate can not get rid of Him.

Faced with a decision about Jesus, he again tries to release Him. (Even his wife tells him to “have nothing to do with that just man”. Matthew 27:19)

Luke 23:13-16 “And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people; and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him, and , lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

I will therefore chastise him, and release him.”

Jesus is then beaten, and brought again before Pilate. He thinks that if they see that Jesus was punished, they might think he had done enough.

3rd. When the chief priests see that Pilate might not put Jesus to death, they tell Pilate that Jesus made himself the Son of God. (John 19:7)

This frightens Pilate and he asks Jesus, “Whence art thou?”

Jesus refuses to speak, and Pilate speaks the words that will condemn him forever:

John 19:10 “Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?”

Yes, he had the power; but refused to use it as he knew he should.

John 19:12-13 “And from thencefore Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: Whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and set forth down in the judgement seat….”

That was the breaking point: they told him that he was not a friend of Caesar if he released Jesus,……for Jesus had made himself a king.

The politician’s heart in Pilate ruled that day.

(Did we let our position before men rule us? Or do we stand with Jesus, even when it means loss to us?)

Jesus was led out before the mob. He had been beaten and was wearing a crown of thorns and the purple robe.

Pilate cried: “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?”

The chief priests had persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas, instead of Jesus. (Mark 15:11)

So Jesus was rejected one last time by a mob, crying, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.”

Three times Pilate tried to get out of the judgement of Jesus Christ, when all he had to to was do the right thing: Jesus was innocent, so release Him. This he knew, but refused to act upon….

….what will we do?

Pilate tried to persuade himself that he was innocent, and he washed his hands in front of the mob (Matthew 27:24), but Jesus’s blood will be required of him for eternity.

Mark 15:15 “And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.”

We all make choices according to the ruling attitudes of our hearts and minds.

That is why it is so important for us to let Christ rule in our hearts as our King.

Then He can choose for us.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

What will we do with Jesus?

Will we acknowledge Him as our King? Even before others?

Our Inheritance in Light

Colossians 1:12-13 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

We have an inheritance….both in heaven (1 Peter 1:4)…and here….and we can thank our Heavenly Father for it.

He ‘has made us able in Christ Jesus’ to be partners in the inheritance which Christ won for us…..along with all the saints.

This inheritance is “in light”.

(Think of all the things we have from the light of God: a knowledge of Him,…..knowledge of ourselves,….an understanding of what the scriptures say to me…light is power against the darkness of this world….all these and more we have in our inheritance!)

God has delivered us from….the power of darkness….in Christ Jesus.

……and not only so, but God has translated us into the kingdom of His Dear Son.

Translated is a Roman term……

When Rome wanted a city built along a road…..or by a sea, for shipping;….

….they would take another city near by, and move everyone in it,…..to the new site, and tell them to re-build there.

They would move them….and let the people build new lives there….under the protection and citizenship of Rome.

For when they translated a city, every person became a Roman citizen automatically, with all the rights and privileges of that.

So Paul is saying that God has done the same thing to us.

God has taken us….and moved us to a new life in Christ’s kingdom. He has given us heavenly citizenship in Him, and all the rights and privileges of being His citizens.

(Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God:”)

We are to see that we remove everything of the old life….for it we don’t….we might look back on it, causing an occasion for us to be tripped up.

(Remember Lot’s wife. Luke 17:32)

God has told us to build our new life with Him….in His Light…

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

This is building our new life;……walking in the light….this is the path our new life takes….

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

The light dawns….you may not see the sun yet, but the darkness is turning to light.

Then the sun is up….how it brightens our senses; our hearts rejoice….our minds wake up….our bodies are nourished.

But it is not at high noon….for the sun casts it light….and as it does, it makes shadows from the things which are between it and us.

The sun can still be hid behind trees, our house, etc.;…..until…

…it comes to high noon.

Then it is straight above us…..where nothing can come between it and us.

All is light, then.

This is the plan of God for our lives….to remove all hinderances to His Light in our lives …..so that we are walking in the sunshine of His love, with nothing between He and us.

This is our inheritance, here. We have an inheritance in heaven as well,….but here, our inheritance is light…..having fellowship with God….and all that it gives…for “God is light” (1 John 1:5)

His light gives us true sight….for we can not see things in the darkness…

(and how much darkness there is in our old resentments, in anger, in fear and panic, in greed, or pride….for these things magnify “our feelings”, and block the Light He wants to give us.)

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

His Light gives us heat…for our hearts are to be fired up for Christ.

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

All we need to be delivered from the power of the sin in our lives, is given us in Christ Jesus….

Romans 13:12, 14 “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.

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

Light purifies and cleanses….in the truth

1 John 1:8-9 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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

When we are walking in the light….We have love for God and the fellow saints…

1 John 1:10 “he that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

What the sun’s light is in the natural world, God is to the spiritual….spreading HIs healthful rays out….to us.

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

The closer we walk with God, the more light we have to know His Will, and the more power to do it.

1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

The Rainbow

Genesis 9:13-16 “I do set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth.

And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the clouds:

And I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.”

Revelation 4:2-3 “And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One set on the throne.

And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like an emerald.”

The rainbow is a type of God’s grace.

The rainbow was given, in part, to show that God would keep His promise.

But, it was not only to assure man that God would not destroy the earth by flood again….but it was a gift of the new relationship between God and man.

His eye would be upon it….and man’s eye would look up for it.

The rainbow comes from both the storm and the sunshine.

The sun shines on the drops of rain still in the cloud, and the light broadens into the prism of color!

Science tells us the colors of nature…all come from the light itself….the pure ray, which is colorless to us…..but is actually made up of all colors…..

…the primary three being blue, red, and yellow.

The actual color of any object is the result of it’s capacity to absorb the rest….so, if a object absorbs the red and yellow rays….the object is blue;….if it absorbs the blue and the yellow…the object is red…and so on.

Someone has said….”light paints all nature”.

“…God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

God’s glory is beyond what we have sight for….but when He shows us one of His attributes…or His gifts to us, here and there…in HIs Word…..

…..they are broken down, so we are able to see them in their beauty.

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

When God shines light into our hearts….He does not turn….nor change His mind toward us.

He gives us as much of His grace, as we will use….

He gives more to those, who use what they have….and when they use that, He gives more, still.

It is like the rainbow….you can not find the end of it. The top you can see….but when it’s colors come down to us….you can try and find the end…but you can not.

The ends of the rainbow point down to earth, while the top is arched toward heaven. Like a bow, without an arrow….for when the rainbow is seen the storm has passed.

Grace was given from the sacrificial life and death of Christ…..

….all the storm of the penalty of our sins, fell on Him….

….therefore, God’s new relationship with us….is in grace.

(1 Peter 4:10 speaks of the “manifold grace of God.” And 1 Peter 5:10 tells us that God is “the God of all grace”. And grace is the unmerited favor of power to us)

As God said….”when I bring a cloud over the earth…” (Genesis 9:14)

Every storm that comes to us,….is not in penalty of sin….but in trial of faith.

It will pass,…..for it comes through His hands….with the promise of His grace being given to us with it.

Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned: neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”

This is God’s grace.

Peter

2 Peter 1:1 “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:”

Now we know Peter was an imminent Apostle. He was a good man, and from the first, Peter often did bold things….yet by it, would run into trouble.

He often spoke hurriedly, out of his heart’s emotion…and would trip himself up with his words.

He left all to follow Christ…Matthew 4:18-20…his livelihood….and his father.

He came out on the sea to walk to Jesus….during a storm….when Jesus sent them across the Sea of Galilee….Matthew14:28-31….though he became afraid as he looked at the waves…and began to sink (both in faith and in the water)…

He saw Jesus transfiguration on the mountain,……and had to say something!

He spoke of building tabernacles for Elijah, Moses and Jesus…..”for he did not know what to say..”….Mark 9:2-7

(And do we not open our mouths to say “something”, we hope is spiritual, when what we need to do is hear Jesus)

He declared in faith that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 16:13-17)…..

….then turned around and told the Lord that what He was saying about His death was not going to happen….Matthew 16:21-23

(And how many times we trust in the Lord…until it is something we do not like)

He swore he would never be offended because of knowing Jesus and said he would never deny Him….Matthew 26:33-35…but he did.

(Have we?)

He slept when he should have stayed awake and prayed….and is surprised when Jesus is betrayed….even though Jesus had warned him….

First, he pulls a sword and cuts off an ear, which Jesus healed (Luke 22:50-51)…..then he ran with all the disciples when Jesus let them take Him…Matthew 26:56

…..then he followed “afar off” with John, which went to the high priest’ palace to see what would happen…..but then denied the Lord three times, even before a young girl….Luke 22:55-62.

Peter is one of the first disciples, again with John, at the empty tomb (Luke 24:12)….yet a while later he says….”I go a fishing”….and goes back to fishing at Galilee….John 21:3

(What of us? After a failure, do we become despondent….and feel our witness useless?)

He was with Jesus for three full years…seeing miracles, and hearing Christ’s Words….

….he truly believed in Jesus as the Christ…

….yet, in himself, he was weak…..easily blown around by circumstances…..and emotions….

…and are not we the same, as Peter?

Ephesians 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

At the Sea of Galilee, he is forgiven by the resurrected Jesus…..three times he denied the Lord….three times he told the Lord he loved Him. (John 21:15-17)

Restored, he does what he is told and waits for the Holy Spirit back at Jerusalem….where they are to stay till He empowers them (Acts 1:8)…..

….for forty days…he, and they…wait and pray…

….but then, on the day of Pentecost, after the Holy Ghost is given……it is Peter that stands up…..before the thousands gathered (yes, that could easily be a crowd to crucify him)….

….and speaks boldly of Christ Jesus….before them all….as Lord and Christ.

Acts 2:23-24, 32-33, 36, 38 “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be held of it.

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Wherefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

That is laying the truth out before thousands….a crowd that could have taken and destroyed him….

…..yet under the power of God, many repented and believed.

What is the difference in Peter?

The Holy Spirit in him.

Jesus said about the Spirit:

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

This power, by the Holy Spirit, is what Peter received…..and went and used….being used in Jerusalem to lead the church at first….Acts 5:12-15

….he was sent down to Samaria to confirm the converts there…Acts 8:14-15

….then he went out and lead the first Gentiles to Christ….Acts 10

…..he wrote as a “servant and apostle of Jesus Christ”, that grace and peace would be multiplied unto them…”through the knowledge of God and our Savior Jesus Christ”

2 Peter 1:12-13 “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

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

…ending, with his last word for Christ Jesus…

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

Peter had done that….he had grown in the grace given him…..

…..weak in himself,….forgiven by Christ….he had received the Holy Spirit….and grown strong in the Lord.

More than the other Apostles….Peter is like us….(me, at least)

impetuous;

bold one moment and a coward then next;

loving of Christ, yet a failure;

full of things to say, but often “sticking his foot in his mouth”;….

…yet, his faith and love of Christ was real….and when he received the Holy Spirit….he went out, in obedience to Him….and witnessed, ministered, and encouraged his people to believe and love the Lord.

What of us? We are weak in ourselves….like Peter; forgiven by Christ, having received the Holy Spirit…

…but are we growing in grace….and in more knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord?