Go down to the Potter’s House.

Jeremiah 18:1-2 “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying,  Arise,  and go down to the potter’s house,  and there will I cause thee to hear my words.”

Jeremiah was God’s Prophet.  He spoke to Judah for God.  But when callled to go to the potter’s house, he did not refuse,   because God spoke to him.  

He  went, without question, to hear what God would say,  even through a mere potter.

He didn’t say. “Hey, Lord, I am your prophet.  I don’t need to go to a potter’s house.  You know he only makes pots,  but I give your message to priests, the king, and the people.”

No, Jeremiah wanted to hear the Lord’s Word, no matter how it came.

Jeremiah 18:3-4 “Then I went down to the potter’s house,  and,  behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.  

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter:  so he made it again another vessel  as seemed good to the potter to make it.”

Now the potter uses clay and water (lots of water) to make the clay very pliable in his hands.

The two are mixed together, and when the clay seems soft enough; the shaping  starts.

The potter starts the wheel and puts the clay on; and begins to shape the vessel he wants to make.

But the vessel was marred,  because the clay had a hard spot.  The water had not been absorbed into that part of the clay, so when the potter’s hand was trying to form it,  it refused to bend,  and so it destroyed the pattern,  marring the vessel.

Often we are the same way.  The Holy Spirit has spoken to us, trying to work the “water” of the Lord’s Word in us, and we just refuse to hear.  

(In scripture water is a picture of the Holy Spirit working through the Word;  Ephesians 5:26 “That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word.) 

It becomes a dry, hard spot in our life.  Then when the Lord is forming us according to His Will, we become marred, and unable to be molded into what He wants. (Sometimes the hard part tears a hole in the vessel,  sometimes it just will not bend, or yield to the Potter’s hand.)

“So he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”

So what does the potter do?  What did He do with Israel?  And what does God do with us?

Does He give up on us?  No.

Jeremiah 18:6 “O house of Israel,  can not I do with you as this potter?  Saith the Lord.   Behold,  as the clay is in the potter’s hand,  so are ye in Mine hand,  O house of Israel.”

He takes the hard clay out ,  and then adds more water till the clay is completely pliable, so that the rest of the clay is reusable: to be able to be made into what the Lord wants.  

The hard spots in us are varied:    

They are those things the Lord has told us to do, and we have put off.

We know what the Lord is telling us.  We know what we should do; but we think we have a better plan.  

We even come to believe that the Lord will not care…it is such a small thing.

But it becomes a hard place, and comes between us and God in our lives, until it is removed.

Or this hard spot is a resentment we have left unconfessed (why should I confess this attitude?  They did this to me.  Let them apologize first!),  so it festers into something between the Lord and us.    

[I will tell you, speaking from personal experience, that these things are deadening.    They make you insensible to God’s voice.   Any attitude , hurt, or affections which pushes you away from God (His call, His love, His power to do for you) causes real separation.   Forgiveness is freedom—do not let anyone tell you different.   Forgiving someone frees you from their control.  They can not hurt you anymore;  for forgiveness lifts you above them.]

But once these (and any other “hard” places) are removed,  the Holy Spirit can add the water of the Word to us, making us pliable in His hands; so he can form us into a Vessel unto honor, meet for the Master’s use.

(Pliable to His hands.   See what He does!  His hands in us, and for us—for He shapes our circumstances, our path, as well as us.)

2 Timothy 2:19-21 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal,  The Lord knoweth them that are his.  And,   Let every one that name  the the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth;  and some to honor and some of dishonor.

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

Do you want to be “prepared”?  Nothing coming between you and your Lord?

Ready to face any challenge, or call?   

Then yield;  give yourselves into the hands of the Almighty Potter,  and let Him work within you—and see what He will work for you.

Always to Pray

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

To faint means to weaken in purpose.

In other words,  we are to continue to pray, and not give up the purpose of our prayers,  even when they are not answered right away.

Then He tells this story:

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 mine adversary.”

Here are the two persons involved in Jesus parable:

A judge,  who could do what he wanted in his court. (Probably a Roman judge, because Jewish judges were in threes).  Who cared about no one;  not God or man.  But he only cared for himself.

And a widow,  who was usually the poorest and lowest of the decent people in the city.  She would have no family to speak for her,  no money to bribe this judge;  so she did what she could do to get relief from the one who was harassing her.

She asked this judge to “Avenge her”.   This would have been like a restraining order today.   Something to keep him from do damage to her.

This is like prayer?   

Yes,  for we shall see,  she prevailed,  not because of the kindness of the judge….he had none.

Not because she had influential friends…she did not.

But because she kept coming back and asking him, and asking him, and asking him.

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 continual coming she weary me.”

This “weary” here, means that she might ruin his reputation.  Since he cared for no one, but himself;   he answered her request because of selfish motives.

He did not want her to make him look bad, by being in his court so often.

So he gave her that restraining order against her adversary,  just to get rid of her.

Christ Jesus says that God shall avenge His people, when they pray the same way:  with diligence for an answer, against our Adversary, the devil.   He interrupts our prayers,  try’s to make us tired of praying,  gives us doubts, etc.

Luke 18:7-8 “And shall not God avenge his own elect,  which cry day and night unto him,  though he bear long with them?

                       I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.   Nevertheless,  when the Son of man cometh,  shall he find faith on the earth?”

To stay after God for our prayers, shows we really want what we pray for.

And that we believe He will answer us.  That is faith,  for it holds on to God for an answer.  Heavenly Father, avenge me of my adversary.

Christ Jesus honors faith in Him. (And again,  faith holds on to God.)

For faith honors God.  

In this world of troubles (and who can say they do not have some),  Jesus says we are “always to pray, and not to faint”.

Hang on to Me,  He says;  I hear, and will avenge or restrain your Adversary when you pray….if you ask Me.

Not willing that any should Perish,  But that All should come to Repentance

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,  as some men count slackness;   But is longsuffering to  usward,  not willing that any should perish,  but that all should come to repentance.”

Jesus promise is:

John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me,  and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

Christ Jesus came to save all who would come to Him.

Salvation is four fold:

First,  from the love of sin. (Conviction)

Second, from the guilt of sin. (By being Born Again)

Third, from the power of sin. (Called Sanctification, or the Natural man becoming Spiritual)

Fourth, from the presence of sin. (In Heaven)

And we are saved by the Word of God, believing and receiving what Christ has said, in the Bible.

1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again,  not of corruptible seed,  but of incorruptible, by the word of God,  which liveth and abideth forever.”

Jesus said,  “Ye must be born again.”

John 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee,  Ye must be born again.”

Now this was said to a very religious Pharisee. 

He had come to Jesus (although at night, for he was concerned what others might think), to understand His message;  for he knew it was of God.

John 3:1-2 “There was a man of the Pharisees,  named Nicodemus,  a ruler of the Jews:

The same came to Jesus by night,  and said unto him,   Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God:  for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”

And Jesus got right to the point:  If you want to see the kingdom of God,  you must be born again.

Nicodemus asked what that meant,  exactly.

So Jesus begins to teach this very religious Pharisee,  exactly what God requires from the man who would have everlasting life.

John 3:5-8 “Jesus answered,  Verily, verily,(or Truth, truth), I say unto you,  Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,  he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh;  and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.   

Marvel not that I said unto thee,  Ye must be born again.

The wind bloweth where it listeth,  and thou hearest the sound thereof,  but can not tell whence it cometh,  and whither it goeth:  so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.”

In other words, Nicodemus,   you must be born of the Holy Spirit from above to enter into the kingdom of God.

It is not natural birth, even for a Jew (though they had the oracles of God, they refused to honor and obey God).

It is the “birth” of the Holy Spirit within you, in your heart and life, that makes you a subject of God’s Kingdom.  This new birth gives you a new nature (desires, and attitudes) for it is Christ’s life in you.

And, Nicodemus, like the wind which blows; it is shown by it’s effects within you (you can not see the wind:  but you can see the leaves and things blowing around).   

“So is everyone that is born of the Spirit”: they will show it, by changing into His character, and doing His Will.

John 3:9 “Nicodemus answered and said unto him,   How can these things be?”

Under the Law, it was your own power which was at work.  And Nicodemus wondered how could he do such things!

But here, Jesus was saying that God would, by His Spirit, work within each man, who came to Him, to be born again.

This was something wonderful.  So much so, that at first Nicodemus did not understand it. (It had been spoken of in the Old Testament, but for the future.

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 stony heart out of their flesh,  and will give them a heart of flesh:

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

So Jesus again explains exactly what would happen, and how this life could be;  but first He corrects Nicodemus:

John 3:10 “And Jesus answered and said unto him,   Art thou a master in Israel,  and knowest not these things?”

“Are you a ruler of religion,  a Pharisee,  which ought to know the Scriptures;  and yet do not know these things I am speaking about?   This life was foretold in the Scriptures, do you not know them?”

John 3:14-18 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,  even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

And whosoever believeth in him should not perish,  but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world,  that he gave his only begotten Son,  that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish,  but have everlasting life.

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

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

(Condemnation from God is a horrible thing:  To hear “Depart from Me” will sink a man to Hell.

“And this is the condemnation,  that light is come into the world,  and men love darkness rather than light,  because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19)

Jesus is saying here,  quite plainly, that He was going to be “lifted up” (on the cross),  

and that all who looked to Him and believed on Him as the Son of God,  would be saved.

(Moses “lifted up” or put on a pole, a serpent.  He placed it high above the camp of Israel, when they were in the wilderness. 

He did this by command of the Lord, because the people had spake against God,  Moses, and the manna God had given them.  

He , therefore, sent fiery serpents among the people;  which when they were bit, died.

Repenting, the people came to Moses to pray for them; and the Lord told Moses to place a serpent of brass on a pole.    

Anyone who was bitten by a serpent, and would looked up to the Brazen serpent, believing in God’s promise,  would live.)

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:”

We are to receive Him into our heart and lives. 

And How do we receive Him?

Romans 10:8-13 “But what saith it?  The word is nigh thee,  even in thy mouth,  and in thy heart:  that is,  the word of faith,  which we preach;

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.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness,  and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For the scripture saith,  Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:  for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

For whosoever that call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

We receive Him, by coming to Him in belief, and calling on Him with our mouths to save us from our sins.

“God, be merciful unto me, a sinner;  and save me for Jesus sake.  Amen.”

The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Have you received Christ Jesus?

Our Souls

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

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                         Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.”

Our souls are what make us, as human beings, unique.  

The Bible says that God “formed” us, and breathed into us the breath of life,  which was the Holy Spirit, and we became a living soul.

None other was so formed, or breathed upon. (All other creation was spoken into being.)

We are unique.

The soul is the place of our personality.  I believe our souls are the most important thing in His creation;  for He paid such a high price to buy it back again for Himself.

Our personalities are naturally “formed” in the world by our parents, place we live, friends or family, and what happens to us.

But when we are born again,  our souls, our personality can be molded into the character of Christ Jesus.  They are freed from the restrains of sin, anger, fear, jealousy, etc.;  and us,  the true us, under the help of the Holy Spirit can shine through.

[Our spirit is the abode of the Holy Spirit when we are born again.  He dwells within us as our Comforter: guiding, instructing, and helping us.  As we yield to Him,  His influence is felt through our spirits into our souls, and bodies;  and we are changed (conformed) to Christ’s image (character) Romans 8:29.

Our bodies are the “time clocks” of our existence.  When they fail and stop,  so do we.]

The characteristics of the soul are many;  but come down to three major faculties.

The mind: our thoughts—those which come and go quickly;  and those which linger and are built upon, in our imaginations,  or meditations.

The heart: our affections and emotions—desire for things, as well as true love come from here.

The will: our “action-packed” faculty.  For what we will to do,  we do. 

[We may “wish to”,  or dream after;  but nothing will ever get done until the will wills to do it.]

God says:

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

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

Our hearts are uniquely made for the Son of God to dwell there. 

They are made to love Him, and know His peaceful, powerful Presence.

How much this influences our will to obey Him (for that shows Him we love Him).

Our minds are uniquely made to search Him out in the scriptures, by prayer and fellowship, and to take in His Word to us, understanding it by the light of the Holy Spirit. 

How much this influences our will to obey Him.

The Lord has said:

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

Proverbs 4:26 “Ponder (think about) the path of thy feet,  and let all thy ways be established.”

God is Faithful.  He has not left us as spiritual orphans;  but has given us His Holy Spirit in our spirits, to help us be all we are meant to be,  in Christ Jesus.

Let us yield to His influence within our hearts, and the Word of God by our minds, and will to be conformed to Christ in our circumstances….for that is His saving power;  here and now,  and for eternity.

Yield is like giving in to the current of power.   Sometimes it feels like a rushing wave,  others like a hand in your hand, others like a look from the Lord to you:  each, calling you,  drawing you on with Him.

But we must yield.  Our souls (mind, heart, and will) must yield to the Holy Spirit within;  then we are growing, then we are empowered, then we are His obedient servants.

David versus  Goliath 

1 Samuel 16:13 “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren:  and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David upon that day forward.  So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.”

David had been anointed King of Israel by Samuel, because King Saul, had been set aside for his disobedience to God’s command.

Of course, Saul was still King.  (The Lord would remove him when the time was right.)

And David, though anointed King,  still kept his father’s sheep.

Months passed, till:

The Philistines, who were enemies of Israel, had come up to fight against Saul and his army of Israelites, and three of David’s older brothers had been called up to join the army, and fight them.

But as they come into view of the Philistines, they are terrified to see and hear the taunting of a giant, named Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:4-9 “And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath,  of Gath,  whose height was six cubits and a span.

And he had a helmet of brass upon his head,  and he was armed with a coat of mail;  and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

And he had graves of brass upon his legs,  and a target of brass between his shoulders.

And the staff of his spear was like a weavers beam;  and his spears head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel,  and said unto them,  Why are ye come out to set  your battle in array?   Am I not a Philistine,  and ye servants to Saul?

Choose you a man for you,  and let him come down to me.

If he be able to fight with me,  and to kill me,  then will we be your servants:  but if I prevail against him,  and kill him,  then shall ye be our servants,  and serve us.”

This was quite a speech!   “I am a Philistine”,  but you are just “servants of Saul”.

Discounting Israel, and Israel’s God.

Defying God’s Purpose, for Israel was brought into possess the land, by God;  and defying God’s continued protection of His People.

Back, taking care of the family’s sheep, was David.   David loves the Lord, yet had not been called to go up against Goliath, either by the army (at that time they did not even know anything about David), or the Lord.

Until:

1 Samuel 17:17-18 “And Jesse said unto David his son,  Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn,  and these ten loaves,  and run to the camp of thine brethren; 

And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.”

David’s father sent him on an errand, to supply his brothers with some food from home.   Little did Jesse realize that in doing so,  he would set in motion the rest of David’s life work.

Yet, now it was just an errand, that David did with faithfulness:  He left the sheep with a keeper (for he did not neglect the small duties);   And went, rising up early to do as his father commanded.

As he came, the battle between the armies was setting up, and David came and spoke to his brothers.

At the same time,  Goliath came and taunted Israel again.  David heard the taunt, and knew that it was against Israel’s God, not just Israel.

So he wanted to hear what would happen to anyone who went up against this giant.

His brother was angry, thinking he had come just to see the battle; but David ignored the anger, and kept after his goal of learning about this giant’s challenge.

Saul, hearing about this man’s bold words against Goliath;  sent for him and questioned him.    David spoke just as boldly, when the reality of fighting this giant, was presented.

I must pause in the narrative, and explain that in our life time we are presented again and again with these things:

There will be simple errands the Lord will send us on that will change the course of our lives.   (Or the lives of others)

 We will be misunderstood, and have angry (a lot, sometimes) words thrown at us.

We must ignore the anger; and speak our words, or do our duty faithfully.

And we must be prepared to act in faith and boldness, on the Lord’s side.

1 Samuel 17:32 “And David said to Saul,  Let no man’s heart fail because of him;  thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. ”

Here, David presented himself as a warrior.  Not a soldier in Saul’s army, but a warrior for the honor of the Lord.

He told of God’s past protection against a lion and a bear; and saw no difference between them and this Philistine, because he hath defied the armies of the living God.

In other words, Goliath was not taunting men,  but God.  And in that case,  Goliath was in a lot of trouble;  even if he was a giant.

1 Samuel 17:34-37 “And David said unto Saul,  Thy servant kept his father’s sheep,  and there came a lion and a bear,  and took a lamb out of the flock:  

And I went out after him,  and smote him,  and delivered it out of it’s mouth: and when he arose against me,  I caught him by his beard,  and smote him,  and slew him.

Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear;  and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

David said moreover,   The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear,  he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.    And Saul said unto David,  Go, and the Lord be with thee.”

We must understand, that David trusted the Lord.   He felt, that since no one was going to fight Goliath, that God’s honor was being slandered.

And he realized that he should do something about it.

That his life would be forever changed;  he did not yet know.

There was no long preparation to fight Goliath:  Saul tried to give him his armor,  but David put them off;  for he had not used them before.  “He had not proved them”.

But instead, with confidence in God to deliver, David took what he knew.

(And so should we.  We should not get talked into conversations of philosophy, or other doctrine;  when what we need to say is about our Lord Jesus Christ and His work; in us and for us).

1 Samuel 17:40 “And he took his staff in his hand,  and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook,  and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had,  even in a script,  and his sling was in his hand:  and he drew near to the Philistine.”

Notice how the Holy Spirit in the Word does not magnify the means of deliverance which David took.  Instead He emphasizes that they are common, and simple.

(As Paul said, himself: “And I, brethren, when I came to you,  came not with excellency of speech or wisdom,  declaring unto the testimony of God. 

For I determined not to know anything among you,  save Jesus Christ, and him crucified”  1 Corinthians 2:1-2)

Now let us consider Goliath.  He was a champion:  had many battles, and won.   He was a giant.  Taller, and broader, and stronger than all the men of Israel, even Saul (of whom it was said he was head and shoulders above  the Israelites.  1 Samuel 10:23-24)

He did not want subjection to Israel, or the God of Israel;  he wanted to rule, and make these God fearing Israelites his servants.

He had taunted Israel for forty days, and not one Israelite had come to take his challenge.

He felt very confident that none could beat him, and so when he saw David, with his shepherd staff, he mocked.  He took it one step further, for he cursed David by his gods.     (I told you Goliath was in a lot of trouble.)

But now, for David. (This should be our position, any time we go to do our duty:  in work or battle.  We are to do it in faith, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ)

1 Samuel 17:45-47 “Then said David to the Philistine,  Thou comest to me with a sword,  and with a spear, and with a shield:  but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts,  the God of the armies of Israel,  whom thou hast defied.

This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand;  and I will smite thee,  and take thine head from thee;  and I will give the carcasses of the hosts of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air,  and to the wild beasts of the earth;  that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.”

For the battle is the Lord’s.   This we should realize for our work, as well.  If we have been sent, and are obedient; then the Lord will be with us, guide us, and will see His Will done.

1 Samuel 17:49-51 “And David put his hand in his bag,  and took thence a stone, and slang it and smote the Philistine in his forehead,  that the stone sunk into his forehead;  and he fell upon his face to the earth.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone,  and smote the Philistine,  and slew him;  but there was no sword in the hand of David.

Therefore David ran,  and stood before the Philistine,  and took his sword,  and drew it out of the sheath,  and slew him,  and cut off his head.   And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead,  they fled.”

All that David had told Goliath, happened.  Certainly by God’s Power, through faith.  But also by the means of David’s arm. 

God alone gives grace,  but He gives us the privilege of standing with Him, and acting for Him in certain situations.

The instruction was from the Lord, the Power was God’s,  the faith was by the Holy Spirit;  and the Lord chose to use David.

It should be the same with us.   Instruction, power, and faith to obey His Word to us, to do His Will for our lives.  For the Lord chooses us to work for Him.

Why does God want us to be cold or hot, not lukewarm?

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.”

What is wrong with lukewarm?

At least it is not cold.

But Jesus says,  He would rather have us cold, then lukewarm.

If we were cold,  we would know we are far away from Him.  (Frankly, the devil likes us to have a little “heat”,  rather then for us to know we are lacking)

If we are lukewarm, there is some kind of “heat” within,  but it is natural heat from emotions,  not the fire of the Holy Spirit making us zealous for God.

(Zealous means “boiling hot”. Revelation 3:19)

And what is wrong with emotional “heat”?  

Plainly, it fools us.  It deceives us into believing we are Ok with God, when the only thing which is touched is our emotions, which often are high, and then low.

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

Our hearts (emotions) are deceitful.  They tell us one thing, when the truth is something else.   

Our hearts tell us,  “We love God.”

But we do not do what He tells us to do. (Of course, we have reasons, but…)    Is that love of the Lord?

John 14:21 “He that hath My commandments,  and keepeth them,  he it is that loveth Me:  and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father,  and I will love him,  and will manifest Myself to him.”

Thankfully God has made a way for His born again ones to become “hot” by the fire of the Holy Spirit within.

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart,  I try the reins (will),  even to give ever man according to his ways,  and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Search means to penetrate into the inner part;  to examine intimately.

God promises to get through our wall of self-righteousness and our wall of self-consciousness, that has been erected to keep the Lord at arm’s length.

Then, He and you, will examine together the things (fear, anger, resentment, and hurt) that hinder us from knowing Him as we should.

You see, that is what He wants.   You to know Him; who He really is and who He wants to be to you.

He gives every man “according to his ways.”

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

If we will get honest with the Lord about our attitudes and hurts; He will give “accordingly”.   He will give you the fruit of the Spirit, within you, to meet that need. (But, when we “lie” to ourselves, or try and cover up who and how we are,  we can not come that way to God.  For that is not really us.)

I would say that most of the hinderances in our spiritual live’s come from mistaken ideas about God and His Will for us.

Is He really like the Egyptian taskmasters? Commanding you to make bricks without straw?

(Remember, after Moses told Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, Pharaoh was furious.  So he told the taskmasters over the people to stop giving them straw for the bricks.

But make them go out to gather stubble and make the same number of bricks  as before; beating them if they could not.   Exodus 5:6-18)

Do you think the Lord is asking you to do what is impossible for you to do?  

That He will not give you the knowledge and power by His Holy Spirit, to do what He asks of you?  (“…for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13)

Luke 11:13 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children;  how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

But we must not stifle Him, but yield to Him, within us.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit.”

Quench means “put out”.  Paul is telling these here,  “Don’t put out the fire of the Holy Spirit

Perhaps you feel, you have too heavy a burden.  Then cast it on Jesus.  

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”

Psalms 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, for He shall sustain thee:  He will never suffer the righteous to be moved (fearful).”

He not only speaks peace,  but sustains it within us, as we yield to Him.

You see,  it is the Lord’s Will that we work with Him.   We are never sent out on our own.  He is within us,  and He goes before us, to prepare our way.

The Lord Jesus Christ came to save His people from their sins.   He saves us, all the way to heaven.   Forgiving us,  keeping us in peace, giving us joy for sorrow, love for hate, and mostly (this is has been my greatest joy) Himself as our companion.  

He will never leave us;  but have we left Him for some reason?

Have we let our feelings come between us and Him?

Come,  stop being just lukewarm,  and get hot, by the fire of His Holy Spirit.

Get honest with Him, and repent.

Get zealous, boiling hot for God.   For He is ready to do within you, and for you for your every need.

A gift of Memorial

Matthew 26:6-7 “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 

There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.”

Mark 14:3 “And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious:  and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.”

In two days was the feast of the passover.  Jesus was in a friend’s house with His disciples, when a woman (she is named as Mary, Lazarus’ sister in John 12:3) came and poured very costly ointment upon Jesus’ head, and feet, and wiped them with her hair.)

There were several reactions to this. (When anything happened concerning Jesus, there were always several reactions, depending on whether you were a believer or not.)

For Judas, the betrayer, the reaction was greed.  Don’t pour the ointment on Jesus head; but sell it.  The poor was the pretense, but the bag was the reality for him.

John 12:4-6 “Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot,  Simon’s son, which should betray him, 

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

This he said, not that he cared for the poor;  but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”

In Mark the reaction was from “some”:

Mark 14:4-5 “And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said,  Why was this waste of the ointment made?

For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor.  And they murmured against her.”

Indignation?  For an offering of love to Jesus?

Yes, it was “within themselves”,       but Jesus was worth so much more.

Judas had planted a thought that they took hold of.   Shame on the “some”.

In Matthew, all the disciples, are indignant!  Such is the power of suggestion!

Matthew 26:8-9 “But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”

Indignant means anger over something unjust or mean.

And they were indignant over giving to Jesus?

Yes, the poor are to be seen to;  but no comparison to Jesus.

Also, Jesus, Himself would have corrected the woman if it had been “unjust”.

How much we are influenced by the world’s attitudes, only the Holy Spirit can show us.   

They had been with Jesus for a while, almost three years, yet thought this act of devotion and worship, “waste”.

It is plain that the idea came from Judas, voicing his anger at this woman giving Jesus this expensive gift;  but the disciples should have realized their mistake.

Yet, let us hear what Jesus said about it:

Mark 14:6-9 “And Jesus said,  Let her alone;  why trouble ye her?  She hath wrought a good work on me.  

For ye have the poor with you always,  and whensoever ye will ye may do them good:  but me ye have not always.

She hath done what she could:  she is come  aforehand  to anoint my body to the burying.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”

This was some honor, for a woman harassed by these men;  wherever the Gospel shall be preached,  she will be recognized for this act of devotion.

Jesus said plainly;  “She hath done what she could.”    It is something that I would like to hear from the Lord Jesus one day.

She hath done what she could.  This was very expensive ointment, and she poured it all out on Jesus.

Our attitude toward what we, and others do for the Lord Jesus, needs to be like this:

That we will do what we can for Him.

How many can say that?   I know I have failed many times, and been as the disciples here.   Going along with the attitude of the world, where Jesus is concerned.

Maybe she did not even understand what He said.

But what a joy on Resurrection Day, when she realized that she was the only one who was able to anoint Him for burying!

Love knows no boundaries, except those set by the Lord.

Love excepts all.    

How grateful we should be that the Lord excepts us, and our “ointment”.  

Are we  as this woman?

“She hath done what she could.”

My Voice

Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:  and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.”

And they heard the Voice of the Lord God, walking in the garden in the cool of the day.

What a time of fellowship this could have been!  Walking with the Lord God in the garden, talking and laughing.

(I would like to make something very clear to everyone here:  

Do not let the Adversary of our souls, the devil, fool you in this. 

God has always desired fellowship with His Creation.)

Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,  whose name is Holy,   I dwell in the high and holy place,  with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,  to revive the spirit of the humble,  and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

“I dwell in the high and holy place”.    Of course He does,  He is God.

But also “with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit”.     Contrite means to bruise, or crush.    Humble means to make low, to abase.

In other words, God is with those who have been bruised or crushed under the weight of their sins, and who abase or lower themselves from their pride;   to come to Him and get forgiveness,  and help.

This is what Adam and Eve should have done.

Genesis 3:8-9 “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:  and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

And the Lord God called Adam,  and said unto him,  Where art thou?”

Now God was not asking Adam where are you hiding?  He knew that already.

But,  “Where art thou?” in your relationship with Me?

In what shape are you now, in your standing with Me, since you sinned?

It was His Voice, not a thunderclap!   It was His Voice, not the ground opening and swallowing them; sending them down to hell immediately.

But it was His Voice,  and their day of reckoning.

What would they do?    They had already sinned;  would they seek His forgiveness?  Or let pride get them to excuse themselves.

We sadly know what they chose.  And it has been happening to every child of Adam and Eve,  since then.   

Pride rules our hearts,  until,  when we hear God’s Voice speaking to us in our innermost being, and we give up our pride, and yield to Him.

But now, let me ask you:   Where do you stand in the purpose for which you were created?    

Are you hiding from the Lord in all the busy ways you can?

“But Lord, you can see I am very busy, covering myself with all sorts of good works.  Does it matter that I may not be doing exactly what You want me to?”

Bible Wisdom is of God.  It is more than knowledge, it is a Light shining into the circumstances we are in, for us to know how to act; and it includes the power to act.

It is the Voice of God, the Creator,  crying out to His creation, to give opportunity to have all that is included in true fellowship with Him.

Proverbs 1:20-23   “Wisdom crieth without;  she uttereth her voice in the streets.    

She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gate:  in the city she uttereth her words saying,    

How long, ye simple ones will ye love your simplicity?  And the scorners delight in their scorning,  and fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof:   Behold,  I will pour out my spirit unto you,  I will make known my words unto you.”

“Turn you at My reproof”.   When God reproves,  it is so we can “Wake up”,  and get back into His Way for us.

“Behold!”

Now stop!     Take notice of this:

“I will pour out My Spirit unto you.”        Notice:  it is “unto you”.   A very personal invitation to have the Holy Spirit poured into you,  bubbling up, for guidance and help.

“I will make known My Words unto you.”     Again, it is unto “you”;  a personal call.

Will you hear,  and have it?

The Voice of the Almighty Creator to His creature,  offering wisdom and a personal relationship with Him, by His Spirit.       This is His Voice to us,  will we hear it?

You must hear Him in your personal circumstances;  in your city, in your workplace, in your home.

He is not just in the Heavens,  nor just in Church (although we should “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together”. Hebrew 10:25);  but He is with us, as Christians,  everywhere,  all the time.

But have we hidden ourselves from Him?

(There is an old joke about a older couple who were driving along in their car, when they see a young couple:  the young woman is seated right next to him in the front seat, while he is driving.

The older woman turned and asked her husband:  “Why don’t we sit like that anymore?”

And he replied,  “Well,  I haven’t moved.”)

If we have hidden ourselves from Him,  among any other false refuge;  then return unto the Lord,  for He is abundantly kind.  He will forgive.

He may rebuke us,  when we let other things take first place in our lives;  but thank the Lord, He will speak, and then lead us on with Him.   

Out of the busy life of self;  into the glorious life of Christ’s servant.

Psalms 143:8 “Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning;  for in thee do I trust:  cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;  for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Deliver me,  O Lord,  from mine enemies:   I flee unto thee to hide me.

Teach me to do thy will;  for thou art God:  thy spirit is good;  lead me into the land of uprightness.”

Will we hear His Voice to us?

The Blind Man   

Mark 10:46-47 “And they came to Jericho:  and as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people,  blind Bartimaeus,  the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

                            And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,  he began to cry, and say,   Jesus, Thou Son of David,  have mercy on me.”

Going up to Jerusalem, going toward the end of His ministry here, Jesus goes through Jericho.

On the side of the highway, where he could be seen, sat Bartimaeus.  He was a blind man.  He was a beggar, and he did not want to miss an opportunity for some to give to him.

He heard the crowd passing, and eager to get a coin,  he asked what the procession was.

It is interesting to note,  that after three years of ministry,  Jesus’ name is well known.

As soon as Bartimaeus hears Who is passing by, he knows this is his opportunity for healing.

This is belief.  He believed that this Jesus,  Who he had heard about, could heal him.   He called Him “the Son of David”,  for this was one of the titles of the Messiah to come.

The Savior would come as the Son of David, and Bartimaeus believes that Jesus is He.

Mark 10:48 “And many charged him that he should hold his peace:  but he cried the more a great deal,   Thou Son of David,  have mercy on me.”

“Quiet!  We are going up to Jerusalem.  We have important things to do,  we don’t have time for a blind beggar.”

Mark 10:49 “And Jesus stood still,  and commanded him to be called.  And they call the blind man,  saying unto him,   Be of good comfort,  rise;  He calleth thee.”

But Jesus did have time.   Jesus had waited to answer Bartimaeus, and given others the opportunity to mention him;  to show kindness to a blind Israelite.    But they only told him to be quiet. (Which he wasn’t.  He yelled even louder for Jesus to hear him.)

Mark 10:50-51 “And he,  casting away his garment,  rose,  and came to Jesus.

And Jesus answered and said unto him,  What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?     The blind man said unto him,   Lord, that I might receive my sight.”

Notice how the blind man, when he knows Jesus calls him;  how he throws away his garment (his outer cloak).    

He wanted nothing to hinder his step to Jesus.    He was sure that the old garment of a beggar,  he would wear no more.

“What do you want me to do for you?”  (How many times, when we have come to Jesus in prayer, do we believe He will hear, and act for us?)

“Lord” (one of the most important Names of Jesus Christ.  Lord:  when you say it, it is almost like you are bowing before Him).  “That I might receive my sight.”

Mark 10:52 “And Jesus said unto him,  Go thy way;  thy faith hath made thee whole.    And immediately he received his sight,  and followed Jesus in the way.”

“Go thy way;”.   You can go home,  you can stay here in Jericho.   But Bartimaeus  chose the best way:  he followed Jesus.

“Thy faith hath made thee whole.”  Jesus healed because of his faith in Him.  What the blind man had heard of Jesus, caused him to believe that He was the Son of God, so he put his trust in Him to heal.

And that faith led him to cry out to Jesus, and be healed;  but also led him to follow Jesus.  

The blind man was blind no more;  not in eyes,  or in heart.  

What about us?  How ‘blind’ are we?  Jesus is still calling to Himself all who cry out to Him,  will you lay aside every weight and come?

Romans 10:9, 13 “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, thous shalt be saved.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”