The Garden of our Souls

Genesis 2:8 “And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden,  and there He put the man whom He had formed.”

At the beginning of man’s history, we see a garden that was made especially for us.

Man was placed there to keep it.   When Adam sinned,  he was thrown out of Eden, into a world where, instead of beauty,  thorns and briers grew.

But man was then given another garden:  the garden of our souls, to keep for God.

And it is by the keeping of this garden for the Lord,  that we give Him joy.  

Have we kept our “garden” for Him?  Have we fruit to offer Him?

Song of Solomon 4:12-13 “A garden enclosed is my sister my spouse;  a spring shut up,  and fountain sealed.

                                              Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates,  with pleasant fruits;  camphire with spikenard,”

A garden is planted.   It is for cultivated plants.  Whether for food or beauty.

Our garden is for the enjoyment of our Lord.

There is a spring there,  bubbling up: a picture of the Holy Spirit’s living waters within us.  

There is a fountain there:  a picture of the effectual cleansing blood of Christ.(Zechariah 13:1)

We are to be “enclosed” or walled about,  so we will be separated from the world outside, unto the Lord. 

(2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them,  and be ye separate, saith the Lord,  and touch not the unclean thing;  and I will receive you.”   The separate here is “to set off by a boundary”)

Song of Solomon 4:16 “Awake, O north wind;  and come, thou south wind;  blow upon My garden,  that the spices thereof may flow out.   Let my Beloved come into His garden,  and eat His pleasant fruits.”

The north wind is chilly,  frost is in it.

The south wind is mild, gentle and warming.

These are the circumstances which come upon “gardens”, our souls, for each and every one of us.

They are adverse circumstances (whether persecution, slander, or trials) which seek to destroy our fruit bearing.

And there are encouraging circumstances which seek to increase fruit bearing. 

They are both part of God’s Plan, to help us let go of circumstances;  good or bad.

We need to get to the place in our experience with God, that we are so enclosed to Him, that whether circumstances are favorable or not;   we will not be troubled about them.   We will not let go of our peace in Jesus.

Paul said,  

Philippians 4:11-12 “Not that I speak in respect of want:  for I have learned,  in whatsoever state I am,  therewith to be content.

                                    I know both how to be abased,  and I know how to abound:  everywhere and in all things I am both to be full and to be hungry,  both to abound and to suffer need.”

We, too, can come to the place of confidence in Christ Jesus, and know the fullness of the provision for our “garden”:   the spring of the Holy Spirit is there, and the fountain of Christ’s cleansing blood is there.

So that there will not be much difficulty in adjusting to the circumstances which come to us.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Wow! What a statement.   We would think he would be walking around with a halo shining brightly.  

But no,  Paul was very conscious of his weakness.  And of his need.

He had simply learned his lessons of dependency on his God.

He had learned, not to lean upon his own resources:  

Strength (he was relatively a young man when he began his ministry Acts 7:58)

Intelligence (he was brilliant,  speaking in many languages, having education)

Eloquence (he was a great speaker)

But he had learned to lean wholly upon God,  and to do all the things He sent him to do.

He was looking to the Holy Spirit to accomplish His Work, within him and through every good and bad circumstance.

Song of Solomon 4:16 “Awake O north wind;  come thou south;  blow upon my garden,  that the spices thereof may flow out.   Let my Beloved come into His garden,  and eat His pleasant fruits.”

Here, “my garden” is changed to “His garden”.   It is a unconditional dedication of our life to Jesus Christ.

We are to keep the garden of our souls for Him.   Giving Him joy in all we become, and do.

We will be what we will to be:

Romans 6:16 “Know ye not,  that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,  his servants ye are to whom ye obey;  whither of sin unto death,  or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Will is our whole being active.  Our minds are in it, our emotions are there, and our wills are the force within each person, which says,  “I will do this.”

In this verse,  “yield” is the action word. 

Here, in Romans (Romans 6:13,16,19) it means:  “to be at hand or ready to aid”.

It is a picture of a servant who is at the side of the master, ready to assist in any way.

For as Christians,  we have our blessed new nature which was placed within us at new birth.   But we also have our old nature which would led us away from God.   That makes the struggle (Galatians 5:16-17) we often feel within ourselves.

We forget, sometimes, that we are servants. (Some people think that they can rule their own destiny,  but it is a false premise.)

We are all ruled by something, or Someone.    For Christians,  we should be ruled by Jesus Christ: His Will and His Word.

And this is what Paul is setting forth here:

We are servants of sin, choose some sort of sin, and are under the power of that sin.    

                                      Or,

We are servants of righteousness, choosing to be obedient to the new life, Christ’s life within.

And the way to choose His life, or righteousness is:  to yield.

We yield to obedience.

We must ask ourselves:  Is Jesus Christ really necessary to me?   Or could I get along without Him in my life?

Jesus Christ could change anything!  But He desires most to change us into His likeness, and character.

He has given us our wills,  and He has chosen that we must “yield” or will with Him.

He would have us to be His servants and become the persons He will mold us into.   

He wants heart-servants.  Those that love Him.  

Those that love to be with Him,   in fellowship and in the work. (For He has a work of witness for all of us).

And to do this,  we must exercise our wills, and yield.

God’s Purpose for Us

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:

                                 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

                                 For we are His workmanship,  created in Christ Jesus unto good works,  which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The Book of Ephesians is written to describe Who saved us;  How we are saved;  and the Purpose for which we are saved.

It is a book of great mysteries,  made known,  so that we can experience in our day to day life, the Inheritance we have in Christ Jesus.

To briefly explain (Yes, there could be a lengthy exposition on these verses, they are so full of promise!):

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

Here we meet our Father God,  Who through the work of Christ Jesus, blesses us with “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”

These blessings are, but not limited to:  Forgiveness, Joy, Peace, Hope, Love, Patience, Power over sin, and Fellowship with Him.

If you have a spiritual need;  He has a blessing for it.

They are in Christ Jesus who is now in heavenly places.

 

So how do we get these blessings down here to us, today, where we need them?

They are brought down to us, as we yield to Him, making Him, King of our lives:  

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

God will not bless one who refuses His Presence, for they are in Christ Jesus. 

If you just want the blessings He has, and not Him,  then your faith is flawed;  for it is faith in things, and not Jesus Christ.

 

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

We are “raised up”, when we are born again;  and made to sit in Christ Jesus.

He is there, representing us; and we are in Him.

We are here, representing Him,  and He is in us.

And how is He in us?

 

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In whom ye also trusted,  after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:  in whom also,  after that ye believed,  ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,  

                                   Which is the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the the purchased possession,  unto the praise of His glory.”

The Holy Spirit is given to abide with us.  By Him we are sealed.  (His Presence identifies us as His.   Romans 8:15-16)

When we have the Holy Spirit within,  we are given a portion of our inheritance: that is Him.  He is an Almighty Helper, and we are given grace (the unmerited power to do) by Him, for our lives.    He works within us both to will and to do God’s Will. (Philippians 2:13)

Now we know God’s Provision in Christ Jesus,  and how God is always with us, and how His power is given unto us;  what is the purpose for our salvation?

 

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:

                                 Not of works, lest any man should boast:

                                 For we are His workmanship,  created in Christ Jesus unto good works,  which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

We are created in Christ Jesus.  The idea suggested here in the Greek is:  to mold into the likeness of Christ Jesus. 

The Purpose of God for each individual believer, is: Walking in those good works which God hath prepared for us.

“Ordained” means that God has made all the provision for. 

He has seen beforehand what we will need, and sets aside exactly what we need.

So when God gives us a “good work” to do,  He prepares the blessing to be given to us, to carry it out.

 

What is the Purpose of God for us?   

To walk along with Him,  conscious of the Presence of the Holy Spirit within us. 

Walking along, receiving Him, and the blessings He gives;   doing the good works He places before us. (Whether in word or deed)

Walking along with Him,  yielding to His kingdom come with in us.

Confident that our King has provided the blessing for us, knowing His Presence and power in every area of our lives.

The Temptation of Christ Jesus 

Matthew 4:1 “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”

Jesus was “led up of the Spirit”.   This temptation, then, was God’s Plan and Purpose for His Son.

He was in all points tempted, like as we are, the writer to the Hebrews revealed. (Hebrews 4:15)

So this temptation shows us how to act when we, too, are tempted.

First, notice that our hardest temptations come after we have gotten more Spiritual power and grace.   

Jesus had just been baptized by John the Baptist, and the Holy Spirit had come down upon Him without measure,  as He came up from the water.  A Voice had announced that Jesus was  God’s Beloved Son!  And that He was well pleasing in God’s sight!

But then He was tempted.

Matthew 4:2-4 “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights,  he was afterward an hungered.

And when the tempter came to him,  he said,  If thou  be the Son of God,  command these stones to be made bread.

But he answered and said,    It is written,  Man shall not live be bread alone,  but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Jesus was hungry.  He had been fasting for forty days, and nights;  so when He could, He wanted to break the fast by food.

But when tempted by the devil to change stones into bread, so He could satisfy His hunger,  and prove that He was the Son of God;  Jesus refused.

But He did not just say “No”,  but rebuked the suggestion by quoting “It is written”.

What the Scriptures say,  help us to live aright.

The suggestion of the devil, was that because Jesus was the Son of God, He could do what ever He wanted,  have whatever He wanted,  whenever He wanted, by simply  commanding it to be so. 

Of course Jesus could,  but that was not why He became man.  It was ever to do the Father’s Will, that He came, and that was what He lived and died by.

So should we do the Father’s Will for us.  It puts us in the wonderful position of being able to stand back from suggestions and plans,  and seeking His Will in everything.

That puts temptations in a new light.  It is not:  “You want this, it is not too awful, why not do it?”

It is:  “Is this what the Lord would have me to do, now?”

Notice this first temptation was for bodily wants.

Matthew 4:5-7 “And the devil taketh him up into the holy city,  and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple.  

And saith unto him,  If thou be the Son of God,  cast thyself down:  for it is written,  He shall give his angels charge concerning thee:  and in their hands they shall bear thee up,  lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Jesus said unto him,  It is written again,  Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

Jesus had quoted Scripture, so now the devil quotes it.  Again he says, “If thou be the Son of God”.

Here the temptation is for public announcement.  Cast yourself down from the pinnacle of the temple.  What a better way to prove the fact that You are the Son of God!  

And it is said in the Scriptures,   so God will have to do it.

Sneaky.  

For God would certainly do it, and those that saw it, might have been awed into following Jesus for awhile, because of it.  

But that is not true believing.  It would have been useless, for the heart will only follow what it loves.   

And awe is not love.

But Jesus refused it, for it was not the Father’s Way of announcement.  His Way was for Jesus to go about preaching, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.  He was to do good to all. (Matthew 4:17)

Certainly it was not as exciting as angels catching Him.   But it was what God wanted.

The devil’s suggestion was just tempting God; and Jesus refused it and quoted that Scripture:  “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”  

(To tempt God is to make  God prove Himself or His Word,  by demanding that He do something for us,  now.    Do this,  or we won’t trust You.)

This second temptation had been for Fame, and prestige.   He would be Famous,  everyone would know He was the Son of God!

How often we get trapped into “seeking” these.

Matthew 4:8-10 “Again,  the devil taketh him up unto an exceeding high mountain,  and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world,  and the glory of them:

And saith unto him;  All these things will I give thee,  if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

The saith Jesus unto him,  Get thee hence, Satan:  for it is written,   Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,  and him only shalt thou serve.”

The temptation here is:  Forget the path to the cross.   If You will fall down and worship me, You can have all the kingdoms and the power of them…now;  without the suffering and  shameful death of the cross.

This was the devil’s attempt to destroy Who Jesus was:   “I will  give you all I have, to make God finally submit to me, in the person of His Son.”

Of course Jesus would refuse this:

But after this final suggestion,  Jesus commands the devil to depart; quoting the verse, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Jesus would do all the Father’s Will.   And He was confident that those kingdoms would be His,  God’s Way; and that was through the suffering of the cross, to resurrection and glory.

The third temptation was for personal power, and glory; without suffering.

And does not the devil tempt us in the same ways:

1)See to your needs  first.  Yes, your a Christian, but God has not “forbidden” you to do this,  so He probably doesn’t care.

2)If you are going to have a ministry for God,  make it flashy.   People will remember you.  They will admire you.  They will think you are great!  (There is a whole lot of “you” in that “ministry”)

3)If you  will just go along with the world,  you could skip a whole lot of trouble.   Sure, you can look like a Christian, but you don’t have to walk in that “narrow”way.  

In other words, “Go ahead, lose your Christ’s Life, to have your self life”. (Matthew 16:25)

These, and others like them, are the things the devil tempts us with (For he tempted our Lord the same way.)

Looking to the Father’s Will, Jesus went through these temptations, standing on the Word of God.  Jesus left the place of temptation by placing Himself in the Father’s hands by the Word of God.   

He did all the work the Father had for Him, and finished it.

So we need to look to Jesus, and go through all He has purposed for us,  with Him.  

He will empower us, to the measure of our devotion and obedience, by the Holy Spirit to know and to do His Will.

Mary Magdalene 

We first meet her, by name, among the women who were ministering to Jesus of their wealth.    In fact many women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities ministered unto Him from their wealth.

Luke 8:2-3 “And certain women,  which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene,  out of whom went seven devils, 

                     And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others,  which ministered unto Him of their substance.”

Seven demons had been cast out of her.  She had been saved from great darkness, and despair.

Some believe that Mary Magdalene was the woman in the chapter right before.

Luke 7:37-38 “And, behold, a woman in the city,  which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the  Pharisee’s house,  brought an alabaster box of ointment,

                         And stood at His feet behind Him weeping,  and began to wash His feet with tears,  and did wipe them with the hairs of her head,  and kissed His feet,  and anointed them with the ointment.”

Now whether she was this woman spoken of here or not,  it does not say. 

But the principle laid down at Simon the Pharisee’s house, is universal:

Luke 7:47 “Wherefore I say unto thee,  her sins,  which are many,  are forgiven;  for she loved much:  but to whom little is forgiven,  the save loveth little.” 

Mary Magdalene had been forgiven and healed from an horrible existence.

So she loved Jesus very much.

She was a zealous disciple of the Lord, following Him, hearing Him;  and when He was tried and crucified;  she did not desert Him,  but was there.

(Matthew 27:50,55-56.   Mark 15:40-41.  Luke 23:49 ,John 19:25)

In every gospel,  Mary Magdalene is seen below the cross.  (In Luke she is not named,  but spoken of as part of the women that ministered to Jesus.)

John 19:25 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus   His mother,  and His mother’s sister,  Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.”

Jesus, after He arose from the dead,  appears to her first.    Was it her fearless love which gave her this privilege?

She had come early with other women to anoint Him.   Finding the tomb open and His body gone, she ran to tell the disciples. 

She must have thought that they would help her find the body, for she returns to the tomb right away.    But when they leave;  she looks again into the tomb.

There she sees angels;  but not Jesus.  She barely cares about angels, it is Jesus she is seeking.

She is certain that if she could just find the body,  she could take care of it. (It would have been too heavy for her)

John 20:11-13 “And Mary stood without the sepulcher weeping:  and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulcher.

                           And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet,  where the body of Jesus had lain.

                            And they say unto her,   Woman,  why weepest thou?    She saith unto them,  Because they have taken away my Lord,  and I know not where they have laid Him.”

She turns from them and she sees, what she thinks is a gardener,  till He speaks to her:   “Mary”.

John 20:15-16 “Jesus saith unto her,  Woman, why weepest thou?  Whom seekest thou?  She supposing Him to be the gardener,  saith unto Him,  Sir, if thou hast borne Him hence, tell me, where thou hast laid Him,  and I will take Him away.

                           Jesus saith unto her,   Mary.    She turned herself, and saith unto Him,  Rabboni;   Which is to say,  Master.”

That voice which called her out of darkness into light.

That voice that told her she was free from these evil spirits,  and forgiven.

That voice:  she instantly recognizes when He says her name.

“My Father and your Father,  My God and your God.”   What a wonderful word of comfort she was given:

John 20:17 “Jesus saith unto her,  Touch me not;  for I am not yet ascended to My Father:  but go to My brethren,  and say unto them,   I ascend unto My Father,  and your Father;  and to My God,  and your God.”

And a message was also given to her to pass on:  “Go, and say”.  Which she did.

You do not hear her name specifically, again.  

But I am sure she was in the gathering waiting at Jerusalem, as they had been told.

Waiting till the day of Pentecost,  with the disciples and other women:  I see Mary Magdalene.

Acts 1:13-14 “And when they were come in,  they went up into an upper room,  where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew,  Philip, and Thomas,  Bartholomew, and Matthew, and James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

                       These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,  with the women,  and Mary the mother of Jesus,  and with His brethren.”

Waiting for the Holy Spirit to be given.  To be empowered to do what she was called to:  to further the cause of her beloved Lord.

Mary Magdalene was given the greatest gift:  life with Jesus.   After that, she never wavered in her love of the Son of God who saved her.

Luke 7:47 “Wherefore I say unto thee,  her sins, which are many,  are forgiven;  for she loved much:  but to whom little is forgiven,  the same loveth little.”

She was forgiven much,  therefore she loved much.

What of us?

Launch out into the Deep

Luke 5:4 “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon,  Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”

Here the Lord is  getting surrounded about with people , who want to hear more of the word of God, by the lake of Gennesaret.

Two fishing ships were at hand, although the men were out of them, so Jesus enters into one of them and asked the owner, named Simon, to:

Luke 5:3 “And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land.  And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.”

There was some effort to this favor for Jesus, and now Jesus is going to do Simon a favor.

“Launch out into the deep, and let down your nests for a draught.”

Simon, here, was trying to be polite; and gently tells Jesus that they had already done everything they could to get a catch of fishes.

Luke 5:5 “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all night, and have taken nothing:  Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”

But he also added, “But at thy word ”

Here is obedience.   Peter might not have agreed with the plan.   Might not have thought it would work;  but would do it anyway, to honor Jesus.

Jesus had “borrowed”  Peter’s ship, and now He would “pay” him for the use of it.

Luke 5:6-7″ And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them.  And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.”

A net full of fishes, to the breaking point, was what He gave!

“Pressed down and running over”.   (Luke 6:38).  He spoke this word, and He gave to Peter, here.

But now, with the “payment” given;  Peter realizes  this Jesus was who John the Baptist testified;  “The Lamb of God”. (John 1:35-41).  That He was indeed the Christ.

Peter then fell down (probably a most unusual position for the energetic fisherman)

And cried:

Luke 5:8-9 “When Simon Peter saw it he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying,  Depart from me;  for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes that they had taken:”

“Lord” is the right title for Jesus.  And knowing Him this way, led to leaving all and following Jesus.

Luke 5:10-11 “And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said unto Simon,  Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.”

They forsook all and followed Him, leaving their father in the ship with the hired servants. (Mark 1:20)

Here they received the best gift–to be called to follow Jesus.

Launch out into the deep.   A simple command,  simply followed;  which led to becoming a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus also calls us to “Launch out” with Him in our everyday lives,  to be obedient to Him.

We may not “agree” with the command;  or think we have already done all we could;

but if we will obey Him, He will bless.

“They forsook all”;  they had known Jesus before (as John 1:35-41 shows), but now their lives were at Jesus’ command.

What about us?   Do we know Jesus, yet have not “launched out” with Him into true discipleship?

He calls,  will we follow?

We may never “forsake all” in the same way as Peter, James, and John did here….but we are always called to place Him first.

And with Him first,  everything else is seen to.

Matthew 6:33. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

The Holy Spirit’s Work

John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,  that He may abide with you forever;”

When we are born again, the Holy Spirit comes within our spirits to live there.   He is the Paraclete;  which means, “to come under, to support”.   He is our Comforter.

He places us in the family of God. 

Galatians 4:5-7 “To redeem them that were under the law,  that we might receive the adoptions of sons.

                               And because ye are sons,  God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts,  crying,  Abba,  Father.

                               Wherefore thou art no more servants,  but a son;  and if a son,  then an heir of God through Christ.”

This He does, by giving us faith: the substance of things things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Plainly, by faith, the Holy Spirit makes God real to us, in our everyday life.

Ephesians 1:13, 17  “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,  the gospel of your salvation: in whom also,  after that ye have believed,  you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,

                                    that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,  the Father of glory,  may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:”

                                                                       

He is in our spirits, and turns the light on within us, so we can see the truth, and do it.

John 15:26 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father,  even the Spirit of truth,  which proceedeth from the Father,  He shall testify of Me.”

1 Peter 1:22 “Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren,  see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”

 

He speaks to us through the Word of God, and by working in us the knowledge of God’s Will for us. 

John 14:26 “But the Comforter,  which is the Holy Ghost,  whom the Father will send in My name,  He shall teach you all things,  and bring all things to your remembrance,  whatsoever I have said unto you.”

 

He empowers us,  sanctifying us to God.

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

2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you,  brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”

 

He gives us the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith,

                                  Meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.”

And as we yield to the Holy Spirit within,  He works through us.   (People will see a change;  not in word only,  but in our manner of life.)

Romans 8:13-14 “For if ye live after the flesh,  ye shall die:  but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body,  ye shall live.

                               For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,  they are the sons of God.”

1 Thessalonians 1:5 “For our gospel came not unto you in word only,  but also in power,  and in the Holy Ghost,  and in much assurance;  as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes.”

 

When we sin,  the Holy Spirit stays after us,  showing it to us again and again.

If we grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30),   He does not leave us, though He may withdraw the comforting feeling of His Presence;  till we have sought forgiveness and cleansing. 

1 John 1:7,9 “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.

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

                         

He teaches us to rejoice and give thanks.

1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 “In everything give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  

                                             Quench not the Spirit.”  (Don’t put out the fire of God burning within you by the Holy Spirit)

 

He teaches us how to pray.

Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought;  but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered.”

Jude 20 “But ye beloved,  building up yourselves on your most holy faith,  praying in the Holy Ghost,”

 

As the Holy Spirit is in us,  we have fellowship with other believers.  The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, and we are to love one another, as He loves us.

2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,  and the love of God,  and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.”

1 John 2:10 “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

 

And we can be filled with the Holy Spirit, having the power of His influence within us (as as a man is under the influence of wine).

Ephesians 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine,  wherein is excess;  but be filled with the Spirit;”

(We are filled by the Holy Spirit, to the degree we are empty of self-seeking.

Galatians 5:25-26.    Matthew 16:24-25)

The Holy Spirit was given us, that we will never be alone:    Not spiritual orphans.    

He comes to us,  to hold us up, giving us joy and peace;   and He supports us in God’s Will, giving us the faith to overcome.

Friends:

John 15:15 “Henceforth I call ye not servants;  for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth:  but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

Jesus is talking to His disciples.

These disciples had traveled a long way with Christ, and had determined to go on with Him, although He was hated by the religious rulers and Pharisees.

There is an old saying:   “A wise man is he that keeps his friendships  in constant repair”

And this is as true with Christ, as well as our other friends.

A man with God can be a majority of One in any situation.

Look at John, the beloved disciple:

When Jesus’s time was come, He went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray.(John 18:1)

The eleven were with Him, but three of the eleven were closest to Him…Peter, James and John.  When Judas and the band of soldiers which were to arrest Him, came;  they all fled.  Jesus had asked that His disciples be let go:

John 18:8 “Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he:  if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:”

Mark 14:48-52 “And Jesus answered and said unto them,  Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?

I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not:  but the Scriptures must be fulfilled.

And they all forsook him, and fled.

And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body;  and the young men laid hold on him:

And he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.”

This young man,  I believe was John….but look what he did right after that.

John 18:15  “And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple:  that disciple was known unto the high priest,  and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.”

Peter stayed outside, for fear.   But not John;  he had failed and ran away with all the rest,  but now he would follow Jesus, no matter what happened.

Here he was allowed to go into the place of judgement….the high priest knew him. This could have been life threatening.   But he went into the palace to be with Jesus.

And after they led Jesus away to Pilate?  And to Golgotha (Calvary),  John was there 

also.  None other disciple,  but he was.

John 19:25-27 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas,  and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus therefore saw his mother,  and the disciple standing by,  whom he loved, he saith unto his mother,  Woman, behold thy son!

Then saith he to his disciple,  Behold thy mother!    And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

John was a young man; who had fled to save his life….but came back to follow Jesus, not only to find out what would happen to him;  but to stand with Him, both in the place of judgement and death.

Friends.  We, too, can be friends with Christ.  

We can stand with Him,  not that we won’t fail, but, after we have, we will seek Him and stand with Him.

A wise man is he that keeps his friendships in constant repair.

The First Principle we Learn,  Obedience.

John 14:15 “If ye love Me, keep my commandments.”

As babes in Christ,  we are given great joy in knowing our sins are forgiven, and we are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6-7).

Then we are told to grow in grace, and the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.(2 Peter 3:18)

We are to grow up into Christ (Ephesians 4:13-15),  and that is by Obedience.

Acts 8:1, 4-5 “And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem;  and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria,  except the apostles.

                        Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.

                         Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria,  and preached Christ unto them.”

Persecution for the believers, results in sending the gospel far and wide!  (The Lord can always change the bad people want to do,  into good.)

Acts 8:6, 8 “And the people with one accord gave heed unto the things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

                     And there was great joy in that city.”

Wow!  The Lord has blessed His Word, and many believed, and were baptized in the name of Christ Jesus, in obedience.

This obedience to the word preached,  continued;   and word got back to the apostles at Jerusalem.

Acts 8:14, 25 “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God,  they sent unto them Peter and John:

                          And they,  when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord,  returned to Jerusalem,  and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”

This word preached by Peter and John, as they were witnesses of Jesus’ earthly ministry (His words and actions), crucifixion, and resurrection; would have been to establish these beginning believers in Christ Jesus.

But in the middle of this revival,  Philip is called of the Lord to go somewhere else!

Acts 8:26 “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip,  saying,  Arise, and go toward the south,  unto the way which goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza,  which is desert.”

                         Philip could have said:  To the desert?  Really, Lord?  I’m have a revival here;  shouldn’t I stay here?

But if you love the Lord, you obey Him.

Acts 8:27-28 “And he arose and went:  and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians,  who had the charge of all her treasure,  and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 

                       Was returning,  and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet.”

And Philip arose and went.

God had sent him to Samaria;  and God was sending him away from it, to a desert place.

When he got there, he saw a man in a chariot (we know who he was now,  but Philip didn’t, then).

Acts 8:29-30 “Then said the Spirit unto Philip,   Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

                         And Philip ran thither to him,  and heard him read the prophet Isaiah,  and said,   Understandest what thou readest?”

Again, the Lord gives him direction as what to do in this situation.   

The Lord always honors those who obey Him, with more:  more of His Presence, more of His guidance, and certainly, more of His peace and protection. 

Philip does not know who this man is,  but the Lord does.   This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,  so he believed in God.  

But with all the things going on there (there had been multitudes saved,  and still being saved, even under persecution),  yet he had been untouched by any of them.

This man was reading Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus:

 “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter,  

and like a lamb before his shearer, so he opened not his mouth:    

In his humiliation his judgement was taken away:   And who shall declare his generation?  For his life is taken from the earth” (Acts 8:32-33)

God knows his heart, and sees his hunger for knowledge of the truth,  and fills it.

Philip runs!  How wonderful when the joy of the Spirit fills us.

And asks,  “Do you understand what you are reading?”

The answer is,  “No, how can I?   I need help.”

So Philip asked if he could come up and sit with him.

Acts 8:34-35 “And the eunuch answered Philip,  and said,  I pray thee,  of whom speaketh the prophet  this?    Of himself,  or of some other man?

                          Then Philip opened his mouth,  and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”

Philip began with Isaiah, and showed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ who was prophesied to come as the Lamb of God,  and take away the sins of His people.

Acts 8:36, 38-39. “And as they went on their way,  they came unto a certain water:  and the eunuch said,   See, here is water,  what doth hinder me to be baptized?

                                 And he commanded the chariot to stand still:  and they went down both into the water,  both Philip and the eunuch;  and he baptized him.

                                 And when they were come up out of the water,  the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip,  that the eunuch saw him no more:   And he went on his way rejoicing.”

Baptism is to show that you believe that Jesus Christ went down into the grave in death for us,  and was raised the third day;  and you are identifying yourself with Jesus,  as belonging to Him.

This eunuch was empty at Jerusalem, going home empty.   But Christ Jesus knew his need, and would not let that happen.

Philip’s obedience was the way this man was saved.   And he went on his way rejoicing!

And what of Philip?     He went on to the next calling:  preaching Christ.

Acts 8:40 “But Philip was found at Azotus:  and passing through he preached in all the cities,  til he came to Caesarea.”

Obedience is the way to show Jesus Christ that we believe, trust, will stay with, etc.

Obedience is the way to show Jesus Christ that we love Him.

I Will,   will you?

This is God speaking,  and when He says, “I will”,  nothing can hinder Him,  except what He allows.

And in His people, which should know and believe Him;  He allows their unbelief to hinder His works.

And why does He allow this?

Hebrews 3:10,12 “Wherefore I was grieved with that generation,  and said,  They do always err in their hearts,  and they have not known My ways.

                               Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,  in departing from the living God.”

                              For unbelief is departing from the living God.  

The example I want to talk about is in Ezekiel.

Ezekiel is an interesting prophet.  Exiled with many of Judah’s people in the second captivity under Nebuchadnezzar (there were three times people were taken away.),  Ezekiel’s ministry was:

To tell the captives the reason of their captivity.  

He tells them of their forsaking of God, and the terrible iniquity that was still going on in Judah and Jerusalem.  He tells them that God will judge Judah, destroying the Temple, and the kingdom, because of their continued wickedness.        

Ezekiel 33:28-29   “For I will lay the land most desolate,  and the pomp of her strength shall cease;  and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate,  that none shall pass through.                          Then shall they know that I am the Lord,  when I have laid the land most desolate,  because of all their abominations which they have committed.”

And he encouraged the captives to accept the chastening of the Lord, and build houses and take care of their families.  

To do the commandments of the Lord,  till God was pleased to bring them back into the land.   

For after God had chastened them,  He would remember His covenant with Abraham,  and bring them back.

Ezekiel 36:28 “And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;  and ye shall be My people,  and I will be your God.”

This is a great promise,  for it deals not just with the outward inheritance,  but the inward heart.

Ezekiel 36: 32-36 “Not for your sakes do I do this,  saith the Lord God,  be it known unto you:  be ashamed and confounded for your own ways,  O house of Israel.

                                 Thus saith the Lord God;  in the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities,  and the wastes shall be builded.

                                  And the desolate land shall be tilled,  whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.

                                   And they shall say,   This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden;  and the wastes and the desolate and ruined cities become fenced,  and are inhabited.

                                    Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruin places,  and plant that that was desolate:  I the Lord have spoken it,  and I will do it.”

“I have spoken it, and I will do it.”  But it would not be for their sakes, for God was looking at His covenant with Abraham.

It was not a matter of merit.  But God would do it, for His Word’s sake.

This should have caused the people to praise God, and pray for it in gratitude and love.

To get right with God, and seek the good of their brethren.

But what did they do?

Ezekiel 36:37 “Thus saith the Lord God;  I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel,  to do it for them,…”

They did nothing. 

God had promised.  He would do it.      And then:   Forget about it,  till we actually see it.

Unbelief abounded:

Not the “I don’t believe in God”,  unbelief.     

But the “I will believe, only when I see it”,  unbelief.

For unbelief is departing from the living God.

Ezekiel spoke and warned them that God required righteousness from them.  To do what they, as His people,  should do, even in a foreign land.  

Not for merit, but to show their belief in Him, as their God.

(Ezekiel 33:14-15 “…if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;    If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statues of life, with out committing iniquity; he shall surely live,…”)

They could pine away, wishing for better days;   Or turn from their sins of idolatry and rebellion against God’s dealings,  and “live”.

Again, and again Ezekiel spoke to them;  but they mocked him.  Listening,  but still refusing to “hear and obey.”

Ezekiel 33:31-32 “And they come unto thee as the people cometh,  and they sit thee before thee as My people,  and they hear thy words,  but they will not do them:  for with their mouth they show much love,  but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

                               And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice,  and can play well on an instrument:    for they hear thy words,  but they do them not.”

God says, “I will”.  And nothing can hinder God, but what He allows.   And with His own people,  who should know Him;  He refuses to bless our unbelief (whatever kind it is).

He rebukes us, to get our attention,  so we will hear His Word to us and live.

He chastens us, to awaken us to the seriousness of our way.   To draw us back into the right way.

Real life is in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  It is by faith.

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back,  My soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

Now let me ask you:   Which really lived?  Ezekiel or the people who “pined” away in their sins?

Ezekiel’s way was hard: he was mocked and rejected.    But God was with him.

What do you consider “life” to you?     Life with Christ Jesus?  Or life here and now?

God says, “I will”.   Will we believe Him, and live?