To Experience the Call of Christ

Matthew 4: 18-20 “And Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

When Christ Jesus calls someone to follow Him into a work, He says “Follow Me”.
Then He adds the job that He calls you to.

It is of first importance, that we know we are following Him, for He will ever be with us in the work, as He was with His disciples of old.

He empowers us by His Holy Spirit for the work we are given to do; as we follow Him.

His call, first, takes us away from something. They were fishers, and they left their nets and followed Him.
We are not necessarily, to leave the jobs we have; but we are all to leave the lives we have, in ourselves; and follow Him, into the lives He has for us.

This is said many ways in Scripture:
Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
Paul said about the same experience:
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

So when these fishermen were called of Jesus; they answered, leaving all their lives: what they had, and did; to be disciples of Jesus.
The call of Christ is away from OUR way of doing things; to obedience and subjection to our Lord.

But it is not just away from our old lives. It is a call to lead you on to something else: your life in Christ, as His servant, and friend.
(Christ Jesus NEVER asks you to “give up” something; without giving you something to replace it.)

John 15:14-17 “Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call ye not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you.
These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

You can see that a life of faith, is a life of obeying His commandments, in love to our Friend, and Lord, Jesus Christ.

This call from Christ to us, begins a way of discipleship and fellowship.

Matthew 13:17 “For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you have seen, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”

1 Corinthians 2:9-12 “As it is written, Eye hath not seen, or ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of the heart.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given us of God.”

The Lord loves for us to be in constant contact with Him. To be listening to His Holy Spirit within, and talking to Him through our day.

We are to learn how to hear aright. We are to learn how to walk in the Spirit; and we are to learn how to love one another, as He loved us.

It is all by fellowship with Christ Jesus, AND maintaining that fellowship; by confession of sins, and being cleansed from the power of them. (1 John 1:9)

They go together: forgiveness, and cleansing.
(What good would forgiving a small child for getting his new clothes into the mud, if you did not cleanse him from it? So, Christ does not just forgive us from sin, but cleanses us from it. And from this cleansing, we learn to love purity, and the right way.)

And then our call leads us to being filled with the Holy Spirit:
We are filled with the Spirit to the degree we are emptied of ourselves.

Ephesians 5:17-20 “Wherefore be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord:
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

This life is a joyful one, not without trials, or afflictions: but with Power and Strength which comes from the Lord Jesus being present with us in all our days and nights by the Holy Spirit within.

The call of Christ is a call away from the world, and onward to fellowship and joy by the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is a life of discipleship, and learning. We learn Christ, and that learning will/can go on for all Eternity; for His Life is Endless.

Have you heard His call? Saying, Arise, and follow Me? It may not come in those words, but He will speak to you, your name, for He knows it; He knows you.

John 10:2-3 “But he that entereth by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep heareth his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.”

The call of Christ is never away from Him, but a drawing closer and closer to Him.
For that is the life He has for us.

The Light that lighteth every man.

John 1:9 “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man which cometh into the world.”

Inside every man there is the place of the knowledge of God. It is the spirit of man, a gift given by God to man, when he was first created.

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
God is: God the Father, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit: a Trinity.

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.”

God formed man of the dust of the ground: his body.
And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: giving him his spirit by the Holy Spirit (the breath of life).
And man became a living soul: a living personality was the result; mind, heart, and will.
Man, created in the image of God, is Spirit, Soul, and Body: a Triunity.

Then, at the first, man’s spirit was Lighted by the Holy Spirit, for fellowship with God.

When Man fell by sin, the Holy Spirit left his spirit, and man’s spirit became darkened, but not destroyed.
The impress of the Light of Life was still there, so there was a knowledge of God; but a hinderance also was there: sin.

Romans 1:21 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; and became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Sin hardens the heart and mind against the Light, because it wants to stay in the darkness, and hide.

John 3:20 “For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

Ephesians 4:18 “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated by the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”

Since the fall of man, we have, because of sin; missed the mark (or purpose) for which we were created.
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

We have all sinned; we are all sinners; we have all come short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

We as sinners, have earned the wages of death; the death which is the separation from God.
The question is will we continue in this death, through all eternity? Or will be receive the gift of God, by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ?

“But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. This eternal life is a condition of life, now; not just for eternity.
Certainly, those who receive Christ Jesus as Lord, and Savior, will go to Heaven which is the abode of God, but the eternal life He offers is for us now.
He gives us light and life now, for the darkness and death we have lived in.(Ephesians 2:1-3)

At the time of regeneration; when we are born again (John 3:7); the Holy Spirit comes back into our spirits and gives us faith, and Light, and Life.

The Holy Spirit, within our spirits, then begins to bring our spirits into subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Word to us; for our lives. He does this by showing us God’s Will, and influencing our hearts and minds to will after God’s Will. This brings us from being babes in Christ, to grown up children of God.

But we must yield to the Lord’s Will, to have this “growing up” process to continue. This increases our Light.
Our wills are the determining factor:
Philippians 2:13 “for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
He works within us, that we might know His Will and Do His Will. That His Light will grow within us, and that we might be blessed of God.

The Lord wants to bless us.
How much do we want to be blessed?

 

 

 

 

The Battle of the Ages: Christ must Reign

There are two principles at work in all the Universe.
God’s Principle of Obedience.
And the Principle of our Adversary, the Devil; which is that of Rebellion.

The battle of the ages, for me is: Who will rule in my life?

As Christians we can be obedient to God’s Will by the determining of my will to do it; and the power of the Holy Spirit within.

When we are, we are standing with God in the battle.

2 Timothy 2:6 “The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits.”

This is the first verse the Lord gave me after He called me to preach.

He told me, that before He could require the Word that I preached to others; I must get it into my experience first.

The experience of Spiritual Life is always: first in me, then by me and then through me.
And His power is Life. Life flowing into me, and helping me in everything I do.

His power must be at work in me, before I can see this power used through me, in the calling God has given me to do.

He showed me these verses:
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (childish), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

If I am to think God’s thoughts after Him, then His thoughts must prevail.

And for this to happen, our minds must be transformed by His grace; so that our natural and normal way we think, becomes Spiritual.

We are to pull down the strongholds.
These are strongholds of reasoning. They are the reasonings that prevent us from believing God, and acting on what we believe.
Like this:
“That is impossible. Yes, I know God is God…but He just won’t do that for me, even if I thought He would do it.”
Or…
“That person will never be saved. There is no use in witnessing to them.”
We are to pull these down by our willed obedience, even when we do not see how God will do these things.

 

We are to cast down imaginations. Those flights of fancy which come across our minds.
We are not to give them credence, or continue in them.

This is what got a man of God in trouble: He sat down and started thinking of all that he had just done (and it was miraculous) and was killed because, in doing so; he put aside God’s warning to get out of the country immediately!
(1 Kings 13:8-9, 14-22). He was tricked, because he was not thinking as he should; and then he was dead.

We all have thoughts which come into our head: What would I do if….?
But it is what we do with our thoughts, that counts.
Do we bring them to the light of Jesus Christ, or go ahead and fly into fantasy?

 

And we are to destroy every barrier which is raised against the genuine knowledge of God.
And there are a lot of barriers.

Such as the barrier of:
“I can’t read the Bible, because it is too complicated. I just do not understand everything there. I just let others explain it.
But I am not really sure they are right either.”

This is a barrier which the Holy Spirit can easily destroy. He can give you understanding and light for your path, through the Word of God.

You may not understand in the original language.
But you will understand what the Holy Spirit tells you. He speaks clearly. (Sometimes too clearly for some.)

 

Taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

This is stop thinking angry thoughts; continuing to be angry, because we want to be right…or are right; and others do not agree.

This is to start thinking that the awful neighbor is not to be hated, but to be prayed for; or ignored. It is to be at peace with them.

 

All our thoughts lead us to Christ; Or to the world’s way, which is influenced by our Adversary, the Devil.

It is really siding with Jesus about what comes into our heads; And staying with Him, through it all.

This is to stand with Jesus Christ in the Battle of the Ages.

Borrow Vessels, not a Few.

Elisha was a prophet in Israel.
There were many who, though contrary to the “popular religion”, followed God.
They would gather together to hear Elisha, as he traveled the country.

He ministered to the people with the Word of God, and instruction.
Many followed the teachings of God, and they were called the “sons of the prophets”.

Some set themselves aside for ministering, and prayer.
Others had families, and lived for God in there jobs.

A widow of one of these men came to him in dire straights. After her husband had died, things had gotten very tough financially, and they had come into debt.

2 Kings 4:1 “Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.”

This was very serious. Both sons being taken, must have meant a large debt.

But she came to Elisha; he would be able to pray for her, or tell her what she could do by the Word of the Lord.

2 Kings 4:2 “And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in the house?
And she said, Thy handmaid hath not anything in the house,   save a pot of oil.”

At first, it is as if Elisha is not asking the woman at all….but rather praying for direction.
Then, he asks her, according as the Holy Spirit showed him, “What do you have in the house?”

She had nothing to sell, nothing to trade. She only had a pot of oil.

How often we think we need something more, before we can serve God.
More knowledge, more courage, more understanding.

But really, we need to just use what we have, then God will enable us, and He will supply more of what we need.

2 Kings 4:3-4 “Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
When thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee, and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.”

Here was the answer:
She would have to be obedient, and God would supply.

She would have to borrow empty vessels; for the Lord was going to work a miracle for her.
But it was to be for her and her sons. No one else was to be present, or even see through the door.
Elisha was not present. He did not do this.
The Lord did this for her, and her sons; using their obedience.

Did God supply the need?

2 Kings 4:5-6 “So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel.
And he said unto her, there is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.”

Yes, abundantly the need was met. All the vessels they had borrowed, were filled, till there was no more.

God would have us bring our “empty vessels” to Him to be filled with His Spirit, for our everyday needs.
Shutting the door, so we may be alone with God in prayer and devotions is often the means He uses to supply our need for the day.
The oil of joy, and strength, and peace; and increased faith is often given as we close the door on the world, and seek Him.

2 Kings 4:7 “Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.”

After the miracle, she did not get “swelled head” and say, I know what I will do.

No, she came and asked for guidance as what to do next.
Amazingly, the answer was an answer for the rest of her life.

God saw to the need, and more. He gave to her, so that she would be able to live beyond this debt.

That is what God always gives us: life. It is what He supplies, even if He is seeing to a specific need, for now.
Our life as His children, here and now; and every time we need it.

It does not say whether the oil came drop by drop, or poured out fast from the vessel she had.
Only that the oil came, the need was met. He supplied it for her and her son’s life.

Let us look to God to supply the need of our life, bringing our “empty vessels” for His Spirit to fill….that we may have His life for us.

A New Nature

Perhaps a explanation of what the term “nature” means, would be helpful:
Nature is the inclination of the heart and mind, and the characteristics of that creature.

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

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

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

When Adam sinned, death passed to his children, those of his nature: to all men. For we are all Adam’s children, and all have his nature, or characteristics.
(Mark 7:20-23)

God in all His Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, made a way for us to be justified before God, and saved from our sins; for He loved us.
1 John 4:9 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

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

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

Romans 4:5 “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him (Jesus Christ) that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

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

Romans 5:18-19 “Therefore as by the offense of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.”

We are made righteous: Think of it! Sinners made righteous, or not guilty before a Holy God!
By the merits of Jesus Christ, who sought us, and saved us from our sin!

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

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

We were in darkness, fear, and anger; now we are in light, and can have joy and peace.
His new nature within us gives us access to come to God as our Father, receiving all the Father has for us, as His children; through the merits of Christ Jesus, our Lord.
To love Him.
To grow in grace.
To know His will.
To be empowered to do His will.
To obtain the many promises He has for us.

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

 

We are Created in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

There are two creations: the natural creation, and the spiritual creation.
We were created in Adam; naturally he was the father of all people.
We were created in Christ Jesus; spiritually, when we were born again.

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

This shows what we have as a New Creation in Christ Jesus.
First there is Wisdom:
Wisdom is that sudden light from above which illuminates our lives.
We were afraid: wisdom came, and suddenly the thing we were afraid of, is seen against the background of God.
We were without understanding: wisdom came, and suddenly the “muddle of our minds” disappears, and we know.
And with the knowledge, that wisdom gives power to do.

Second, there is Righteousness:
There is the imputed righteousness of Christ which is given to us. But this righteousness spoken of here, is the righteous acts of obedience which we do for His sake.
When we see what He wants us to do, and realize that with that wisdom is power, then, we will with Him to do those acts of obedience to please Him.

Third, there is Sanctification:
Sanctification is the setting yourself aside for sacred use. To be used by God, for His glory and honor.
This sanctification is as we are in Christ Jesus:
It is by our Heavenly Father that we are sanctified.
Jude 1: “Jude the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”

It is by the Lord Jesus Christ that we are sanctified.
1 Corinthians 1:2 ” Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”

It is by the Holy Spirit we are sanctified.
1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ : grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

Fourth, there is Redemption.
Redemption is two-fold. The ransom for our lives was paid in full by Jesus Christ. And by it we are given deliverance from our old life.
Or, simply put, it is the power to be saved from our sin and self.

Now all these things we have in Christ Jesus. If we will, we can have all in abundant measure.

He is willing to give us just what we need. But that is like feeding us with bread and water; it will keep us alive, but not healthy.

But He will give abundant life: pressed down and running over with His life in your life, if you will to go on with Him.
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

It is “might have”, for Jesus Christ bids us to will with His will for us, and receive all the glorious promises He has for us.

As we go along with the Lord in our walk, our life in Him becomes stronger, and more to His honor, and praise.

 

1 Corinthians 1:31 “That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

 

Our Stand before the World

After Judah had sinned, God let their enemies have the victory over them; to show them they should repent and turn back to Him.

Sadly they would not, and Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem three times. The first two, he took much of the riches of the land; and the learned men. The third time, he destroyed the walls, and burnt the temple.

On the first conquest, Nebuchadnezzar took away the young men of skill. Princes who had been taught in science and who demonstrated wisdom. They would have to learn the teachings and the language of the Chaldeans, so they could be of use to Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were four such young men. When brought to the palace of the king of Babylon, they were given over to the prince of the eunuchs; or the one in charge of their learning process.

 

Daniel 1:5 “And the king appointed a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine of which he drank: so nourishing them three years that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.”

They were in a foreign country, living at the whim of the king, and the food that was presented to them was designed to “nourish them”. (make them stronger, smarter, and able to stand before the king, looking good.)

They could have reasoned that they had no choice.
That if God let them come to this land, then He would want them to “go along” with the plan of those that took them.
(The food had been offered to the king’s gods; then given to the king and his favorites)

But Daniel “purposed in his heart” that he would not defile himself with these foods and wine.
He was concerned with serving God, even in a foreign land. He was not going to forget the commandments of God, just because he was not in the land of Judah.

But what should he do?

Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

He went to the one in charge of their care, and asked that he might not eat these things.
He did not have a fit, and refuse to eat; but asked: giving respect.
God blessed him, and put respect for Daniel in this man’s heart.

But it was not just his safety that was in question.

Daniel 1:10 “And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your face worse liking than the children which are of your sort? Then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.”

Daniel understood the danger he was putting this man in; so he asked for a test.
If it was a matter of their strength and looks, then God would surely let their obedience be blessed; that they may look healthy and strong. (So they would look healthier than the other young men that had been brought to Babylon to learn their sciences and knowledge.)

Daniel 1:12-14 “Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse (grains) to eat, and water to drink.
Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenances of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.”

Daniel was going to leave this test into the hands of the Lord. God would bless His word, and give them health and strength; so the eunuch would be able to see the difference.
They would be able to live, the eunuch would be able to live, and they could obey God, even in this foreign land.

Daniel 1:15-16 “And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children that did eat the portion of the king’s meat.
Thus Melzar (the eunuch) took away the portion of their meat, and the wine which they should drink; and gave them pulse.”

So Daniel and his friends remained obedient to God, and continued in this training.
They became very important to this king, and honored God in their service many times.
Daniel 1:17, 18, 20 “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill and learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all vision and dreams.
Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”

At first Daniel stood alone, for God’s commandments; but soon three others joined him.

We may be sent to another place, or job, or school; or stay in the same place. But being His born again ones, we can serve the Lord wherever we are.
We are never alone, for the Holy Spirit is within us; giving us the blessing of His Presence and guidance.
And help.

He works in us; but He is also working things out around us, if we just trust and obey Him.

The Diligence of Faith.

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

Faith is always active. It is a gift from the Holy Spirit, when He comes and abides within us, at new birth.
It is either growing within us; or it is diminishing.

Faith is the active ingredient of our Christian lives; for we act in faith, and live by faith.
We are strengthened by our faith, and encouraged by our faith; for faith always looks to Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Are we using the faith He has given us, to gain more from Him?

2 Peter 1:3 “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

Notice: “all things of life and godliness” are given us, as we get knowledge of Christ. This is everything we need for our life and work.
For He has called us, as Christians, to manifest the glory (His authority and goodness) and the virtue (His power) of His word, by us.

Faith is (according to Paul) “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1)
Without it, there can be no Spiritual Reality.

Faith is the eyes to see God; and the ears to hear His Word to us personally.

And Peter says: we are to use the promises the Lord gives us, (not like throat lozenges which just soothe the sore throat and do nothing for the illness); but we are to obtain them: get them into our lives, where they will do us good.

2 Peter 1:4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Faith by the Holy Spirit, enables us to hear the Lord’s promises to us, through His Word.

And also enables us to reach out and get them into our lives.

If we need patience, He works that patience within us. How?

For me: He placed me in situations, and with people, that required me to be patient.
Then He said, “I will give it to you, if you just exercise it.”
So I did. (Not always; sometimes I gave way to my self and became very irritated at people.)
But when I just ‘hung on’ to His Presence, and exercised the patience He gave me; I was patient.

If we need boldness, He places within us by the Holy Spirit, that boldness.

For me: I never could talk before people. And I was called to peach!
Did God make a mistake?
No, He gave me boldness to stand and speak.
(I remember the first time, there was such a big knot in my throat, I thought I would not be able to say anything. But when I stood up and started speaking, my voice was there. Though shaking on the inside, at first; by the end I was steady; standing on the Rock that does not move.)

And the list goes on. What we need, He supplies.
We just need to use the faith given and yield to the Holy Spirit within; and get the promises He has for us in our lives.

This is diligence; the diligence of faith.

The Fountain of Life
Psalm 36:9 “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”

Have you drank from the fountain of Life?

Well, if you have, then that living force ought to be turning into a “river of living water” within you.

You see, God’s power is living. It is not a dead, or stagnant thing. He does not save, then desert, and say in effect, “Go ahead and make your way through a hostile world; you will get to heaven alright, but you have to fight your way there by yourself.”
N0. Christ Jesus has promised never to leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus saves to the uttermost.

That means: He saves from the love of sin. This is conviction by the Holy Spirit of the wretchedness of it.
He saves from the guilt of sin. We are born again, and become clean through His sacrifice and resurrection.
He saves from the power of sin. Called Sanctification: it is a setting aside to God of all ourselves, little by little, till we are willing subjects of His Kingdom here, and now, in all our circumstances.
He saves from the presence of sin, when we go to Heaven.

John 7:37-38. “In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Now when you get water flowing, what does it do?
It keeps flowing, one way or the other: when it flows downhill, and it meets a rock in its path, it just flows around it.
This is the way of the Living Water, which is the Holy Spirit within you. He gives light (John 14:26) and life, by the graces of joy, peace, consolation, strength, and love. (Galatians 5:22-23)

But what if there is a hinderance to the living water?
Some hardened place within our hearts: a root of bitterness, or hurt feelings, which will not respond to the gentle influences of the Spirit, as we should.

Perhaps, something hinders your enjoyment of the Lord?
Then seek the Lord, for He is willing and able to see that it is put right.
Are you willing that He should?
Will you yield to Him?
The Holy Spirit will help with that as well, if you will come to Him and seek it.

His power turns our hearts to Him:
Psalms 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 80:7 “Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Let the Living Waters flow out of your inner most being, and yield to the Lord: He is the Fountain of Life: and in His Light you will see light.

 

Standing before the God Who is there.

Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

If the Lord has ever called you to a ministry or work (we call it work, because so many people feel “ministry” is only for preachers), He has not changed His mind concerning you.

Our whole existence should be: to will to please our Lord, as His creature and servant.

As creatures, we are responsible for all He has given us.

Who I am and what I am rests with the God before Whom I stand.

I can not make myself what I am not; nor can I excuse myself for what I have been.
But I can give myself over to the molding of the Holy Spirit within, and do God’s Will in obedience, now.

He will work within the increase of faith, hope, peace, and joy that I need, as I yield to Him.

It is: I stand, as His servant, before Him in each situation.
It is not as someone else, or someone I might be someday, but who I am, using the faith that God has given me.

Example:

Acts 3:1-2 “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them which entered into the temple;”

Peter and John, had been filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
But they were still Peter and John.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit, is to be filled to the capacity in your soul at that time, to receive the rule and power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit never interferes with you being you, in your personality, but only guides you away from sin, and into knowledge of God’s Will.
Then He gives grace or the empowerment to do God’s Will. (We still have to use it)

Peter and John were going along to prayer service, when they see this lame man.
He sat at the gate of the temple to beg alms.
He saw Peter and John, and as usual, he asked them for some money.

Acts 3:4 “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.”

The lame man saw nothing different in them, for he expected some small change, as others gave him.
But Peter wanted to direct his eyes away from the coin, to what he said. For he knew that the Lord wanted to heal him. (“Fastening” here, means looking with a purpose in mind.)

Acts 3:6-8 “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”

Notice Peter said, “such as I have give I thee”. What did he have?
He had the knowledge of Jesus Christ and of the power of His name.
For Jesus Christ can change men’s lives.
And Peter knew the Lord’s Will, and used what he had to obey.

Notice also, he took him by the hand. Peter did not wait for the man to believe, but “lifted him up” in faith, himself.
And God did the rest: “his feet and ankle bones received strength” to walk and leap.

Then faith in the man caught up and he did not run home; but went into the temple to praise God.

If you read further, you will see how God used this to enable Peter to preach about Christ to others. Many believed. (Acts 4:4)

(Yes, they were put in “hold” for a night, but even that gave them the opportunity to preach in Jesus Name to the rulers, elders, and scribes.
They were threatened, but told the council, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”)

After such an experience, Peter and John went back to the company of believers and told what had happened.
All the gathered believers prayed for boldness to “speak Thy word”.

Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

Here they were filled to the greater capacity in their souls. They had a larger capacity because of what they had done, and they needed more of His help.
And He gave it.

Standing before the God Who is there is simply being His obedient servant; and receiving and using the faith and help He gives.