The Joy of the Lord
Nehemiah 8:10 “And he said unto them, Go thy way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

In other words, as they experienced this joy, and yielded to this joy; they would be strengthened in His Might.
This is to “be strong in the Lord and the power of His Might.” (Ephesians 6:10)

The need was great for Israel. They were back in the land, but enemies had and would keep trying to destroy their unity, and commitment to God’s Worship.

But here they had just had a service where the Law and books of Prophesy were read, and interpreted to the people.
They were excited to learn, but also, but saddened by the memory of their sin, which had sent them out of the land.

Their is a time to repent; and a time to rejoice in the goodness of God.
Now was the time to rejoice in the goodness of God.

We are called, as Christians, to have Christ’s Kingdom come with in our hearts and lives, now.
Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

The inward Kingdom of Heaven is set up in the hearts of all who repent and believe the Gospel.
And that Kingdom is none other than:
Romans14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Now joy is a choice instrument that God uses to work in a believing soul.

Joy and Peace are the true criteria to judge ourselves, spiritually.
When we are right with God, we have peace with God, and ourselves.
Joy follows.
Joy is a considerable help, not only to inward holiness, but also to outward holiness.
It strengthens our hands, to go on working in faith, and to labor in love.
It helps us to fight the good fight of faith; to lay hold on eternal life.

Joy is particularly designed by God to be a balance against the sufferings; inward and out; of our walk of faith.
It is meant to lift up the hands which hang down, and confirm the feeble knees (Hebrews 12:12).
There is a strengthening power in the joy of the Lord.

Therefore, whatever dampens our joy in the Lord, hinders our holiness.
The Devil would “throw water” on our joy, so that he would spoil our enjoyment of the things God gives…and if he could, the use of them too. When we get discouraged, or depressed, we begin to let down our shield of faith. The firey darts of the wicked one get through, when the shield is down.

When we get like that, we need to be exhorted to do, as Israel was told:
Nehemiah 8:10 “And he said unto them, Go thy way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Joy and Happiness are not the same.
Each springs from a totally different source.

Happiness comes from the world around me. It is measured by what is happening to me. It is bound up in either the behavior of other people, to me; or the circumstances in which I will be, or am.

Joy comes directly from the Spirit of the Living God.
This joy springs from the Presence of God in my life. It is not dependent on people, places, or the situations in which I find myself; but rather from the Presence of God with me in any circumstances. (And don’t we find it so, that knowing that the Lord is with us, is a great blessing…always.)

Joy is one of the Attributes of God, which He shares with us. Joy runs like a sparkling river of great goodwill, through His make-up. He is the God of all Joy. He is alive. He is here.
That joy was the dynamic of the early Church.
And that can be the experience of all who truly allow God’s peace to rule in your hearts. When it does, joy follows.
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
Enthusiasm and deep delight in the Lord, are the characteristics of such a person.
There is direction in their duties, no matter how mundane or menial.
There is purpose in every area of their lives.
The Holy Spirit assures me that I am right with God, and because of that, an assurance that all is well even between me and myself, comes into my spirit.

This is to know the joy of the Lord, and it becomes a force in my life to dispel darkness and despair; to energize my life in my walk with God.

The joy of the Lord is our strength. We need it, and He has it for us.

Awake thou that Sleepest
Ephesians 5:14 “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

When we are asleep, spiritually, our senses are dull. We don’t hear clearly. Our eyes are closed, not seeing what is going on.
That is why Paul, here, exhorts the Ephesians to “walk as children of light.”
(Ephesians 5:8)
Light is a great benefit for those who are growing sleepy in their walk as Christians.
It is like opening the curtain to let the sunshine come in, in the morning.
It makes you want to get up and get busy!

Darkness, on the other hand, tends to make us sleepy.
So with the darkness which comes to us spiritually. We are lulled to sleep. We begin to talk a great deal about “rest”, becoming discontent with the work we have been given for the Lord.
We look for ways to do God’s will quickly, or for a more “easier way” of walking with the Lord; for we do not want to take the action required to come to the light….for then our slothful sin will be seen.

So Paul calls on every Christian to “Awake”.
Awake, and arise; and Christ shall give you light.
Light to see what you need to do to get out of the darkness.
Light to see the world, as it is.
Light to see that Christ is worth the loss of everything.

Then Paul writes:
Ephesians 5:15 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”
Circumspectly means there will be light for the path, we are to keep our eyes on the path, that we don’t get tripped up.

Awake, and walk wisely. For Christ shall give us light.

• Through the Knowledge of Him

  2 Peter 1:1-2 “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:
  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.”

  How much we need grace and peace in these days, in our individual lives.
  It is to be had, in Christ. If you are born again, you have access to it by the Holy Spirit within.
  But to have it “multiplied unto you”; that is through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.

  You will notice that our “faith” is through our Savior Jesus Christ; but the grace and peace multiplied is through Jesus our Lord.

  He is our Savior as we rest the full weight of our existence upon Him, through the faith that is given us by the Holy Spirit.
  He is our Lord, by our exercising our wills to make Him so.
  And we only do this as we get to know 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 unto glory and virtue:”
  “According as His divine power”; not according to my miserable ability. But according to His divine power. The limitless, and Almighty power of God.

  “All things” means all things.
  “Hath given” means they are given us in Christ Jesus, by the Holy Spirit within us; as we use them. And “them”, are all the things that are concerned, in us having Christ’s life and godliness in our everyday lives.
  Again, it is through the knowledge of Him.

  How important it is that we know Christ, and continue to gain knowledge of Him.

  He has indeed called us to “glory and virtue”; to manifest His glory, even here in these circumstances, and among these people.
  And called us to the virtue of His Holy Spirit within us: The Artea of His power.
  Artea means “force”. He is that force within us, “working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
  So we manifest His glory–the glory of His salvation, of His calling, of His love by the force of the Holy Spirit within our spirits; helping us to obey, and joy in it.

  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.”
  Christ has given us promises….His Word to claim and obtain for yourself; they are ours , but we must get them into our experience. That is what obtain means; to get them for ourselves.
  They are given to us, that you might have the character of Christ, and escape the corruptions (envy, anger, lying)that the world’s system lives in. We each have our own lusts. Whether they be spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical; we lust after what we don’t have.
  Until we make Christ Lord of our lives, and yield to His will and way for our lives.

  And the way that happens is to : Know Christ more and more, for ourselves.
  This not to know about Him (although that is not bad), but to know Him. It is to know what He requires of me. It is to know the force of the Holy Spirit , and how we are to yield to Him. It is to know what He will do for me in the temptations, and trials that I go through.
  It is to know Him. Through the Knowledge of Him, we multiply grace and peace.

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

This is a personal, private, and powerful cleansing.
When we see sin as sin, in us. Whether it is a “good thing” or a “bad thing”, it is sin to us, if it is not of faith to us.
Romans 14:23 “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
If the Holy Spirit shows you anything that is sin, He does not ask you to put it right; He says, “Accept the Light, walk in it….and I will put it right.

A child of God, walking in the Light confesses his sin the moment he sees it, honestly before God; because he has a good and honest heart.
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.”

A child of God, walking in a darkened condition, says, “Oh, I can explain that away; that is because of this reason, or that person, or some other thing, that I am doing that.
“It just got broke, not I broke it.”

When once the Light breaks into our hearts and minds, the conviction of wrong comes; and I then have a choice.
Cover my sin….
Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sin shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Or we can confess our sin, and God will deal with it, in us.
That is walking in the Light.

The difference is the submission of the heart to Christ.
We many accept His Lordship in a general manner; as long as we are not at risk of losing anything which is dear to us.
But He is not Lord where obedience is left out.
Light makes manifest. It shows up what we are; really.

Song of Solomon 4:6 ” Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and the hill of frankincense.”

When there are shadows between you and the Lord; then there is the influence of the Adversary and the sin that was once there.
Shadows are not substance; that has been dealt with by confession, but the influence of them is there, casting a shadow. (Why did I do that? How could I be so stupid! Look at what I’ve lost by my sin! What are people thinking about me now? All these and more, makes shadows.)
Until the day break, and that perfect day of nothing between, to separate you from your Lord. Light makes even the shadows flee away.

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
That “perfect day” is the high noon of your experience with Jesus Christ…there is nothing between to cast shadows.

When the dawn breaks; light comes! But that light manifests places of darkness because of this thing and that thing which needs to be dealt with in our lives.
(We are what we are, by a series of choices we have made. And through the circumstances we have been brought up in; or the pain of the moment.)
As the sun rises on the day, less and less shadows appear, because the light is “taking over” the day.
(As we let Christ “take over” in our lives, we are given the knowledge and ability to do His will in our times.)
When the sun gets to high noon, all things are clear and bright. That is the experience the Lord wants for each of us. Things clear and bright in His Light.
No darkness. No shadows. Nothing to separate us from the love of God.

God is Light. He manifests clearly what is in our lives, if we will with Him, and come to the light.
Jude 21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
But the final thing is: our choice. What we choose to do with what we have: Live in the Light He has shown us, or hide among the shadows. (Of course, you are not really hid. God knows and sees everything.)
This should be the blessing of our life, that the Almighty God, who loves me, sees, and will help me by His light and love.

God’s Power for my Life
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;”
God’s Power is Almighty.
Here it says we are to be strengthen; not according to our measure…but according to His measure:
“According to the riches of his glory”.
In other words, God does not grant us His might by His Spirit to make us something; but to manifest His great grace.
And how much we need to be reminded that it is His might and grace within us, making us strong.

Ephesians 3:17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,”
The Holy Spirit comes within our spirit at new birth.
But Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith, has to do with how much we love Him.

John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
This has nothing to do with being born again…It has everything to do with the powerful presence of God in my everyday life, and circumstances.

We are to be rooted and grounded in love to Christ.
Rooted, so every wind that blows against us, does not move us from Christ and His Will for us.
Ephesians 4:14-15 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
Grounded, so that the “house” we build upon the Rock of Christ, stands the test of life; My life.
Matthew 7:24-25 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”

Ephesians 3:18 “May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;”
We can not know the breadth, length, depth, and height of Christ’s love without the other Christians; But we can know our part of it.
The Church is to comprehend God’s wonderful purpose in the ages; God’s great plan, and we are to comprehend our personal part in it.

Ephesians 3:19 “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”
This stresses the Spirit’s fullness has to do with how much we love Christ.
Do you love Christ Jesus?
Or have you “lost your first love”?
We are to know Him, whom to know aright is to have Eternal Life.
Eternal Life is a condition of life. It is His life in our life…it begins when we are born again…but never ends.
What is the condition of your life in Christ? How far have you come in your journey to find your place in His Will?

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”
He is able, but it is according to the power that worketh in us.

This the telling phrase.
What is it that hinders that power from working in you?
What selfish idea, or worldly allies, or remembered resentments, keep you from receiving all He has for you?
For He is able to do exceeding (overflowing), abundantly (more than we need), above all that we ask or think (His ways of deliverance, the means He uses, and His tender care are all above the low thoughts we often think of Him).

Paul wrote about this for himself:
Colossians 1:27-29 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
(This is God’s plan for Paul to do)
Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”
(This is that exceeding abundantly above all that Paul asked or thought, for it worketh in him.)

What about us? Will we let Christ’s love fill our hearts , and let the Holy Spirit work in us that mighty power within us, and then through us in the work God has for us?

Empty your Hands;
What is that in thine hand?

Exodus 4:2 “And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.”
Moses’ shepherd’s rod was what he had.
This rod was not the task that he was to do; but it was the means of bringing that task to pass.

Exodus 4:1 “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.”

Here was the reason for the Lord pointing to the rod…Moses was to be given means to use to convince the Israelites that God had sent Moses to them, and that He would deliver them by Moses. And that was the rod. The signs were to be done by the rod.

Exodus 4:17 “And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.”
The rod was the means Moses was to use,(and how many times do we read that Moses used that rod); but it had to be used.
God would bless the means, (He always blesses the means He chooses)
But Moses would have to go and use it.

The task given to Moses, was to free the Israelites from Egypt; and to lead them to the Promised land.

Let us consider this means that God chose:
Exodus 7:17 “Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.”
This was the first judgement against the oppressors; done by the means of the rod.
It was against their greatest pride; the Nile and it’s tributaries. They felt they were superior, for they did not even need the rain from heaven to fall; they had the Nile.
Exodus 8:5 “And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch for thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.”
The second judgement was against their comfort, as a great and wealthy nation; by a plague of frogs.

Exodus 8:16 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.”
The third judgement was against cleanness: lice on man and beast, showing them how they were unclean in God’s sight.

But the rod was also used for the Israelites escape across the Red Sea:
Exodus 14:16 “But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”
The rod used by obedience, was the means; God’s Power was the force.

Exodus 17:6 “Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”
Here, Moses was to hit the rock to bring forth the water that they needed, and he used the means of his rod, and God provided the water.

Exodus 17:9, 11-12 “And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”
Moses holding up the rod was the means to Victory. Joshua was needed to fight, but the battle was won by the upheld rod. (Again, God always blesses His means.)

Moses was given the means of his rod; it was right at hand.
What is the means God wants to use, to bless us?
Is it, too, right at hand?
Or do we need to empty our hands of other things, to pick up what He has for us to do?

I started this with, “Empty your hands”. This used to be a favorite saying of my Grandmother: “Empty your hands, you can’t carry any more, without putting down what you have.”

So what are your hands full of? Works the Lord has placed there?
Or is it time for you to follow my Grandmother’s advice, empty your hands; and get ready to be given the means of blessing, from the Lord.

A more excellent Way.
1 Corinthians 12:31 “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.”
Love to God is that more excellent way. We should love Him, for He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
Where serving the Lord Jesus Christ is concerned, this is a more excellent way:
1 Corinthians 13:1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal”

Though I could speak in every language of this earth; proclaiming the gospel far and wide.
And if I could testify of the gospel story in angels language:
If love for Jesus is not the motivation for all that talk…
It would be just so much noise.
Loud noise; “sounding brass” like trumpets. “How great!” man will say; but to God it would be just noise.
Soft noise; “tinkling cymbal” like the end of a orchestra piece. Empty and just noise.

1 Corinthians 13:2 “And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

This is the one that used to shake me up. I am a preacher; and I study a lot. I would say I know a lot…but all of that would be useless if I don’t get this knowledge, so I know Jesus, the lover of my soul, more.

And faith to remove mountains; that’s something that everyone wants….but without love to Jesus as our motive; we will be nothing. (Remember Paul was writing this; and he had great knowledge, and understood many mysteries.)
But Paul also understood, that to do for God, without love to God; is to really doing for a reward from God. Which is another way of saying, you are doing it for you.

1 Corinthians 13:3 “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

If I give all my possessions to God’s work of feeding the poor; and if I die a martyr’s death: burned at the stake, as many down through the ages have.
Though it cost me everything, as well as my life; if love for Jesus is not the compelling factor, then it profits me nothing.
I am none the better, for eternity, for it.

1 Corinthians 12:31 “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.”
The “more excellent way” is to love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. The first and greatest commandment.

1 Corinthians 13:13 ” And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
To truly love God is the greatest work, greatest gift, greatest sound we can do.

Stand ye in the Ways
Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

Jeremiah was called to a time, like ours, where much religion was going on; but very little obedience to God. They had all the outward trappings, but none of the devotion to God and His commandments.

Under King Josiah, who was a godly king; Jeremiah was given the job of going about Judah and instructing the people in the laws of God.
Many did not want to hear, for they had been influenced by the idolatrous nations round about them; and refused subjection to the Lord, although they went along with the outward ceremony.
Jeremiah 2:13
“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living water, and hewed them our cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

Then he was told to go to Jerusalem and preach there…telling the people what God would do, if they would repent and turn back in obedience to Him.
He would forgive and help them:

Jeremiah 7:5-7″For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor;
If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:
Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.”
For what God wanted of His people was that they obey His commands.

“Stand ye in the ways”. In the Hebrew it means “Get up and do it”
Start actively seeking My ways. If you just do this seeking, you are serving your God and honoring Him. This I will count, and will honor you in return.

And ask for the old paths: The path which leads you to straighten out your life, and the path of obedience to His Word.
God has made a way to return to Him…..take it.

How was it with those who came before us? Who martyred their lives for God and his gospel? From the apostles to our forefathers?
How did they attain to what they had?
Through the Word of God to them.
We must seek out the truth of the Scriptures for ourselves: What does it say to us?
For now? For our calling and ministry?

As Jeremiah said to Judah:
Jeremiah 7:23 “But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”

Obey My voice….and I will be your God….and ye shall be My people.
Jesus said the same thing when He was talking to His disciples, before He went to the cross.
John 15:10″ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
His disciples did, and they stirred the whole world.

Get your life in order before Me. Honor Me in this; and I will honor your obedience, in your life, and for you.

God speaks through His Word: Hear Him, and return to the ways of peace.

Can two walk together except they be agreed?

Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
This is God speaking to his prophet about Israel; His own people.

Can He say the same about us? Are we trying to walk with God, without bringing ourselves into that “agreement” with Him.
Maybe, in general, you agree with God. But do you agree with the way He is bringing His will to pass in your life?
Do you agree with the circumstances you are having to pass through?

If not, and you wonder why. You have tried, but you know it is nowhere near an “agreement” between you and the Lord, then hear this, and see if this does not answer the “Why?”

Romans 10:3 “For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God”
“Have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
Paul is speaking here of the Israelites, God’s chosen people, having a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge….being brought face to face with God in Christ, rejected that knowledge and God.
Christ was not what they expected; they wanted a different kind of Messiah. So, they rejected the knowledge of His coming to them.
(Notice they even rejected the power to heal them: Luke 5:17 “And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” But not one of them were healed; only a palsied man whose friends brought him.)

Don’t we at times reject the way God wants us to go? And then being brought face to face with God’s will, that way; we, in some way, refuse it.

We want God’s will. But just not that way, or with these people, or at this time.
Can two walk together except they be agreed?

Well, if this describes you; even sometimes, then hear what Paul says:
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The term “reasonable service” should give us a clue: for we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. And when you do, you will prove that the will of God is good, and acceptable, and perfect for you.

You begin this by presenting your bodies to God, the Holy Spirit.
He indwells every Christian. But you do this is a special way, for you’re giving Him control in your life.
As much as Christ gave over control to God in the garden, for the sacrifice He was going to make. So we do the same. We give the Holy Spirit control: “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

Then we are to stay away from conformity to the world’s system. That is stated in:
1 John 1:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

Lust here is desire. What we desire in our flesh….perhaps to lose our double chin or have that large burger with a half pound of bacon. These are desires that would please our flesh.
That would not add honor to God, but would just please ourselves.

What we desire with our eyes. Eve started this with a look a the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. It looked so good.
So does the newest movie star, or that car, or that job.

And what we desire to make us a “Someone”. Whether by ability, fame, wealth, or notoriety. (Pride is the sin which caused Lucifer to become the Devil. Isaiah 14:12-15)
We are to stay away from these things, for they are of the world.

We are to renew our mind: Col.3:9-10, Eph.4:22-24, Titus 3:5 All talk of putting off the old man, and by the Holy Spirit, being renewed, by putting on the new man.

The new man is the “Christ in you, the hope of glory”. (Col. 1:27)
That means we are to use the faith given us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit within us, and to live as Christ did:
Loving our Heavenly Father, and doing His will;
Loving the brethren and seeking their good.
Telling the world of God’s will and way.

We can walk with Christ, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His Word, everyday.
Will we “agree” with Him?

Mark:
2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”

It was not always so.

Mark the writer of the Gospel of Mark, was first named in:
Acts 12:12 “And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.”
He was a believer, young and right in the middle of things from the first.
The verses where he is first mentioned, was where Herod began a persecution against the church. James was taken and killed by the sword. (Acts 12:1-2)

Then Peter was taken, and put in prison to bring him out so the people could decide what to do with him.(like Jesus)
But Peter we know was kicked awake by an angel and brought out of prison (Acts 12:6-11). Then he found his way to Mary’s house, a Christian who had kept a prayer meeting going for his release.
Acts 12:5, 12 “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; for many were gathered together praying.”
Mary was John Mark’s mother, and he witnessed many things in those early days.
But his personal faith was not so strong. (Which suggests that seeing miracles, or great spiritual acts does not increase faith, of themselves.)

Paul and Barnabas had John Mark for their minister(helper).
Acts 13:5 “And when they were come to Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.”

But as they went on in their missionary journey; John Mark became frightened and decided to go back from the work to Jerusalem, where he thought he would be safe.
Acts 13:13 “Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.”

Paul and Barnabas continued their journey, experiencing many wonderful and terrible things(this missionary journey was where Paul was stoned: Acts 14:19).
But no John Mark.

After the first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas went up to Jerusalem to speak about the growing problem of Judiazers. (Those that taught they could not be saved except they follow the Law, as well.)
Acts 15:1 “And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”
Paul and Barnabas were sent by the brethren to go to Jerusalem, and having spoken about what the Holy Spirit was doing among the Gentiles; it was determined to receive the Gentiles without making them follow the Law.

Along the way, John Mark must have come with the men which came back to Antioch, for he is found there, when Paul and Barnabas begin to talk of visiting the churches they had preached to before, “and see how they do.” (Acts 15:36)

But before they get started, a contention; so sharp that it pulled them apart.
Acts 15:37-38 “And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
But Paul thought not good to take with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia and went not with them to the work.”
You will notice the terms the Holy Spirit uses here:
Barnabas “determined”.
Paul “thought not good”.
John Mark was Barnabas’ nephew, and he would want to give him another chance.
But his “determined”, meant, he already had his mind made up. He was going to do this. No matter what.
Paul “thought not good” was looking at the churches. How would it appear to them to have someone who would not hazard his life for Christ to come and minister to them?
The churches that had begun had to stand against persecutions, and blasphemes….how could he stand before them? How could they, with him along?

Now notice the Holy Spirit’s terms for the results of this contention:
Acts 15:39-40 “And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.”
Barnabas “took”. Hard, unmoving.
Paul “chose”. Thinking what should be best for Christ’s work.
Barnabas took off with Mark. It seems as if the Holy Spirit is emphasizing his willfulness. What a shame! You never hear of Barnabas’ work in the Scriptures again.
Paul chose, having the recommendation of the brethren, unto the grace of God.

Two different choices…two different ways.
But what about Mark?
He grew up, and was restored to the ministry with Paul.
Colossians 4:10″Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Mark, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom you received commandment: if he come unto you receive him:)
2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”

And he was a fellow helper of Peter.
1 Peter 5:13 “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.”
Some say the Gospel of Mark is actually Mark writing it for Peter.
Whether that is true, Mark was restored, but the ministry of Barnabas was not heard of again.

Later Paul writes about bishops:
1 Timothy 3:6-7 “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

We are to keep growing, yielding to the Holy Spirit. (Don’t become willful in your own opinion.)
We will never have sinless perfection…but we can be forgiven, grow, and go on with Christ.
Mark did.