Gethsemane 

Matthew 26:36   “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane,  and saith unto His disciples,   Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder.”

Three times it is written of battles,….when our Lord Jesus faced the Adversary alone.

The first was in the temptation in the wilderness for forty days.  (Matthew 4)

The second was in Gethsemane.   

The third was on the cross.

Here, we will speak of Gethsemane, and the terrible mental and physical battle which was brought against Jesus, by the forces of darkness.

Jesus knew He would have to face the cross alone. 

John 16:32 “Behold,  the hour cometh,  Yea, is now come,  that ye shall be scattered,  every man to his own,  and shall leave Me alone:  and yet I am not alone,  because the Father is with Me.”

But at Gethsemane, He wanted His closest disciples to be near to Him as He wrestled against the devil’s suggestions.  

But they slept for sorrow. 

He had told them He would be leaving them,  and so they were sad, and sleepy. (John 16:5-6, 17, 28)

How many times have we failed to “watch with Him”.

At Gethsemane, a garden which Jesus often visited for times of prayer,…..Jesus left eight of His disciples at a small distance,….and took the three closest disciples:  Peter, James, and John further.  

Then He went a little farther on to pray.

He asked them to wait with Him in prayer.    He wanted them to pray for the trials that would be coming up.

For their own faith to be strengthened,  and for their courage in the face of His leaving them.

Matthew 26:38 “Then saith He unto them,  My soul is exceeding sorrowful,  even unto death:  tarry ye here,  and watch with Me.”

(They had been told many times that He was going to Jerusalem, and that the chief priests and elders would kill him….and He would be raised the third day. 

But they had not really understood what He said. )

Jesus left them, and went and fell down to pray;  His greatest comfort was the Father and Holy Spirit with Him.

But now the time for the Lamb of God to be slain for the sins of the world was very near.

Everything from the Last Supper, where Judas went out to betray Him,  till He died on the cross,….was one continuous battle.  

Judas’ betrayal……the chief priests and ruling religious body,   the Roman soldiers beatings,…..

…..the rejection of the very people who had hailed Him:  “Hosanna to the Son of David:  Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:  Hosanna to the highest.” (Matthew 21:9) a few days earlier.

And the cross.  

The agony of the nails,  the thirst,  the mocking crowds,….

…….and mostly: our sin being put upon His holy person,  and the separation of the Father from Him for a time, because of this.

Sufferings He went through alone.

But here in Gethsemane the devil’s attacks….mentally and emotionally were so severe: “even unto death”,  Jesus said.

      Here we are shown that Jesus understands the mental strain of the battles we fight.   There are the stress of life’s choices…the stress of friends which hurt us…the strain of relationships which disappoint or fail….the stress of the Adversary’s whispers.

We are not permitted to hear what the devil says to Jesus,  but the thoughts of being deserted forever:

    “God will not bring You out of the death of sin.   

Sin brings death,  and if you go to the cross and become the sin bearer, You will forfeit God’s promise of life.   

It will weigh You down and You will never come out of death.”

Also…..the thought that all these sufferings He would have to go through as man.

The devil berated Him with the thought that:

…. He would not be able to go through these sufferings without breaking down.       

Then He would fail….and He would not bring salvation to the world.

The devil’s attacks were so great against the Lord, that “being in an agony he prayed more earnestly:  and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44)

      (How we need to follow His example…and when in agony….to pray more earnestly to our Heavenly Father.)

The first prayer:

Matthew 26:39 “And He went a little further, and fell on His face,  and prayed,  saying,   O My Father, if it be possible,  let this cup pass from Me:  nevertheless, not as I will,  but as Thou wilt.”

Mark 14:36 “ And He said,  Abba, Father,  all things are possible unto Thee;  take away this cup from Me:  nevertheless,  not what I will,  but what Thou wilt.”

Jesus came on the basis of relationship:  “O my Father” and asked that if it were possible, according to His Will,  that “this cup”, or……salvation through the cross,….might be changed to another way.

Jesus asked because “all things are possible unto Thee”.  God could come up with another way of Salvation.

              But Jesus would not have God’s Will changed. 

He knew the Value of The Father’s Will,  and yielded to it….and He has left us an example in everything in our walk to fulfill God’s Will for us.

His Father sent an angel unto him, “strengthening him.”(Luke 22:43)

The second and third prayers:

Matthew 26:42 “And went away again the second time,  and prayed,  saying,   O my Father,  if this cup may not pass away from me,  except I drink it,  Thy will be done.”

“Thy will be done.”   

Three times Jesus prayed.  Once, for conformation of God’s Promises:  to find out if it were possible to change the way of salvation—the cross.

When He received His answer,  God’s Will was yielded to.

The other two were prayers that the Father’s Will might be honored in His sacrifice, and resurrection.

You see, by the end of the battle at Gethsemane,  Jesus was at peace in His Father’s love, 

in His Father’s strength to help Him go through everything, 

and in His Father’s Promises, to raise Him up and save His people from their sins by this.

Even though He would be alone;  He trusted in God, and His trust was honored.

He would drink the cup to the last drop….and empty it out….

….and give a full satisfaction to His Father for our sins.   We may be saved to the uttermost!

(It is an interesting term…”cup”.   It means “what is deserved or allotted by God”.

     Psalm 16:5 “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup…”

     Psalm 11:6 “Upon the wicked He shall rain snares,….this shall be the portion of their cup.”

      Psalm 75:8 “For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup,…and He poureth out of the same:…”

It was our cup He drained….what we deserved….He took upon Himself.)

       

He went through everything,….

……He died on the cross for us, and was raised again the third day, in Victory over every enemy!   

Jesus Christ drank every drop of the cup allotted Him by His Father for the atonement for us.

Hallelujah,  what a Savior!

His Salvation is a complete Salvation.   

Do you have Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

The Fountain of Life Springing up within You

Psalm 36:9 “For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.”

John 7:37-38 “In the last day,  that 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.”

In this feast, the celebration of God’s Salvation is told under the type of  water.

The priests and Levites would gather certain vessels, and in procession, take them out  the water gate,   to the wells outside the city.

They would be filled and carried back to the sanctuary;  where they would be poured on the floor between the Brazen Altar, where the sacrifices were given; and the Holy Place where only the priests could enter.

In the temple there were steps behind the Altar, which lead to the Holy Place.

As they poured the water onto the floor they would be quoting:

Isaiah 12:2-6 “Behold, God is my salvation;  I will trust,  and not be afraid:  for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song;  He also is become my salvation. 

          Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the well of salvation.

          And in that day shall ye say,  Praise the Lord,  call upon His name,  declare His doings among the people,  make mention that His name is exalted.

          Sing unto the Lord;  for He hath done excellent things:  this is known in all the earth.

           Cry out and shout,  thou inhabitant of Zion:  for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

On the last day,  the great day of the feast,……they would pour no water;  but gather there in the sanctuary, and quote this passage:  

looking up to God to supply the Salvation in the Holy One for them.

This time,  on this last day…the great day……Jesus  stepped out of the crowd…to the stairs behind them and in fulfillment of prophesy,….

He cried:

“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.”

Here was exactly what they were quoting about.   Here was the Messiah, the Savior.

What would they do with Him?   

John 7:40-43 “Many of the people therefore,  when they heard this saying,  said,  Of a truth this is the Prophet.

       Others said,  This is the Christ.  Some said,  Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

Hath not the scriptures said,  that Christ cometh of the seed of David,  and out of the town of Bethlehem,  where David was?

      So there was a division among the people because of him.”

They talked about Him,  but none made the decision that He had offered.

He gave them Light to see that He was indeed the Savior, who had been promised.

He spoke plainly to them and gave them the offer of Life;  real, flowing, powerful life;  like the water.

This He would supply by His Holy Spirit,  within His believers. 

John 7:39 “But this spake He of the Spirit,  which they that believe on Him should receive:  for the Holy Ghost was not yet given;  because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”

They saw light,  and knew the power of His Word, and life;  but refused to yield to that truth.

John 7:45-46 “Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees: and they said unto them,  Why have ye not brought him?

         The officers answered,  Never man spake like this man.”

God’s Light has been shown to you;   He is indeed the Savior, Christ Jesus.  

What will you do with the Life He has offered you?

Are you continuing to receive all of His life within you?

Will you come to Him,  and receive it;…..receive Him?

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

A gift of Memorial 

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

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

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

In two days was the feast of the passover.  

Jesus was in a friend’s house with His disciples, when a woman (she is named as Mary, Lazarus’ sister in John 12:3) came and poured very costly ointment upon Jesus’ head.

There were several reactions to this. 

(When anything happened concerning Jesus, there were always several reactions, depending on whether you were a believer or not…..and it is the same today.)

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

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

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

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

In Mark the reaction was from “some”:

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

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

Indignation?  For an offering of love to Jesus?

Jesus was worth so much more.

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

In Matthew, all the disciples, are indignant!  

Such is the power of suggestion!

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

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

Indignant means anger over something unjust or mean.

And they were “indignant” over giving to Jesus?

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

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

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

They had been with Jesus for a while, almost three years, yet they were persuaded that this act of devotion and worship,….was “waste”.

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

Yet, let us hear what Jesus said about it:

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

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

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

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

This was some honor, for a woman harassed by these men….

…..wherever the Gospel shall be preached,  she will be recognized for this act of devotion.

Jesus said plainly;  “She hath done what she could.”    

It is something that I would like to hear from the Lord Jesus one day.

She hath done what she could.  

This was very expensive ointment,…..and she poured it all out on Jesus.

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

That we will do what we can for Him….all out for Jesus.

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

Maybe she did not even understand what He said.

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

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

Love excepts all.    

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

Are we  as this woman?

“She hath done what she could….she hath poured out all.”

GOD

The Bible is God’s revelation to us, and it states very plainly…
“In the beginning God…”

And all our beginnings must be traced back to God.
Our beginning of life….when we were born…to whom….and how….and from then on.
Our beginning of our new life…or when we were born again….and the influence of the Holy Spirit within.

Certainly we believe God is over all….in power and majesty. Isaiah 40:21-22, 25-26, 28-29 “Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? Saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold Who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth. Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.”

Have we not known? Certainly, as His servants, we should become aware of how powerful and mighty He is, for us.

But every man has a knowledge of God….”…the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9)
As Romans 1:19-20 says:
“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of Him front he creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

“The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth HIs handiwork…” (Psalm 19)

All mankind is without excuse to know of God’s existence and to seek Him.
(Man is incurably religious. He will worship and exalt something….GOD, the devil, or self.
For he was made to worship and glorify GOD….and if he won’t….then he will turn his attention to himself, and the wiles of the devil will certainly offer many things to “replace” God in his life.)

But for the Christian,…the one who is born again of God….we are to serve and glorify the Lord.

Our souls are the repository of every experience we’ve ever had. All that has been pasted on to us from our ancestors….
….all that we have become through the experiences we have passed through.

This is basically who we are…..till we become born again. Then we become, becoming “new”….under the banner of the Lord of glory. (2 Cor.5:18-21)

When I say “new”….I mean we are changed into the character of the Lord Jesus. (It is not just becoming kind and charitable ….no, it is a deep dive into our self character, and “denying ourself”.)
And this is where our “cross” comes into play:

Matthew 16:24 “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.”

If I, as His new creature, would be restored to a right and real relationship with the Creator and Lord….I must deny myself, take up my cross (those things which cut across my will)…and bear it to the place I no longer resist His Will in anything.
It is final obedience….no matter what, I will obey.

Matthew 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life
for my sake shall find it.”

We save our life, when we will not let the Holy Spirit and His Word guide us, or correct us, but like children, pull away.
We lose our life, when we….deliberately, willfully choose to obey Him and His Word….subjecting ourselves to all that comes by it….

(And here is the important part of losing our life, to find our Christ life!)…..

….For His Sake.
Not for the sake of the experience….not for the sake of the outcome….but for Christ’s sake.

We do all this for Jesus sake,….not to make us something, or for a little glory for ourselves…but for His sake…
…as Paul states so plainly:
“…so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”(Phil. 1:20)
“…I die daily..” (1 Cor. 15:31)
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” (2 Cor. 4:10)

When we have made “His sake” our life….then we are truly living for Christ.
Our life opens up to the wideness and depth of His love….for we have been conquered by it.

GOD is Alpha and Omega…the beginning and the ending! (Revelation 1:8)
And Praise Him that He is!

He saw us in eternity past and made full provision for us….saving us and dealing with us…and through us!
He will continue throughout eternity, in endless power,….leading us….and giving us Purpose in His everlasting love. Forever with Him!

The Potter, and the Clay

Jeremiah 18:5-6 “Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,  

O house of Israel, can not I do with you as this potter?  saith the Lord,  Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”

Paul says the same thing in:

Romans 9:20-21 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it,  Why hast thou made me thus?

                 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?”

This is not our bodies;  yes, they are all different,  but God is speaking of molding our souls.   God has used every experience of our lives to shape our souls.

Our souls are that which makes us unique.  They are a gift from God that no other creature has.

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.”

The soul is the apartment of self-consciousness.   It is where our personality is.  There, our individual character is formed, and rules our thought life,  our emotions,  our will,  our conscience, and our social interactions.

When we are born again, we are given the blessed privilege of having  the Holy Spirit come and dwell with us, for Christ said He would not leave us comfortless, He would come unto us.

John 14:16-18 “I will pray the Father,  and he shall give you another Comforter,  that he may abide with you forever;

                Even the Spirit of truth;  whom the world cannot receive,  because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:  but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

                I will not leave you comfortless:  I will come to you.”

As Christians, Paul is saying that as God’s “clay”,  we need to accept what we are,  

how we are,  

and even, where we are,  

and then be reconciled to Him,  in them.

How much of our discontent lies in this.

God wants to make us a vessel unto honor, and has given us His Spirit to enable and mold us:

2 Timothy 2:20-21 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth,  and some to honor,  and some to dishonor.

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

To move forward with God, you must be in your place before Him.   To know that He is there with us, because He loves us.

So many people say,  “God knows best”;……yet doubt every time trouble comes.   

They are anxious,  burdened,  and worried. 

(Haven’t we all experienced this doubt?)

But we are called to “possess our souls”….our souls are our mind, heart, and will….which make up our personality. 

Luke 21:19  “In your patience, possess ye your souls.”

We are to gain, by subjection to the Holy Spirit, real power over our affections:

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

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

Our thoughts: 

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

And wills:

John 7:17 “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whither it be of God, or whither I speak of myself.”

There is always trouble here, in this world;  but as you submit to the Holy Spirit, the influence of the trouble is less, and less.   

His power to help, strengthen, and encourage is more and more.

He is the Potter,  we are the clay.

Submitting to Him we have liberty, and begin to have the fruit of the Spirit working in us and through us.

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

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

Let us yield;  or give in;  or submit;  or surrender;  all terms which mean that for us,…we choose Christ…..and Christ will choose for my life.

The Man with the Withered Hand. 

Matthew 12:9-10 “And when He was departed thence,  He went into their synagogue: 

      And behold, there was a man who had his hand withered.   And they asked Him, saying,  Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?  That they might accuse Him.”

Jesus had been on a teaching tour through the cities of Israel.  And now He was come to their synagogue.

        In the synagogues, every Israelite could stand up,  read the scriptures, and interpret them for those gathered.   Then there would be a general discussion of the scriptures.

That day there was in the men gathered, a man with a withered hand.   He hid it in his cloak, so no one would see it….but he was known by the men gathered, and Jesus knew, of course.

The Pharisees were watching Him,…not to find out whether He was the Messiah,….or to hear the scriptures interpreted…..but….”that they might accuse Him”.

Mark 3:2 “And they watched Him whither He would heal on the Sabbath day;  that they might accuse Him.”

To have a deformity in Israel, was to be disgraced, for it meant that sin was somewhere in the family of the person.  

(They thought that this man had sinned, or someone in his family had sinned, and he was being punished for it.)

So the Pharisees asked a question, that they thought was pretty straight forward.

Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?

The Sabbath was the day of rest.  A day which should be spent in contemplating God, and His Word.   A day of fellowship with others of His people.

They were to do no work on the Sabbath, or it would be defiled.

But what is work,  and what is mercy?

Jesus points out the difference.

Matthew 12:11-12 “And He said unto them,  What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

        How much then is a man better that a sheep?  Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.”

Would you save your one sheep?   Your only sheep?   Are you not commanded in the ceremonial law,  to save a sheep, even of your neighbors? (Deuteronomy 22:4)

This is interesting.    Jesus does not say one out of a hundred.  Or a thousand.

But one.

That is exactly the way He feels about us.  If He only came to save one,  He would have.

We are that one.   The man with the withered hand, was that one.

He would save us, and He would save him.

So His question to the Pharisees was really: 

would you save the one sheep you own;   would you save your  livelihood?  

Or the livelihood of your neighbor?

He said the truth:  of course they would.

Therefore, since they would save their  one sheep on the sabbath,   He would save this one man on the sabbath.

Also notice, the way He talked of the sheep:  “if it fall into a pit”.  Are we not also ready to fall into a pit, without His Salvation?

Christ’s answer showed God’s character.

The Sabbath was made for man to have rest with His God.  It is lawful, then to show mercy on the sabbath days.

Matthew 12:13 “Then saith He to the man,   Stretch forth thine hand….”

This man with the withered hand, had heard enough to know that the mercy of God was being extended to him.  Did he believe it?  

To believe Jesus and obey,….would cost him something.   He would have to stretch out his hand for all,  to see his deformity.

It would cost him embarrassment.

(And how many of us would be stopped right here?)

It could also cost him the company of these people. 

To obey Jesus might be dangerous, as these people were influential.

So, here is the choice:  Jesus, and God’s mercy;  or his normal existence, but accepted by the religious rulers.

Which would he do?

Matthew 12:13 “…And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.”

His choice was Jesus, and obedience.         For that choice,  he was healed.

But Jesus was also speaking to all,  who were there in the synagogue.   

He was  offering mercy to all those who heard Him:  including those Pharisees,…..if they would simply submit to the truth and believe in Him.

But they refused to believe Him.   They refused His healing their hearts.

Matthew 12:14 “Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

God’s mercy and salvation was refused by them that day.

Their choice was to keep the life and influence they had;  not to yield to the mercy offered.  

How much they lost by their choice!

Jesus talked of saving the “one sheep”,  because each of us are that one sheep.

He came to save us:  from the guilt of sin,  the power of sin, and one day from the presence of sin.

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost.”

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Liberty of the Holy Spirit.  

2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit:  and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Liberty of Spirit is to have the ability and will, to do the Will of God,  joyfully.

Philippians 2:12-13 “Wherefore,  my beloved,  as ye have always obeyed,  not as in my presence only,  but now much more in my absence,  work out your own salvation with fear and trembling:

                   For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

After being born again,  we are called to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This calling is personal, between the Lord and you, and has nothing to do with your work for Him, or your witness of Him. 

It is the beginning of a relationship.   

How far you take this relationship,  is as far as the Liberty of the Spirit is yours;  for it is based on love, not duty.

It is true, that all those that belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, are called to obey Him.

Acts 5:32. “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him”.

We stress obedience a lot for Christians,  but this Liberty of Spirit is found in those that love Him.

When we are born again,  the Spirit of God comes into our spirits and gives us light for darkness,  and a love,  however small, for God;  not an anger toward Him.

The Spirit of God then uses the Word of God to awaken a desire within us to be holy.

There are two terms for holy in the Scriptures:   Holy when it speaks of God is His Nature of Sinlessness, and Integrity.  

Holy when it speaks of us as His followers, means that we are setting ourselves aside for His sacred use.   He can use us as He will, for His honor and glory.

Holiness comes from the determined will of the believer, to be a vessel unto honor, meet for the Master’s use. (2 Timothy 2:21). This is not sinlessness,  but constant communion with Him,  who is Holiness.

This Liberty of the Spirit, is the same liberty you feel with your true friends.   There is nothing you can not tell, or hear, that would effect your friendship.  There is the feeling of acceptance, and power with them.

And the Holy Spirit empowers us in God’s Word,  God’s Grace, and God’s Will.

Fear is dealt with.

Anger is defused.

Self-pity is turned from.

Power is given, from within  us by the Holy Spirit; and received.

This is Liberty of the Spirit.   And so much more;  with that personal relationship with Him.

Do you want it?

True North on the Compass of your Life 

There is a magnetic north, which is not true north.

You can navigate with magnetic north for short trips.  It will get you in the general vicinity.

But to navigate across the vast spaces, you need true north…..for that is calculated by lines of longitude.

So to navigate accurately, especially for long trips, over long distances and time;  you must be able to ascertain true north.

As Christians, we have a long journey ahead of us.   Whether we are born again as children,  or adults;  we have the rest of our lives to be guided as we are on our way to heaven.   

This is called Eternal life….for it is a condition of life…now and forever in heaven, with God.

As journeymen in this life,  we are all given a part in the Purpose of God….a personal calling and gifts, from the Lord;  who gives us His Holy Spirit to enable us to do.

He give us a “goal or prize” to head for…

Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do,  forgetting those things where are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

                  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

All are called as witnesses….some as teachers of His Word, some as prayer warriors, some as preachers,  some as peacemakers….etc.

We are never without purpose each day.

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith;  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.”

For we are His workmanship,…..and that means that we are molded into the character of Christ Jesus,…..for good works:….and He has made full provision, so we might walk in them.

(Full provision?  How?   First…The Lord has provided us with His Holy Spirit, Who gives us faith by which we can overcome the way of the world (1 John 5:4-5)

Second…There is guidance….by His Word.

Third…the Holy Spirit enables us with His “fruit” in our lives:  peace, joy, long-suffering, gentleness, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Fourth…there is love…His love encouraging, and yes, empowering us to go on.)

Our purpose is to walk in those good works, He has given us to do.

This includes our words, and actions:

Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly,  that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.  These things are good and profitable unto men.”

So, if we are to navigate our life through this wicked world;  from here all the way to heaven,  we need to find true north.

What is true north for each Christian?

True North for each of us is  making Jesus Christ, Lord of our lives.

And He is not Lord of us, until we determine to obey Him….in all our ways.

If we were talking about a car;  His Lordship is the power in the engine…submitting to Him gives us power in our lives to do anything……and our obedience is the wheels,….they are in the world…but going forward.

And of course He is driving.

John 7:17 “If any man will do His will,  he shall know of the doctrine,  whither it be of God,  or whither I speak of myself.”

John 7:17 (LNT) “If any of you really determines to do God’s will, then you will certainly know whether My teaching is from God or merely My own.”

I rarely use any other translation but the King James Version. But this translation in the LNT describes what I have found to be so:   We need to “really determine” to do God’s Will.   

This is a picture of digging in : “I’m going to do this no matter what it cost me” determination.

That is what making Jesus Christ our Lord  takes.

(I know some say we do not “make” Christ Jesus Lord…He is Lord.    

        And I say, “Hallelujah, He is!”   But that does not mean He rules in my life.   I make Christ Jesus, my Lord when I throw down the weapons of my warfare against Him.

Paul plainly spoke of this in                          2 Corinthians10:3-5.    Then He is not only Lord of Lord’s….but my Lord.)

We know His will by doing it.   If we do it today,  then tomorrow when we seek His Will,  it will come easier.

(And of course, if we hesitate and put it off,  tomorrow it will be harder to find it)

The world’s influence, and our old selves, and the devil are against us.

The old me will tell me,  “Well,  if I was still in charge, I would not require you to pray so much.   After all,  we’re busy.   God knows what we need.”

And the world will say,  “Why not laugh at that joke?  So what,  it was a little “bad”.    A little won’t hurt.”

But if Jesus is Lord to me,  it is not what I would do,  or what the world says is OK,  but where He leads, and how He would have me to go.

It is a process.   I believe you can commit yourself to the Lord, as Lord;  but then it is a matter of putting everything in our lives in His order.

What is first for me to see to…and sometimes it comes down to what is first today, Lord?

(I have found that the five minutes to pray at the breakfast table for my family,  places them before God, today.  Of course, He knows what is ahead for each of us….but placing them in His hands for their conversations, actions, and the influence of the Holy Spirit in their lives….is our responsibility as their mother and father.)

No, it is not a list that is handed out;  but a conviction from the Holy Spirit within which shows us the way.

This is His order:

Philippians 2:12-13 “Wherefore my beloved,  as ye have always obeyed,  not as in my presence only,  but now much more in my absence,  work out your own salvation with fear and trembling:

                                    For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

Notice that we are to work out what God works in.   

We are to work out, practically,  the power to be saved from our sin that Christ Jesus works in us,  by His Holy Spirit.

We are to work out that grace God gives….putting it to use in our lives.

We are to work out that peace which should be a hallmark of “Christ in us the hope of glory”.

Then we have that true north on the compass of our lives;……His guidance will guide us for today….tomorrow….and we will surely get to our destination…..in the joy and peace He has for us.

Overthrowing the Moneychangers.  

I want to speak of two things, which all of us are influenced by:  convenience and money.

John 2:13-16 “And the Jews Passover was at hand,  and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 

               And found in the temple  those that sold oxen and sheep and doves,  and the changers of money sitting:

               And when He had made a scourge of small cords,  He drove them out of the temple,  and the sheep,  and the oxen;  and poured out the changers money,  and overthrew their tables;  

              And said unto them that sold doves,   Take these things hence;  make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise.”

This is the first of three Passovers, which Jesus attends to fulfill His work, after He was baptized of John the Baptist.

He came with no fanfare,  but walked into the temple, fulfilling God’s commandment.

There He finds those men which had been allowed to go into the outer court of the temple, to sell their wares.

This would be very convenient.  

(And how many times we give into the convenient way of doing God’s Will;  not His way).  

If you had traveled from a far distance, you could not bring a proper sacrifice with you……..It would certainly be damaged by the time you got to Jerusalem. Which would make it unacceptable. (Deuteronomy 17:1)

So, you would need to buy one there……..usually, at an exorbitant rate!

The priests had an arrangement with the sellers.  

(Most likely getting some of the money they charged to the visitors.)

And so at the time of the Passover, the outer court was turned into a market place.

When Jesus came, and saw it…….He drove out the sellers, and reminded all  that the temple was God’s house.   

It was not to be a house of merchandise,….but a house of prayer.

John 2:17 “And His disciples remembered that it was written,  The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

This was the first public rebuking of the Priests, and authorities.  It was for His Father’s glory,……and they should have realized their error……if they wanted God’s glory….and repented.

But believing in God’s Law, in general…….and being personally corrected by it, are two different things.  

It requires heart submission, to God….to receive correction.

(Paul said of these religious hypocrites,  later:

Romans 2:21-23 “Thou therefore which teaches another,  teaches thou not thyself?  Thou that teaches a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

              Thou that sayest that a man should not commit adultery,  dost thou commit adultery?

              Thou that abhorrest idols,  dost thou commit sacrilege?

              Thou that makest thy boast of the law,  through breaking the law dishonorest thou God?”)

Jesus had ministered to others, and had done miracles;…but this was the first time He publicly showed His authority:

He not only demanded the removal of that which was defiling His Father’s House……He drove them out!

He spoke with Power, and used His power to cleanse His Father’s Temple!  

None had done, as He was doing.

There were three years of the ministry of Jesus:

It is not certain when the priests went back to the arrangement of selling in the temple  court;….but in the third year of His ministry, He came again to Jerusalem, for the Passover.

This time He came with fanfare….if anyone wanted to really see and receive their Messiah;  here He  was:  according to prophesy.  (Zechariah 9:9)

Matthew 21:6-11 “And His disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them,

And brought the ass,  and the colt,  and put on them their clothes, and they set Him thereon.

         And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way;  others cut down branches from the trees and strewed them in the way.

         And the multitudes that went before,  and that followed,  cried,  saying,  Hosanna to the Son of David:   Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord;  Hosanna in the highest.

         And when He was come into Jerusalem,  all the city was moved,  saying,  Who is this?

         And the multitude said,   This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”

By this time He was recognized,  as the One who did many miracles, throughout the land.   

Not so long ago He had raised Lazarus from the dead.   For all these things, the crowds in Jerusalem praised Him.

There were many who believed on Him as the Messiah;  but the crowds were looking for miracles,  for healing,  for a show.  

(Were those who praised Him here,  crying “Crucify Him”,  in a few days?)

Matthew 21:12-14 “And Jesus went into the temple of God,  and cast out all of them that sold and bought in the temple,  and overthrew the tables of the money changers,  and the seats of them that sold doves,

             And said unto them,  it is written,   My house shall be called a house of prayer;  but ye have made it a den of thieves.

            And the blind, and the lame, came to Him in the temple;  and He healed them.”

When He came the first time, He said, “My Father’s House”.   

Here it is called the temple of God, still. 

Later He will say, “your house is left unto you desolate”. (Matthew 23:37-38)

But here, in front of all,  He said “My house”.   Showing clearly that He is the Messiah, that was to come, and restore the hearts of Israel to God. (Isaiah 56:7)

But the leaders refused.  There was no subjection to His claims.

He did teach and heal those who came to Him,……and it is pointed,  that God wanted us to know that it was the blind and lame who came…….

….but when it was evening……He left Jerusalem.  

Matthew 21:15 “And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did,  and the children crying in the temple,  and saying,   Hosanna to the Son of David;  they were sore displeased.”

After all, He was the Messiah,  that meant they would have to submit to Him.   This they had refused to do;…..even with all His miracles……and  still refused.  

Their hearts were full of themselves.   

They had a good thing going here.   They were in charge of the money,  gifts, and offerings, given to the Lord.

They had influence and power.   They had place.   

And they did not want the Messiah coming along,  and ruining it for them.

(How sad to refuse salvation because of things!  How often have we felt  the same about our plans, and position?    

I know I have.  We think,  “If we yield to God, and do His Will;  how will that effect us?”  

When the Lord pointed it out to me,  I confessed my sin;  for how awful for me to think this way, after all He has done for me!)

The next day, when He comes back into Jerusalem, to the temple to teach;  the chief priests send people to prove Him wrong.  Then,  they could accuse Him of something.

But He knew their tricks,  and confused them. 

Then He spoke to them, directly:

Matthew 21:31-32 “….Jesus saith unto them,  Verily I say unto you,  that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.   

            For John came unto you in the way of righteousness,  and ye believed him not;  but the publicans and the harlots believed him:    and ye,  when ye had seen it,  repented not afterward,  that ye might believe him.”

Here is the crux of the whole matter:  “ye repented not afterward, that ye might believe”.    

Jesus had given them time to repent,…..to come and believe Him.  

But though they heard Him many times (and acknowledged His answers),  yet their hearts would not yield.

John the Baptist had come, preaching repentance;  to prepare for the Messiah.  

The Son of God had come, preaching the kingdom of God was at hand.  

Why wouldn’t they hear and enter in?

Isaiah 65:2 “I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people,  which walked in a way that was not good,  after their own thoughts;”

We seldom understand the grip that the world has on us; until we see it next to Jesus.

Repentance is changing our minds and hearts about God; then changing our actions toward Him.

Once we fought against Him:  His will and our subjection to Him.

But when we repent:  we give in.  He will be our Lord and Savior.  

He will command in this holy temple of my body (1 Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”),  …..and I will yield to Him.

Repentance toward God, and faith to our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)

For Christ Jesus is still saving His people.  

He cleanses us….driving out those things which defile us…..that we might be His dwelling place here on earth.

Faith, our spiritual sight

My husband used to preach a lot on “the Faith of Christ will command a man, or have nothing to do with that man.”

What does that mean? That means that faith is given us as an active principle which keeps showing us God, and His Will. It never stops….it’s whole purpose is for us to see God… in these circumstances…..and hang on to Him.

Moses in the palace of Egypt…as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter! All he had, all he did! Yet by faith….that active principal which showed him God, brought him to see the worthlessness of all there in the palace….
…and to see the worthiness of God’s people and call.

Isaiah, a prince of Israel, called to minister…..knowing that the majority of people will not hear the word from the Lord he speaks….knowing that his nation will eventually go into captivity for their sins….knowing that only a small remnant will hear and be saved….
….yet,…faith shows him God’s holiness…
….and his “unclean” tongue (perhaps he was a complainer…taking on the conversation of the times)….
…and led him to cry out in repentance….and the Lord cleansed him…and set him in his ministry.

Peter, after being called and seeing so many miracles….hearing the Lord’s words everyday…yet when Christ was taken (he denied him three times) and when Christ was crucified….
…he returned to his old life in shame,….trying to piece a life together without God.
Yet….faith flamed up when he saw the Lord on the shore and he ran to Him….Who restored him, and told him to hang on in love to Him and the brethren, till the end.

2 Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”

Plainly we can not see things in their true colors, as Christians, especially, because of the wiles of the devil against us….unless faith is active within us.

Faith is our sight. It opens the vision to the Strength of the Almighty…..to His cleansing Power and grace…..to His merciful forgiveness and restoration….
….but it also just shows us the work for today…..for in faith, facing today with God is eye-opening….knowing He knows what is ahead, even when we do not.

This is living in faith:
Habakkuk 2:4 “…but the just shall live by his faith” (Ro.1:17, Gal.3:11, Hebrews 10:38) When we see things for ourselves before God clearly (and faith makes our steps straight)....then we can speak, clearly. Our voices may seem small….perhaps they may seem like speaking into the wind.

But the Lord can use that very wind to spread them, that others may hear.

“Faith” and “Believe” are similar…..but faith is the actual seeing….and believe is the action we take because we can see.
Once you are given faith….we are commanded to believe (to act upon that sight)

Paul wrote:
2 Corinthians 1:14 “….for by faith ye stand.”

We live by the sight of Him Who saved us….and loves us….and sanctifies us to His glory…
…we endure (hold on) because we…”seeing Him Who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27)….
….till one day faith will become sight.