A certain man and his fig tree

Now the first thing I want to mention here, is that the purpose of every fruit tree is to bear fruit. If it does not,….it is only wood…to be cut down and used that way.

Luke 13:6-7 “He (Jesus) spake also this parable;

A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?”

Here is a man who loves figs! But the tree that he had planted was not bearing any.

It was not just one year, or two…..but three years he had come….hoping that this tree would give him the fruit he loves.

After three years, he feels that this is a useless effort…..”why waste space and time on a tree that will not give fruit?”

So he tells his dresser…..the one who prunes and keeps the trees….to “cut it down”….at least I can get something from the wood.

(But that was not the purpose of this fig tree!)

Luke 12:8-9 “And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”

The dresser….knowing the longing of his Lord’s heart….asks that he might give it some extra attention….

….some “digging about it”….let us really see where the root of the problem is….has it come up against a rock….or rot?

Then I will dung it…..give it extra instruction and feed it with grace….

…then let’s see what will happen.

How long has the Lord been looking for fruit from us?

In this Laodicean Age, He looks with a longing that is far beyond our comprehension….that the “travail of HIs soul” (Isaiah 53:11) might be satisfied….that His Purpose, for us, might bear fruit.

He can not be satisfied until every last one that He paid the price for is redeemed,…..and bringing forth fruit unto eternal life (that condition of life, for now through eternity).

God is Sovereign…..He has set each of us in our place….for this time….

…to bring forth the fruit He loves:

The fruit of the Holy Spirit within us…”love, joy, longsuffering, gentleness,…” (Galatians 5:22-23)

…And the fruit of another Christian from our witness.

The Lord has come to see if we are bearing fruit….one year, two years, three years….how long has He come to HIs church….and each individual in it?

But now…..

The Holy Spirit (the dresser…through the preaching and teaching of His Word)…will dig around us.

Will we let Him see our hinderance and deal with it?

And the Holy Spirit will….dung us.

Are you really hearing the lessons He is speaking…..and getting the grace He wants to give?

There is still time to bear the fruit of eternity…..for the pleasure of our Lord.

Will we use the means He has ordained….and satisfy His heart?

Or will we be just cut down for wood?

There is purpose in both…..but only one satisfies the Lord heart best.

Just before Christ Jesus was manifested to Israel…..John the Baptist was sent to preach repentance….to “dig about” Israel….and “dung” them….

….giving them a way to prepare their hearts to receive the Messiah.

When the religious rulers came, just to check out his baptism,….John the Baptist said:

Matthew 3:8, 10 “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

And now the axe is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,….”

How many times have we heard of late (especially this past year):

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Have we? For there is the Way of fruit bearing…..taking our place before His throne in humble repentance….and seek His help to make things right in our lives.

Will we?

The Wilderness of this World

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke,…?”

This world is often pictured as a “wilderness” in scripture….because there is nothing here for us, that satisfies.

There are many examples of being sent into the wilderness for testing; for this is what the wilderness is for believers….a place of testing:

The Israelites coming out of Egypt (Psalm 78:52, Psalm 95:8-9)

David, anointed king, but hiding from Saul (I Samuel 23:14), before he came to the throne;

John the Baptist before his ministry of repentance (Matthew 3:1, Mark 1:3)

The Lord Jesus, taken into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 4:1)

Though it is a place of temptation, yet it is also a place where He shows Himself as our Provider, and Protector,……..and brings us through.

How? By the guidance and power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?”

This is a verse describing the believer and spouse, of the King, coming out of the wilderness…..like pillars of smoke.

Smoke is easily dispersed…..a small breath will blow it here and there.

But here it is a Pillar…..a thing of strength and stability!

Joel 2:28-30 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit.

And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.”

This is an amazing prophesy……think of it….the Holy Spirit, a Person of the Godhead….given to all who believe (“My people” verse 27)….indiscriminate of rank or age. Men and women…all who believe….

….to give the needed help to truly follow the Lord….no matter what job, or place you were in!

(These verses were quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost, at the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Church,……and is to be fulfilled through out the Church Age….by His servants. Acts 2:16-19. I also personally believe, that there will be a further fulfillment of these verses by the servants of the Lord, who stand with Him. Amazing Love, and grace of our Lord Jesus!)

This strength and stability, is all because of the Holy Spirit within us.

As we go along in our daily walk, and begin to hear His Voice….through the Word, and within us…..we learn to yield to His guidance.

We learn, that when He calls us to do something….it is not just for this time….but a lesson for our lives.

We learn to witness…..to pray….to trust when there is nothing that looks like it will turn out the way He said….to follow…..to battle….to keep our eyes on Him…..

…..but mostly, to believe Him. (Sometimes, because we are saved, we think….of course I believe the Lord….

…..but then, we doubt His Word, or hesitate at His Way of doing this or that.)

Our strength, knowledge, and power, comes from Him….but what binds our hearts and minds to Him is faith……the faith given by the Holy Spirit….

….and increased, as we obey Him.

We are smoke…..but empowered by Him….to stand.

And He brings us out of the wilderness wanderings…..into the promises He has for us.

Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?”

This believer is perfumed with myrrh and frankincense.

(These are two of the gifts the wise men gave the Lord Jesus. Matthew 2:11)

Being in Christ, and following on with Him, the believer is perfumed with these scents as well….for the work He calls them to.

Myrrh speaks of death. Our attaining to life by the Lord’s death on the cross….and our uniting with Him, here in this world’s wilderness, by denying our self-life, that His life might be shown.

Colossians 1:27-28 “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 may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Frankincense was the scent of kings. And we are scented also with this, for we are to be His Ambassadors…..speaking for King and country….to a lost world.

Corinthians 5:19-20 “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

“With all powders of the Merchant.”

Our Lord is that Merchant

(Isaiah 55:1-2, Matthew 13:45-46 He is the Merchant, who sells—gives up all that He has….His life included….to buy, “redeem” us, the Church—the pearl of great price.)

All is from Him,……..yes, we must come to get what we need, but He has “all powders”…..everything we stand in need of.

And how do we travel….coming out of the wilderness of this world?

Song of Solomon 3:7-8 “Behold His bed, which is Solomon’s, three score valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.”

We “travel” in His palanquin. With the guards of peace, joy, hope, and love around us…..protecting us from…..”fear in the night”.

(I love this: God never says there are not things to fear…..but, will always send us strength to face them, or deliverance from their malice….within and without.)

By the Holy Spirit within, we are also protected without us.

There is no circumstance that comes to us…..He does not know about, or will not warn us of.

John 16:13 “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.”

Are we coming out of the wilderness of this world’s system….with our Lord?

Yielding to the Holy Spirit within, are we growing in grace…..getting strength and stability from Him?

Are we seeing His Will done in our everyday things?

Colossians 1:13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

Spiritually we are translated by our Lord, when we are born again.

Practically, we are translated…..or brought through our wilderness, as we have His kingdom come within us…..showing His kingdom by us and through us.

And How Shall His Kingdom Come to You?

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

Psalm 103:20 “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.”

(I know I have preached on this lots of times, but it is a subject which is so important;…….I am going to set forth this, again.)

Obedience is required in God’s servants. We are, as the angels, to hearken or listen to the “Voice of His Word”.

That means we are to hear what He is speaking to us through His Word, in scripture, and inwardly by His Holy Spirit.

“Hearken” is, to listen intently, with the thought to obey what is heard.

To have “hearing ears”.

This is not sinless perfection, as it is with the angels, but it is Obedience.

An obedience which continues.

Some are obedient, when they have to be. (No love there)

Some are obedient in spurts.

With diligence and joy they do a job……Next they are down in the dumps and their obedience is partial, if at all. (They love, but are too wrapped up in their emotions, for stability.)

Some have left their old life, and begun to have the fellowship with Christ that is necessary for real obedience,…..but they keep getting “sidetracked” with their own “good ideas” of God’s Will. (They love, but their reasons influence their wills.)

But there is freedom from our stubborn wills, emotions and reasons…

This is why His Kingdom must come within us.

Luke 17:20-21 “And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

These Pharisees (and they were the most religious and most right of the sects which were in Christ’s time) demanded of Christ:

“Show us some manifestation of the kingdom, something we can observe.”

His answer? “The kingdom of God is not going to come with fanfare and parades. People will not shout and say, Come and see!

No, the real kingdom of God is within your midst right now, in the person of Me, the King, the Son of God.

And as King, I will set up My kingdom first, in the hearts of My people, then I will set it up on earth; and will rule and reign from Jerusalem.”

The place and power of His Manifest Presence, is within those who will be subjects of His kingdom. Who will to let Him rule in their lives.

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,”

Here is an unlimited measure. No one has ever reached the fullness of that “exceeding abundantly”.

No,……we often have little,…..and blame God for our lack.

But His power for our lives, is given to us with the condition of: “According to the power that works within us.”

In other words, how ever much of the power of God we let work on us, to bring us to where we should be;……that much power He is going to give us, to work through us,….to witness,…..to rise above our circumstances,….to be joyful.

Our prayers will be answered, our lives will be really useful.

God will never empower me to see my will done; but He will empower me to see His Will done.

And that “empowerment” is personal.

Remember The Lord Jesus’ kingdom is set up in our hearts and lives, personally, here and now;….as well as in the Millennial Reign.

Because there has been some confusion about the kingdoms of God, I will explain:

1. The Father’s Kingdom is His absolute dominion over all things, creatures, worlds, the universe, the heaven of heavens.

1 Chronicles 29:11 “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in heaven and in the earth is thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as head above all.”

He rules. Whether we understand His way or not, He will see His will done; for all power exists in Him, and none have power, except He allows it.

2. There is the Kingdom of His grace on earth. This is where He is acknowledged as God, and Jesus Christ as His Son. The true Church is the bounds of this Kingdom.

Matthew 13:11 “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

3. There is the Personal Kingdom of Christ, which is entered into when we are born again,…again, which is personal.

John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

When we are born again, we enter His kingdom, and begin to receive grace as His subjects.

But our power is feeble at first, because we are often at odds with our King, in this thing or that….but…

When we have fully yielded ourselves up to His reign within us; we begin to experience that “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”.

And it continues, as we continue on with Him.

It is always His power;….but it is at work within us, and through us.

Paul’s great message 

Acts 17:22-23 “Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

         For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription,  TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.  Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship,  Him declare I unto you.”

(We can never forget Peter’s one great message….preached on the day of Pentecost, when three thousand were saved.   

      It was the beginning of the church, and it set forth that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Christ, the Son of God….slain by wicked hands (theirs)…and raised by God the third day….and exalted at the right hand of God.  (Acts 2:22-24, 32-33)

But since that time, the focus has come to be on the local church and the edifying and exhorting of them.     Even when Peter first preached to the Gentile, Cornelius….it was with his relatives and friends. (Acts 10:24)   That message opened the way for salvation to come to the Gentiles….

….which then brought in Saul/Paul….who was to minister to the Gentiles….going about, preaching to all who would hear.

God’s due order is amazing!   Every man in their place in the body,….ministering as He calls!)

From then on in Acts,  we have recorded the messages of Paul.

      One of these messages is on Mars’ hill.   It is a view into God, the Creator’s purpose for each of us.

Acts 17:24-25 “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

     Neither is worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;”

Here Paul sets forth the Almightiness of God.  He made the world….and all things.  He is not a local deity….He is not just over this or that,  but over all things….in heaven and in earth.

     He does not need anything from any of His creatures.  He is sufficient in Himself….and for all His creatures.

Acts 17:26 “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;”

Paul, then having set the foundation of Almightiness….goes on to say that God is not sheer Power….but has a Purpose for each nation, and peoples.  

    And that Purpose is that each one should….”seek the Lord”.   He stresses that the blood flowing through our veins is one blood…setting all in the one framework of responsibility to God for our life.

Acts 17:27 “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us:”

Paul is picturing these as blind….groping in the dark.   Many nations pictured the Universe and God as one….dark, and impersonal….and “far from everyone of us.”

But Paul plainly tells them:

     It is not God Who is far away….but our blindness which hinders our finding Him.   

Acts 17:28-30 “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being;  as certain also of your own poets have said,   For we are also his offspring.

     Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

    And the times of this ignorance God winked at;  but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”

Paul tells them that the Almighty God of Purpose is also the Principal of life in each one of us.    

     Paul then points to the stone images they worship,  and reminds them that they have no life….God is life and is not like these stone images.   

     Their images may be of gold, silver, or stone….but in them is no life….but all life flows from, and through God.

The foundation of all is God’s Almightiness….but His Purpose is right behind this….

…and that Purpose is to seek after Him, and find Him….the personal God of life.

Then looking out on his hearers….intelligent Athenians, whose desire for “new” knowledge was what they lived for…

…Paul said, “the times of this ignorance God winked at”….

In other words,  “God let them go on in their ignorance of Him,  for a time.”

     But now….

God “commandeth”….stressing His Authority to demand of His creatures,…which  He purposed life for…

Acts 17:30-31 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at;  but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

     Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained;  whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”

Here is the summation of this message….Because He has raised from the dead “that Man”….because of the resurrection from the dead,  He has shown to all that He can give true life to those who believe and seek for Him.

In this message Christ Jesus is not named…..

…..for God is the message.

“For God so loved the world,  that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”   (John 3:16)

God, in power and might, created all….that they might seek Him.   But when they turned to darkness and blindness….

….He let them go for a time.

      But now,  Christ has come….and died for our sins….and been raised the third day….and is seated at the right hand of God.   Christ will Judge every man according to His Word (John 12:48-49).

So God….commands all men to repent and turn to Christ.    No matter what they worship….gold, silver, or stone….there is no life in them;  but there is life in Christ Jesus.

(Sometimes, I think that this age, like the Athenians, are worshiping the Unknown God.  That they really do not see the Almightiness,  or the Purpose,  or the Principal of Life that He is and will give each of us,….in “that Man”,  Jesus Christ.

     We may not worship silver or gold images….but an idol is anything that is put in the place which belongs to God….which is first place in my life.)

God has given life….and through “that Man” or through Christ Jesus,  God gives eternal life and purpose to everyone who repents of their idolatry to turn to the Living God.

Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

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

To Find a Resting Place for Us

Numbers 10:33 “And they departed from the mount of the Lord three day’s journey; and the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord went before them in the three day’s journey, to search out a resting place for them.”

Israel is on the move….heading toward the promised rest in Canaan.

They had just been at Sinai for about a year….receiving the Ten Commandments, and the Law….and building the Tabernacle according to the pattern God gave Moses on the mount.

But now the Tabernacle had been built and God’s presence in the cloud by day and the fiery cloud by night, was upon it (Exodus 40:33-38)…..and it was time to go forward.

(The narrative of their journey, goes from Exodus to Numbers….Leviticus being the book about the sacrifices, and laws)

But how to go? And where were the best places to rest, on the Way?

Moses turned to God, and when they first left Sinai, the Ark of the Lord led them forward….for three days.

This would not be repeated, until the priests carried it before all the people,….at the Jordan River…..to cross into Canaan.

It was a unique time, for Israel….

…..they weren’t just a large family, now,………but a nation under the Kingship of God.

He had given them the Ten Commandments, that they might know His holiness, and their weakness….

…and given them the laws of His kingdom….concerning sacrifices for sin, for consecration, for tithe, for rejoicing before their God….

…and concerning how they were to treat each other, and strangers.

So now the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord led them:

Numbers 10:35-36 “And it came to pass, when the Ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee.

And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.”

They were now Israel. They had promised to obey His commandments (Exodus 24:6-8)…….and follow His leading….

….so for three days (interesting number, for it is the number of the Godhead, and of the days Christ was in the tomb, before the Father raised Him up.)…..God’s Presence led them forward, “to search out a resting place”.

[And hasn’t Christ Jesus done this for us? After we are born again, we are conscious of His Presence going with us…and giving us rest….His resting-place in His peace?

John 14:23, 27 “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.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”]

Moses had said, “Rise up, Lord”, pointing to the One Who would always lead them aright…..they were to follow.

And when the cloud stopped, he said, “Return, O Lord unto….Israel”.

(It is that word, “Return”, that God spoke again and again to Israel….when they had turned away from following Him….right before He sent them into Captivity. In Jeremiah there are at least ten times He calls for them to “return”. Also there is the promise given…..that He will give them a heart to “return” to Him.)

The Ark led them at this time.

But after this, they would be led differently………six tribes, beginning with Judah (the tribe Jesus Christ would be born in) would lead…….then the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord,…….then six more tribes, in a procession;…..going through the wilderness

Numbers 9:15, 17-18 “And on the day that the Tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the Tabernacle namely, the Tent of the Testimony: and at even there was upon the Tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.

And when the cloud was taken up from the Tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.

At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the Tabernacle they rested in their tents.”

Little by little, The Lord was teaching them that He is their God,…their King,….their Leader,……and He would be in their midst.

When the cloud by day and the fiery cloud by night stopped….they stopped. And when it rose up and went….they went.

Numbers 9:22 “Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the Tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.”

This was the way they traveled all the time, as a nation, from Mt. Sinai to Canaan, their permanent resting place.

(Yes, there were failures….many…..but God was faithful)

We, too, are traveling. We are on a journey of our lives. What has He taught us?

Have we come to know Him as our God? Our Lord and Savior? Our King?

And He is so much more: our Guide, our Strength, our Peace, our Light….our Resting Place…..because He is with us….Alway (Matthew 28:20)

He knows the Way we should go….and He knows how to show us. And He will teach us to know Him more, as we go along.

It is not a “cloud by day or fiery cloud by night” where we can see it……

….but by His Holy Spirit within us, and His Word,……which brings us to our permanent resting-place.

Are we following on?

Balaam and his donkey.

The Children of Israel had come out of Egypt about forty years ago, and had finally come close to the border of Canaan, to enter into their inheritance.

But a King of the Moabites, became frightened because of their coming, and sent to Balaam to curse them, for he was known to hear from God; and to have his sayings come true.

Numbers 22:5-6 “He sent messengers therefore unto Balham the son of Beor, to Pethor which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: preadventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.”

They come, and present a pretty lucrative package to Balaam.

So Balaam tells them he can do nothing except God says so. God tells him: he can not curse Israel, because they are blessed by Him.

Balaam informs the men, and they go back and tell the King. But he thinks it is a ploy to receive a better offer. So he sweetens the deal, with position, and wealth.

They return, and instead of turning them away, because God has told him “these people are blessed”;…….he asks them to wait to see what God will say.

He wants to twist God’s arm about this. This is serious money, and prestige; and he does not want to refuse the job.

So God tells him, if they come for you, go ahead and go.

He did not tell him he could curse the Israelites, but to go ahead and go.

But he warns Balaam that he can only say what He gives him to say.

This He did to prove him. Would he obey God’s will or give in to the gain of the world. For he knew God would not curse Israel.

Well, Balaam gave in to the temptations of the world.

He got up early, saddled his donkey, as soon as they came; he was going. He would work something out.

Numbers 22:22-23 “And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.”

The Lord, Himself, had talked to Balaam, so now he send a different messenger.

One Balaam would have to listen to.

First, there is the angel. Balaam, did not notice the angel or the sword. But his faithful donkey did. So she turns out of the way of the sword.

Had she continued, the angel would have slain Balaam.

Now this did not just happen once, but three times.

The second time in the path of the vineyard, where there was a wall on either side, and when the donkey saw the angel and the sword, she crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall, to save Balaam’s life.

Yet what thanks did the donkey get?……a beating.

But nothing deters Balaam…….on he goes. He is going to get that reward.

Numbers 22:26-27 “And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled and he smote the ass with a staff.”

So now, the angel stood in a very narrow place where the donkey could not turn away. So the donkey just fell down, instead.

Numbers 22:28 “And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, what have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?”

God had this donkey talk to Balaam, which should have been a sign unto him.

But he was set in his way of going….until…

Numbers 22:31-33 “Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

And the ass saw me and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.”

“Thy way is perverse before me. “. This is the first time in Scripture that the term “perverse” is used.

It means to rush headlong, or to be rash.

Balaam was rushing headlong into the most dangerous situation of his life, and he did not know it.

He did not know it, because he was too caught up in the idea of prosperity and promotion.

He would die, to get this; and in fact, does, for God lets him go, but again warns him of saying only what he is given to say.

In fact, Balaam can’t curse Israel. In every instance, he blesses Israel instead.

Numbers 23:8 ” How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?”

Yet the love of the reward was such a temptation, that Balaam thought of another way of destroying Israel, and told it to the king. If they could not destroy by curse, or battle; then by temptation and sin, so God would destroy them.

Numbers 25:1-3 “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.

And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bow down to their gods.

And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.”

It would seen Balaam’s scheme was working.

God had everyone that had been joined unto Baal-peor killed. That was 24,000.

But even in times of great temptation there are those who seek the Lord. He always has His remnant.

Numbers 25:11 “Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned away my wrath from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.”

Phinehas stopped the plague upon Israel…..and saved the rest of the people.

God always has a remnant….and their zealousness often is the difference between life and death for a people.

But what happened to Balaam? Did he get what he sold out for?

He was found with these kings when Israel was told to “Vex the Midianites, and smite them: for they vex you with their wiles,”

Numbers 31:8 “And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain namely, Evil, and Rekan, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.”

Was the riches worth the loss of all things?

Jude 11 “Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.”

Remember perverse means rushing headlong. When God speaks, we need to hear what He is saying, and then obey Him.

Greed for anything, is a terrible Master.

God’s mercy and His cleansing word, will help us with any temptation.

How much we need to really hear Him.

Missing the Mark

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

We are all sinners, by chance and by choice.

     But this sets forth much more than that….we all have come short….or missed the mark for the goal of our lives,  which is to live to the glory of God.

     We have all missed that which we were brought into being for.

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

     (This is the first song in heaven that John hears….Praise to God as Creator of all, and especially of “me”.   That in that creation, there is a Purpose and determination, for me.)

What is sin?   Why is each person a sinner?   

      There are two definitions of sin in Scripture….Romans 14:23     and  James 4:17

Both speak of us, as God’s creatures….rebelling against God’s purpose for us….and making our own way, in opposition to Him.

Luke 6:46 (Williams Version)  “So why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, but do not practice what I tell you?”

      For to bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ….in our life….we must be obedient.

To call Jesus, Lord….means nothing without the obedience it entails.

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

     Many will say to Me in that day,  Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

    And then will I profess unto them,  I never knew you:  depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”

It is interesting to note that “profess”…I will profess unto them….means to calculate…computation….to lay out before them how they fall short…or miss the mark.

And how do they fall short….for it seems as if these knew something of the Lord? 

     It has to do with power…or the grace of God in their lives;   and truth in knowledge.

2 Timothy 3:5, 7 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:  from such turn away.

     Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Most think of the grace of God as saving them….which is true.   But grace….or the unmerited favor of power….is in every aspect of our lives after being born again.   

    Grace is the ability, through the Holy Spirit within, to understand and do what God commands.

Truth is another thing we often let slip.   When we  have come to “the knowledge of the truth” (and it is spoken of in 1 Timothy 2:4 as well)….we have what that truth sets forth in our personal experience.

Do we know what repentance and confession is?   Then we know it by our own personal experience….we have repented…we have confessed our sins to the Lord, and turned from them.

Do we know the power of the Holy Spirit within?   Then we have known His guidance and have been obedient to His Word.

James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

This is the Way God speaks…

    First, Pure.   There is no admixture…it is simply the Truth.   The Faithful and True Witness has spoken the Truth down through the ages….

….if we want wisdom from above,  we must hear and obey the truth. (John 1:17)

Then, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated.   Christ Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost….His message was “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.”

    If we want wisdom, we must come to Christ,….Who becomes wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption to us (1 Cor. 1:30)

Full of mercy, and good fruits.  Jesus said,  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.         If we want the wisdom from above,  we must show the same mercy that Christ has shown us….and we will see a blessing for it….in our own lives, and in others.

    Proverbs 16:6 “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.”

Without partiality and without hypocrisy.  

    Jesus said, “He that is not with Me is against Me; and He that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.” (Matthew 12:30)

    Where the Lord is concerned,  HIs faith will command a person,  or have nothing to do with that person.    We are either for Him, or we are not…..there is no neutral ground.

Hypocrisy here means that “one conceals the truth”.    We must speak the whole truth of the gospel…

…if we want the wisdom that is from above….then we must yield to the truth for ourselves…and speak the truth to others. 

   (this is not the truth that tells people about their faults….no,  but the Truth about Jesus Christ,  about HIs sacrifice,  about where sin will take them….for they have missed the mark for the purpose of their lives….if they miss Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.)

James 3:18 “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

    This is another way of saying that if we are walking with our “feet shod with the preparation of peace” (Ephesians 6:15)….then we are not stepping on toes….but showing the Light on the Way, before men,  and giving them the directions into the Way of Peace.

The title was “Missing the Mark”….and we all have….till we come to Christ Jesus and yield to the Truth of our sin, and rebellion against Him….and obey Him and His Word….in being born again…and in everyday life.

Then we are shown our “goal”….our purpose….the Way into Truth and the knowledge of God!   

    Then we are “walking in the light” (1 John 1:7)

    Then we are:

Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

     Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

     Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”

Their Rest and Our Rest

Hebrews 4:9,11 “There remained therefore a rest to the people of God.

Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

What is this rest?

It is rest concerning the things which are promised us, as Christians.

(This is not peace….peace is promised us, yes….but our rest is the spiritual possessions Christ has promised us. When we obtain them, we enter into our rest; for we have and are, what Christ redeemed for us.)

Paul had been speaking concerning the Israelites which had not entered into the Promised Land, because of unbelief.

Hebrews 3:17-18 “But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?

And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?”

The land of Canaan, was their rest. But they refused it. (Numbers 13:25-14:11)

Numbers 14:22-24 “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereunto he went; and his seed shall possess it.”

And what is our rest?

Hebrews 4:1-2 “Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”

Our rest is the promises of God to us: Of His Spirit, and the fruit of His Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Of Peace as a Stronghold (Philippians 4:7, it says “keep”, or garrison in the original)

Of forgiveness and Cleansing (1 John 1:9)

That He would hear us, if we ask in His Name (John 14:13)

Light, or guidance (John 8:12)

Grace, or the unmerited favor of power. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Our rest has to do with us, actually possessing these promises in our lives. Each promise the Lord gives us: actually obtaining them.

How many are we “entering into rest” about?

And how do we enter into this rest? By “laboring” to believe and obey Him through everything.

I’ll give an example: Caleb.

Caleb was of the tribe of Judah. And he, along with one man from every tribe was sent into the land to “spy it out”.

It was to show the people how great the land was!

And it was beautiful, and productive. Everything the Lord had said!

But, the people of the land were fighters, some giants were there.

So when the spy’s came back to camp, they showed the good things of the land……but emphasized the giants.

The people became disheartened…..because they refused to believe God.

(Unbelief brings many sins with it: discouragement, anger, frustration , discontent, and weariness)

How many things had God brought them through already?!

Yet, now, they would not believe Him, in order to gain all that He had promised?

How strong unbelief is.

We are sometimes unaware of our own unbelief, until we are told to do something, we feel we can’t.

Then, do we trust God? And how far do we trust Him?

But Caleb and Joshua believed the Lord, and tried to persuade the people to trust in Him; and go into the land. Again, they refused, crying in dismay.

When the people looked for someone to take them back to Egypt…..God spoke: and those people were shut out of their “rest” in the land of promise.

Their children went in, and took the land, divided it into tribes. And Caleb, still alive, and still following the Lord; came for his inheritance, his “rest”:

Joshua 14:6, 9, 12 “Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Juphunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-Barnes.

And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s forever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord thy God.

Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakaim (giants) were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.”

Caleb had a very beautiful, and hard inheritance: for the Anakaim were giants.

But he took that mountain. And had all that the Lord promised.

To enter into the Lord’s rest for us, is to get the promises that the Lord has given us…..into our lives.

To prove that He was right.

That He is all we need, and will give us all His help.

We do this by believing obedience.

By “wholly following the Lord”.

Our Adversary, the devil, would remind us of all the obstacles to obtaining these promises.

Are their obstacles? Of course, that is why we are told to “labor” to enter into rest.

We “labor” to keep hold of faith in the day of trial, fear, or even boredom.

If faith will hold on to Jesus Christ, He will lead us into all the promises He has given us.

Hebrews 10:35-36 “Cast not away therefore your confidence (in Christ), which hath great recompense of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

Obedience

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

Obedience is more than simply receiving guidance and instruction; and doing it.

(In the Greek, it means willingly doing what we have been told. Obedience is always a matter of the heart’s actions.)

It is a recognition that we are the creature….and He is the Creator, Who has the right to do what He will with His own. (Matthew 20:15)

It is the act of acknowledgement: We acknowledge we have heard His Voice to us….and yield to that Voice.

It is the act of a learner to His Master-Teacher: learning discipline, and seeing what God is showing me, in this obedience.

Obedience is the act of submission. We may not see the logic of the command, but we believe and trust in the God of the command.

And obedience is worship…..counting the Lord Jesus Christ worthy of our all.

(It is interesting to note, that Jesus, Himself, only used the word “obey”, once, and then He was speaking about our faith, and the removal of hinderances:

Luke 17:6 “And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto the sycamine tree, be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea, and it should obey you.”)

He used the word believe, in it’s forms ( believed, believest, believeth, believing) eighty-four times.

Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21), and He presented Himself, and His call was….come unto Me:

John 6:40 “And this is the Will of Him that sent Me, that every man that seeth the Son and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him at the last day.”

Only after His resurrection, in power, did He command His disciples “Go ye…and teach all nations,…..teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen”. (Matthew 28:19-20)

They were to teach all men to “observe” His commandments and Word.

“Observe” means to guard with the eye upon, so as not to lose it.

They were to teach this reverence of Christ’s Word, so that the believers would guard them; in their hearts and lives.

It was only after the Holy Spirit was given…..the power of God within us to do; that Peter, at the beginning of his ministry, boldly said:

Acts 5:30-32 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

And we are His witnesses of these things: and so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that obey Him.”

And then they went out from Jerusalem, to preach the gospel throughout the world.

And at the end:

1 Peter 1:13-15 “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;

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

But as He which hath called you is Holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;”

Paul at the beginning of Romans (the most comprehensive declaration of what God has done, and purposed since the beginning, for those that would believe on Him.)

Romans 1:1, 5 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.

By Whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience of the faith unto all nations, for His name:”

The grace and the apostleship authority, was given to Paul, to preach “obedience to the faith” of Christ,…..wherever he went.

And at the end of Romans, Paul prays:

Romans 16:25-27 “Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

But now is made manifest, by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the Everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”

Paul preached Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, risen, and sitting at the right hand of God……and that those who have faith in Him, should obey Him, as Lord and Savior.

We believe on the Lord Jesus Christ…..and then, by the Holy Spirit and the gift of faith,….we obey His Word to us…..and live to please Him, Who gave so much for us.

“If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”

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 their jobs.

A widow of one of these men came to Elisha 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…”What shall I do for thee?”

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 just need to use what we have: God’s grace which He has already given us, by the Holy Spirit.

When we do, 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 her need.

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 empty vessels……and their obedience.

Did God supply the need? Yes!

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.”

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, only.

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 as He is supplying 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,…..and live by His direction.