Ask and Ye shall Receive

Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For everyone that asketh recieveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

For what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?”

First, let me ask you: do you want what God has for you?

Then ask for it—you will receive an answer.

But sometimes it is an answer that has a fulfillment, later.

So what do you do? You seek for the means of getting the fulfillment. And use it—that is seeking.

(Perhaps it is a promise that needs to be accomplished: for overcoming sin, for spiritual growth, for healing, for meeting your needs [yes, God is interested in every part of you; your wellbeing, safety, and finances])

What can the means be? Prayer is a great means. It is not reminding the Lord of what He said, but showing the Lord that you expect Him to do it.

This is the knocking: you keep after this promise.

Ezekiel 36:36-37 “Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it.

(Here is the promise, but what did Israel do with it? It saddened the Lord that they did not seek for it enough to inquire after it.)

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

Belief is a great means:

It strengthens you against the whispers of the Adversary, when he says that God is not going to do this for you. (“Sure,” he whispers, “God might do it for others, but not for you.”)

Belief, on the other hand says: I am staying with the Lord. I know He knows my circumstance….I also know He will help me in it, bring me through it, and be with me in it. We “knock” by believing. Even to the point of telling the Lord: “I believe, help my unbelief.” He will.

(Mark 9:23-24 “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.”)

Obedience is another means: Sometimes we just have to get up and do what is next, and next; leaving the final outcome to God. The “knocking” is the obedience.

Mark 11:12-15 “And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry:

And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find anything thereon: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

(If a fig tree had leaves, it ought to have fruit; since the fruit comes on the tree before the leaves. But it did not.)

And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And His disciples heard it.

And they came to Jerusalem…..”

They did not hang around and see if it was going to happen; they went into Jerusalem where the Lord cleansed the Temple the last time. They had a day of work to do. And did it.

Mark 11:19-22 “When even was come, He went out of the city.

And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto Him, Master, behold, the fig tree which Thou cursedst is withered away.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Have faith in God.”

We ask, because we need. He answers many different ways: with further instructions, with promises,…and with power at the moment.

(How wonderful are His ways! How many lessons I have learned by them.)

We seek, because the need is still there, and we need to know the means God wants us to use to see it brought to pass.

And we knock, because we know God has heard, and encouraged us to keep going to get the blessing. And when He opens, He will give it.

He does not give “look alike” blessings, which are the stone for bread, the snake for the fish (eel).

But He knows how to give “good gifts” to those of His children which ask Him…by the Holy Spirit.

The Burning Bush

Exodus 3:1-3 “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law,….and he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.”

The bush burned, yet was not consumed.

Moses had been in exile from Egypt, and had married, and was caring for the flock of his father-in-law.

Then he saw a sight that was so unusual that he left the herd, and went to see it.

It was a dry desert bush that was burning….the flame was in the “midst of the bush”……..

…….yet it was not getting burnt up….it was not being destroyed by the flame….but was manifesting the flame.

(I want to talk for just a moment about us…..as that dry wilderness bush.

We are in a wilderness of this world….but more, we are part of the landscape; as that bush was. We fit right in to this world’s scene.

There was nothing unusual about the bush……until it glowed with the Presence of God. [When the Lord manifested Himself to men in the Old Testament, He was often called “the angel of the Lord”.]

But when the Lord “enlightened” it…..it became something which drew men toward the Light.

God does not want to “burn us up”…..but rather burn within us, so we will manifest His light.)

Years earlier, in Pharaoh’s court, Moses had thought that surely he could deliver “his brethren”, the Israelites…..and tried (Exodus 2:11-14)…and failed….

……..but the years out on the desert had withered his pride and confidence in himself…..and he was like this dry bush…….waiting for God’s flame to light him,….call him,….and use him.

Exodus 3:4 “And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses, and he said, Here am I.”

As Moses was coming to see this sight, a Voice spoke to him…..it was a Voice he recognized….

…….So when he heard this Voice, he answered: “Hear I am.”

He was answering a Person….a Person Who he believed in,…..for the scriptures plainly say that:

“by faith, Moses…refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter……esteeming the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:…”(Hebrews 11:24-26)

Exodus 3:5-6 “And He said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Moreover He said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”

Moses came forward….but not too far…….(there is that place where we must recognize the Almighty….and bow.)

Then the Lord began the process of calling Moses to do the work of deliverance.

The Lord said, “I am come down to deliver them….Come now…..and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou may bring forth My people…out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:8-10)

But Moses, instead of rejoicing…..now the time has come…..says:

“Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:11)

The wilderness had done it’s job….the confidence of Moses, the prince of Egypt was gone…..

…..but now hesitation was present.

Moses felt, that if in his earlier might and vigor he could not persuade the Israelites…..what could he do now, that he was older, and had no power?

The Lord spoke again of His Presence…..(remember Moses is standing in front of a bush burning….and hearing God)…..”Certainly I will be with thee…”

(It is amazing how many times in the Word, the Lord says the same thing to HIs people….to us!

“I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20; “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” Hebrews 13:5)

Moses then asks, Who shall I say sent me? What is Your name?

God then explains His name: I AM THAT I AM. I am from everlasting…there was no time, that I was not….And I always will be.

God explains Moses ministry, first to Israel….

…..then before Pharaoh, who, God told him, would not listen, or let them go…..at first.

But God would deal with him and his nation…

Moses is still unsure…..not of God…..but of himself, and his ability to deal with the people and Pharaoh.

So God shows him another lesson…..Moses shepherd’s rod. The rod he had been using for years, taking care of sheep.

But by God’s Word, the ordinary rod became a tool of God.

Exodus 4:2-4 “And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

And He said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:”

(You will notice, Moses ran from the serpent, but at the Lord’s command; picked it up by the tail. It was not fear for himself which hindered Moses….but fear of failing in the deliverance of Israel.)

Then God told him to put his hand into his bosom….and it was leprous.

Then put it into his bosom again….and it was whole.

God is able….the message is clear.

….but Moses turns to his speech….he was not a man of words….he did not think he could speak well enough to talk before Pharaoh and the people.

By this time, the Lord’s anger was “kindled” against Moses: The answer God gives comes as a rebuke (to backstrike with words)….

….God was displeased with Moses lack of zeal for his calling….for letting fear, rule his will.

God knew his heart….He knew that Moses wanted the deliverance of Israel….but Moses was letting imaginary hinderances block his sight.

Moses had “turned aside to see”…..and God had showed him that a bush can burn, and not be consumed by God’s Presence…

That a rod can be turned to a terrifying tool for God….

That disease can be given in a moment….and healed in a moment by the God of his fathers….I am that I am.

But Moses was letting his past failure blind his eyes from seeing that in all these examples…..God was saying “I am able….for you”.

God goes on to give him Aaron, his brother, who would speak to the people and Pharaoh, the words Moses would say.

“And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.” (Exodus 4:17)

But God says it in such a way, that there is no “backtalk” from Moses…..”And Moses went…” (Exodus 4:18)

How often do we “see” what the Lord is trying to tell us?

Are we letting past failures, or fear blind us to what God is calling us to do?

Moses went….and as we know, he dealt with Pharaoh…….”The Lord has said, Let My people go.”……..bringing the people out of Egypt, in triumph.

That rod stayed with him to the end…..he used it many times.

(The serpent before Pharaoh, the rod turned the rivers to blood, brought frogs out of the rivers, he held it up at the Red Sea, he smote the rock for water, etc.)

It was just a plain shepherd’s rod….which, when used in God’s service, became a weapon, and a guide for those that were brought out.

The lesson God showed Moses, from the fire in the bush, is just the same for us:

Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” (It is repeated in Hebrews 12:29)

Jealous means that He is zealous of His commandments and calling….He will not let anything else take His place in our hearts and lives….

He will lead us through failures,….speaking to us, to draw us on with Him…..rebuking us, correcting us….so that we may be instruments in His hands.

For Moses,…..and for all of His servants, that He calls……

……it is not what we are at the start,…..but what we let Him make us; that makes all the difference.

1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

It is God that makes the difference in any and every situation.

Really determining to do God’s Will

John 7:17 L.N.T. “If anyone really determines to do His Will, then he will surely know of the teaching, whether it be of God or whether I speak from myself.”

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

I am using the term “really determining” to do God’s Will….for many are “trying” to do God’s Will….or “wanting” to do God’s Will…

…but determination has to do with the mental weighing of two or more things…

….to find out which one we will do.

And “really” is the adjective form of Reality.

When we, in reality, determine to do God’s Will….we will know what it is….and do it.

And our will is the active part of us, which does it. We do, what we will to do.

It is obedience that opens up God’s Will to our understanding. And when we really determine…..

…….have, in reality, weighed the things presented in the light of our will to do God’s will…..

……we will know by the Holy Spirit, what God’s will is.

John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

The creature must find a resting place….and that resting place is in the Will of the Creator.

Our hearts were made for fellowship with Christ…in light….in the sunshine of His love.

Jude 20-21 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

It is only when sin entered that we turned from light to darkness…..hiding our true selves, with Adam and Eve “amongst the trees of the garden”……among all the showy things, or pretenses we make to God….(Genesis 3:8, John 3:19)

But when we come to the light of the truth about ourselves…..getting honest, by the Holy Spirit’s help, with ourselves….

….grace (the unmerited favor of power) will be applied.

John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

John 3:21 “But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

This is not a matter of merit…earning the forgiveness….it is a matter of the heart openly coming before God, in honesty….and getting that help….that power….from God to deal with the situation…to deal with us.

And then walking in His light:

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

This “cleanseth” is a past, present, and future term.

He did cleanse me when I came to Him and got born again. (This cleansing once for all, that I may come before His presence)

He does cleanse me when I come to Him and confess my sin that I commit. (Cleansing me from the desire, and my conscience from the defilement, all sin causes.)

He will cleanse me eternally from every evil when He takes us to heaven.

And this cleansing as Christians, is by walking with Him in the Light of His Word, in the Light of obedience to His Will.

And then standing in His light, in a world of darkness:

Romans 13:12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

To wrap ourselves in the Light that is Christ…

….for when we see the light….we have the power of choice.

Paul writes concerning the ministry in this world,….giving his experience, for an example:

2 Corinthians 6:1-7 “We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

(For He saith, I have heard thee in the time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee:

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed:

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

By stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

By pureness, by knowledge, by longsufferings, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,”

This is to “really determine”…..to in reality choose to obey God….and you will know what His Will is.

Are you at peace?

We can never truly know peace…..until we know the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior….by faith.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

This is true peace, a peace with God….so that we may come boldly into HIs presence in prayer. (Hebrews 4:16)

But when we are born again, we can enter into the peace of rest, in all circumstances….

….are we getting it from the Lord?

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Jesus guides our feet into the way of peace….as our hearts are occupied with Christ.

Only there, under the guidance of Christ, is peace of mind and heart. From fear and imaginations….which is one of the chief causes of anxiety and worry…which rob us of peace.

Isaiah 48:18 “O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:”

The listening and obedient ear, knows true peace….for our peace is rooted and grounded in the Person of God, and the Word of the Lord….who can not lie.

Isa 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because He trusteth in Thee.

Trust in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”

Perhaps we should ask….what is peace? Is it just being away from strife?

No, for often we have peace in troubles.

Then what is the peace that Jesus gives?

First it is that the wrath that lies hard upon us….when we were rebels against the Lord, in our sin….wrapped up in the world’s ways…

…that is gone.

Jesus is our propitiation….the appeasing of God’s Holy wrath and anger. Jesus took the wrath and condemnation for us, when He gave His life a ransom on the cross.

Second, God’s peace stabilizes us. It makes us immovable in His Will, as we yield to it…..and gives us strength to stand.

Third, God’s peace leads us to joy in the Lord. When we are at rest in the Word of God…and trusting in Him….then we feel His Presence more keenly, and we have His joy.

Fourth, and very important in the days in which we live…..it surrounds us with a protection from the malice of words, and the bitterness of our heart’s reactions to the hatred of men.

They hate Jesus (no matter how they “respect” our beliefs….because He shows them their sin)….and so they will hate us, because we love and belong to Him.

But as we are obedient to the Lord…we will have peace.

Isaiah 32:17 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

Peace like a river…flowing through us….calming, keeping our eyes on the Lord, and bringing us joy in the midst of sorrow,….that Is God’s Peace….and He has it for everyone of us.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.”

Peace always…by all means. How wonderful the provision for our journey through this world! How gracious of the Lord to remember and see our troubles, and pain! How loving to surround us…as with His mighty arms….with HIs Peace.

But praise God….He has this peace for all who will come to Him.

Isaiah 57:19 “I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.”

Let us have this peace ourselves….

…..and then,…let us publish the gospel of peace abroad.

Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”

In the world, we will have tribulation,….Jesus said. But He also said….”Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

How are we to have good cheer?

“These things I have spoken unto you,…..that in Me ye might have peace.”

The Lord knew how much we will need it,…..and He does not withhold even a little of what we need…..

….”in Him”….we have His peace….we can be of good cheer….we can overcome in the faith He gives us, because He overcame. (1 John 5:4-5)

Again, let us have this peace….always…by all means, for He has it for us.

The Widow of Zarephath:

God had caused that the rain in Israel and the surrounding area, would be stopped…..because of their turning to idols….according to the prayers of Elijah. (James 5:17)

Without rain, there is thirst, hunger, famine…..is a terrible plague. It slowly kills….everything

God would send rain, in His time…..but He had a lesson He wanted to show His people, first.

But Elijah, God’s Prophet, had been saved,…..fed with bread by ravens, next to a brook; during part of the famine.

1 Kings 17:7 “And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.”

(Could not the Lord have kept that creek running? Or a spring? After all it was a miracle that the ravens fed him every morning and every night!

Of course, but when God allows circumstances to change….it is so we may seek Him….and what is next.)

Yet God would not forsake His Prophet. And Elijah was told what to do next.

1 Kings 17:9 “Arise, get to Zarephath, which belongeth to Sidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.”

Let us take a look at this “command to this widow woman”.

First, God said it; and is He not able to deliver? Of course!

So Elijah goes to the next country over, Sidon; and to the city of Zarephath.

At the unknown command of God (What else made this woman gather sticks at just this time) a widow was at the gate, preparing for her and her son, a last meal.

I say “unknown command”, because she had not heard God’s voice. But rather it was the Lord moving her to do this, with His sovereign power.

Seeing her, Elijah asks her to get him a small drink of water. Even in her extremity, she was courteous, and was going to go to get it.

Then Elijah, believing that this was the woman to whom he had been sent, asks her another favor.

1 Kings 17:11 “And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand.”

This stranger would have seemed very presumptuous, in my way of thinking. After all, wasn’t I being nice enough to get him a drink?

But remember: The Lord said He had “commanded”. This was a test to see if indeed this was the woman he had been sent to.

1 Kings 17:12 “And she said, As the Lord, thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”

She was not rude.

She just told this man the truth. But notice; she recognized him as an Israelite; and a Godly one; since she said, “As the Lord, thy God liveth”.

Convinced that this was the woman to whom he was sent, Elijah gave a command, and a promise to her.

1 Kings 17:13-14 “And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.”

She was to feed him first. This, again, may seem presumptuous, but how else would he have known if she believed the Lord’s Word?

If she had made three cakes, one for her son, one for him, and one for her….that would have been generous, but unbelieving.

It would have been the wait and see attitude.

Maybe you’re right, maybe not; here is what we have, we will all eat, and see.

But she was to believe God’s Word, make him a cake, and see him eat it.

Then return and make for herself and her son.

What an amazing God we have, who can move a heart,…..any heart, to truly believe enough to obey,…..especially in hard times.

1 Kings 17:15-16 “And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which He spake by Elijah.”

God’s Word is always true.

Our believing enough to obey, is often the problem.

But if we, like the widow,…..will yield to God’s “command” within us,….then, we too, can know real power for our spiritual and temporal lives.

Hope

Hope, in the Bible, is of the Holy Spirit,….

….it is the confident expectation that God will do what He says.

If He gives us a word, or promise…..the Holy Spirit places hope within us….giving us assurance that God will fulfill all He has said.

It is not the “hope so”, which is more like a wish….but the Holy Spirit within us…implanting the roots of what will be the tree of promise,….and in the end….the fruit of the fulfillment and answer.

There is stability in this hope….for again, it is of the Holy Spirit within.

Hebrews 6:18-19 “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope sent before us:

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”

Our example:

Jeremiah and the land he buys:

Jeremiah was in prison….the king had ordered his arrest for speaking the truth about the coming victory of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon….and the destruction of Jerusalem.

He tried to save the people……but most did not want to hear the truth.

(Jeremiah had warned Zedekiah, king of Judah….to simply go out to Nebuchadnezzar….and submit to him. Then the king and the people would be able to stay in the land.

God was trying to teach His people about submission…..giving up their proud ways of doing what they wanted….and yield.

But Zedekiah the king of Judah….was too proud and scared to do what he should….for himself or his people.)

But in prison, Jeremiah hears the word of the Lord….a very strange word, in these times:

Jeremiah 32:7 “Behold, Hanameel…..thy uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: the right of redemption is thine to buy it.”

Anathoth was Jeremiah’s hometown…..and with the siege of the country…..there was much poverty…..and little crops were being produced.

His uncle, no doubt needed the money….perhaps to save some of his family from becoming servants.

“The right of redemption” was Jeremiah’s right to buy the land of a poor relative….at a reasonable price….for himself……in order to keep it in the family.

Jeremiah 32:9-11 “And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.

And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.

So I took the evidence of the purchase,….”

This is very remarkable…..an act of hope about the word of the Lord:

….Jeremiah knew that Nebuchadnezzar would take the city….that the inhabitants of the whole land would be divided into slave…and dragged away to a foreign land…

….and servant….taking care of the land so that the crops would go to Nebuchadnezzar.

There was no reason of thinking that Jeremiah would ever use that land….

…why then did he buy it?

Remember hope is the confident expectation that God will do what He says.

And Jeremiah’s hope was in the Lord’s Word…..not in lands, or deeds.

Jeremiah 32:12-15 “And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch….in the sight of Hanameel….and in the presence of the witnesses….

…..and I charged Baruch before them…

…..Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences,….and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.

For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.”

Here was where Jeremiah’s hope lay…..in….”Thus saith the Lord of hosts”.

What a joyful word this was! This land will be possessed by Israel again!

Hope for a time coming….hope in the Word of the Lord.

After the purchase…..he prays….

Jeremiah 32:17, 24-25 “Ah Lord God! Behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth, by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee:

Behold the mounts (places they put the machines which catapult into the city), they are come unto the city to take it;……and the city is given….that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what Thou hast spoken is come to pass;…

And Thou hast said unto me, O Lord God, buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.”

Though God saw all that Israel had done…..and was chastening them for it….yet God also saw what would be…..and gave a word of hope to His servant.

During this siege, there was sword, famine, and pestilence…..

…..yet Jeremiah heard of a time….through God’s Word….that things would return to “normal”….

“…and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.” (Jeremiah 32:37-38)

This purchase was to be an earnest….a down payment….on the promise to come.

The Lord showed Jeremiah that the land and the people would be desolate….for a time (seventy years)….but then:

Jeremiah 32:27, 42-44 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me?

For thus saith the Lord; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate….

….for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the Lord.”

Jeremiah knew that he, himself would not redeem this land, in this life (though certainly in the Millennial reign, that land will be his.)….

….but he was looking to the promise of God in hope.

(And in fact, among the very first of Israel to return from captivity, were men of Anathoth, Jeremiah’s hometown. Ezra 2:23)

What of us?

Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Hope is the confident expectation that God will do what He says.

He has done all that He has said….

….and all that is written in the scriptures will certainly come to pass.

Romans 15:13 “ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

I do not know how Jeremiah felt about his uncle…or about the land….or about the process of redeeming the land (the deeds and witness)….

….what I do know about Jeremiah, was that he desired above all else God’s glory and honor…

….and that a deed in an earthen vessel…..symbolized hope….and that it honored God.

Are we yielding to the hope of the Holy Spirit?

The bushel over our lights

Matthew 5:14-15 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”

You remember the children’s song….This little light of mine,

I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel….no! I’m going to let it shine; hide it under a bushel…no! I’m going to let it shine; let it shine; let it shine; let it shine.

Won’t let Satan blow it out….I’m going to let it shine; Won’t let Satan blow it out…I’m going to let it shine; let it shine; let it shine; let it shine.

Shine till Jesus comes again; I’m going to let it shine; Shine till Jesus comes again; I’m going to let it shine; let it shine; let it shine; let it shine.

But since the last time we sang that, has our light been dimmed,….or hidden under a bushel?

Just what is that bushel….that our light is under?

Well, one thing I have found over the years….is weariness.

Sometimes we feel as if we can not do just this one more thing….

….no one has appreciated us…..no one cares,…..so much indifference….

….we all have a reason that we let the wile of weariness creep in….

….but once it is there, it is like a bushel over our light.

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not be weary in well doing: for for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

We are going along fine, then something takes a turn we did not expect….whether in loss, or hurt, or illness….

….then we’re not sure what to do! We sure do not feel like shining our light!

We feel like curling up and hiding.

We are often like the disciples, at Gethsemane, who were saddened by Jesus saying He was going away.

Jesus asked them to watch with Him for a while….but they fell asleep…..never dreaming failure was just around the corner.

Another thing that hides our light, is the past.

The Holy Spirit is guiding now, correcting now, giving us grace for now….

….but when we let the past enter the door of our thoughts (good past, or bad past)….it throws the “now” aside…

…and we are neither yielding to the moments guidance, or listening for the warnings….

…we are “back there”….and our light is hidden.

Philippians3:13 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, “

Fear is often the bushel that covers our light….and gives us confusion of feeling, in it’s place….until the love of Jesus conquerors the fear.

Nicodemus came to Jesus at night for fear of retaliation from the rulers, and Joseph of Arimathaea, who gave Jesus his tomb, was also a “silent disciple”.

John 19:38-39 “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. he came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.”

They were “silent disciples”….till the love of Jesus conquered that fear.

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Bushels are made of guilt….

…when we sin, as Christians, there is a darkening of our light…..that “bushel” comes between us….and fellowship with the Lord, breaks down.

Guilt is there,….and it needs to be confessed and cleansed.

1 John 1:5-7 “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Strife or quarrels are bushels….

….they cover our good works, and….we “walk as men”….just like everyone else of the world……not as Christ’s representatives.

1 Corinthians 3:3 “For ye are yet carnal (not growing up into Christ): for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men.”

Doubts are bushels. When we lose some confidence in Christ and His Word….we come into shadows.

It is not unbelief yet, but it is as though we are groping for the handrail…..we are just not going forward….for we are trying to find something to hang on to….

….when we should be trusting Christ.

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

Sympathy with ourselves is a bushel….

….it is not self-pity…..but just a feeling that we “deserve something else”…..whatever that “else” is.

For this puts us into a mind that God is not giving us “the best” He should….

….when a little honest conversation with the Lord, would straighten our thoughts out.

Psalm 77:8, 10, 12 “Is His mercy clean gone for ever? Doth His promise fail for evermore?

And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings.”

Every time our light is hidden, opportunities are lost.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 7 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

And how do we keep, from hiding our lights?

Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

First, know God’s Word……let it dwell in you richly…..or copiously.

Second, praise God for the grace He has given you…..testify of it to help others.

Third, whatever you do….do as if you were saying a prayer over it in Jesus Name…..that will elevate every act into a blessing….for it is for “His sake” it is done.

We need not have a bushel over our lights…..we can be a bright out-shining of His life, who was the Light of the world.

Occupy Till I Come.

Luke 19:12-13 “He (Jesus) said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

And He called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”

This nobleman gives ten servants, one pound each….. to use while he was away.

Of course Jesus is giving this story about His going back to heaven after being raised again;…..and what He gives His servants here.

Each of us, as Christians, have been given something…..

….we all have the Holy Spirit

….we all have faith to overcome

….we all have grace to use

….we all have His Word to read, study and get into our lives.

We all have a lot….what are we doing with it?

“Occupy till I come” is a merchandise term.

It is to use what we have, or what we have been given(as in a loan),….to get more,….just as in a business.

But the thought here, is that you are gaining for Someone else.

As Christians, we are not our own. We have been bought and redeemed with the high price of Jesus blood. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

And we are given His life and power by the Holy Spirit within. He enables us with His grace.

This is the “pound” we are all given as His servants.

The work is all to be done, as servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, out of love to Him.

So how do we “gain” to show our love to Christ?

By using what we have…

……as these servants gained with their “pound” for their nobleman master.

Luke 19:15-16 “And it came to pass, that when He was returned, having received the kingdom, then He commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom He had given the money, that He might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.”

This servant had yielded to the Holy Spirit and done all he could for His lovely and blessed Lord.

(It is not counting souls won, or jobs done; but the diligent effort of a life lived to God’s glory.)

Luke 19:18 “And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.”

This servant had difficulties.

His gain had been smaller,……maybe because of doubts and cares which hindered him at the first;……but he had finally overcome by the faith given him, and he had gained five times more than he had been given!

Luke 19:20-21 “And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin;

For I feared thee, because you art an austere man: and takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou did not sow.”

What!! This servant did not gain anything!

His dishonor was because of the wrong thoughts about the Lord.

He thought that if he did what he was told and tried to gain with the pound he had been given, he might lose it.

He thought that he was better off just forgetting about it….till he could give it back……because the Lord was a very severe, and demanding God…..

……The Lord would have what he gave….he could not complain.

But this was not what the Lord had wanted for the man.

He wanted this man to use the “pound” (which is the power of the Holy Spirit within), and “gain” in his heart love, peace, and joy in the fellowship with Himself….by faith.

This is gaining for the Lord; for we are His inheritance.(Ephesians 1:18)

Luke 19:22 “But He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:”

Sadly the Lord of this man judges him……..according to what that man had wanted to believe about the Lord.

For you see, by the next question, the Lord shows that any gain would have been blessed.

Luke 19:23 “Wherefore thou gavest not my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury (interest)?”

What the Lord was really asking this man, was:

Why did you not show some interest in My gift of the Holy Spirit?

You grieved My Holy Spirit by your not wanting my gift;

So, since you never really had it; you will never have it.

Luke 19:24, 26 “And He said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

For I say unto you, that unto everyone which hath, shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.”

There are many who want to appear as the Lord’s servants, which never really love Him, or receive Him into their hearts and lives. (John 1:12)

They want to look good, but never honor the Lord in their hearts. They really hate the thought of doing anything for the Lord Jesus Christ!

Every thought they have is self….self-pity, self-preservation, self-love.

This man was one of these; and he was seen at last for what he was.

He was not judged by anyone else, but the Lord judged him according to the man’s own thoughts.

We are told by the Lord to use His gift of faith by the Holy Spirit and gain joy and peace in believing.

In every gain we make in our lives, we rejoice the Lord’s heart….and “gain” for Him.

“Occupy till I come.”

Jesus Christ Stands Without the Church, Knocking

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

In the letters to the Churches in Revelation, Jesus is sending messages to instruct them about what they were facing in their times, and what they should do about it.

The last one, Laodicea, was given more proof that He was speaking,….and more correction.

For He could not find anything to approve, in this Church.

Yet He also set one of the greatest rewards before them, “if” they would respond to His Voice.

Let us look at the proof He sent, of Who Spoke. He uses three Names: to none other Church He authorizes, like this one.

Revelation 3:14 “And unto the angel of the Church of Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.”

All of these Names are Christ’s.

He is the Amen: He alone is the affirmation and confirmation of God. He declares God in all His perfections and purposes; and then proves that God is faithful in them.

So Christ is the Amen to Laodicea, who is so far from God, they didn’t recognize He wasn’t in their midst.

He is the Faithful and True Witness: This Church is on trial, and as such the Witness against them is not of the world, but Christ, Himself. He witnesses that He knows their hearts, and minds; and finds wretchedness, instead of holiness or zeal.

He is the Beginning of the Creation of God: From Eternity Past God the Father and God the Son made an Everlasting Covenant. This concerns Christ’s becoming the Man, Christ Jesus; and coming to the earth….and saving a people for Christ’s Name sake.

So in the very beginning of Creation, there was the Plan of Salvation:…..which first included the agreement of Christ to become our Redeemer by His Sacrifice;….and the agreement of God the Father to give Christ a people for a reward, because of His becoming the Man, Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him (that is us) endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

This is Christ as the Beginning of The Creation of God.

Now these Names begin in manifesting God,…..and then go to witnessing against our lukewarmness,……then finally giving another invitation in His purpose and provision for these…..and us.

Christ gave ample proof that He was speaking. Then He moves on to the corrections:

Revelation 3:15-17 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

He corrects them, because they are lukewarm.

Now we think: Lukewarm isn’t so bad. We think it is just good enough to get us by.

But Christ does not think so…..

He died that we might be saved to the uttermost (Hebrews7:25).

Since they are not,…….and are not working to be,…(since they are so conceited as to be in “need of nothing” Revelation 3:17),….they will be spewed out of His mouth.

In other words Jesus Christ will vomit out these lukewarm Laodiceans.

How can He spew out a Christian? Who said they are true Christians?….they are wretched,…..naked…and blind….

I personally believe, that for these Laodiceans who refuse to hear and obey the Voice of Jesus Christ, and repent; that the little bit of knowledge of salvation that they had will wither and die,…….the Holy Spirit will be grieved for they will not submit to Christ……and they will stand as rebels against God, instead of servants of Him.

They will be “spewed out” by their own choice in turning their backs on His offer of peace.

They will find, then, that His Salvation was not just a salvation from Hell, but from sin, (which they would not give up.).

And salvation from self, which is true liberty of spirit.

He saves to the uttermost, He saves all of us–spirit, mind, heart, will and body; or nothing.

Now, it is true, we are often in need of correction; but it is how we take Christ’s correction, which shows true Salvation.

Do we “murmur and complain” continually; for the children of Israel did, and lost out. (Hebrews 3:10-11)

Or do we: “Come let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18) with the Lord.

We will not always like what we hear from Jesus. How often did He rebuke His disciples?

But if we are going on with Him,……we will not lose out.

Jesus said this:

John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

But Christ does not just correct, He gives life, to those who follow His way of life:

Revelation 3:18 ” I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thy eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

Many people disagree with Christ here, and say He should not have said “buy of me”.

But, the articles He refers to, are those of righteousness. The righteousness which we are to do, not be. If we are truly born again, then we are righteous, because we are in Christ Jesus.

But we are also to do righteousness, because we have His Spirit within us, enabling and directing us.

The “gold, tried in the fire” speaks of God manifested in our life. We are to show forth our new nature, the nature of God, within us in our daily life.

We are to deny ourself and pick up our cross and follow Him into a life of Godliness. Receiving the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and using them.

If we don’t, we are refusing Him.

The “white raiment” is not His garment of purity applied to us…..but the purity of love and motive to the commands and word of Christ.

And the “eye salve” is honesty, which tears away the veil of our own conceit; so we see ourselves, the world, and our place in it clearly.

This, the Holy Spirit helps us with. We are such dishonest people without His help. But with His help, we see.

The means to get these is clear: “buy”. But with what do we buy?

It is obedience to the next verse, simply stated by Jesus:

Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Repent…..be zealous and repent of our lukewarmness…and get boiling hot for Christ.

But even here, He does not desert us. He goes on to call us with His arms of love outstretched:

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

This is a personal call, to individuals in the Church. To open their lives to His Voice, and let Him in, to lead them on, (yes, in correction and instruction), in fellowship with Him.

Promising one of the greatest rewards, “if we will”.

Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

We are to overcome everything which stands in the way of doing Christ’s Will for us.

His power is there for us: remember He saves to the uttermost, those who come to Him.

Christ requires not an answer of words, but of a life open to and receptive to Him.

We may not be the greatest Christians, but are we going on with Him? Or refusing His Voice?

He has made it clear what He will do. What will you do?

Jesus Forgave us; we should Forgive

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

I can never acquire that which I am to be, finally,…..if I fail to pass through those experiences that must lead to it; acquiring now, to a degree; that which I will be fully, then.

For the Christian, that means going into all situations,……with Him.

Luke 22:40-41, 45-46 “And when He was at the place (Gethsemane), He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His

disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow,

And said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

They were sleeping for sorrow….you know how when you are really sad, you become so tired…it wears you out.

So with them: they had heard how He was going away, and became so sad, that they became sleepy.

They had been told to “watch”, but they fell asleep. They could not even watch with the Lord, one hour.

If they had watched, they would have been prepared for His arrest…and trial…and crucifixion.

But they slept because of fear, and sadness; and ran away when faced with the next trial.

We think of power (and the Lord has it for us in the Holy Spirit), mighty acts of valor…..

…..but the Lord looks on devotion to Him, and obedience to the way He has chosen for us, as the manifesting of His real power in us…..persevering through all, with Him.

In this, all the disciples failed. But Jesus forgave them, even before they did it.

(Matthew 25:31-32)

Then Peter went on to deny the Lord, but the Lord forgave him, and restored him. (John 21:15-19)

Jesus has seen and does see our every failure as well. And He has made full provision for us. He has and does forgive us.

But what about us? Do we forgive, as He forgave us? For as His disciples, He commands us to.

The trouble is…..

Self digs in, and hangs on to control with much force. (Whether it is fear, anger, jealousy, or self-conceit, pride….and there are a thousand emotions and thoughts which come to us.)

So it must always be a deliberate act of our will to deny ourselves, and yield to God, and do what He says.

A victorious Christian should not feel resentment.

Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”

So when the Holy Spirit shows us that we are harboring resentment, we should bring those resentments—the people, places, actions (both theirs and ours) to Christ.

How?

By the “artea” or force that is the Holy Spirit in your spirit, to get honest about it.

Yield to Him, and what He shows you….spread it out all before the Lord.

You see, when the Lord hears the honest telling about this resentment, He begins to speak peace about it. The hurt, or pain, or loss, or thoughts of violence, retribution, or “turning your back” on that person; is seen as He sees it.

No, this is not the preachy “everything is going to be alright” stuff. This is real forgiveness. Real setting it right.

You say, “It can’t be set right. What happened to me affected me, and still does.”

Yes, some hurts are like shadows that follow you around. Only sometimes breaking through into the emotions.

But, remember, God is light…He is peace….and He is joy!

Shall we have it?

But God’s powerful “force” of forgiveness, heals. Heals the wound, our emotions,……and our thoughts about it all, if we let Him.

The Lord has shown me that, except for the time we are injured….and we are often….we do not need to suffer. We can come to Him and receive His life.

I had a co-worker once that worked very hard at making me miserable. Comments, taunts, and worse; were the things I put up with day by day….and for quite some time.

I was newly restored to the Lord, and tried to act right, even if he did not.

But no matter my actions…his were the same.

Sometimes I thought I could not put up with it any more. I wanted to deck him, and show him that he had picked the wrong person to terrorize.

I started to imagine all sorts of bad things happening to him.

And yes, as terrible as this is, I really wanted him to hurt, as bad as I was.

I had prayed that the Lord would stop this man; but He did not.

Why? Because the Lord had something better for me.

Praying about it, the Lord showed me this man in front of me.

All the terrible things he had done came rolling through my mind, and I wanted to…..to….

To what? That is what the Lord asked me: If you could do anything to this man, with no consequences; what would you do?

I started to say a few of the things I had imagined….but suddenly, I started to laugh.

That’s right, I laughed.

I knew I would do nothing to him. Right then I was joyful, and powerful…the Holy Spirit filling me up with laughter!

I knew freedom from this man, from the situation….because of the power the Lord gave me, then.

I laughed! The man could say whatever he wanted, do whatever he wanted….he could not hurt me again.

I knew also that I could forgive him for anything he did and would do. The Lord helped me, the Holy Spirit empowered me, and I had peace.

When we forgive, the Holy Spirit rejoices our hearts. His power uplifts us into a realm where we are victors, we are overcomers, we are healed.

We know joy and peace; and most important, His presence is like a light shining in a dark place!

This is what Jesus did to those men who crucified Him. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

This was not pretend…..it was in the midst of agony….He looked down upon those men who taunted Him….and forgave them.

(And Stephen, the first martyr, did the same Acts 8:60)

This is power. Real power in our lives; for us to live in this world where offenses abound….and they do….God does not minimize it….they are real.

Real power for us to look our enemies in their faces, and see how Jesus’ forgave…

Real power to forgive and put it behind you forever.

Living in Christ, by Christ, and for Christ is never without real pain, real hurt, or real injury; He never belittles our suffering (Psalm 56:8), but remembers every slight done to us.

One day He will wipe away all tears—there will be no hurts, then (Isaiah 25:8, Revelation 21:4),……no more offenses…

……but here in this life, He will also wipe them away, if we let Him; and have His peace.