Wisdom from Ants

 Go to the ant, o sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.  How long would you lie there, oh sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Proverbs 6:6

I’ve been considering the past year plus of covid restrictions and considering the fruit my life has produced in this season. Growth is something we never stop doing.  It’s engagement in life.  We begin to die when we cease to engage. So even with man’s restrictions, God is still at work, both to will and do of His good pleasure.  

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes ‘a dream comes by much activity’ and again in Proverbs, a man dies for a lack of discipline’. Covid forced, on the majority of us, a large measure of restricted activity.  As we reflect ofn this past timeframe, can we stop and examine the fruit it has produced in our lives? 

What did we put our hands to and increase?  We must be mindful that seasons of rest are designed to still be fruitful.   Nature uses the winter season to recoup.  Night prepares for day. Jesus encouraged his disciples, after a season of much activity, to come aside and rest.  He calls the weary and heavy laden to himself for restoration of soul.  Rest prepares you for the next thing. 

We are all looking forward to the days ahead, stepping back into ‘busy about the masters work’ and extending the kingdom and reaping the harvest. I’m trusting that we have all taken the time to examining our foundations, allowing realignment and refitting to occur.  It’s time to come forth as Jesus did when he began his work “in the power of the Holy Spirit”.

None of us hold a full picture of our tomorrow but “If we faint in the day of adversity our strength is small”. If we weren’t able to walk with the footmen how can we run with the horses? 

If we have not responded to the invitation to come aside and rest in a season where many have not had chief,ruler, overseer, to direct them then we may find ourselves unprepared to reap a harvest.  

I suppose the question I’m putting forth today is - have we increased our lives spiritually? 

• Have we used the time to build ourselves up in our inner man?

• Have we attended to the word - learning, hearing and seeing, receiving revelation?

• Have we taken the days, weeks, month, to sit at his feet and behold Him?

• Have we grown in the knowledge of our Father and His son?

• Do we see a greater grace and peace resting in our lives?

It’s not that any of us have arrived or that we are perfect. These, of course, are just questions for examination.  What have we put our hands to?  Where is the increase revealing itself? 

Hopefully we have all learned to exercise spiritual disciplines that will keep us in the ‘new’ that God is leading us into. 

For us all, being faithful with what we have been given and remaining stedfast in our faith, is huge in the heart and mind of God. 

This is Eternal life

And this is Eternal life, that they know you….  John 17: 3

Eternal life is not simply the concept of life after death but rather the kind of life we have after we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.  It is the life that Jesus displayed on earth and the life that He came for us, as children of God, to possess.

Eternal life begins when I encounter the saving knowledge of Jesus and increases as I learn who He is.  Jesus’ prayer is that we would hold knowledge of the Father and the son so that we might be perfectly one with Him.

The primary way God reveals himself to believers today is through His word, breathed on, by His Holy Spirit.  His word was first spoken, then revealed in Jesus and finally written, that we might believe. 

“..but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31

As His children, we are to behold Him, to learn from Him and grow up to be like Him. We continually feed upon Him in order that we might more fully know Him. 

The Ephesian prayer is that we would have a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.  The Spirit of knowledge is for the one pursing a lifetime’s relationship with the Lord.  To know Him is eternal life.   

Helps Word Study on the word KNOW ~

1097 ginōskō – properly, to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand acquaintance).

1097 (ginōskō) suggests "knowing through personal experience" (A. T. Robertson, WP 2,122,123), i.e. through relationship.  This root (gnō-) implies personal, first-hand knowing (perceiving, understanding) – a subjective knowing "grounded in personal experience" (J. Thayer).

In contrast, 1492 (eídō) typically focuses on "objective (self-evident) knowing" as it results from observation, i.e. "absolute knowing" in the sense it does not require a personal relationship.  

The point being, we might (eido) some things about God (head knowledge)  but not (ginosko) Him personally and intimately.  Jesus shows this realty from John 5:39-40

‘You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.’

Let me suggest that whatever knowledge we hold through our current personal experience still has room for so much more understanding.  We are told Moses was a friend of God who spoke with him ‘face to face’. His intimate encounters with God revealed God’s very character and nature.  From Jesus, we have a first hand knowledge of the heart and mind of God, as expressed through Him.  Now we have  been invited into this knowledge.

Our fellowship with the Father is built from feeding upon His word and then our conversations with Him through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us to reveal the heart and mind of God, to teach us all things and lead us into truth.   As we feed upon the Word, the Holy Spirit rightly divides soul and spirit.  He searches intents and motivations, rightly aligning us to righteousness, producing life for us.

We are now seeing a renewal, highlighted by the Spirit of God, to hold a place of honor for His Word.  An honor for His word, creates the door for entrance into union with Him.  ‘How can two walk together unless they be agreed?’  ‘A house divided can not stand!’ Without knowledge of the word there can be no agreement to it. Willing submission  comes from the honor we hold in our hearts for His word.  Without an honor for His word, there can be no unity, no oneness with Him, because we have rejected His knowledge, wisdom and ultimately the life it gives.  

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.  All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.  1 Cor. 13:12 

As Paul said, not that I have alredy obtained or am already perfect but I press on to make it my own… that I may know Him. 

DIOKO

“Pursue Love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts…..”

1 Cor. 14:1 

ABP+ “Pursue the love, and be zeaous for the spirituals…”

David and I have been doing a bible study group through our FB group page “DavidandJeanneBibleStudies” and have been looking at Paul’s instructions to the Corinthian church.  Corinth is infamous as a city filled with luxury, commerce, riches and the debauchery it affords. With travellers coming to stay or passing through for business, I thought of Las Vegas and it’s advertised culture of excess, as I read the commentaries on Corinthian life at the time of Paul’s writing.

It’s interesting to note the teaching we have on love is found in the midst of a culture that worships Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love.  The temple established on the hill for her worship held 1000 priestesses, who were held as sacred prostitues during the day at the temple and then served the city streets at night.  

In the midst of this culture, Paul writes some very definitive instructions for identity, motivations and behaviour to be held and practiced by the believers.  We find chapter thirteen in 1 Corinthians the hinge all his instructions swing on.   If we can establish our hearts in love, we can overcome the carnal impluses of the flesh. So, Paul writes, pursue love and desire spirituals.  

I want to take a look at two words, pursue and earnestly desire, in the Greek, from Helps Word Studies ~ 

• Pursue ~ 1377 diōkō – properly, aggressively chase, like a hunter pursues a catch (prize). 1377 (diōkō) is used positively ("earnestly pursue") and negatively ("zealously persecute, hunt down").

[In each case, 1377 (diōkō) means pursue with all haste ("chasing" after), earnestly desiring to overtake (apprehend).]

1377/diōkō ("doggedly pursue, chase") means "to run swiftly in order to catch some person or thing, to run after, pursue," metaphorically, "to seek eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire" (K. Wuest); 

• Earnestly desire ~ 2206 zēlóō (an onomatopoeic word imitating the sound of boiling water) – properly, to bubble over from getting so hot (boiling); (figuratively) "to burn with zeal" (J. Thayer); "to be deeply committed to something, with the implication of accompanying desire – 'to be earnest, to set one's heart on, to be completely intent upon'" (L & N, 1, 25.76). See 2205 (zēlos).

I’m sure you are aware that this love we are to pursue is ‘agape’, the love God has and this is the very love we are to pursue ~ Ephesians 5:2

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…..” CEV renders this, “Let love be your guide” 

We ‘dioko’ this love to acquire and display His love; both in the receiving and giving.   We don’t want this to be ‘second nature’ we want it to be our primary nature, with every thought, deed and motivation driven by His love for us and for others.  We want to think as God thinks.  We want to see as God sees and we want all to be bathed in love.  

Then, “zeloo” (earnestly desire), decribes the intensity I display as I pursue spiritual activity.  I might have a “desire” for something but it doesn’t mean I am pursuing to acquire it.  This word describes the effort and activity I am willing to give to actually possess and display the reality of all spiritual activity. 

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Romans 12:11

Paul told Timothy to study to show himself approved.  A workman that did not need to be ashamed.  There is an effort required to be spiritual.  There are disciplines that must be practiced.  There are things to be learned that require being with Jesus.  

Can we do this? Yes.  Is it easy, not in the flesh, but we are assured we can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives us strength. May we live with this zealous pursuit for the love and ways of the Spirit that bring only glory to the workings of God in and through our lives as we “dioko” to know Him and His ways. 

Unity of the Spirit

“….eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…..”  

Ephesians 4:3

Helps Word Study on bond~ 4886 sýndesmos (from 4862/sýn, "closely identity with" and 1210/déō, "bind") – properly, a bond (close union); a close (inner) identity which produces harmony between members joined closely together (WP).  

It’s interesting to note that Paul opens the majority of his letters with the blessing of ‘grace and peace’ and the letter to Ephesians is no exception. The reality that our lives are to be full of grace and peace is inescapable and they are abundantly supplied to the believer.  Revelation chapter one tells us grace and peace are from the seven spirits before the throne and the Father and his son Jesus Christ.

Paul’s exhortation reminds us there is unparrelled unity between the Godhead and we have been invited to share in this unity of oneness with them.  Mark’s gospel reminds us that the Lord our God is one.  There is no division betwen the will and working of God the Father, Jesus the word and His Spirit. ‘Hear O Israel the Lord your God is one’ . Jesus prays for us to be found in this oneness ~ 

‘I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one…’  

Paul exhorts us to be eager to maintain this unity through the bond of peace. 

Helps Word Study on eager: 4704 spoudázō – properly, be swift (go fast, speedy); (figuratively) move speedily, showing full diligence (fully applying oneself); "do your best" (concentrate on, give priority to).  

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Blessed are the peace ”makers” for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9 

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Romans 14:19

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

Once again, we are confronted with the things we ‘know’ from the word and the reality of walking and living it out.  From Pauls letter we learn that he first identifies himself in his affliction. ‘I am a prisoner’.  In prison because of the hatred and jealousy of others, yet his appeal is to the character of the follower of Christ to hold humility, meekness, and patience bearing with one another in love. 

Helps Word Study: ’Bearing up’: 430 anéxomai(from 303/aná, "up/completing a process" and 2192/éxō, "to have") – properly, "still bearing up," even after going through the needed sequence (course of action); to forbear; 

Without this working deep in our hearts and mind we can never maintain the unity of the Spirit because we are ourselves are not unified with the Spirit and where there is no unity of the Spirit there can be no peace.

First John is a manual on relationships, ours with the Father and with others and all of them found rooted in love.  John wrote, 

If anyone says, I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not see. And this commandment we have from him, whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 John 4:20-21

However I might try to sidestep this with ‘I don’t hate them, I just don’t like them’ we miss the point, which is must love them and must love demands 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ~ 

Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude, It does not insiist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 

This measuring stick is to be the standard we judge our hearts from. What is my heart holding for another?  Am I bearing with another?  Am I eager to maintain this unity? 

We love even as we have been loved. 

We are eager to maintain the unity the Spirit produces. 

Our dependency upon our union with Him enables our union with each other.  

It is the Spirit that the pours forth this grace that enables.  It is the Spirit that pours forth the love of God into us.  It is the Spirit that directs us into right ways.  Of course it is our choice to yield to all that He does.  

How pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity.  I suggest there is no place of peace in our lives until we first unify with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and then, and only then, will we find unity that is bond in peace.

On this pentecost Sunday ~ may the presence and working of His Holy Spirit bring a renewal of relationships and union in His church so that all men will know we are His disciples by the love we hold for one another. 

Administration of the Kingdom

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”  Matthew 11:12 ESV

Berean Literal Bible ~ And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of the heavens is taken by violence and the violent seize it.

NASB ~ And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent men take it by force.

I want you to notice first, that this dynamic has been occurring since the days of John the Baptist. If Jesus is saying that we must enter into His Kingdom through a lot of hard fought battles, then yes: true.  If as the NASB says, men treat it badly, then ‘yes’ as well. Both thoughts can be seen in this current generation displaying His Kingdom on  earth.  

“We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but principalities and powers….”.  

His Kingdom, His dominion and His ways are continually being violently resisted. As His people, it rests upon us to make sure our battle isn’t any harder by trying to live with one foot in the world.  

“Satan is coming and has nothing in me”. 

Jesus revealed the Kingdom, the King and his dominion, and said My Kingdom is not of this world.  One of the first things we learn from Jesus, from Matthew chapter five, is the sphere of His Kingdom.  Jesus said the Kingdom of God was within.  

During this past season, the Holy Spirit has said to me, I’m going to show you how to administrate the Kingdom of God.  A few weeks later, during a time of prayer, he said, I’m going to teach you how to wield the sword.  Of course these things always speak volumes and you understand in a moment all that is being communicated, so I knew with this there were things to adjust, realign and pursue.

Paul wrote to the Romans, 

“The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Paul went on to admonish these believers in Romans 14: 18.19~ 

“Whoever thus serves Christ (in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit) is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 

We all want to display the power of the Kingdom with great signs and wonders, as Jesus did but Jesus came to emphasis character from a heart change and a life that was unified with Him, transformed by the Holy Spirit.  This in itself is the first sign and wonder we experience as new believers.  Not simply behaviour modification but transformation, for those who yield to His workings.

We want the power of the Holy Spirit but HE first works in us to conform us to Christ.  As He, the Holy Spirit, works in us, He brings forth His fruit from yielded vessels. 

“If anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonourable, he will be a vessel for honourable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”  2 Timothy 2:21

We are called and chosen.  We are equipped.  Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom to Peter and to us all.  He builds His church upon the revelation that He is the Christ, the son of the Living God.  Because authority has been given unto us, we must learn to righteously administrate His Kingdom, His waym which is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  

Bishop Ellicott calls authority ‘not the right of might, but the might of right’.  The disciples wanted to call fire down.  They were jealous of each other at various times.  They postured for position and power, but when empowered by the Holy Spirit, they had a supernatural ability to come out of old things into new.  Not simply tongue talkers, but men and women whose entire lives were radically altered, walking in the fear of the Lord. 

Jesus said “Come to me, learn of me, I am meek and lowly of heart.”  Jesus showed us how to serve not to be served.  Jesus showed us how to die to ourselves.  Jesus showed us how to love even as he loved.  Jesus set an example for each and every disciple to embrace and conform to.  These are those called and chosen and prepared.  Jesus said, many are called, but few are chosen.  

I want to be one of those faithful followers, called, chosen and prepared for these last great days, righteously administrating His Kingdom on this earth, wielding a sword well. 

NEW

In the beginning God created…. Genesis 1:1 

Another wonderful little word….NEW, that I would like to share with you this week.  

We are promised NEW mercies with each NEW day.  We have been given a NEW covenant that brings a NEW creation wth old things passing away and all things being made NEW and all NEW things being of God. 

We are given a NEW Spirit and we have a NEW self that lives from a NEW way in NEWness of life with a NEW commandment and we find ourselves in one NEW man unified. 

Yet in all this that we have already been given we find that the best is yet to come. 

From the book of Revelation we find we will be given a NEW name in the NEW Jerusalem, singing a NEW song from a NEW heaven and a NEW Earth.  

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things NEW.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 21: 5

This all stirred in me as the Spirit highlighted scripture from Lev. 26:10 to me. God is rehearsing His Blessings for Obedience to the Children of Israel, which by the way, begins in verse three with the word “IF”, but on to verse ten ~ 

“You shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new”.

Jesus tells us from Luke’s gospel that NEW wine must be put into NEW wineskins.  I think we are all aware that God is doing a NEW thing.  We are perceiving NEW is coming, things are changing.  God is decreeing and creating.  The question is ~ Am I ready for the NEW? 

What must be removed from my life, my both naturally and spiritually that will make room for His NEW?   Am I becoming a NEW wineskin to hold the power, the presence judgement and authority required to administrate the Kingdom of God here on the earth.

We know Pauls press from Philippians chapter three could have been hindered by his refusal to forget the things of His past, but the admonition is to forget, clear out the old!

The danger is holding onto the old we know because it has become palatable, tasty and comfortable to us. 

 We know how the old ways work.  They can be strongholds and obstacles to forward motion.  BUT GOD who is at work within us is moving us into a deeper intimacy with HIM and from this place He works forming the NEW wineskins that He will pour  into with NEW wine that can be poured out.  

Jesus held a NEW word that was with such power and authority that those who heard were astonished, “What a word is this?  Where did you get such authority? This is His church on the earth that is coming forth in NEWness of life.  

My prayer is that we all our choosing to be a part of HIS NEW.

DO

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Philippians 4:9 KJV

I felt IF and Do just go hand in hand.  The Old Testament Covenant hinged on a people doing what God had commanded. From the beginning of Genesis we find God’s command in the garden required activity on the part of Adam and Eve, a daily doing.  When Cain is tempted, we find God’s word to Him ~ 

Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 

The temptation is to move away from the ‘doing well’ to not walk in submission and obedience to His instructions given. Yet God has set this immoveable standard for us, His people ~ 

Exodus 15:26 “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes

Lev. 22:31 “So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the Lord.

Dt 28:1 And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, 

We learn from Joshua, as he begins his leadership journey, he has one simple instruction.  

Joshua 1:8   This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Jesus aligns us with this same thought from John 15 when he tells us we are to abide in Him and His word for apart from Him we can do nothing; and his instructions to his disciples carry a great weight about our doing ~ 

Matthew 12:49 “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” 

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven

There are many things we do and they all bear some kind of fruit in our lives but what we are looking for is the fruit that endures unto eternity.  We want everlasting fruit.  Fruit that is not wood, hay or stubble and the only way we can avoid bad fruit is through the abiding we do WITH him.

As we join in this unity with the Father, through Jesus the word, by the power of His Spirit, we find many times instructions that challenge our will and cause fear to arise perhaps tempting us to withdraw.  But as God told Cain, you must master the sin that tempts you!

Tempted in all points as we are, Jesus met and overcame the agony of His soul through His prayer in the garden; coming to an end of himself, he was prepared and strengthened to do His Fathers will.  We have never been required to DO in our own strength.  Paul learned that when he was weak then He was strong, because grace abounding to Him was sufficient. 

Mankind’s redemption was dependent upon Jesus’ doing.  Do we live with the awareness our “doing’ is not only impacting us, but others?  Paul was confident the things he taught, and displayed were eternal truths that produced life for not only him, but others.  Are we confident our doings are life giving and eternal?

We all meet times when we would prefer to live out our own will and way, but the blessing is only in the obedience of doing His. 

John 13:17  IF you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 

IF

The fear of the Lord, holds as its foundation, our submission to the word God has spoken.  “If” I will, then God will.  While we are always quick to attach ourselves to the promises in God’s word, many times we overlook the condition that comes, with this little word, IF!  I’ve highlighted some IF’S and have deliberately left off the promises that follow so we can focus today on making sure our lives are properly aligned to His standard.

Deut 11:13

And IF you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul…

Ex. 15:26 

There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, saying, “IF you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes…

2 Chron 7:14 

IF my people who are called by my name will humble themselves …….

Proverbs 2:1 

My son, IF you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, IF you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4  IF you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then …..

Malachi 1:6

6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. IF then I am a father, where is my honor? And IF I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name.

Malachi 2:1 

And now, O priests this common is for you.2  IF you will not listen,  IF you will not take it to heart to give honour to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will ….

Zechariah 3:7

Thus says the Lord of hosts: IF you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then….

John 13:17 

IF you know these things, …

John 14:6 

IF you love me…

We see, in all these scriptures, the honour and value God places on the freedom He has given us in choice and yet, over and over He shows us what is right and that which will bring us life. 

Deut. 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live…”

If is a pretty big word that must be met before the promise can be assured. Let’s not overlook or dismiss them in an attempt to just gain a promise.  Our lives our shaped by the  IFS we have aligned to.

Fear of Man

The fear of man

The fear of man brings a snare: But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.

PROVERBS 29:25 NASB

• The Message Bible ~The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.

• The Living Bible ~ Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety.

You’ll recall our last week’s verse from Isaiah, the Lord’s command ‘‘Do not fear what ‘they’ fear’’ is still a command we need to hold as believers today.  We do not live as the world lives, fearing what they fear, and responding as they respond.  We live from our union with the Father only doing and saying as we are instructed. 

Fear’s works will to lead us into disobedience to God.  The fear of the Lord holds us with an awareness of eternity, an understanding of every instruction from God flows from love, unto life and benefits all.    

Allow me to define the ‘fear of man’ as the preference to consider and value man’s acceptance and approval ahead of God’s. The Fear of God suppose’s the fear of man’s irrelevance.

Paul said, it doesn’t matter to me what you think of me.  Jesus said, I’m not looking for mans glory.  These motivations held both men in absolute submission with a press into their assigned purpose.  

To live in the fear of man is a dangerous trap and to fear human opinion disables. 

I’m mindful of Mordecai’s words to Esther, 4:14 “if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you  and your father’s house will perish.  To hear and not obey is costly for all. 

God’s command to Adam in the garden was ‘do not eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.’  We learn eating of that fruit brought death. This still work’s in the earth today as the ‘Law of Sin and Death’.  

James 1:14/15  Temptation embraced, births sin and when sin is fully grown, it brings forth death.  

Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

“The fear of man disables you”  ~ 

Jn 7:11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No , he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

The fear of man can be seen in the biblical account of King Saul from 1 Samuel, chapter thirteen.  The fear of man had the power to drive Saul into an office that was not his.  Through this fear, he took on Samuel’s role as priest.  As Saul awaits Samuel’s coming to perform the rites, he is moved by what he sees and acts contrary to the Lords command.  No matter how he tries to justify himself, Saul looses his right to rule through this one public act of disobedience. 

Finally, the fear of man will drive us to find our approval from man; the Fear of the Lord drives us to seek only His. The following three verses make this universal truth clear.

Acts 4:18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

John 5: 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 

Jn 12:42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. 

Our only escape is to practice a dally lifestyle that chooses submission and obedience from a holy reverence of our Father and knowing in this place, He delivers us from all evil.  

The fear of man 

The fear of man brings a snare: But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.

PROVERBS 29:25 NASB

• The Message Bible ~The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.

• The Living Bible ~ Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety.

You’ll recall our last week’s verse from Isaiah, the Lord’s command ‘‘Do not fear what ‘they’ fear’’ is still a command we need to hold as believers today.  We do not live as the world lives, fearing what they fear, and responding as they respond.  We live from our union with the Father only doing and saying as we are instructed. 

Fear’s works will to lead us into disobedience to God.  The fear of the Lord holds us with an awareness of eternity, an understanding of every instruction from God flows from love, unto life and benefits all.    

Allow me to define the ‘fear of man’ as the preference to consider and value man’s acceptance and approval ahead of God’s. The Fear of God suppose’s the fear of man’s irrelevance.

Paul said, it doesn’t matter to me what you think of me.  Jesus said, I’m not looking for mans glory.  These motivations held both men in absolute submission with a press into their assigned purpose.  

To live in the fear of man is a dangerous trap and to fear human opinion disables. 

I’m mindful of Mordecai’s words to Esther, 4:14 “if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you  and your father’s house will perish.  To hear and not obey is costly for all. 

God’s command to Adam in the garden was ‘do not eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.’  We learn eating of that fruit brought death. This still work’s in the earth today as the ‘Law of Sin and Death’.  

James 1:14/15  Temptation embraced, births sin and when sin is fully grown, it brings forth death.  

Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

“The fear of man disables you”  ~ 

Jn 7:11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No , he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

The fear of man can be seen in the biblical account of King Saul from 1 Samuel, chapter thirteen.  The fear of man had the power to drive Saul into an office that was not his.  Through this fear, he took on Samuel’s role as priest.  As Saul awaits Samuel’s coming to perform the rites, he is moved by what he sees and acts contrary to the Lords command.  No matter how he tries to justify himself, Saul looses his right to rule through this one public act of disobedience. 

Finally, the fear of man will drive us to find our approval from man; the Fear of the Lord drives us to seek only His. The following three verses make this universal truth clear.

Acts 4:18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

John 5: 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 

Jn 12:42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. 

The fear of man 

The fear of man brings a snare: But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.

PROVERBS 29:25 NASB

• The Message Bible ~The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.

• The Living Bible ~ Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety.

You’ll recall our last week’s verse from Isaiah, the Lord’s command ‘‘Do not fear what ‘they’ fear’’ is still a command we need to hold as believers today.  We do not live as the world lives, fearing what they fear, and responding as they respond.  We live from our union with the Father only doing and saying as we are instructed. 

Fear’s works will to lead us into disobedience to God.  The fear of the Lord holds us with an awareness of eternity, an understanding of every instruction from God flows from love, unto life and benefits all.    

Allow me to define the ‘fear of man’ as the preference to consider and value man’s acceptance and approval ahead of God’s. The Fear of God suppose’s the fear of man’s irrelevance.

Paul said, it doesn’t matter to me what you think of me.  Jesus said, I’m not looking for mans glory.  These motivations held both men in absolute submission with a press into their assigned purpose.  

To live in the fear of man is a dangerous trap and to fear human opinion disables. 

I’m mindful of Mordecai’s words to Esther, 4:14 “if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you  and your father’s house will perish.  To hear and not obey is costly for all. 

God’s command to Adam in the garden was ‘do not eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.’  We learn eating of that fruit brought death. This still work’s in the earth today as the ‘Law of Sin and Death’.  

James 1:14/15  Temptation embraced, births sin and when sin is fully grown, it brings forth death.  

Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

“The fear of man disables you”  ~ 

Jn 7:11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No , he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

The fear of man can be seen in the biblical account of King Saul from 1 Samuel, chapter thirteen.  The fear of man had the power to drive Saul into an office that was not his.  Through this fear, he took on Samuel’s role as priest.  As Saul awaits Samuel’s coming to perform the rites, he is moved by what he sees and acts contrary to the Lords command.  No matter how he tries to justify himself, Saul looses his right to rule through this one public act of disobedience. 

Finally, the fear of man will drive us to find our approval from man; the Fear of the Lord drives us to seek only His. The following three verses make this universal truth clear.

Acts 4:18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

John 5: 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 

Jn 12:42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. 

Let Him be your fear

Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honour as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

ISAIAH 8:12-13 ESV

The early church, we are told from Acts 9, walked in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.  Isaiah chapter eleven tells us that the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord would rest on Jesus and his delight was to be found in the fear of the Lord. These verses tell us that the fear of the Lord is imparted by the Holy Spirit.  As our union with the Holy Spirit enlarges and we have a greater yielding to His leadership, I believe we will see the church, the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, living and walking in this righteous, holy, reverential fear of the Lord.   

The Psalmist cried ~ Unite my heart to fear your name O Lord!

It is by the fear of the Lord that man departs from evil.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  We are all looking for wisdom and the Holy Spirit, again from Isaiah eleven, is shown to be wisdom.  He alone knows the heart and mind of the Father.  He alone is the revealer of all things.  He is the Spirit of Almighty God who is Holy.  He is the presence of God who has come to live in us and He is absolute truth. 

 I’ve been thinking about Fear vs. fear.   One being the positive aspect of fearing the Lord, the other being fear of man, not afraid of a man, but the fear that lurks around all of us. The mother of all fear is this fear of death. Hebrews 2:14 explains: 

“..through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were all their life subject to bondage” 

We learn two things from this verse. Jesus has destroyed him who had the power of death and has (past tense) delivered all who are subject to bondage through this fear of death.  

You might say - Im not afraid of dying, Im just afraid of…. but when followed to the end of what that fear could produce, the ultimate is a death.

 John wrote in his first epistle that fear has torment.  A careful word study shows us that this fear is actually a fear of condemnation from the judgment of God.  It is actually a fear of being rejected by God and sentenced to a life of separation from Him. 

If we consider ‘fear of death’ in its broadest sense, it is simply separation.  We know that leaving our earthly bodies does not end life for us, it is simply a separation from this world.  The question then becomes, leaving here where do I go? Shall I spend eternity, united to God or separated from His loving presence and condemned to torment, i.e. hell? 

So, this negative sense of fear involves the fear of rejection. The potential that God could possible find fault with us in such a way that he would reject us.   The command throughout the Bible has been to fear Him and keep His commands. 

 The fear that comes from not fearing Him is one of judgment and condemnation. 

The cure ~ the perfect love of God that casts this out.  Romans reminds us that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who walk after the Spirit and not the flesh.  Living in the flesh creates a sin conscious reality that Jesus has redeemed us from.  This place of flesh gives entrance to all the accusations from our enemy.  These accusations create guilt, shame and drive us to separate ourselves from our Father.  

Again, Paul wrote in Romans, nothing can separate us from the love of God.  Yet time after time in our human weakness and strivings we fail to ‘measure up’ and that fear expects a fiery judgment.  Do we fall into works or do we repent and come into a place of mercy, grace and peace?  This negative fear will drive us to works to try and earn something from the Father that has been freely, graciously and willingly provided in Christ Jesus.  The Fear of the Lord will keep us in the place of loving Him, loving His word and welcoming the work of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis to lead and guide us into the ways that are pleasing to the Father, finding us, as His church, walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy One. 

My prayer today is that we, as the body of Christ, would cry out for our hearts to be united to fear Him and stand in the liberty and freedom He longs for us to hold, doing the works He has assigned to us, His church, the body of Christ. 

He is Risen

Grace and peace to you from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen.

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so, Amen.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:4-8

My prayer today is for eyes to behold Him as He is, to be transformed into His image and glorify Him rightly on this earth. May this day be filled with a new found wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

EVEN AS

Beloved I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers. 

3 John 2

I can’t say this any stronger- our mental health is hinged on the value and priority we assign to the Word of God as the authority in our lives.  First and last, we hold His standard before our eyes and meditate on it to find right thoughts and right ways that lead us into life. 

Paul’s prayer for his beloveds’ well being is simply a human reflection of God’s heart for us as His children.  

The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.  John 10:10

Thessalonians reminds us that the will of God is for the sanctification of our life; spirit, soul and body.  

1 Thessalonians 5:23, NASB: "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

All facets of our being are to be subjected to the leading and direction of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This submission of spirit, soul and body keeps us in peace; complete and without blame at his coming.  

Ephesians chapter four talks about a futile mind …

17: Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.”

And  a renewal of the spirit of your mind ~ 

23: and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds”

Futile is strong word, meaning emptiness, unreality, purposelessness, ineffectiveness, frustration, aimless, I.e. all that lacks God for its true end.  

The spirit of your mind, we like to refer to as not what you think but rather how you think.  A healthy mind always see the glass half full, the unhealthy mind is like Winnie the Poohs Eeyoore, nothing is ever quite right.  All is suspect. 

Peter wrote in his first epistle, 2:25 “you were going astray but have now returned to the Shepherd and overseer of your soul”. And from 1:22… “having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth.  

It’s one thing to know what the word has to say, it is another to actually obey it’s instruction. 

Proverbs exhorts: “Attend to my word.”  Pay attention to the things I’ve written and said.  

It is health and healing to all your flesh. 

Jesus promised a restored soul, as we follow Him into green pastures and still waters.  

As the Shepherd and Overseer of our soul, He delights to renew our thinking processes and bring them into alignment with His.

The book of Revelation, reveals to the church at Pergamum, that there is hidden manna for those who overcome the false teaching that leads to  compromise.  Why so much emphasis on the word of God?  In these last days, the bible assures us of men having itching ears, being deceived, and false teachers leading many astray.  We strive to remind all, the foundation of  life and ministry is to preach and teach Jesus. 

Our lives are to be lived to the praise, glory and honour at the revelation we carry concerning Jesus Christ, as the word made flesh.  The Father, in these days, now speaks to us through His son Jesus.  Jesus now speaks to us through His written word highlighted and revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, who teaches us all things. Mysteries, yet to be revealed.  Treasures, to uncover.  Wisdom and knowledge, waiting for the one who desires and seeks after Him.  

Jesus said, “the words I speak are spirit and life”, and “he who feeds on me will live.” What a wonderful thing to have a book filled with the words of life.  

Life is hinged on the “even as” our soul propers.

Help!

“For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help (boetheo) those who are being tempted.”

Hebrews 2:18 

Boetheo ~ Helps Word Study 

997 boēthéō (from 995/boē, "intense exclamation" and theō, "run") – properly, run to meet an urgent distress-call (cry for help); deliver help by quickly responding to an urgent need (intense distress).

997/boētheō ("supply urgently needed help") means to give immediate aid – in time for a pressing need, i.e. "to run, on a call to help" (TDNT, 1:628). 

[997 (boētheō) was originally a military word, responding to a critical, urgent need (MM). 997 (boētheō) is also used in Homeric Greek (800-900 bc) for responding to a war-cry.]

I love this word boetheo.   It seems, to me, to sum up the heart of our Father in His care for His children.  I don’t know about you but it brings me great comfort, knowing, that in my despair, fear, failure, sickness, lack, insecurity, etc. etc. etc., I can call and He will answer.  

Did you notice, this word doesn’t simply say He hears.  It tells us how He responds to the cry.  He does hear and He responds, by running.  As parents, you know your own natural responses to your child’s desperate, fearful or hurt cries.  You don’t ignore it, you move as quickly as you can to help!  We are nothing like God and yet this word Boetheo tells us that He responds quickly to our urgent need.  

The danger with this word is in our assumption about the kind of help we need.  We can be found guilty, many times, of mentally creating our own way of deliverance.  We have a way we believe God should help.  This belief removes our need for absolute dependency upon God and strengthens a trust in our own understandings.  

Jesus said, Ask (and keep on asking), seek (and keep on seeking), knock (and keep on knocking), and we are promised He responds!  He gives what is good to those who ask Him. (Matthew 7:7-11)  His ear isn’t deaf to our cries.

 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.  Psalm 34:15

He knows our frustrations and our weakness.  HE IS TOUCHED with the FEELING of our infirmities (weakness). Because He suffered when he was tempted, He is able to help us. Jesus has engaged in every conceivable, painful, emotional, experience we have ever had and will ever face. Jesus faced his own doubts, pride, desires, insecurity, rejection, betrayal, family dynamics, religious persecution, sickness and disease, sorrow and grief, jealousy, anger, bitterness.  You name it, whatever we are tempted in, the Bible assures us that Jesus too, has been tempted in all points.  He simply knows and understands every dynamic of our human soul and spirit.  He understands our flesh and He says He is able to Help!

Two points I want to consider, first ~  

John 14:16 Jesus says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,”.

This word, helper, is 3875 paráklētos (from 3844 /pará, "from close-beside" and 2564 /kaléō, "make a call") – properly, a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because close enough to the situation. 

Jesus has left us with “another” helper, another as in the same kind as Jesus.  Just as Jesus was the disciple’s Helper, so too, the Holy Spirit is now, forever, our Helper.

The second is from Hebrews 4:15~16

 “.. we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help (botheian) in time of need.” 

We draw near. We come to Him because He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  We cry out to our Father. Our first response should always be a turning to Him, at all times, for every need.  While it is much easier to ‘cry’ on someone else’s shoulder, to find a sympathetic ear, that action does not heal our infirmity and can not always save us. While we are told to comfort those with the same comfort we have received, our human ability to be touched with their infirmity hinges on our union with the suffering another is experiencing. Our human efforts are, at best, human. BUT GOD ~ at this throne of grace, does exceedingly abundantly above all we ask of think. He is supernatural in all His working.  Our cries bring His mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.  He doesn’t leave us as He finds us but strengthens our heart and restores our soul, while He works all things together for our good, because we love Him. 

May we all grow in an ever increasing awareness that He is a faithful and very present Help in time of need.  And when our help comes, let us be mindful to acknowledge Him as the source of that help and give Him thanks.   

….he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you,  So we can confidently say, The Lord is my Helper (boetheia)”  Hebrews 13:5-6

AND

AND

“ And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart AND with all your soul AND with all your strength AND with all your mind, AND your neighbour as yourself.”    Luke 10:27 ESV

We’ve been in quite the season of lockdown, with restrictions in-place for a year and I’m carrying this question in my Spirit, who will we be when we come out of this season?

We have been given space to get some things right. 

Have we been faithful with this time we have been given to grow in our personal intimacy with our Father?  Have we allowed His love for others to consume us in such a way that we are willing to lay down our lives?  Have we emptied ourselves and given Him first place in all things that allow Him to send us forth into new places, doing new things, new ways?

We, as the New Testament church, the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, have a two fold command ~

Love God AND love people.  

Love is a choice that reflects a commitment of our whole being, first and foremost to and for God and then to others.

…but they gave themselves first to the Lord AND then by the will of God to us.

2 Cor. 8:5

Jesus said, love “even as” I have loved you.  Again, this love is only made possible by the working of the Holy Spirit but to the child of God who has been born again by the Sprit, this is the love we have been given.  It is the Love of God shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Spirit enabling us to love “even as” He loves. 

If anyone says, “I love God,” AND hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 

1 John 4:20 ESV

But whoso may have the world's substance, AND sees his brother having need, AND shut up his bowels from him, how abides the love of God in him? 

1 John 3:17 Darby 

Jesus has called us to a lifestyle of intimacy with Him, through a devotion that alters who we are, by His presence.

AND we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.    2 Cor. 3:18

Abiding in Him is an ongoing reality.  Moment by moment.  Oneness has no separation.  We don’t leave the place of intimacy.  We are the temple of the living God, His presence dwells within.  We carry His presence where ever we go. We live in dependency upon Him to lead and guide us.   We are His workmanship ordained for good works and Jesus said we are destined for greater works than He did.  

It is from our place of intimacy that we are sent out to be a blessing.  Jesus’ disciples were called to be with Him before He sent them out.  Jesus said I am the door of the sheep.  We go in AND come out, finding pasture, nourishment and refreshing and we come out to pour out..  We both live and work from this intimate union with Him and the fruit borne is the keeping of His commandment. 

We love God AND we love people.

Is there not a cause?

In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.   Ephesians 1:5

H.C.G. Houle, D.D., Wrote in his book ‘Ephesian Studies’ the following comments on this verse ~ 

“…for it is through the Son that we reach sonship, and so come to be related “unto” the Father in that wonderful position; His very own, to belong to Him, to know Him, to serve Him, to glorify Him, and to enjoy Him fully for ever.” 

Ephesians, chapter one expresses our legal position as believers. Therefore, it behooves us to move on into this legal position and possess it vitally.  We want to move past a simple acknowledgement of these thoughts, into experience knowing them fully and intimately for ourselves.  

The Apostle John wrote in his first epistle, ‘we have come to know and believe the love God has for us.’ The Bible tells us we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Created in the image of God as spirit beings, we know from the Bible He has not given us a Spirit of fear, but one of power, love and a sound mind.  In the heart of every man lies a desire for eternal truths.  God has put eternity into the heart of man, and from that place we have a desire to discover our Creator.  

Again quoting Houle’s commentary  “to belong to Him, to know Him, to serve Him, to glorify Him, and to enjoy Him fully for ever.”

It is the Fathers good pleasure for us to enter into this knowledge.  Jesus said to know Him and His son was eternal life.  Those who hunger and thirst are filled.  We are commanded to seek first His Kingdom. I could go on but we all understand the invite to engage with Him on a deeper level. 

In this hour, I believe it is the working of the Spirit to draw the church into a greater communion with our Father.  There is today a spiritual wooing to come up higher, to lift up our eyes to behold, to set our affection on things above.  Just solely for the purpose of our well being?  No; not solely, rather to be able to see and hear the purposes of God that are being worked in heaven and display them on earth.  To rightly engage with Him so that we are able to hold discernment, wisdom, knowledge, counsel and might and live in the fear of the Lord.

“…the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 3:8-10

The manifold wisdom of God is to be made known to principalities and powers THROUGH the church.  The church is to carry and hold these truths.  She must be found holding fast to the head as she reveals and declares the unfathomable riches of Jesus Christ. 

 I feel like David on the battlefield when he asked, “Is there not a cause?”  

We are watching, in this hour, a universal work by the Spirit of a call to prayer that is supernatural and unto God’s own purpose. 

 “If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and turn…”

Jesus cried out, “My house shall be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves.”  

A proper alignment, a re-alignment, to the Head, a union with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  This must take place before we can carry the weight of glory in these last days. If our eye is single our whole body is full of light.  There must be no darkness in us as we stand before forces of darkness.  

We must be His church, returned to the book of Acts, to operate in its power. Prayer was the position before power. 

God is restructuring.  He is creating new wineskins for a new wine.  Can we be ready?  Will we be receptive to the way He wants things done?

He is the potter we are the clay.  

Prayer invites us not only to enjoy and know Him, but to learn, to be molded and shaped for His purposes. 

For such a time as this we have come to the Kingdom. 

“…for it is through the Son that we reach sonship, and so come to be related “unto” the Father in that wonderful position; His very own, to belong to Him, to know Him, to serve Him, to glorify Him, and to enjoy Him fully for ever.” 

Sacrificies and Offerings

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,

    but a body have you prepared for me;

in burnt offerings and sin offerings

    you have taken no pleasure.

Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,

    as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

Hebrews 10:6-7

What offering’s are we bringing before the Lord?

From the beginning, Genesis shows the offering that is acceptable to the Lord described as the first and best. Abel’s offering, in Hebrews,  is described as ‘a more acceptable sacrifice’ and in 1 John 3, it is called ‘a righteous deed’. 

Aaron’s sons, in the wilderness, offered up ‘strange fire” and were consumed by the Lord. Leviticus 10:1

Israel was defeated at Ai in Joshua 7 because the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things. 

Saul is rebuked by the prophet Samuel for sacrificing an offering instead of obeying the command of the Lord in 1 Samuel 15 :22-23:

“And Samuel said, ‘Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.’ “

The prophet Malachi challenges the nation of Israel over their offerings. They are bringing the sick, the lame and polluted food to offer unto the Lord.  Malachi calls it evil saying there is no honour, no fear of the Lord in their offering, but rather a despising of His table. Malachi 1.

There are times in our lives where we try to offer God ‘something’  other than what has been required of us.  For whatever excuse we may offer, the root lies in fear and must be overcome. These are always ‘heart issues’. 

From the New Testament we learn the Pharisees and Sadducees honoured the Lord with their lips but their hearts were far removed from Him.  Jesus said where your heart is there will be your treasure. 

King David wrote in the Psalms ‘ Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord… but he who has a pure heart.’  Moses was told to come up to the mountain with tablets that the Lord would write upon. Today, for us, the Spirit of the living God, writes not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Our fellowship with the Lord must be in spirit and in truth as we present to Him, not only our bodies, but our minds and hearts for Him to teach us His way’s and write them upon the tablets of our hearts. The priests of the OT wore a head dress with a frontlet inscribed “holiness to the Lord”. A constant reminder of whose they were and who they served.

Shall our offering be any less than a whole hearted devotion that includes all of us; spirit, soul and body? 

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired but a body you have prepared for me, In burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.

Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will O God, 

But By My Spirit

This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Who are you O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone and amid shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”

Zechariah 4:5-7

My question today is ~ 

How do you respond to temptation? 

We were never designed or intended to conquer life issues by ourselves and yet we strive to do so daily.  The arm of the flesh simply strengths flesh.  Discipline is profitable and has the ability to modify our behaviour with the establishment of some good habits, but God has called us to transformation where we live from a heart that desires godliness which profits us in all things. 

Will worship is defined from Colossians 2:20 ~ 

“Do not handle, Do not taste. Do not touch (referring to things that all perish as they are used) according to human precepts and teachings. These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion (KJV: will-worship and humility and neglecting of the body) but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.  

As we consider Zechariah’s instruction from the angel of the Lord, let us remember that while some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we are to remember the name of the Lord our God.   

Hebrews 4:16 exhorts, as we consider Jesus, touched with our weaknesses, tempted as we are yet without sin…..

“Come boldly to the throne of Grace where we are able to find mercy and receive grace to help in the time of need.” 

We find in these two scriptures today, our ‘how to’ to handle each temptation we face. 

James identifies the process of temptations; they gain entrance through our ungodly desires, embraced, they birth sin, sin brings forth death.  Temptations are not sin.  Sin is the result of yielding to the temptation.  There was no sin in the garden until Adam and Eve ate what was forbidden.  

Jesus highlighted to us that temptations are in this world.  We will never escape them here on this earth, yet, He does remind us that he overcame the world and we find IN HIM, both legally and vitally, the same overcoming grace. 

So Zechariah reminds us we do not overcome by the power of our own hand, might or  strength, but by the Spirit of God and it is with shouts of grace mountains are destroyed. 

It is His throne of Grace that we must come to; where sin abounds, grace does much more abound, but, we must come to His throne.  I need Him!   I need His power and His might to strengthen me to overcome and move away from the temptation.

We receive mercy and we find grace to help.   He remembers our frame.  He knows the desires of the flesh.  He is touched with what we are thinking and feeling.  It is in the coming to Him that we acknowledge our need for God.  

I find grace in this place of acknowledging need for His help.   

 Paul wrote from 2 Corinthians 12: 8. “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me, But he said to me “ My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

As Paul wrote Timothy, “ be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”   

We don’t have to meet the temptations alone, but we do have to find our help in Him.

He comes by His Spirit and strengthens us in our inner man and we are able to stand and resist the snares, the lies, the traps, set before us!

He makes a way for us to escape at His throne of grace. 

Watch Yourself

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon your suddenly like a trap,  For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth, but stay awake at all times praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”  

Luke 21:34-36 ESV

We have had several weeks of study to consider the “how to’s” necessary to endure the season we are now living in.  We keep coming back to the reality of our “eyes on Jesus” being a must.  While there will be unprecedented occurrences naturally, politically and socially, we as the body of Christ, are not to be caught unaware of times and seasons.  The greater the pressure in life the greater our need for Gods presence.  Pressure gives us opportunity to move deeper into God.  It demands a greater separation from all things that dull our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.  Without this separation and seeking, bitterness can be the fruit borne of painful experiences.   

Jesus give a the warning, watch yourself!. NASB says ‘Be on guard’. The book of Proverbs tells us to guard our hearts with all diligence for all the issues of life flow from them. The Epistle to the Hebrews tells us that the evil heart of unbelief removes us from God and anything that removes us from this vital union with the Father, His Word and the Holy Sprit must be pruned and purged.

 TPT reads” be careful that you never allow your hearts to grow cold.”  Take no thought, be careful for nothing, cast your cares over onto the Lord, do not be anxious for your life, we are told over and over, yet it is this very condition that causes mens hearts to faint, lawlessness to abound and the love of many to grow cold.  The overwhelming pressure of cares causes hearts to be weighed down, ears to be dulled and appetites to be satisfied with the world. In the last days men’s hearts will fail them for fear, but by our endurance we will gain our lives.  

The weights we carry are burdens we were never meant to bear. We turn to the worlds ways of coping ~ ‘dissipation and drunkenness’.  These things are just doping mechanisms to escape our cares.  Yet it is these very cares Jesus said will be our snare in the last days.

Endurance is hinged on our ability to stay alert, focused and connected.  We can not escape the temptations that we are sure to find in the world, but, by staying connected to Jesus, we are assured to overcome, as He did.  Jesus tells us how to avoid the trap. Stay awake, stay alert and pray.  Pray that we may have strength.  Does this mean without prayer we have no strength or does it mean ask for strength to escape the temptations?  Jesus disciples, sleeping for sorrow, failed in the hour of trial. I think we can safely say it includes both.  

We are to be a people who have eyes set upon heavenly things, ears that hear what the spirit is saying so we will find ourselves, with lamps, full of oil, burning brightly, watching and waiting for our Lord’s return.  

The enduring are found in Luke twelve, dressed for action with lamps burning, waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he knocks.  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. 

Blessed because we are not left behind!

Continue

‘…continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.’ 

1 Peter 2:23 KJV

We’ve seen that endurance requires the ability to remain under while we are going from God’s point A to God’s point B. In this process we are learning and growing in God. We are conforming to the image of Jesus.  We are putting off  in order to put on.  We are submitting to the disciplines that come so we can become a partaker of His holiness.  Our end goal is to bring Him the glory in everything that is said and done through our lives. 

We have discovered that this simply cannot be done without abiding in His love; without looking unto Jesus and considering Him, while we trust Him, whose judgement is righteous.  

We begin with fundamentals when we find ourselves tempted.  We check our foundations.  We examine our hearts and we commit ourselves to Him.  Let this always be our plumb line ~ God is always right.  Our ability to depend on Him is because He is always truth.  It is impossible for God to lie.  

 Proverbs 8:6-9

  Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.  All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.  They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

Our scripture from 1 Peter addresses who we allow to be in control of our lives. We can say Biblical believing involves commitment and commitment reflects trust.  God is a safe refuge, a strong tower, a very present help in time of need.  Trust is defined as an assured reliance on the character, strength or truth of a person, or thing, and is always a matter of the heart.  It is with the heart that one believes. 

The NASB reflects a more accurate sense of the verse by showing the ongoing tense of the verb…..BUT KEPT ENTRUSTING HIMSELF TO HIM WHO JUDGES RIGHTEOUSLY ~ this simply means my trust in God must exceed my understanding of right.

Entrusting, is the Greek word paradídōmi  Strong’s number 3860 (from 3844/pará, "from close-beside" and 1325/dídōmi, "give") – properly, to give by turning over ("hand over from"), i.e. deliver over with a sense of close (personal) involvement.

Believing can be general, trust must be specific. We can believe God is a healer but not trust Him to heal us. We can believe God is a provider but not trust Him to provide for us.  We know God can heal but will he heal me?  We know God can provide but will he provide for me?  General to specific involves trust and who you trust, you will commit yourself to. 

This point A of God to point B of God is a narrow path and with all the ups and downs, the highs and lows, this path offers many opportunities to learn God in ways we have yet to know Him.  It is as we keep entrusting ourselves to Him He is able to reveal Himself to us.  Abraham would not have known God as Jehovah Jireh without trusting God to provide for himself a lamb.  It was in the place of his commitment that He was to see and learn God as provider.  

We want to be a people that endure well. I’m mindful of verse nineteen in 1 Peter chapter two ~ For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.  Notice here “gracious” and “mindful of God”, tell us grace is always present when we are mindful of God and it is His grace which enables us to endure any and all sorrows we might suffer through life’s seeming injustices.   We have been called to this world, at this time, in our generation, to display at all times, a righteous life.  Jesus left us the “how to” so we can follow in His footsteps.  

Jesus endured all things because he continued entrusting himself to the Father.  Being mindful of God, we come to His Throne of Grace to receive mercy.  By faith we access His grace, for where sin abounds, grace does much more abound.   We receive, knowing He is a rewarder, a Father, that gives us good things. Grace abounds.  Grace helps us in the time of need, gives us all sufficiency, and we are not only able to stand, but abound, mindful of Him.  Rooted and grounded in his love, enduring all things.

Our salvation will be in the continuing, the abiding, the daily dependence upon our union with Him. That Union is the one needful thing that sustains us.