WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT; (to infuse with courage)
"Sin has no culture, neither does repentance."
INDESCRIBABLE GIFT
1st Corinthians 1:18 & 23-24;
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God........We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."
The cross of Calvary, upon which Christ was crucified, is an offense to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it represents the power of God and the wisdom of God. To the unregenerate the idea of the cross and its blood sacrifice is foolishness, but for those who have made the cross the center pivot of their lives, it is the wisdom of God because salvation comes through the power of the blood shed from it.
The wisdom of the cross is reconciliation and the power of the cross is the blood. How wise that the Living God would establish a singular focus upon which man might gaze to understand the path to salvation and redemption. The God of all the heavens has taken us who were afar off and brought us near through the blood of His Son Jesus. For it is the blood of Him who knew no sin that makes atonement possible and therefore opens the gate to forgiveness with our repentance. Thus we are restored to a right relationship with the Father. We are washed, cleansed, purified and made holy in His sight. Our sins are not only forgiven but taken away and deposited in the sea of forgetfulness. What a demonstration of God's perfect love for us when we were not worthy of it!
Colossians 1:19-20;
"For it pleased the Father that in (Jesus) all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross."
It pleased the Father that His son was the ultimate and permanent sacrifice splayed out on a Roman cross, shedding an enormous amount of supernatural blood, so that we may have peace with God and with one another as we respond to this indescribable, precious gift that is free to all who say, "yes." Christ's death on the cross assures us of salvation and His resurrection and exaltation makes our call and election sure.
Philippians 2:8-9;
"And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name."
LIVING STONES
1st Peter 2:4-5;
"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
These verses are so profound because they declare Jesus as "THE Living Stone,"....."THE Cornerstone" laid in Zion. As we inherit our earthly surname from our Father, we also inherit our Spiritual surname from the Son. That is why we are called a "living stone" as well. We are not just thrown together in the wall of the temple that Christ is building, we are specifically placed to relate to one another as we relate to the Cornerstone. As the Cornerstone that lives, Jesus is head of the church. As stones who live, we are the cells of the body of Christ, his bride. His people are to be layered together with no space, just like the cells of the body or just like the stones of the temple.
Ephesians 4:15-16;
"Speaking the truth in love, (let us) grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."
The deeper and often missed message here is the importance of gathering together. God's intent is that His children be in the presence of His Son in the presence of one another. In Christ there is life, but we need to understand that part of our life in Christ comes when we gather together personally. This is His design for a healthy church. As "living stones," we must see more fully the importance of gathering together as urged by the writer of Hebrews.
Hebrews 10:24-25;
"Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some."
Each stone in a temple is hewn to be layered in with other stones to insure the integrity of the structure. The Lord has hewn every believer to be perfectly fit into His body. Everyone in the body of Christ is designed to be knitted in perfectly just as the cells are in the human body, which relate to each other at the direction of the brain.
Romans 12:5;
"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another."
As members of the body, we must be effectively working, doing our share for the health of the body. This causes growth in every believer when we uplift the love of Christ to one another. As the saints of God, we relate to one another as the Lord directs, we feed and nourish one another, and we build one another up. We need each other to be present to sustain one another.
This is how we get built up as a Spiritual house. We are not only a priesthood that serves Christ, but we are a priesthood that serves one another. Being in the presence of one another is the Spiritual sacrifice that is acceptable to the Lord. It takes work and effort to make time for one another. This dynamic of being together is one in which the Lord works the best - manifesting His presence, glory and deeds. This is how we see Jesus in a greater way - through one another.
WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT; (to infuse with courage)
"You are not dangerous in the sanctuary; you are dangerous in the public square." Selah
ABOVE
Philippians 2:9-11;
"Therefore God also has highly exalted (Jesus) and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Paul tells us that Jesus has been lifted up to the highest rank, power and majesty and that the name of Jesus is above every name. This is because of His perfect obedience to the cross of sacrifice by which His shed blood is the one and only atonement for our sins. Therefore, it is only through Jesus that we can be saved.
Acts 4:12;
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
When the name of Jesus is declared, in the presence of Himself, those in three environments must bow and confess His Kingship, Lordship, and Supreme Majesty over all. Thus all in heaven and on earth as well the inhabitants of hell, even in torment, must give glory to God by honoring Jesus as God which has been acknowledged by the Father from everlasting to everlasting.
Hebrews 1:8;
But to the Son (Jesus), He (the Father) says:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom."
Because of this, every name of God in the Hebrew is assigned to Jesus. For example, "For (Jesus) Himself is our peace." (Ephesians 2:14) - JEHOVAH SHALOM! "Power went out from (Jesus) and He healed them all." (Luke 6:19) - JEHOVAH RAPHA! "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15) - JEHOVAH MALECH-OLAM! "the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:1) - JEHOVAH TSIDKENU!
We need to really get this as it will impact our lives and increase our faith. The descending peace of God from the throne of grace is ABOVE every worry and anxiety. The healing power of Christ, described as virtue, is ABOVE the impact of any disease and infirmity. The reign of Christ is permanent and beyond assault as well as corruption and ABOVE every authority in heaven and on earth and underneath the earth. The imparted righteousness of Christ to us, through His saving grace, is ABOVE any sin or shame that we have or the world has laid upon us. The powerful name of Jesus is the encapsulation of every Hebrew name for God.
Colossians 2:9;
"For in (Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
SUFFERED
1 Peter 5:10-11;
"May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."
The word "suffer" here is past tense (suffered) and not present tense (suffering). This tells us that suffering as a child of Christ has an ending to it. This is the grace of God extended toward those He has called to His eternal glory because of Jesus and our relationship with Him. Even in the midst of sufferings God's favor is upon us because His love never changes toward us. The revelation of His power in our lives is His work in us that takes us from glory to glory. Our path to maturity in Christ is not determined by how He blesses us, but by how He walks us through the "valley of the the shadow of death."
Romans 8:18;
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
After a season of suffering, Paul's prayer is that it would be beneficial to us by God's grace. He confidently prays that the Lord would do four things for us which has a lot to do with bearing fruit.
A.) That the Lord would perfect us:
How can something that is tough to deal with lead to perfection? The word perFECT means to heal, mend, repair and make complete. Suffering does not last forever. There is an end to it whether it is in this life or the next. Paul's desire is that the God of all the heavens will work His healing in us and make us complete for His glory. Even in the process of suffering, He is working on us.
2 Corinthians 13:9;
"This also we pray, that you may be made complete."
B.) That the Lord would establish us:
He is the Lord who establishes. He is able to set us into a place where we shall not be moved either in stature or mind.
Exodus 33:21;
"And the Lord said, 'Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock.' "
C.) That the Lord would strengthen us:
It is God who has supernatural strength for us. This strength brings vigor to our body and wisdom and power to our mind.
Ephesians 3:16;
"(The Lord Jesus Christ) grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man."
D.) That the Lord would settle us:
It is only by the Spirit of God that we can remain steadfast. He will cause us to remain faithful and will cause us to remain a "living stone" on top of the foundation wall whose builder and maker is the Lord Himself. This also infers that He will settle down the activity of our mind and cause us to live in the peace that comes only from Christ - Jehovah Shalom
Isaiah 28:12;
He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing.”
Let us thank the Lord for His favor and calling that enables us, in the midst of suffering, to produce fruit that is in keeping with repentance and that brings forth every good work that is pleasing to Him as our understanding of the Lord grows.
BENEDICTION
Hebrews 13:20-21;
"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
This is a classic example of a benediction which is the pronouncement of a blessing on the people of God. It also is larger than that because it also includes a reminder, exhortation and what to focus on. In general it is a summary or encapsulation of what has been ministered so that we come away with a way to keep the Word we heard engrafted into our hearts.
Paul reminds the Ephesian church that in spite of the decadence, intrigue and corruption that they face everyday living in that city, our Father is able to author peace in them, and us, anytime and anywhere. The greatness of His authority and power is demonstrated in the resurrection of His Son to whom He has given the Pastoral right to lead the church. It is the blood of Christ that is the seal of the eternal covenant that we enjoy with the Father. Without that seal we would not be able to say, "Our Father."
In every work that the Father has ordained for us, which comes by His will, we are made complete by the power of the Holy Spirit to finish the job. As we go everywhere serving Him, Our Father lets us know we are more important to Him than what we can do for Him. Therefore, we often say, "He's still working on me." He continually works His righteousness in us through His Son who deserves all the glory from us in all things.
WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT; (to infuse with courage)
"The fear of man is a bondage maker; the fear of God is a liberator."
TODAY
Hebrews 3:12-14;
"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end."
The Bible is a treasure trove of blessings, encouragements, and revelations, but it is also loaded with with warnings that are marked by words such as, "take heed," "do not be deceived," and "beware." We should pay particular attention to these words as they are the Lord's warnings to us to be wise, prudent, discerning, and careful. The writer of Hebrews conveys God's exhortation to His family, the church. BEWARE!
But what should we be wary of? First an "evil heart of unbelief." Notice it says that unbelief brings evil to the very core of our being. Unbelief says, "I don't agree with God."
The heart that entertains evil in any form (call it sin) will depart from the God who gives life and begin to experience the payout for sin which is death. We are called to exhort one another on a regular basis not to be deceived by sin or hardened by it. And we are supposed to do it daily as we are reminded regarding this....that the day is "today." We should never put off looking out for one another, even if it is not received.
Being a partaker with Christ is ongoing and requires that we do not drift or lose our confidence in what Christ has done, is doing, and will do for us. We cannot maintain any confidence in Christ unless we maintain our belief in Him and His Word. What we have learned and put our hope in, we need to hold onto and we need to be steadfast in doing so.
In this way we make our salvation sure and cement our eternal future in the Lord, which is heavenly!
RECONCILIATION
2nd Corinthians 5:17-19;
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation."
The great Apostle Paul illuminates the evidence that is on display if we are in the saving grace of Jesus with His transformative power. We are "NEW creatures" and the "old things" that were contrary to God and an affront to Him have ceased to exist. All things about us have become NEW - how we honor God with our bodies - what we meditate on - and how we think. Paul gives us further instructions on how to maintain that newness of life in Christ.
Romans 12:1-2;
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (worship). And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Our Father is a God of reconciliation, but He only does that through Jesus, who is the only One able to make atonement for our sin and take it away. This is why Paul said he had the ministry of reconciliation which is the preaching of the Gospel or Good News of Jesus Christ. In Christ we are reconciled to God; all things about us are of God. Even when we sin, we are driven to repentance because of the Holy Spirit of God given to us who educates us, empowers us and motivates us to reflect who our Savior is. Salvation is a free gift from God, but overcoming our flesh ("the old man" or the "old creature") is work, as any sincere Christian will tell you. The flesh is a bear; it wants what it wants. We find that the greatest battlefield is between our ears. Thank God for His ever present help in that battle.
Psalm 121:1-3;
"From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber."
Our Father is interested in reconciliation through Christ because He has determined we should come out from under the condemnation of our sins. In Christ we are no longer marked by our sins and judged by them, we are reconciled to the Lord of the heavens who has put His name on us. We have been "branded" as belonging to Him. We are not our own, but His.
Reconciled means "redeemed." We are no longer foreigners to our Creator. We have been adopted and the papers have been sealed in His blood. By reconciliation we are His sons and daughters; we are family; we are Christ's inheritance and He is ours. We have an eternal hope that cannot be erased or destroyed.
Let us hold fast to the things we heard at the first and be strong and steadfast in the beauty of the WORD that reconciles us to the Living God.
PERFECTION
Psalm 19:7-11;
"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward."
The Scriptures often talk about things that are more precious than gold. This Psalm talks about six of them and that they should be desired far above earthly riches. This is because they are eternal, powerful and life giving, and described as sweeter than honey, or even its comb. The source of these six things is the Lord God Himself who gives life to all, and eternal life to those who heed and keep them. They are the law, testimony, statues, commandment, fear, and judgments of the Lord.
The converting of our soul unto salvation is provided to all who receive it, through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He came to fulfill the law and prophets through the covenant sealed in His supernatural blood.
Matthew 5:17;
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."
Because He is now the embodiment of all these things, we now understand that we have been clearly warned that without Christ we are lost if we reject the precepts of the Word of God, which is Him, and that there is a great reward in keeping these precepts by following Christ and living by the power of His Holy Spirit. The guiding principles of the Scriptures come to life in us through the compassion, mercy and grace of Christ who loves us.
Hebrews 12:28-29;
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."
The perfect law of Christ tells us that we are sinners and the Word says our salvation is in Christ. - The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy and the Word tells us that Christ is the source of all wisdom. - The statues or principles of the Lord are right and the Word tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. - The commandments of Scripture are pure and the Word tells us that we are enlightened by them and that Christ is revealed. - The fear of the Lord is eternally present in purity and the Word tells us that the fear of the Lord helps us avoid uncleanness so that the promise of eternal life would not be stained. - The judgments of the Lord are righteously true and the Word tells us that we have this righteousness in Christ Jesus.
Jesus makes it very clear that our very souls have more value than anything.
All the treasure of the world, fame, and all the favor of kings and kingdoms have no value against the God created essence in us called our soul. The soul of man is more valuable than all that is in the world. This is why Jesus came to save souls.
Matthew 16:26;
"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
Christ was willing to shed His precious, supernatural blood as the purchase price of our souls showing how valuable we are to Him. How could we not receive so great a salvation offered to us by the one who says, " The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT; (to infuse with courage)
"Hope is the celebration of the victory before it happens."
Psalm 23:1-3; - PART I - MY SHEPHERD
"The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake."
At so many funerals, there is often a memorial card with the 23rd Psalm on it. This is invariably a means of honoring the deceased person and a way of giving the ones who mourn an item of comfort as they depart. However, this psalm should not find it's major presentation among the dead, but among the living. For the dead it has no use, but for the living it breaks open life, faith and hope. Hopefully everyone who takes home the memorial card is inspired to activate more of Psalm 23 into their lives.
Luke 20:38;
"For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”
The 23rd Psalm is so well known that we forget sometimes the power of it's message, which instructs us as to what we have in Christ, the Messiah. If we maintain a 23rd Psalm mindset, we can live the life that the Lord has intended for us as our Shepherd.
We are sheep that live under the hand of the Great Shepherd. We are led, fed and protected no matter the circumstances and hostilities in our lives. In Him we lack nothing because He is Jehovah Jireh (God our Provider).
Our God doesn't wait for us to cease striving, but interrupts our schedule and makes us pause in His pasture full of tender sweet grass experiencing the joy of the open field as we gaze up into the heavens He created. When we don't even know we need refreshing, He leads us to the waters of rest. Somehow the turbulence of life is disquieted by the One who gives us Living Water.
There is nothing more valuable to the Lord than a soul restored. Jesus came to save souls by reconciling us with the Father and by restoring the loving relationship that He intended to have with us from the beginning. When we are disheartened, He is more than willing to rain down His peace on us until we are refreshed, invigorated, and encouraged to keep going.
Psalm 42:11;
"Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God."
Who can walk in righteousness? What seems impossible to us is possible with God. He gave us the blood of His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. It is because of the blood of the Lamb of God that we can stand in righteousness before our Father. The Lord is constantly showing us the paths of righteousness in all the circumstances and decisions facing us. When we walk in that way, we will not malign the Name of God but reflect who is He to the whole world. Thus we honor the Name of the Lord Jesus.
Isaiah 30:21;
"Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' ”
This Psalm reminds us of Whose we are. We are His sheep, who hear His voice. We are sons and daughters of the Living God who have been sought after and found because of His mercy and compassion. He takes care of that which He has created and He blesses those that have been "recreated" and restored to His righteous Image through Christ.
Acts 17:28;
"For in Him we live and move and have our being."
PSALM 23 - PART 2 - MY FRIEND
Psalm 23:4;
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
Recap:
At so many funerals, there is often a memorial card with the 23rd Psalm on it. This is invariably a means of honoring the deceased person and a way of giving the ones who mourn an item of comfort as they depart. However, this psalm should not find it's major presentation among the dead, but among the living. For the dead it has no use, but for the living it breaks open life, faith and hope.
Luke 20:38;
For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”
The 4th verse of Psalm 23 bears much comfort as we are informed that the Lord of all the heavens and the earth and our creator is with us in the dark shadow of death and in the midst of evil. Jesus walks closely with us assuring us that He is with us as Jehovah Shammah - the God who is near.
Hebrews 13:5;
"For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' ”
The valleys that we walk through in life are sometimes very intimidating to our faith and overwhelming. We feel like we are dying inside. Yet the Lord tells us that the death we sense is only a shadow cast upon us and not death itself. Death wants to cast its shadow on us and make us think that it is real when it is only a mirage. As believers we are not to fear even the reality of death and the grave because Christ has overcome both of them.
Hosea 13:14;
“I will ransom them from the power of the grave;
I will redeem them from death.
O Death, I will be your plagues!
O Grave, I will be your destruction!"
There is comfort in the rule and reign of Christ. His Name is supreme and prevailing. The rod represents His authority and the staff represents His power. The rod was a club like implement that was used to defend the sheep from predators. The staff represents the power of His guidance in our lives. There is power to move us when we can't move ourselves.
Luke 4:36;
"For with authority and power He commands.”
The One who has all authority and power walks with us. And we need to recognize that, receive that, and take the time to communicate with Him. The hallmark of any relationship is communication, which means not only talking but listening, especially to the response and wisdom that is given. This is the essence of prayer, which is simply talking with our Father. Notice, it is not talking TO, but talking WITH. We need to hear from Him and follow His guidance in order to walk out of the shadow of the valley of death. Consider the 1st Verse in this old hymn, "What a friend we have in Jesus."
"What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!"
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Proverbs 18:24;
"There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
PSALM 23:5-6; PART 3 - MY VICTOR
PSALM 23:5-6; PART 3 - MY VICTOR
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever."
Recap:
At so many funerals, there is often a memorial card with the 23rd Psalm on it. This is invariably a means of honoring the deceased person and a way of giving the ones who mourn an item of comfort as they depart. However, this psalm should not find it's major presentation among the dead, but among the living. For the dead it has no use, but for the living it breaks open life, faith and hope.
Luke 20:38;
For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”
We see from the verse in Psalm 23:5 that the Lord has prepared a table in front of us, not in the presence of our friends, but in the presence of our enemies. This is the table at which our enemies must sign a writ of surrender, because the Lord has declared us as victors in His Name. To have our head anointed is a declaration over us that He has chosen us for victory. We have been consecrated to the Lord and walk in triumphant paths by the seal of the Holy Spirit upon us. Thus we can surely declare that the championship cup of our victory overflows with His blessing - more than we could ever imagine.
Romans 16:19-20;
"I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly."
Verse 5 can also refer to our Lord Jesus who was anointed with oil upon his head by a women at the dinner table in the house of Simon the leper in Bethany. (Mark 14:3-9) This was done in the presence of many of His enemies, especially Judas. Her act of anointing the Lord with oil was a prophetic gesture declaring the Lord's coming burial. It didn't matter to her what it cost (almost a years wages) because she was pouring out her all for the Lord to whom she owed everything. Because many of them were carnal, they were indignant and critical of the woman even after Jesus said to all present, "She has done a good work for Me." The cup that the Lord was about to drink, representing the will of God, was overflowing with a blessing to the whole world - the opportunity for salvation and reconciliation with God.
Luke 4:18-19;
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (Jesus),
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed."
Verse 6: It is the abiding presence of God that allows us to say with confidence that the goodness and mercy of God chases us down continually as we walk with the Lord. it is this blessing of the abundance that we have in Christ that leaves an aroma behind us exhorting others to join in the goodness and kindness of God that leads us to salvation. Because of Christ we are assured of a seat at the table in the house of the Lord for all of eternity.
Isaiah 32:18;
"My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."
WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT; (to infuse with courage)
"Peers are for fellowship. Fathers are for discipleship."
TRAIN
Isaiah 6:1;
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple."
In Isaiah 1:1, Isaiah, the prophet, had a vision and declared it. In Isaiah 6:1, he was actually able to see into heaven because heaven was opened for him. What he saw was amazing and reflective of where Christ now sits as He rules and reigns eternally. We can only imagine the look of the throne, the heavenly temple, and Christ's robe with its massive train.
Hebrews 8:1-2;
"Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest (Jesus), who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man."
This throne that Isaiah saw was simply the everlasting throne of grace from which salvation comes by the purging of sin and the taking away of sin, which only Christ can do because of the atoning blood He shed on the cross. On that throne Isaiah saw the Lord "high and lifted up", a reflection of the cross of Calvary.
John 12:34;
"The Son of Man (Jesus) must be lifted up."
The Lord is exalted on His throne and thus His name is above every other name. He is lifted up by the worship due Him, which is our reasonable act of service.
Psalm 22:3;
"But You are Holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel."
The heavenly temple, not made by the hands of man but the Lord Himself, is described as a massive place in the Scriptures. This hast to be so that the temple might contain the fullness of all the worshipers both heavenly and earthly. The royal robe represents His majesty with its attendant authority and power. The fact that His train fills the temple points to the immensity of His majesty, glory, presence and unapproachable light. All who worship there are immersed in and covered by His greatness.
Psalm 104:1-2;
"O Lord my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain."
ORDAINED
Ephesians 2:8-10;
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:8-9 is the benchmark Scripture that describes the salvation that we have experienced for those of us that are in Christ. It is a reminder that we did not save ourselves, nor was it a state of being that we would seek after. Purely, our salvation is a gift from God presented to us by a loving Father by His unmerited favor toward us. We would not have received "so great a salvation" if it had not been for the faith that Christ had already deposited in us so that we could respond in the affirmative. We cannot come to Christ unless He has already come to us.
We are described in the Scriptures as "jars of clay" This tells us that we have been formed by our Father, the Potter. The clay cannot boast in any way of how it is fashioned on the wheel nor can we say that we had any hand in our natural birth or our supernatural birth. The ability to say "yes" to Jesus is only possible because of the imploring of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are still clay and are continually being fashioned by the Potter. We have been fully formed by Him to be pro-active in good works - not the ones we have chosen, but the ones that he has chosen. Paul said he was an Apostle, not by the will of man, including his own will, but by the will of God. His whole focus was to identify the ordained works that the Lord had for him and to walk them out, not for his benefit or glory, but for the advancement of the Kingdom of God through the Good News. How foolish it would be to think we can determine what we will do for God and therefore our destiny. How wise it is to seek the Lord for the works He has fore-ordained for us to walk in. If we find those works and walk in them faithfully, then our intended destiny will be revealed, and as we walk with Him in all our labors, our future will be bright and fulfilling, because we have truly yielded to what we have often prayed - "Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
RETURN
Joel 2:12-14;
" 'Now, therefore,' says the Lord,
'Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.'
So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
Who knows if He will turn and relent,
And leave a blessing behind Him."
There are many who used to have a strong walk with the Lord, hit a wall, and made a decision not to follow hard after the Lord their God. They have wasted away in "limbo land" and have not regarded the clarion call of the Lord to return to Him and His house. However, the prophet Joel assures us of a return, much like the prodigal son. This plea from the Lord, "Turn to Me with all your heart," has been heard by many and they are coming back with conciliatory and renewed hearts.
Returning with repentance and a heart yielded to the Lord, has shown His response to be immensely gracious and merciful. He demonstrates himself as the God of great compassion who is slow to anger and patient. Even in their alienation and departure, the Lord has been attentive to them wooing and drawing them even showing that He is still Jehovah Jireh, the God who has provided for them. We have seen that, like a great Father, He means no harm and is all too willing to leave the aroma of His blessing behind just like the Shepherd who has gotten the wayward sheep back to the sheepfold.
No one returns without the visitation and drawing of the Holy Spirit of God. Just as we cannot save ourselves, neither can we return without His magnanimous pursuit of us as He wraps His arms around us and lavishes love and care on us. We must never stop praying for those who have drifted as God is faithful to those that are His, only rejecting those who have blasphemed the Holy Spirit by throwing away their salvation and cursing God as though He had never existed in their lives.
There is a promise when we see this return, which is happening everywhere even to the stunned surprise of many. And the promise is found 14 verses later in Joel Chapter 2. The near fulfillment was at Pentecost in the upper room. But there is also a latter rain promise of this outpouring of the work of the Holy Spirit and this will be one of the signs of the revival that will bring in the end of the age. And all the signs are saying that Jesus is coming soon.
Let us rejoice for our "redemption is nigh." (Luke 21:28)
Joel 2:28;
“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions."
WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT; (to infuse with courage)
"Your grace sustains me; Your mercy delivers me."
RENEW
Isaiah 40:28-29;
"Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength."
There are three ways in which we gain knowledge of the Lord and hear what He is speaking to us personally - by reading the Bible and studying it - by hearing solid preaching and teaching - by listening to what the Lord is speaking specifically to us. If we do not read the Word regularly and sit under solid preaching and teaching we will not know or hear what is on the mind of God for us or His church. Rather than being built up, we get torn down. Instead of gaining constructive values in our lives, we inherit the destructive values of the enemy of our souls and this world.
Romans 10:14;
"How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?"
Our God is an everlasting God and so too is His Word. The philosophies of men will wither and their surmisings and postulations will fade away. All the things that contain the thoughts and efforts of man, whether beautiful or corrupt, will be gone at the end of the age when Jesus establishes His Kingdom. The Lord's thoughts and ways are permanent as well as the beauty of His Holiness. Both will be fully revealed when we see Him face to face.
Isaiah 40:8;
"The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
Our Lord is the creator of everything. He rules and reigns in righteousness. His government will never cease. He is continually mindful of man and He maintains all things in existence without getting tired or collapsing. He understands all things including us and He is supreme in all knowledge as He is the all knowing God - the Omniscient One!
Hebrews 1:3;
"(He upholds) all things by the word of His power."
He is the God who shares. After all we are "joint heirs with Christ." We share in His love, joy and peace by the power of His Holy Spirit. And we share in His strength as He promises to give power to the weak. We get weary and feel like we are collapsing, but He has a poultice for that and it is His strength. When we feel weak and like we are losing it, the power of upliftment and renewed strength is just a prayer away. God promises that with well doing we will reap strength.
Galatians 6:9;
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
CONFIDENCE
Hebrews 3:12-14;
"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the Living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end"
The writer of Hebrews is giving a warning to those that know Christ and are in the sheepfold. That is why he calls them "brethren" because they are a part of the family of God. This letter is predominately addressed to the Hebrew believers. It is a manuscript that transitions them to fully understand the New Covenant in relationship to the Old Covenant with the exhortation not to drift back and deny the very Jesus who has saved them. Departing from the Living God, who is Jesus, means departing from the eternal living hope that is assured them by being in Christ. He makes them aware that unbelief springs from evil that has set up residence in their hearts.
Like them, the writer is also telling us that we need each other in every day with the emphasis of our relationships based on encouraging one another in the things of the Lord Jesus Christ. This act of continual Christian fellowship will guard our hearts against being hardened to the things of God through the deceitfulness of sin and bring the peace of God to our lives.
Philippians 4:7;
"The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Deception is the key strategy of the enemy to get us to embrace sin as a lifestyle and accept the false notion that it is okay with our Lord who came to save us from our sins by the shedding of His blood. Just having knowledge of Christ is not enough for our victory, we must be one with Him and, by obedience to HIS WORD, be followers of Him. It is our responsibility to maintain the confidence of our salvation in Christ that we had from the beginning. By doing that we say that we believe and will continue to believe until we see Christ or He comes for us on that glorious day.
We shouldn't be deceived into thinking that the confidence we have in Christ is arrogance. Confidence is walking in God's strength. Arrogance is walking in our own strength.
Galatians 6:7-10;
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."
LABOR
Hebrews 6:10-12;
"For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
We serve a just God and He is keenly aware of our heart toward Him. This should motivate us to serve His purposes in our generation by laboring in the love of Christ for the blessing of others so that they might see Jesus high and lifted up in all things. Those who are graced and blessed to lead the church know all to well the time, effort, energy and attention to people that it takes to do the work of the ministry.
1 Timothy 5:17;
"Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine."
But Paul exhorts us to be like him and serve, work and labor in the same manner. We all are responsible to be diligent concerning the ministry that God has for us to bless people with the talents and Spiritual gifts that He has given us. We are not called to be bystanders marveling at the great men and women of God. Nor are we to sit and be entertained by Worship and the Word. We are to be motivated to action by what we see and hear, and to be involved in helping accomplish God's vision and mission for our local church. This is a major key in maintaining the hope that we have in Christ until we finish our race, and a sure way to avoid being the one who has fallen away.
Hebrews 10:24-25;
"Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
Not only are we to be diligent, but we are to be energetic and persistent in the pursuit of our labor of love. Being sluggish or casual about the things of the Lord puts our inheritance of His promises in jeopardy. Think of it this way - are we idle and just hanging around waiting for the promises of God, or are we being diligent and exercising our faith by working and having the expectation of all the promises of God being fulfilled in our lives as we serve Him?
PRACTICAL STEPS:
Ask the Lord what your giftings are and how He wants to use your talents to edify the church and help the Lord build what He has in mind for her. You can also ask someone you respect how they see you in regards to talents and giftings. Then ask the Pastors how and where you can serve in the congregation. If you have a strong Spirit led desire to do something, tell the Pastors and then allow them to place you so you can grow in the works of service that will help the church and help you reach your destiny in what God has for you.