Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship, Scotland on
Sunday 12th March 2006
I hope to leave you with 3 words to take home today. These 3 words will occupy you throughout the rest of your life.
• Jesus
• Christ
• Crucified
Let’s look at Daniel chapter 4
Daniel 4:4-5.
‘I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.’
What a great thing to have ‘…rest in my house…’ even a ‘…flourishing palace…’ and oh how quickly it can turn to fear. Nebuchadnezzar became ‘…afraid…’ and ‘…troubled…’
Why was this?
He saw a dream.
The thoughts and the visions of his head began to trouble him. He became afraid and lost his rest.
In his trouble he calls upon a man called Daniel. ‘…in him is the Spirit of the Holy God…’
He tells Daniel his dream.
V8
‘But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him…’
V24 +25
‘…this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king…’
‘…They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.’
Some things never change. You can rely on them to turn up. They will come up in your life, and in mine. ‘…You need to know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men. You need to know it.
Now you are getting a bit personal Daniel, after all this is the King Nebuchadnezzar. He’s a despot, don’t you know! Do you value your head, Daniel?
Psalm 46:10
‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!’
A world leader called Nebuchadnezzar had to humble himself before God, how much more do you.
V26
‘…your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules…’
You are not going to miss out on anything, your kingdom is assured to you. Your ministry is on hold for you.
Your kingdom is going to be ok, but first and foremost, of vital importance, you will have to know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men!
2 Corinthians 8:5
‘…they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God…’
Here Paul is using the Macedonian churches as an example of giving gifts to the work of the ministry.
He says of them they first of all gave themselves to God, and then to the work of the ministry.
All of us aspire to the work of the ministry, and that is something God says is good. But he also says that we must wait on our ministry. Let it develop under the hand of God and he will bring it about.
• King David – ‘Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!’
• King David – ‘Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.’
• Zephaniah - ‘Therefore wait for Me," says the LORD, "Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All my fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy.’
• Isaiah - ‘those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.’
• The author of Hebrews – ‘For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.’
Nebuchadnezzar had to be humbled before he could do the work. The world wants to do the work first then deal with humility later. It never does.
Let’s go back to Daniel chapter 4 and v 27
We find him giving advice to the King.
V27
‘Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.’
Daniel loves Nebuchadnezzar, and he loves God, and he has to declare a message from God, to Nebuchadnezzar a very strong message. Look at the way Daniel tries to give him some advice, to soften the blow.
• Break off your sins by being righteous…
• Break off your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor…
Sorry Daniel won’t work. Its putting works first. They won’t get Nebuchadnezzar anywhere.
Paul was right when he commended the Macedonian churches for first of all giving themselves to the Lord. Once you have given yourself to Jesus, then you are ready to do the works of Jesus.
Otherwise it’s Salvation by works, no matter how fancy it is, and the Devil has an ability to make some fancy works in this day and age. Give yourself to the Lord………….Nebuchadnezzar,
Praise God that every one here knows that Ephesians 2:9 say’s that it is ‘…not of works, lest anyone should boast…’
Ephesians 2:8 tells us that it is ‘… by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.’
What God requires in Nebuchadnezzar is only possible as he receives the gift, of God.
Ezekiel reminds us of that gift.
Ezekiel 36:26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Sorry Daniel you cannot help. Just give God’s message and step aside! And see God do his marvellous works.
What does God’s record of events tell us?
V28
‘All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.’
Let’s read from V29-33
At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.
30 The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honour of my majesty?"
31 While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!
32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."
33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.
Hear he is a year later walking in his house, that house which was at rest. That house which was flourishing and he opens his mouth, and what is in his heart comes flying out.
"Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honour of my majesty?"
King David cried out to the Lord in Ps 141:3
‘Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.’
How wise!
If it’s in your heart it will come out.
It may take a year or two, but it will come out.
I talk a lot.
So my friends tell me, but let me tell you I cry out to the Lord Jesus daily to be the guard over my mouth and to keep a watch over the doors of lips.
Matthew reminds us that ‘…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…’
Mt 12:34
And Luke states the same thing.
‘A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Lu 6:45
Ok then let’s just keep quiet then! Don’t speak!
Sorry that won’t work. Even a fool can be thought wise if he keeps his mouth shut. You would still remain a fool, and no one would know, God has chosen the foolishness of preaching, so open your mouth and let your new heart speak.
You have a responsibility to open your mouth and bring fourth the good treasure out of your heart.
Nebuchadnezzar was among those whom Job refers to in 24:13
‘…They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.’
Nebuchadnezzar you need to know that you are not the light, you only carry it in your heart.
V33 indicates that Nebuchadnezzar will eat grass with the oxen.
Strange I thought… But wait see if you can get this…
Job 40:15 tells us to look at behemoth…
‘Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox.’
God says that He made you and I in the same way that He made behemoth!
Job goes on to tell of leviathan that is similar to behemoth.
Job 41:34 tells us that he is the king over all the children of pride…
‘He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.’
Nebuchadnezzar is being sent out into the grass fields to eat grass because that is what leviathan and behemoth eats and he is the king over all the sons of pride.
Suddenly he finds himself ruled over by another king. Behemoth can represent the Devil, who was cast out of heaven because of his pride.
In a moment life changed for Nebuchadnezzar….
But…
Listen to what is coming out of his mouth now.
34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honoured Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have you done?"
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honour and splendour returned to me. My counsellors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
Look at the transformation of Nebuchadnezzar. God has given him a new heart, and put a new Spirit within him, Hallelujah!
V36 + V37
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honour and splendour returned to me. My counsellors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
What a transformation! What a work of the living God!
• For the glory of my kingdom
• My reason returned to me
• My counsellors and my nobles resorted to me
• I was restored to my kingdom
• Excellent majesty was added to me
It is now of a truth a kingdom which Nebuchadnezzar rules over, because he ‘..Knows that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men.
Let’s finish in the New Testament.
2 Corinthians 10:17
But "he who glories, let him glory in the LORD."
V18
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Jesus opens our eyes through Paul when he continues to say in 1 Corinthians 2:2-5
‘And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God’
Paul was determined to not know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Like the Macedonian churches, Paul gave himself to the lord, and then to the ministry of the body.
I leave you with the three words Paul was determined to know among his people.
Jesus
Christ
Crucified
Monday, October 23, 2006
Can the coat of many colours be seen on you?
Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship, Scotland on
Sunday 4th June 2006
2Peter 1:1 -15
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me.
15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
V1 Simon Peter I love your letters!
V 1 He’s a servant and an Apostle, what a great combination.
He’s a servant of Jesus Christ, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ.
He is writing to those who have obtained the same precious faith as himself.
Have you obtained that precious faith? Can you say this morning that you have obtained this precious faith he is talking about?
Yes? Then the content of this letter is for you.
No? Then listen in to what God is saying in this letter.
This precious faith which belongs to Simon Peter can belong to you.
V2 Grace and Peace be multiplied to you…
You have received grace and peace, but more than that Simon Peter desires that it be multiplied to you.
That you may have it in abundance!
And it comes from two places.
V2 through the knowledge of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ…
You see God has given you all things in giving himself to you.
He gave himself as Jesus died in your place on the cross.
You should have died that day.
But Jesus died in your place.
He died you live.
In V3 Simon tells us there are two things he has given.
V3 [He] has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us to glory and virtue.
God has given us everything that has to do with life.
That’s everything!
Everything to do with your life, the tone of the words are; ‘everything to do with your lifetime’. He has given you everything for the time you are on this planet.
Everything up to now…
Everything to come…
Everything!
Nothing has been left out.
Not only has He given us everything to do with our life and our time here on earth.
God has given us everything that has to do with godliness!
Again he has given us everything!
Everything to do with holiness! Everything!
You have been given everything in order that you might live, and everything that you might live a godly, and a holy life.
Remember Joseph, he was given a gift of a coat of many colours.
This marked him out from his brothers
Remember the prodigal son His father said ‘bring forth the best robe and put it on him’ He was given a gift of a robe which marked him out form the elder brother.
Godliness, Holiness is a gift from our Father in heaven!
Combined with all the other qualities mentioned in this letter, from Simon Peter, they make a great coat of many colours, a robe, which adorns us.
It marks us out form all others.
Godliness! Is the gift of being saved, so that we might live a life which is godly.
Let’s look a little deeper.
Ac 3:12 and when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, you men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look you so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
Remember the lame man at the beautiful gate?
This was a miracle done among the people openly in the street.
Simon Peter had to stop the people; these were their fellow Israelites; because they were thinking that it was the godliness of Peter and John which had accomplished this healing.
The man was made to walk by the fact that Simon Peter and John had moved in the godliness which they had received as a gift from their Father in heaven. They were walking in godliness and holiness.
1Timothy 2:2
Read form V1
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty…
Paul A servant and an Apostle like Simon Peter exhorts us that life should be lived in all godliness…
1Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
There is a mystery about godliness!
Yes! he has given us all things that have to do with life. Praise Him that he has.
But there is this godliness, this holiness.
In some ways the world and Satan can reproduce deceptive life. But it can only be enjoyed for a season!
Remember Moses before Pharaoh, when he threw down his staff and it became a serpent?
The magicians did the same?
For everything that Moses could do they did, or had reason why it had happened.
The only thing they could not reproduce, or have an answer for, was death!
Finally after all the darkness, hail, frogs and lice God killed the first born of every man and animal.
When it comes to death you need the godliness which God the father provides as a gift through his Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise God for Jesus…
The gift of godliness…
The gift to live a holy life!
Given to us, in such a mysterious way, that we can live life in all its fullness
Mark 4:11
He said to them, ‘to you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables…
You have been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God…
What a great privilege.
Romans 11:25
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of his mystery…
Romans 16:25
According to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began…
A mystery kept secrete since the world began…
Colossians 1:27
…God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
This mystery of godliness, of holiness
Christ in you the hope of glory.
This is, the mystery of Godliness, revealed to you when Jesus came into your life.
Amazing that Jesus Christ can come into your heart, and give you the hope of glory.
There is more…
1Timothy 4:7
Refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself rather unto godliness.
The world is full of magicians!
The world is full of Old wives’ fables!
The apostle Paul exhorts us to refuse them.
God himself through Paul exhorts us to go, instead, to the gym.
And do exercises in godliness.
I, too, exhort you to go to the gym.
1Timothy 4:6
For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
You see bodily exercise when compared to godliness profits only a little.
Godliness, Holiness is profitable for all things.
It affects the life that we live now, and it affects the world that is to come.
Going to the gym will make you fit, and healthy, and is useful for this life.
When you die all your hours in the gym will come to an end. They will have affected only this life.
But the exercise of godliness goes beyond death. All your godly exercise profits and prepares you for the world to come.
Because Christ is in you…you have the hope of glory and it inspires you to prepare for that glory to come.
1Timothy 6:3 - 5
if anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself
There is a doctrine, a teaching which accords to godliness, to holiness.
By finding out about this godly teaching, and exercising it, you will see grace and peace multiplied throughout your life.
1Timothy 6:6
Godliness with contentment is great gain.
Godliness mixed with contentment is great gain; in fact, it is the greatest gain of all.
1 Timothy 6:11 - 12
But you, O man of God… pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called…
Here Paul reminds us, that godliness is one quality among many which the Holy Spirit desires to produce in our lives, with your cooperation, of course!
It is called the fruit of the Holy Spirit
Do you remember the list in Galatians 5: 22, 23
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…
Let’s go back to 2 Peter 1:5
2 Peter 1: 5
Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love…
Cooperation is needed, to add these things to your faith.
I have emphasised godliness, but each one of these qualities mentioned by Simon Peter, and by Paul, can be treated in the same way.
Going into the gym involves a series of exercises on various pieces of equipment.
Some for the leg muscles, some for he arm muscles, and of course some will tone up the belly.
Notice what is said at the beginning of V 5
Beside this, giving all diligence
Beside what?
V3-4 tells us…
As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Why then should we spend time in the gym of Holiness?
V10
For if you do these things, you shall never fail…
Wow!
V8
8 for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If these things be in you, and abound
If you give all diligence
If you give diligence to make your calling and election sure
If you do these things you shall never fail
If these things be in you and abound you shall never be barren
You shall never be unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Can the coat of many colours be seen on you?
Have you obtained the robe of righteousness which the Father gives to those who return to him?
Are you diligent in your exercises?
V 9
But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Which are you?
V10
Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall…
Sunday 4th June 2006
2Peter 1:1 -15
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me.
15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
V1 Simon Peter I love your letters!
V 1 He’s a servant and an Apostle, what a great combination.
He’s a servant of Jesus Christ, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ.
He is writing to those who have obtained the same precious faith as himself.
Have you obtained that precious faith? Can you say this morning that you have obtained this precious faith he is talking about?
Yes? Then the content of this letter is for you.
No? Then listen in to what God is saying in this letter.
This precious faith which belongs to Simon Peter can belong to you.
V2 Grace and Peace be multiplied to you…
You have received grace and peace, but more than that Simon Peter desires that it be multiplied to you.
That you may have it in abundance!
And it comes from two places.
V2 through the knowledge of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ…
You see God has given you all things in giving himself to you.
He gave himself as Jesus died in your place on the cross.
You should have died that day.
But Jesus died in your place.
He died you live.
In V3 Simon tells us there are two things he has given.
V3 [He] has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us to glory and virtue.
God has given us everything that has to do with life.
That’s everything!
Everything to do with your life, the tone of the words are; ‘everything to do with your lifetime’. He has given you everything for the time you are on this planet.
Everything up to now…
Everything to come…
Everything!
Nothing has been left out.
Not only has He given us everything to do with our life and our time here on earth.
God has given us everything that has to do with godliness!
Again he has given us everything!
Everything to do with holiness! Everything!
You have been given everything in order that you might live, and everything that you might live a godly, and a holy life.
Remember Joseph, he was given a gift of a coat of many colours.
This marked him out from his brothers
Remember the prodigal son His father said ‘bring forth the best robe and put it on him’ He was given a gift of a robe which marked him out form the elder brother.
Godliness, Holiness is a gift from our Father in heaven!
Combined with all the other qualities mentioned in this letter, from Simon Peter, they make a great coat of many colours, a robe, which adorns us.
It marks us out form all others.
Godliness! Is the gift of being saved, so that we might live a life which is godly.
Let’s look a little deeper.
Ac 3:12 and when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, you men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look you so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
Remember the lame man at the beautiful gate?
This was a miracle done among the people openly in the street.
Simon Peter had to stop the people; these were their fellow Israelites; because they were thinking that it was the godliness of Peter and John which had accomplished this healing.
The man was made to walk by the fact that Simon Peter and John had moved in the godliness which they had received as a gift from their Father in heaven. They were walking in godliness and holiness.
1Timothy 2:2
Read form V1
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty…
Paul A servant and an Apostle like Simon Peter exhorts us that life should be lived in all godliness…
1Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
There is a mystery about godliness!
Yes! he has given us all things that have to do with life. Praise Him that he has.
But there is this godliness, this holiness.
In some ways the world and Satan can reproduce deceptive life. But it can only be enjoyed for a season!
Remember Moses before Pharaoh, when he threw down his staff and it became a serpent?
The magicians did the same?
For everything that Moses could do they did, or had reason why it had happened.
The only thing they could not reproduce, or have an answer for, was death!
Finally after all the darkness, hail, frogs and lice God killed the first born of every man and animal.
When it comes to death you need the godliness which God the father provides as a gift through his Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise God for Jesus…
The gift of godliness…
The gift to live a holy life!
Given to us, in such a mysterious way, that we can live life in all its fullness
Mark 4:11
He said to them, ‘to you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables…
You have been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God…
What a great privilege.
Romans 11:25
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of his mystery…
Romans 16:25
According to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began…
A mystery kept secrete since the world began…
Colossians 1:27
…God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
This mystery of godliness, of holiness
Christ in you the hope of glory.
This is, the mystery of Godliness, revealed to you when Jesus came into your life.
Amazing that Jesus Christ can come into your heart, and give you the hope of glory.
There is more…
1Timothy 4:7
Refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself rather unto godliness.
The world is full of magicians!
The world is full of Old wives’ fables!
The apostle Paul exhorts us to refuse them.
God himself through Paul exhorts us to go, instead, to the gym.
And do exercises in godliness.
I, too, exhort you to go to the gym.
1Timothy 4:6
For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
You see bodily exercise when compared to godliness profits only a little.
Godliness, Holiness is profitable for all things.
It affects the life that we live now, and it affects the world that is to come.
Going to the gym will make you fit, and healthy, and is useful for this life.
When you die all your hours in the gym will come to an end. They will have affected only this life.
But the exercise of godliness goes beyond death. All your godly exercise profits and prepares you for the world to come.
Because Christ is in you…you have the hope of glory and it inspires you to prepare for that glory to come.
1Timothy 6:3 - 5
if anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself
There is a doctrine, a teaching which accords to godliness, to holiness.
By finding out about this godly teaching, and exercising it, you will see grace and peace multiplied throughout your life.
1Timothy 6:6
Godliness with contentment is great gain.
Godliness mixed with contentment is great gain; in fact, it is the greatest gain of all.
1 Timothy 6:11 - 12
But you, O man of God… pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called…
Here Paul reminds us, that godliness is one quality among many which the Holy Spirit desires to produce in our lives, with your cooperation, of course!
It is called the fruit of the Holy Spirit
Do you remember the list in Galatians 5: 22, 23
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…
Let’s go back to 2 Peter 1:5
2 Peter 1: 5
Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love…
Cooperation is needed, to add these things to your faith.
I have emphasised godliness, but each one of these qualities mentioned by Simon Peter, and by Paul, can be treated in the same way.
Going into the gym involves a series of exercises on various pieces of equipment.
Some for the leg muscles, some for he arm muscles, and of course some will tone up the belly.
Notice what is said at the beginning of V 5
Beside this, giving all diligence
Beside what?
V3-4 tells us…
As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Why then should we spend time in the gym of Holiness?
V10
For if you do these things, you shall never fail…
Wow!
V8
8 for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If these things be in you, and abound
If you give all diligence
If you give diligence to make your calling and election sure
If you do these things you shall never fail
If these things be in you and abound you shall never be barren
You shall never be unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Can the coat of many colours be seen on you?
Have you obtained the robe of righteousness which the Father gives to those who return to him?
Are you diligent in your exercises?
V 9
But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Which are you?
V10
Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall…
Do you know the purpose of his call?
Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship, Scotland on
Sunday 30th July 2006
The challenge to go on with Jesus!
We pray for revival, or restoration, whatever we call it.
Yet in the midst of revival you will still have to face the challenge, and the choice as to weather you will follow Jesus.
Jesus is the only man to follow.
Who are you following? Who are you following?
When revival comes, and it could come today, it will bring with it the challenge, and the choice to follow Jesus.
Revival comes with great activity, and with great excitement. It comes like a red letter day.
All that is desired, and prayed for suddenly comes together and you are standing in the midst of all that you have longed and hoped for. All your barns are suddenly full!
Let’s look at Mark 1:29 - 39
Mr 1:29
Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.
31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.
32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.
33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door.
34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.
37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."
38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."
39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.
Let’s look at this passage.
V32 ‘at even when the sun had set.
It’s the end of the day.
The sick and the demon possessed! Came, in large numbers
V30 ‘Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever.
V31 Jesus ‘…took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her…’
One healing of one woman leads to all the sick and demon possessed coming in large numbers to Simon’s house.
Not only the sick and demon possessed,
Read V33 ‘The whole city was gathered together at the door’
V34 ‘he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons’
Wow! The whole city is gathered at the door of Simon’s house!
What a great night, what a great exciting, and eventful experience.
Eventually they got to bed, because in the next verse….
V35 ‘now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place… ‘
A great time of deliverance and healing, and excitement!
What a great night it must have been.
What do we find Jesus doing?
What is the example left to us by Jesus In the midst of a revival?
Jesus had risen a long while before daylight and went out and departed to a solitary palace.
Look at the end of V35
When Jesus went out and departed to this solitary place….
‘…there he prayed’
What a wonderful example!
Up late the night before, and power going out of him to heal and cast outdemons, all the city gathered at the door.
Revival had come to town.
Praise God for all the excitement that is coming to Dumfries
Praise God for the wonderful expectations building in the hearts of God’s people here in the city.
God will have his way among us, His word surely declares it. You must declare what God has said!
Lets look at Job 22:21-30
Job 22:21 "Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.
22 Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; you will remove iniquity far from your tents.
24 Then you will lay your gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
25 Yes, the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver;
26 For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God.
27 You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows.
28 You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.
29 When they cast you down, and you say, 'Exaltation will come!' Then He will save the humble person.
30 He will even deliver one who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands."
We know that these words were given to Job by Eliphaz, who thought Job to be a bad man and out of sorts with God. But still these words are relevant to any who would go forward with God.
V21 ‘acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace’
Acquainting yourself with God is of the utmost importance.
You must be at peace with God today. Never mind tomorrow, never mind the past, are you at peace with God today, and acquainted with his ways for you?
How can two walk together and not be in agreement?
Get to know about God, and be at peace with him! If you have difficulty with acquainting yourself with God, and being at peace with Him, then speak to Him, Pray!
V22 ‘Receive… instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart’
V23 ‘If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; you will remove iniquity far from your tents.’
V26 ‘then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God’
V27 ‘You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you’
V28 ‘You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways’
What are you declaring for Dumfries? Do you know what you should be declaring for Dumfries?
V29 ‘When they cast you down, and you say, 'Exaltation will come!'
Or as is said in another translation; when there is a casting down, you will say that there is a lifting up and it shall be lifted up!
What great power you have in your tongue, brothers and sisters!
Going back to Mark 1: 36
Jesus is out and departed to a solitary place, and there he prayed.
Hallelujah for the solitary times of prayer.
But let’s look at what the disciples are up to while Jesus is praying. Most of them were asleep. Until Simon stirs them up!
V36 ‘Simon and those who were with Him, searched for [Jesus]’
V37 ‘when they found Him, they said to Him, ‘everyone is looking for You’.
What a great statement Simon makes!
Every one is looking for Jesus.
You may not know what you are looking for this morning,
But let me tell you,
You are looking for Jesus!
Jesus is the one you are looking for, Have you made your peace with God?
Have you acquainted yourself with Jesus?
Let me tell you when the revival comes you will have to be acquainted with Him.
Mark 2:1-12
Mr 2:1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.
2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.
4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."
6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
7 "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?
9 "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?
10 "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" --He said to the paralytic,
11 "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
Jesus introduces a connection between forgiveness and healing!
V9 ‘which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you.’ Or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?
Can you see the need you have to hear the voice of the living God?
There is much coming your way that you will not be able to handle unless you acquaint yourself with Jesus and you let His words sink down into your heart.
We are moving into a time when you will only be able to function by being led by the Holy Spirit.
V8 ‘Jesus perceived in His spirit’
Can you see that Jesus reasons in his spirit?
And the religious Pharisees ‘… reasoned about these things in [their] hearts?
We talk about the difference of the mind and heart, but look at this Jesus reasoned in his spirit, and the people in their hearts.
V6 they reasoned in their hearts.
God has moved on and he is saying even your heart will fail you in the days ahead.
You need to learn to be led by my Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah 23:22 ‘But if they had stood in My counsel, And had caused My people to hear My words, Then they would have turned them from their evil way And from the evil of their doings’.
V38 ‘But He said to them ‘let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.’
You see, Jesus, knew His purpose!
How did he know his purpose?
He had been in the solitary place, getting acquainted with what His Fathers purpose was for Him.
Some of you have never been to the solitary place, where you are alone with God.
Yes, you have seen it from a distance, and you have avoided going there.
Jesus was led of the Holy Spirit into the solitary place.
But hey, he came out in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus came to the place where he was at peace with His Fathers purpose for his life.
This puts Simon and the disciples in a dilemma.
Are they going to get caught up with all men who have come to seek Jesus?
Or are they going to go on with Jesus.
You see how important it is to know His purpose, and Know what the father has called you to!
Simon, are you going to stay here, or are you going to follow Jesus.
If you are following Jesus, you need to know. You need to know God’s holy purpose, and
In V22 and V23 of Job 22 there is the exhortation from Eliphaz
Please receive instruction from [God’s] mouth, and lay up His words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; you will remove iniquity for from your tents.
V21 Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace!
I love that statement in Mark 1:1 ‘it was noised abroad that He was in the house’
Oh that it would be noised abroad that Jesus is in this house!
In your house!
Why is it not noised abroad the Jesus is in the house?
Are you responsible?
George said last time he preached that he had thought maybe he should give preaching a rest!
No George, no rest, increase in your preaching, God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to save the lost, and build up the body.
You have a message that Dumfries and Scotland needs to hear.
This is not the time to be silent.
Jesus preached wherever he went.
What did he preach?
The things concerning the kingdom of God.
Jeremiah 17:5-6
Jer 17:5 thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD.
6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.
On the other hand
Jeremiah 17:7-10
Jer 17:7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
The lord searches the heart,
I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
1 Samuel 16:7
1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
The lord looks at your heart.
Psalm 139:23,24.
Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Romans 8
Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Ro 8:27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Jesus knew the purpose of his call, because he was led by the Holy spirit.
My question to close is
Do you know the purpose of his call, are you being led of the Holy Spirit?
God bless you as you follow Jesus.
Sunday 30th July 2006
The challenge to go on with Jesus!
We pray for revival, or restoration, whatever we call it.
Yet in the midst of revival you will still have to face the challenge, and the choice as to weather you will follow Jesus.
Jesus is the only man to follow.
Who are you following? Who are you following?
When revival comes, and it could come today, it will bring with it the challenge, and the choice to follow Jesus.
Revival comes with great activity, and with great excitement. It comes like a red letter day.
All that is desired, and prayed for suddenly comes together and you are standing in the midst of all that you have longed and hoped for. All your barns are suddenly full!
Let’s look at Mark 1:29 - 39
Mr 1:29
Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.
31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.
32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.
33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door.
34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.
37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."
38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."
39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.
Let’s look at this passage.
V32 ‘at even when the sun had set.
It’s the end of the day.
The sick and the demon possessed! Came, in large numbers
V30 ‘Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever.
V31 Jesus ‘…took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her…’
One healing of one woman leads to all the sick and demon possessed coming in large numbers to Simon’s house.
Not only the sick and demon possessed,
Read V33 ‘The whole city was gathered together at the door’
V34 ‘he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons’
Wow! The whole city is gathered at the door of Simon’s house!
What a great night, what a great exciting, and eventful experience.
Eventually they got to bed, because in the next verse….
V35 ‘now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place… ‘
A great time of deliverance and healing, and excitement!
What a great night it must have been.
What do we find Jesus doing?
What is the example left to us by Jesus In the midst of a revival?
Jesus had risen a long while before daylight and went out and departed to a solitary palace.
Look at the end of V35
When Jesus went out and departed to this solitary place….
‘…there he prayed’
What a wonderful example!
Up late the night before, and power going out of him to heal and cast outdemons, all the city gathered at the door.
Revival had come to town.
Praise God for all the excitement that is coming to Dumfries
Praise God for the wonderful expectations building in the hearts of God’s people here in the city.
God will have his way among us, His word surely declares it. You must declare what God has said!
Lets look at Job 22:21-30
Job 22:21 "Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.
22 Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; you will remove iniquity far from your tents.
24 Then you will lay your gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
25 Yes, the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver;
26 For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God.
27 You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows.
28 You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.
29 When they cast you down, and you say, 'Exaltation will come!' Then He will save the humble person.
30 He will even deliver one who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands."
We know that these words were given to Job by Eliphaz, who thought Job to be a bad man and out of sorts with God. But still these words are relevant to any who would go forward with God.
V21 ‘acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace’
Acquainting yourself with God is of the utmost importance.
You must be at peace with God today. Never mind tomorrow, never mind the past, are you at peace with God today, and acquainted with his ways for you?
How can two walk together and not be in agreement?
Get to know about God, and be at peace with him! If you have difficulty with acquainting yourself with God, and being at peace with Him, then speak to Him, Pray!
V22 ‘Receive… instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart’
V23 ‘If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; you will remove iniquity far from your tents.’
V26 ‘then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God’
V27 ‘You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you’
V28 ‘You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways’
What are you declaring for Dumfries? Do you know what you should be declaring for Dumfries?
V29 ‘When they cast you down, and you say, 'Exaltation will come!'
Or as is said in another translation; when there is a casting down, you will say that there is a lifting up and it shall be lifted up!
What great power you have in your tongue, brothers and sisters!
Going back to Mark 1: 36
Jesus is out and departed to a solitary place, and there he prayed.
Hallelujah for the solitary times of prayer.
But let’s look at what the disciples are up to while Jesus is praying. Most of them were asleep. Until Simon stirs them up!
V36 ‘Simon and those who were with Him, searched for [Jesus]’
V37 ‘when they found Him, they said to Him, ‘everyone is looking for You’.
What a great statement Simon makes!
Every one is looking for Jesus.
You may not know what you are looking for this morning,
But let me tell you,
You are looking for Jesus!
Jesus is the one you are looking for, Have you made your peace with God?
Have you acquainted yourself with Jesus?
Let me tell you when the revival comes you will have to be acquainted with Him.
Mark 2:1-12
Mr 2:1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.
2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.
4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."
6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
7 "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?
9 "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?
10 "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" --He said to the paralytic,
11 "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
Jesus introduces a connection between forgiveness and healing!
V9 ‘which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you.’ Or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?
Can you see the need you have to hear the voice of the living God?
There is much coming your way that you will not be able to handle unless you acquaint yourself with Jesus and you let His words sink down into your heart.
We are moving into a time when you will only be able to function by being led by the Holy Spirit.
V8 ‘Jesus perceived in His spirit’
Can you see that Jesus reasons in his spirit?
And the religious Pharisees ‘… reasoned about these things in [their] hearts?
We talk about the difference of the mind and heart, but look at this Jesus reasoned in his spirit, and the people in their hearts.
V6 they reasoned in their hearts.
God has moved on and he is saying even your heart will fail you in the days ahead.
You need to learn to be led by my Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah 23:22 ‘But if they had stood in My counsel, And had caused My people to hear My words, Then they would have turned them from their evil way And from the evil of their doings’.
V38 ‘But He said to them ‘let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.’
You see, Jesus, knew His purpose!
How did he know his purpose?
He had been in the solitary place, getting acquainted with what His Fathers purpose was for Him.
Some of you have never been to the solitary place, where you are alone with God.
Yes, you have seen it from a distance, and you have avoided going there.
Jesus was led of the Holy Spirit into the solitary place.
But hey, he came out in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus came to the place where he was at peace with His Fathers purpose for his life.
This puts Simon and the disciples in a dilemma.
Are they going to get caught up with all men who have come to seek Jesus?
Or are they going to go on with Jesus.
You see how important it is to know His purpose, and Know what the father has called you to!
Simon, are you going to stay here, or are you going to follow Jesus.
If you are following Jesus, you need to know. You need to know God’s holy purpose, and
In V22 and V23 of Job 22 there is the exhortation from Eliphaz
Please receive instruction from [God’s] mouth, and lay up His words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; you will remove iniquity for from your tents.
V21 Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace!
I love that statement in Mark 1:1 ‘it was noised abroad that He was in the house’
Oh that it would be noised abroad that Jesus is in this house!
In your house!
Why is it not noised abroad the Jesus is in the house?
Are you responsible?
George said last time he preached that he had thought maybe he should give preaching a rest!
No George, no rest, increase in your preaching, God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to save the lost, and build up the body.
You have a message that Dumfries and Scotland needs to hear.
This is not the time to be silent.
Jesus preached wherever he went.
What did he preach?
The things concerning the kingdom of God.
Jeremiah 17:5-6
Jer 17:5 thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD.
6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.
On the other hand
Jeremiah 17:7-10
Jer 17:7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
The lord searches the heart,
I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
1 Samuel 16:7
1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
The lord looks at your heart.
Psalm 139:23,24.
Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Romans 8
Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Ro 8:27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Jesus knew the purpose of his call, because he was led by the Holy spirit.
My question to close is
Do you know the purpose of his call, are you being led of the Holy Spirit?
God bless you as you follow Jesus.
Can you discern the one who carries the Word?
Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship, Scotland on
27th August 2006
How do you discern who is speaking the word of God today?
Trusting in Man’s word
Trusting in God’s word
Ps 118:8
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Jeremiah 17:5-11
Jer 17:5 thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.
6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; who can know it?
10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
11 “As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, so is he who gets riches, but not by right; it will leave him in the midst of his days, and at his end he will be a fool.”
He who trusts in man
He who makes flesh his strength
He whose heart departs from the Lord
• He shall be like a shrub in the desert
• He shall not see when good comes
• He shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness
• In a salt land that is not inhabited
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
Blessed is the man whose hope is in the Lord
• He shall be like a tree planted by the waters
• He shall be like a tree which spreads out its roots by the river
• He shall be like a tree which does not fear when heat comes
• He shall be like a tree whose leaves are green
• He shall be like a tree who is not anxious in the year of drought
• He shall be like a tree who will not cease from yielding fruit
How important it is to make sure you are trusting, and hoping in Him.
In order to set you thinking on this important issue let us look at two passages.
First
Jeremiah 28:1-17
Jer 28:1 And it happened in the same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
2 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: 'I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3 'Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.
4 'And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,' says the LORD, 'for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'"
5 Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people who stood in the house of the LORD,
6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! The LORD do so; the LORD perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the LORD'S house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place.
7 "Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:
8 "The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms-of war and disaster and pestilence.
9 "As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent."
10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah's neck and broke it.
11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.'" And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.
12 Now the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
13 "Go and tell Hananiah, saying, 'thus says the LORD: "You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron."
14 'for thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the field also."'"
15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
16 "Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD.'"
17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
You are in the crowd that day.
Who are you going to side with?
Haniniah or Jeremiah?
Two prophets proclaiming the word of the Lord
Two sets of words which both claim to be the Word of God
Notice this was done in the presence of the Priests and of all the people! It was a public event.
Let’s see what can be drawn out of this passage.
Haniniah claims that God says:
• V2 I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon
• V3 Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.
• V4 'And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,' says the LORD,
• V4 'For I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'
Jeremiahs says:
• V6 "Amen! The LORD do so; [interesting that Jeremiah does not silence the prophet, or criticise him] the LORD perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the LORD'S house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place. [Amen! Haniniah]
• V7 "Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:
• V 8 "The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms-of war and disaster and pestilence. [notice Jeremiah reminds the people of the historical words that have already been spoken]
• V 9 "As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent."
Haniniah Says:
• V 10Two years and we are going home.
Haniniah takes the wooden yoke that Jeremiah had on his shoulders and breaks it.
V11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.'"
• Jeremiah just walks off and leaves him to it.
• Later Jeremiah hears the Lord saying to him
V13 "Go and tell Hananiah, saying, 'thus says the LORD: "You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron."
14 'For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the field also."'"
15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
16 "Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD.'"
17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
The Lord says:
V15 Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people to trust in a lie.
Can you see what Jeremiah is doing?
• He refers the people back to what God has already said to His people
Can you see what Haniniah is doing?
• His point of reference is ‘what he is saying’
Today you will find men and women who appear saying ‘thus saith the Lord’
I have the word of the Lord, I have this word!
Their point of reference is themselves. They prophecy out of their own heart
Jeremiah’s point of reference is what God has been saying to his people already.
In fact Jeremiah will go on to give the people more detail saying
Build houses, plant vineyards, take wives for your sons and wives for their sons, settle down you are going to be hear for seventy years!
Some of my friends I hear cry, ‘I have the witness of the Holy Spirit and that is enough for me’
Well it’s just not enough.
Jesus had the witness of the Father and the witness of the Spirit, and the witness of the water and the blood
2 Chronicles 20:20b
Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper."
• Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established
• Believe in His prophets, and you shall prosper
You have believed
You have been established
How?
By believing
Do you want to go on and prosper as a believing, established Son of God?
Then believe His prophets!
Amos tells us
Am 3:7 surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets.
Paul tells us how desirable it is to hear the prophetic voice and to bring it forth.
2 Corinthians 14: 1
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
• Pursue love
• Desire Spiritual gifts
• But especially that you may prophesy
Why desire prophecy, Paul?
V 3 but he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
• Edifies
• Exhorts
• Comforts
Men!
Look at V4
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Prophecy edifies the Church
That is why Paul exhorts us to
• Desire prophecy
It is in order that men will be
• Edified
• Exhorted
• Comforted
In the Church!
Look at V12
Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Paul says in Romans 14:19
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Can I suggest one thing that you mighty like to pursue?
Prophecy
Now our second passage which is found in Acts:
Acts 21:8-14
Ac 21:8 on the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"
12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."
V10 Agabus is a prophet of God. Acts 11:28 He has recognition in the church.
He takes Paul’s belt and bound his own hands and feet, and said
Thus says the Holy Spirit. So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
Now when we, [notice the word ‘We’ this means that the author of the book of acts was in the crown that day] heard these things both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem!
Don‘t go Paul!
What do you mean breaking my heart!
For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus
Paul has the attitude that compelled Jesus to set his heart towards Jerusalem.
You see brothers and sisters there comes a moment in every one of your lives when you must be willing to die at your Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
If it brings to you bonds and afflictions then so be it, but you have set your heart on pilgrimage, and your own Jerusalem in the Lord Jesus.
The whole church and some of the leadership were against Paul going up to his Jerusalem and they tried to compel him not to go.
Paul was determined!
How determined are you to meet your bonds and afflictions which await you at Jerusalem?
More importantly when all the voices come to you who claim God’s author ship
Can you discern the one who carries the Word of the Lord?
Jeremiah looked back to what God had said previously, he was able to know the genuine word of the lord because he referred to a source out side of him self; The historical revelation of Gods people. The word of the Lord Jesus was not self sourced in Jeremiah, but confirmed by what God had already been doing in history.
But what about Paul, how does he keep his focus, in the midst of a leader like Luke, and the whole church trying to persuade him other wise?
How does Paul keep his heart set on Jerusalem?
Look at Acts 20:17-35
Ac 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you,
19 "serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
20 "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me
24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
26 "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 "For I know this that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock
30 "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel
34 "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 "I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Look at Verse 22 and 23
Acts 20:22-23.
Ac 20:22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me
Every where Paul went in his daily travels in his care for the church, he had confirmation of the word in his heart by the Holy Spirit.
He did not know what would happen to him at Jerusalem, and neither do you in your Jerusalem!
Paul is bound in the spirit of God to go, he cannot go anywhere else, he is bound to the spirit of God!
Jeremiah looks back to test the prophetic word that is being spoken today! What has God always been doing?
I’ll tell you!
He is calling his people to keep on their pilgrimage to their Jerusalem!
Paul knows and keeps his focus on his Jerusalem by looking back to what the Holy Spirit is testifying to him in every city!
Would you believe it? God is consistent!
He is still doing the same thing today.
When the true prophet speaks there will be an exhortation to you to set your heart on pilgrimage, and set your heat to go up to Jerusalem
I feel this in my heart; I just know that this word is from the Lord.
That’s too dangerous! Adam tried to be God like! You are not God!
Only God can be self sourcing.
We as human benign need the testifying of the Historical Word, the Holy Spirit, and the Body of Christ to keep us form being deceived by the false prophets.
You need to read it in the word, by the spirit!
You need to hear it in your heart, by the Spirit!
You need to hear it from your fellow brothers and sisters in the body.
These will stop you trying to be a God.
I feel this in my heart; I just know that this word is from the Lord.
Haniniah just self sourced himself, tried to break the yoke of God’s prophet!
You can’t do it.
Let the Word the Spirit and the Body of Christ The church keep you in your call to press on to your Jerusalem
All prophecy is God breathed, and it lines up with what the Holy Word of God the Bible already contains. The Spirit witnesses to it, and the church in the end has to come around and say
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."
Amen! Press on brothers!
27th August 2006
How do you discern who is speaking the word of God today?
Trusting in Man’s word
Trusting in God’s word
Ps 118:8
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Jeremiah 17:5-11
Jer 17:5 thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.
6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; who can know it?
10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
11 “As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, so is he who gets riches, but not by right; it will leave him in the midst of his days, and at his end he will be a fool.”
He who trusts in man
He who makes flesh his strength
He whose heart departs from the Lord
• He shall be like a shrub in the desert
• He shall not see when good comes
• He shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness
• In a salt land that is not inhabited
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
Blessed is the man whose hope is in the Lord
• He shall be like a tree planted by the waters
• He shall be like a tree which spreads out its roots by the river
• He shall be like a tree which does not fear when heat comes
• He shall be like a tree whose leaves are green
• He shall be like a tree who is not anxious in the year of drought
• He shall be like a tree who will not cease from yielding fruit
How important it is to make sure you are trusting, and hoping in Him.
In order to set you thinking on this important issue let us look at two passages.
First
Jeremiah 28:1-17
Jer 28:1 And it happened in the same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
2 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: 'I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3 'Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.
4 'And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,' says the LORD, 'for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'"
5 Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people who stood in the house of the LORD,
6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! The LORD do so; the LORD perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the LORD'S house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place.
7 "Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:
8 "The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms-of war and disaster and pestilence.
9 "As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent."
10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah's neck and broke it.
11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.'" And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.
12 Now the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
13 "Go and tell Hananiah, saying, 'thus says the LORD: "You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron."
14 'for thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the field also."'"
15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
16 "Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD.'"
17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
You are in the crowd that day.
Who are you going to side with?
Haniniah or Jeremiah?
Two prophets proclaiming the word of the Lord
Two sets of words which both claim to be the Word of God
Notice this was done in the presence of the Priests and of all the people! It was a public event.
Let’s see what can be drawn out of this passage.
Haniniah claims that God says:
• V2 I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon
• V3 Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.
• V4 'And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,' says the LORD,
• V4 'For I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'
Jeremiahs says:
• V6 "Amen! The LORD do so; [interesting that Jeremiah does not silence the prophet, or criticise him] the LORD perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the LORD'S house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place. [Amen! Haniniah]
• V7 "Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:
• V 8 "The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms-of war and disaster and pestilence. [notice Jeremiah reminds the people of the historical words that have already been spoken]
• V 9 "As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent."
Haniniah Says:
• V 10Two years and we are going home.
Haniniah takes the wooden yoke that Jeremiah had on his shoulders and breaks it.
V11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.'"
• Jeremiah just walks off and leaves him to it.
• Later Jeremiah hears the Lord saying to him
V13 "Go and tell Hananiah, saying, 'thus says the LORD: "You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron."
14 'For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the field also."'"
15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
16 "Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD.'"
17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
The Lord says:
V15 Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people to trust in a lie.
Can you see what Jeremiah is doing?
• He refers the people back to what God has already said to His people
Can you see what Haniniah is doing?
• His point of reference is ‘what he is saying’
Today you will find men and women who appear saying ‘thus saith the Lord’
I have the word of the Lord, I have this word!
Their point of reference is themselves. They prophecy out of their own heart
Jeremiah’s point of reference is what God has been saying to his people already.
In fact Jeremiah will go on to give the people more detail saying
Build houses, plant vineyards, take wives for your sons and wives for their sons, settle down you are going to be hear for seventy years!
Some of my friends I hear cry, ‘I have the witness of the Holy Spirit and that is enough for me’
Well it’s just not enough.
Jesus had the witness of the Father and the witness of the Spirit, and the witness of the water and the blood
2 Chronicles 20:20b
Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper."
• Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established
• Believe in His prophets, and you shall prosper
You have believed
You have been established
How?
By believing
Do you want to go on and prosper as a believing, established Son of God?
Then believe His prophets!
Amos tells us
Am 3:7 surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets.
Paul tells us how desirable it is to hear the prophetic voice and to bring it forth.
2 Corinthians 14: 1
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
• Pursue love
• Desire Spiritual gifts
• But especially that you may prophesy
Why desire prophecy, Paul?
V 3 but he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
• Edifies
• Exhorts
• Comforts
Men!
Look at V4
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Prophecy edifies the Church
That is why Paul exhorts us to
• Desire prophecy
It is in order that men will be
• Edified
• Exhorted
• Comforted
In the Church!
Look at V12
Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Paul says in Romans 14:19
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Can I suggest one thing that you mighty like to pursue?
Prophecy
Now our second passage which is found in Acts:
Acts 21:8-14
Ac 21:8 on the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"
12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."
V10 Agabus is a prophet of God. Acts 11:28 He has recognition in the church.
He takes Paul’s belt and bound his own hands and feet, and said
Thus says the Holy Spirit. So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
Now when we, [notice the word ‘We’ this means that the author of the book of acts was in the crown that day] heard these things both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem!
Don‘t go Paul!
What do you mean breaking my heart!
For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus
Paul has the attitude that compelled Jesus to set his heart towards Jerusalem.
You see brothers and sisters there comes a moment in every one of your lives when you must be willing to die at your Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
If it brings to you bonds and afflictions then so be it, but you have set your heart on pilgrimage, and your own Jerusalem in the Lord Jesus.
The whole church and some of the leadership were against Paul going up to his Jerusalem and they tried to compel him not to go.
Paul was determined!
How determined are you to meet your bonds and afflictions which await you at Jerusalem?
More importantly when all the voices come to you who claim God’s author ship
Can you discern the one who carries the Word of the Lord?
Jeremiah looked back to what God had said previously, he was able to know the genuine word of the lord because he referred to a source out side of him self; The historical revelation of Gods people. The word of the Lord Jesus was not self sourced in Jeremiah, but confirmed by what God had already been doing in history.
But what about Paul, how does he keep his focus, in the midst of a leader like Luke, and the whole church trying to persuade him other wise?
How does Paul keep his heart set on Jerusalem?
Look at Acts 20:17-35
Ac 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you,
19 "serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
20 "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me
24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
26 "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 "For I know this that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock
30 "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel
34 "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 "I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Look at Verse 22 and 23
Acts 20:22-23.
Ac 20:22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me
Every where Paul went in his daily travels in his care for the church, he had confirmation of the word in his heart by the Holy Spirit.
He did not know what would happen to him at Jerusalem, and neither do you in your Jerusalem!
Paul is bound in the spirit of God to go, he cannot go anywhere else, he is bound to the spirit of God!
Jeremiah looks back to test the prophetic word that is being spoken today! What has God always been doing?
I’ll tell you!
He is calling his people to keep on their pilgrimage to their Jerusalem!
Paul knows and keeps his focus on his Jerusalem by looking back to what the Holy Spirit is testifying to him in every city!
Would you believe it? God is consistent!
He is still doing the same thing today.
When the true prophet speaks there will be an exhortation to you to set your heart on pilgrimage, and set your heat to go up to Jerusalem
I feel this in my heart; I just know that this word is from the Lord.
That’s too dangerous! Adam tried to be God like! You are not God!
Only God can be self sourcing.
We as human benign need the testifying of the Historical Word, the Holy Spirit, and the Body of Christ to keep us form being deceived by the false prophets.
You need to read it in the word, by the spirit!
You need to hear it in your heart, by the Spirit!
You need to hear it from your fellow brothers and sisters in the body.
These will stop you trying to be a God.
I feel this in my heart; I just know that this word is from the Lord.
Haniniah just self sourced himself, tried to break the yoke of God’s prophet!
You can’t do it.
Let the Word the Spirit and the Body of Christ The church keep you in your call to press on to your Jerusalem
All prophecy is God breathed, and it lines up with what the Holy Word of God the Bible already contains. The Spirit witnesses to it, and the church in the end has to come around and say
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."
Amen! Press on brothers!
Make me to drink of the river of thy pleasures
Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship, Scotland on
Sunday 24th September 2006
It is said of the wicked
Psalm 36:3
‘The words of His mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise and to do good’.
Psalm 36:8
‘They [the children of men] shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.’
I spoke in August about the tree that trusts in God, (Jeremiah 17:8)
Jer 17:8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
The man of God is compared to a tree, and one of his characteristics is that he spreads out his roots by the river.
Now this river is full of His pleasures and is the Holy Spirit.
It is the river from which all Christians drink.
The river where your roots spread out
We read in John’s Gospel:
John 7:37 on the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will Flow Rivers of living water."
39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
• Your roots, as a Christian, spread out in this river
• they flow out of your heart like rivers of living water
But Jeremiah says:
Jer 2:13 "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns-broken cisterns that can hold no water.
• My people have committed two evils
• They have forsaken me
• The fountain of living waters
• Hewn out for themselves broken cisterns
• That can hold no water
Drinking from the Holy Spirit or drinking from a broken cistern!
Psalm 27:4 ‘one thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple’
• One thing have I desired of the Lord
• That will I seek after
• That I may dwell in the house of the lord
• All the days of my life
• That I may behold the beauty of the lord
• And enquire in his temple
Psalm 46:4 ‘there is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city
Of God, the Holy place
• there is a river that makes glad the city of God
• there is a river that makes glad the Holy place
The river makes the city, the Holy Place, the temple glad.
Psalm 16:11 ‘thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures of ever more’
Fullness of joy is found in his presence.
If the city and the temple is to be glad, and full of joy, then He must be present, in the form of the river of life flowing through the city, temple and people.
• The Holy spirit flows through the City
• The Holy spirit flows through the temple
• The Holy spirit flows through the Christian believer
Psalm 37:3 ‘Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.’
V4 ‘Delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart’.
V5 ‘Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in him and He shall bring it to pass’.
V6 ‘He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noon day’.
V7 ‘Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger and forsake wrath, do not fret it only comes to harm.’
V19 ‘…in the days of famine they shall be satisfied…’
I started today with Psalm 36:8
Psalm 36:8
‘They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.’
• Satisfied with the fullness of your house
• Thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of they pleasures
Psalm 37:34 ‘Wait on the Lord and keep His way and He shall exalt you to inherit the Land’.
My other opening verse Psalm 36:3 said of the wicked man:
‘The words of His mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise and to do good’.
• The words of his mouth were iniquity and deceit
• why?
• Because he had left off to be wise
• And to do good
Continue to be wise by drinking from the river of his delights, and continue to do good.
Let’s look at something completely different.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ezekiel 2:1 ‘And He said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.’
Ezekiel 2:2 ‘and the Spirit entered into me…’
It is interesting that, the Spirit came and fulfilled what was required in the first verse
You can try to bring about what God wants by standing up, and trying to hear him speak to you
But notice that God speaks, stand up and I will speak unto you – and then the Holy Spirit performed it
Eze 2:2 Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me.
• The spirit entered me when he spoke to me
• The spirit set me on my feet
• I heard him who spoke to me
Ezekiel 3:10 ‘Moreover He said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears’.
Ezekiel 3:24 ‘Then the Spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me…’
• The spirit entered into me
• And set me upon my feet
• And spake with me
Hallelujah!
Lets look at something completely different.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ro 9:16 so then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
• God who shows mercy
• What is his mercy like?
• God defines His mercy:
• In the life of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.
• Elizabeth is known as ‘she who is barren’!
• She is an old woman
• And every one knows it.
• the Lord shows great mercy by taking
• that which is barren,
• unproductive,
• and lifeless:
• which has now become old,
• yes, to take ‘her that is barren’
• And bring forth life!
• The reaction of her neighbours and her cousins was rejoicing, because they recognised that the Lord had showed her great mercy.
Hallelujah!
All Elizabeth’s desires, hoping, and living, have come to nothing; even by an act of the will she could not bring fourth what was required. She desired a child, but she could not bring life to her womb! It was only when the Lord had mercy, great mercy upon her that she brought fourth!
What did she bring fourth?
Just a baby boy called John.
No – much more than that!
The great mercy of God was upon her and brought fourth a fore runner.
A man who would make the way clear for the coming of the lord Jesus.
The Lord Jesus is coming again!
All that you can will, and all that you can run, will not get you ready for that great event.
You need the River of God’s mercy flowing through you.
God is now about to show you great mercy and the life that is coming fourth in you will prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in all his glory.
Lu 1:58 and her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
1Ki 8:23 and he said: "LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
• There is no God in heaven above or on earth below like you,
• Who keeps your covenant and mercy with your servants who walk before you with all their hearts.
• Walking before God with all their hearts!
• There is no other God in heaven or on the earth who keeps mercy with that person!
• And just to make sure you get the message it is repeated in 2Ch 6:14
• "LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
Ezra 9:9 “For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
• God did not forsake us in our bondage!
• Wow,
• When his people were in bondage, he did not forsake them!
• Not only did he not forsake his people,
• he extended mercy to them right in the sight of their oppressors
• Those who had brought them into bondage!
• His mercy has a number of effects:
• They were revived
• The house of God was revived
• Its ruins were rebuilt
• It gave a wall in the land and in the place where they lived
Hallelujah!!
Nehemiah 9:31 Nevertheless in Your great mercy you did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; for you are God, gracious and merciful.
• Does God change?
• No-
• He was gracious and merciful then in Nehemiah’s day,
• He is merciful today,
• He will be merciful tomorrow
• He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Do you need mercy today?
King David had committed
• Adultery
• Murder
• deception
• and at last cried out and said:
Ps 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your loving kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
Do you need to cry out to God?
• Make me to drink of the river of they pleasures
• Make me satisfied with the abundance of they house
• Show me thy Tender mercies
• Have great mercy upon me Oh Lord
Have you willed and run, and failed and ended up in a greater bondage. He has mercy on you today!
Lets bow before him:
Ps 66:20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!
Ps 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He has mercy on us.
• As servants look to the hand of their masters
• As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress
• So our eyes look to the Lord our God
• Until He has mercy on us
Ps 136:2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.
Ps 136:26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.
Isaiah 55:7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
Eze 39:25 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name-
Here’s the blessed part:
Daniel 9:9 "To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.
• Though we have rebelled against Him
• To the lord our God belongs mercy and forgiveness!
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 7:18 who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 2:10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy
• we were without mercy
• we were not the people of God
• we had not obtained mercy
• but now hallelujah we have obtained mercy
My responsibility is to say what God says about you:
2Jo 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Your responsibility is to:
Jude 1:21 keep yourselves in the stream of the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
You are to look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
And the eternal life which it brings
God bless you.
Sunday 24th September 2006
It is said of the wicked
Psalm 36:3
‘The words of His mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise and to do good’.
Psalm 36:8
‘They [the children of men] shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.’
I spoke in August about the tree that trusts in God, (Jeremiah 17:8)
Jer 17:8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
The man of God is compared to a tree, and one of his characteristics is that he spreads out his roots by the river.
Now this river is full of His pleasures and is the Holy Spirit.
It is the river from which all Christians drink.
The river where your roots spread out
We read in John’s Gospel:
John 7:37 on the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will Flow Rivers of living water."
39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
• Your roots, as a Christian, spread out in this river
• they flow out of your heart like rivers of living water
But Jeremiah says:
Jer 2:13 "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns-broken cisterns that can hold no water.
• My people have committed two evils
• They have forsaken me
• The fountain of living waters
• Hewn out for themselves broken cisterns
• That can hold no water
Drinking from the Holy Spirit or drinking from a broken cistern!
Psalm 27:4 ‘one thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple’
• One thing have I desired of the Lord
• That will I seek after
• That I may dwell in the house of the lord
• All the days of my life
• That I may behold the beauty of the lord
• And enquire in his temple
Psalm 46:4 ‘there is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city
Of God, the Holy place
• there is a river that makes glad the city of God
• there is a river that makes glad the Holy place
The river makes the city, the Holy Place, the temple glad.
Psalm 16:11 ‘thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures of ever more’
Fullness of joy is found in his presence.
If the city and the temple is to be glad, and full of joy, then He must be present, in the form of the river of life flowing through the city, temple and people.
• The Holy spirit flows through the City
• The Holy spirit flows through the temple
• The Holy spirit flows through the Christian believer
Psalm 37:3 ‘Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.’
V4 ‘Delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart’.
V5 ‘Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in him and He shall bring it to pass’.
V6 ‘He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noon day’.
V7 ‘Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger and forsake wrath, do not fret it only comes to harm.’
V19 ‘…in the days of famine they shall be satisfied…’
I started today with Psalm 36:8
Psalm 36:8
‘They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.’
• Satisfied with the fullness of your house
• Thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of they pleasures
Psalm 37:34 ‘Wait on the Lord and keep His way and He shall exalt you to inherit the Land’.
My other opening verse Psalm 36:3 said of the wicked man:
‘The words of His mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise and to do good’.
• The words of his mouth were iniquity and deceit
• why?
• Because he had left off to be wise
• And to do good
Continue to be wise by drinking from the river of his delights, and continue to do good.
Let’s look at something completely different.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ezekiel 2:1 ‘And He said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.’
Ezekiel 2:2 ‘and the Spirit entered into me…’
It is interesting that, the Spirit came and fulfilled what was required in the first verse
You can try to bring about what God wants by standing up, and trying to hear him speak to you
But notice that God speaks, stand up and I will speak unto you – and then the Holy Spirit performed it
Eze 2:2 Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me.
• The spirit entered me when he spoke to me
• The spirit set me on my feet
• I heard him who spoke to me
Ezekiel 3:10 ‘Moreover He said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears’.
Ezekiel 3:24 ‘Then the Spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me…’
• The spirit entered into me
• And set me upon my feet
• And spake with me
Hallelujah!
Lets look at something completely different.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ro 9:16 so then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
• God who shows mercy
• What is his mercy like?
• God defines His mercy:
• In the life of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.
• Elizabeth is known as ‘she who is barren’!
• She is an old woman
• And every one knows it.
• the Lord shows great mercy by taking
• that which is barren,
• unproductive,
• and lifeless:
• which has now become old,
• yes, to take ‘her that is barren’
• And bring forth life!
• The reaction of her neighbours and her cousins was rejoicing, because they recognised that the Lord had showed her great mercy.
Hallelujah!
All Elizabeth’s desires, hoping, and living, have come to nothing; even by an act of the will she could not bring fourth what was required. She desired a child, but she could not bring life to her womb! It was only when the Lord had mercy, great mercy upon her that she brought fourth!
What did she bring fourth?
Just a baby boy called John.
No – much more than that!
The great mercy of God was upon her and brought fourth a fore runner.
A man who would make the way clear for the coming of the lord Jesus.
The Lord Jesus is coming again!
All that you can will, and all that you can run, will not get you ready for that great event.
You need the River of God’s mercy flowing through you.
God is now about to show you great mercy and the life that is coming fourth in you will prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in all his glory.
Lu 1:58 and her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
1Ki 8:23 and he said: "LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
• There is no God in heaven above or on earth below like you,
• Who keeps your covenant and mercy with your servants who walk before you with all their hearts.
• Walking before God with all their hearts!
• There is no other God in heaven or on the earth who keeps mercy with that person!
• And just to make sure you get the message it is repeated in 2Ch 6:14
• "LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
Ezra 9:9 “For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
• God did not forsake us in our bondage!
• Wow,
• When his people were in bondage, he did not forsake them!
• Not only did he not forsake his people,
• he extended mercy to them right in the sight of their oppressors
• Those who had brought them into bondage!
• His mercy has a number of effects:
• They were revived
• The house of God was revived
• Its ruins were rebuilt
• It gave a wall in the land and in the place where they lived
Hallelujah!!
Nehemiah 9:31 Nevertheless in Your great mercy you did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; for you are God, gracious and merciful.
• Does God change?
• No-
• He was gracious and merciful then in Nehemiah’s day,
• He is merciful today,
• He will be merciful tomorrow
• He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Do you need mercy today?
King David had committed
• Adultery
• Murder
• deception
• and at last cried out and said:
Ps 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your loving kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
Do you need to cry out to God?
• Make me to drink of the river of they pleasures
• Make me satisfied with the abundance of they house
• Show me thy Tender mercies
• Have great mercy upon me Oh Lord
Have you willed and run, and failed and ended up in a greater bondage. He has mercy on you today!
Lets bow before him:
Ps 66:20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!
Ps 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He has mercy on us.
• As servants look to the hand of their masters
• As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress
• So our eyes look to the Lord our God
• Until He has mercy on us
Ps 136:2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.
Ps 136:26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.
Isaiah 55:7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
Eze 39:25 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name-
Here’s the blessed part:
Daniel 9:9 "To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.
• Though we have rebelled against Him
• To the lord our God belongs mercy and forgiveness!
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 7:18 who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 2:10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy
• we were without mercy
• we were not the people of God
• we had not obtained mercy
• but now hallelujah we have obtained mercy
My responsibility is to say what God says about you:
2Jo 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Your responsibility is to:
Jude 1:21 keep yourselves in the stream of the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
You are to look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
And the eternal life which it brings
God bless you.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Plain old fasioned powerful obedience
Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship, Scotland on
Sunday 22nd October 2006
Read Ezekiel 34
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
3 "You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock.
4 "The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them.
5 "So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.
6 "My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them."
7 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
8 "as I live," says the Lord GOD, "surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock" -
9 'therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!
10 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them."
11 'For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.
12 "As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.
13 "And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.
14 "I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
15 "I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord GOD.
16 "I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment."
17 'And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats.
18 "Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture-and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet?
19 "And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet."
20 'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD to them: "Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep.
21 "Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad,
22 "therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.
23 "I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them-My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.
24 "And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.
25 "I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.
26 "I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.
27 "Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them.
28 "And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid.
29 "I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore.
30 "Thus they shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people," says the Lord GOD.'"
31 "You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God," says the Lord GOD.
(NKJV)
Look at Verse 26
‘I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.’
• I will make them a blessing
• I will make the places all around My hill a blessing
• I will cause showers to come down in their season
• There shall be showers of blessing.
Look at Verse 23
‘I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them – My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.’
• My servant David!
Let’s look at Numbers 24:1- 9
Here is a prophecy given over Israel, before Israel became a nation.
Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
3 Then he took up his oracle and said: "The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened,
4 The utterance of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open:
5 "How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel!
6 Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars beside the waters.
7 He shall pour water from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. "His king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 "God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones and pierce them with his arrows.
9 'He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?' "Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you."
Look at Verse 7
‘He shall pour water from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. "His king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted’.
• [God] shall pour water from his buckets
• [Israel’s] seed shall be in many waters
Here is the prophecy of what God will do in the future to Israel.
He shall pour upon His people water from His buckets, and the seed of Israel shall be in many waters!
• His king shall be higher that Agag, and his kingdom shall he exalted.
What is this Agag all about?
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Look at 1 Samuel 15:1-3
Samuel also said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD.
2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt.
3 'Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'"
Saul is told by Samuel the prophet to
• Utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them.
• Kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.
Look at Verse 9
‘But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed’.
• Saul and the people spared Agag
• Saul and the people spared the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, and the lambs and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them
All that was good they were unwilling to destroy.
Look at Verse 13
Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD."
14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?"
15 And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed."
When Samuel the prophet arrives, he asks King Saul ‘what is this bleating of sheep in my ears and the lowing of oxen which I hear?’
God hates the Amalekites for what they did to his people years previously, when Israel was raped.
Here is Saul keeping the belongings of the Amalekites, and offering them up to the Lord.
You see Saul thought this was just a war and he could take the spoil.
He did not realise that this was vengeance! There is no spoil, from vengeance. When God declares Vengeance on his enemies there is no spoil to swoop upon.
Saul attempts to offer to God that which has been kept from the rapist of Israel!
Look at Verse 16
‘Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak on."
This is what Samuel said:
Verse 17
‘So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?
18 "Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.'
19 "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?"
20 And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21 "But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal."
22 Then Samuel said: "Has 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 heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."
We could go on… enough said…you can look it all up at home.
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Look at verse 19
"Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?"
• Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD?
• Why did you swoop down on the spoil?
• Why did you do evil in the sight of the Lord?
Remember the Verse earlier?
Verse 9
‘But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed’.
• They kept the best
• They kept all that was good
• They were unwilling to utterly destroy them
Saul and all the people thought they had wisdom to know what to keep and what to destroy. None of us can claim to have that kind of all knowing wisdom. It is simply in obeying the words that come to us from God.
Blind obedience, when we do not understand why it has to be done. Only He has the master plan, and we have our part in it.
God requires the destruction of all the rest.
Notice it is Saul and the people, even though Saul tries to blame it all on the people.
We are all guilty in the end; of offering our best and the good: that we have saved from our old rebellious life. God requires your death so that you can rise in Jesus Christ to a new life of obedience.
Verse 22
‘…has the lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?’
Only obedience will please the Lord.
All the best, and all the good that you can offer to God, Stinks in his sight!
He wants your obedience!
Showers of blessing are falling, every day, and you don’t even know about it. I was walking along in the sunshine and a few miles away on Criffle were showers falling in abundance! You don’t know the whole plan, only your part in it. When he speaks just do it; just be obedient.
Paul tells the Galatian church: Galatians 2:20
‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me’.
If you do not understand these words of Paul then you need to speak to someone who does and have them explained to you.
‘I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.’
• I will make them a blessing
• I will make the places all around My hill a blessing
• I will cause showers to come down in their season
• There shall be showers of blessing.
Saul was disobedient
He thought Agag was the best and the good!
God had a greater then Agag!
The Israelites thought his name was David. The man after God’s own heart.
When Balaam prophesied that God shall pour water from his buckets,
The Israelite looked to David, and watched with expectation.
‘He shall pour water from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. "His king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted’.
• [God] shall pour water from his buckets
• [Israel’s] seed shall be in many waters
Let me tell you God’s buckets of water were not prophesied for David.
The buckets of water and the showers of blessings were prophesied of the Seed of David, the one who is our chief Shepherd! - Jesus Christ.
Jesus – The one who never did anything except God said so – Jesus the obedient one!
Obedient even unto death, the death upon the cross
Because of Jesus obedience; your obedience, will lead to
• Buckets of water poured out and showers of blessing upon you.
• Blessings upon the hill around about where you live
• Hallelujah!
It is his seed that shall be in many waters!
When Balaam uttered those words he spoke of you.
When Ezekiel uttered his words he spoke of you
Do you want the showers of blessing?
Do you want the buckets of water poured out on you?
Then don’t swoop upon the spoil, don’t try and offer up to God the best and the good!
He wants plain, old fashioned, powerful obedience.
Next time I see you I trust you will be soaked to the skin!
Jeremiah 31:12
Sunday 22nd October 2006
Read Ezekiel 34
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
3 "You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock.
4 "The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them.
5 "So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.
6 "My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them."
7 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
8 "as I live," says the Lord GOD, "surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock" -
9 'therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!
10 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them."
11 'For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.
12 "As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.
13 "And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.
14 "I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
15 "I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord GOD.
16 "I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment."
17 'And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats.
18 "Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture-and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet?
19 "And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet."
20 'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD to them: "Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep.
21 "Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad,
22 "therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.
23 "I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them-My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.
24 "And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.
25 "I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.
26 "I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.
27 "Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them.
28 "And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid.
29 "I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore.
30 "Thus they shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people," says the Lord GOD.'"
31 "You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God," says the Lord GOD.
(NKJV)
Look at Verse 26
‘I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.’
• I will make them a blessing
• I will make the places all around My hill a blessing
• I will cause showers to come down in their season
• There shall be showers of blessing.
Look at Verse 23
‘I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them – My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.’
• My servant David!
Let’s look at Numbers 24:1- 9
Here is a prophecy given over Israel, before Israel became a nation.
Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
3 Then he took up his oracle and said: "The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened,
4 The utterance of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open:
5 "How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel!
6 Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars beside the waters.
7 He shall pour water from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. "His king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 "God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones and pierce them with his arrows.
9 'He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?' "Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you."
Look at Verse 7
‘He shall pour water from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. "His king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted’.
• [God] shall pour water from his buckets
• [Israel’s] seed shall be in many waters
Here is the prophecy of what God will do in the future to Israel.
He shall pour upon His people water from His buckets, and the seed of Israel shall be in many waters!
• His king shall be higher that Agag, and his kingdom shall he exalted.
What is this Agag all about?
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Look at 1 Samuel 15:1-3
Samuel also said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD.
2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt.
3 'Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'"
Saul is told by Samuel the prophet to
• Utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them.
• Kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.
Look at Verse 9
‘But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed’.
• Saul and the people spared Agag
• Saul and the people spared the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, and the lambs and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them
All that was good they were unwilling to destroy.
Look at Verse 13
Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD."
14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?"
15 And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed."
When Samuel the prophet arrives, he asks King Saul ‘what is this bleating of sheep in my ears and the lowing of oxen which I hear?’
God hates the Amalekites for what they did to his people years previously, when Israel was raped.
Here is Saul keeping the belongings of the Amalekites, and offering them up to the Lord.
You see Saul thought this was just a war and he could take the spoil.
He did not realise that this was vengeance! There is no spoil, from vengeance. When God declares Vengeance on his enemies there is no spoil to swoop upon.
Saul attempts to offer to God that which has been kept from the rapist of Israel!
Look at Verse 16
‘Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak on."
This is what Samuel said:
Verse 17
‘So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?
18 "Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.'
19 "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?"
20 And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21 "But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal."
22 Then Samuel said: "Has 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 heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."
We could go on… enough said…you can look it all up at home.
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Look at verse 19
"Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?"
• Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD?
• Why did you swoop down on the spoil?
• Why did you do evil in the sight of the Lord?
Remember the Verse earlier?
Verse 9
‘But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed’.
• They kept the best
• They kept all that was good
• They were unwilling to utterly destroy them
Saul and all the people thought they had wisdom to know what to keep and what to destroy. None of us can claim to have that kind of all knowing wisdom. It is simply in obeying the words that come to us from God.
Blind obedience, when we do not understand why it has to be done. Only He has the master plan, and we have our part in it.
God requires the destruction of all the rest.
Notice it is Saul and the people, even though Saul tries to blame it all on the people.
We are all guilty in the end; of offering our best and the good: that we have saved from our old rebellious life. God requires your death so that you can rise in Jesus Christ to a new life of obedience.
Verse 22
‘…has the lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?’
Only obedience will please the Lord.
All the best, and all the good that you can offer to God, Stinks in his sight!
He wants your obedience!
Showers of blessing are falling, every day, and you don’t even know about it. I was walking along in the sunshine and a few miles away on Criffle were showers falling in abundance! You don’t know the whole plan, only your part in it. When he speaks just do it; just be obedient.
Paul tells the Galatian church: Galatians 2:20
‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me’.
If you do not understand these words of Paul then you need to speak to someone who does and have them explained to you.
‘I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.’
• I will make them a blessing
• I will make the places all around My hill a blessing
• I will cause showers to come down in their season
• There shall be showers of blessing.
Saul was disobedient
He thought Agag was the best and the good!
God had a greater then Agag!
The Israelites thought his name was David. The man after God’s own heart.
When Balaam prophesied that God shall pour water from his buckets,
The Israelite looked to David, and watched with expectation.
‘He shall pour water from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. "His king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted’.
• [God] shall pour water from his buckets
• [Israel’s] seed shall be in many waters
Let me tell you God’s buckets of water were not prophesied for David.
The buckets of water and the showers of blessings were prophesied of the Seed of David, the one who is our chief Shepherd! - Jesus Christ.
Jesus – The one who never did anything except God said so – Jesus the obedient one!
Obedient even unto death, the death upon the cross
Because of Jesus obedience; your obedience, will lead to
• Buckets of water poured out and showers of blessing upon you.
• Blessings upon the hill around about where you live
• Hallelujah!
It is his seed that shall be in many waters!
When Balaam uttered those words he spoke of you.
When Ezekiel uttered his words he spoke of you
Do you want the showers of blessing?
Do you want the buckets of water poured out on you?
Then don’t swoop upon the spoil, don’t try and offer up to God the best and the good!
He wants plain, old fashioned, powerful obedience.
Next time I see you I trust you will be soaked to the skin!
Jeremiah 31:12
Saturday, March 25, 2006
The death of a Snail by a Singing Thrush
I thought recently of the Song Thrushes’ ability to set up what is called an ‘anvil stone’ for the destruction of the shell of the common snail. A Thrush finds a large stone to destroy passing snails.
The thrush spears, with its powerful beak, any snail that silently wanders by its territory. The snail may think that it is encased in a hard, God given, shell for the protection of its life, but to no avail the Thrush with its, God given beak, and ‘anvil stone’ will destroy any attempt of the snail to escape with its life.
Why does God give to the snail protection and the thrush the means to destroy that protection? Well that is an easy question to answer.
All of God’s creation is like a ‘book’, which you and I enter when born and leave when we die. During our lives we read the pages of creation, by observing all that takes place around us. Creation declares many things, and helps us understand what God is like.
The Thrush with its sharp beak, and the snail with its protective shell, are displayed in creation, so that we may understand, that all the life protecting shells we may ware are useless. There is an evil in this world poised to take our life away in a moment; all that we ware will not protect us from the sharp beak of evil. Your safety is to look beyond the ‘shell’ of your own protection, to secure yourself in the safety of the arms of the one who made the Thrush, and the snail. He who powerfully made both: the lance of evil, and the inability of humans to protect themselves, is the one to whom we turn. His name is Jesus.
All have the ability to secure themselves in Him, in His love, and in the One who gave them life. Alternatively they are left to their own efforts, to fight endlessly, for their lives amidst the destructive invisible lance like forces which seek to take away their lives. The Creation which surrounds, and specifically the little part of creation being referred to here in this story; The Thrush and its connection with the common snail, is declaring that there is no safety from the predator, whether evil, human, political, philosophical, or religious. Your safety is only found by looking beyond these things, to your real and only defence –that of the Creator Himself. Jesus is your place of refuge, from the beak of evil; this can fall upon you in a moment, changing all your plans, and destroying you eternally on the ‘anvil stone’. You can protect yourself from most things but evil is different. Only Jesus saves from evil.
Make a choice while you live in God’s ‘book’. One day you will return to Him and be accountable as to how you have understood what was required. The connection between the Thrush and the Snail is made clear when you look beyond the story of ‘the death of a snail by a singing thrush’. We look to Jesus, the one who protects us from evil. Have you noticed the song thrush and the snail in your garden? Look beyond them both and see Jesus. Don’t get lost in the battle for your life, let Jesus save you, and secure you in His arms. You will surely sing for joy.
The thrush spears, with its powerful beak, any snail that silently wanders by its territory. The snail may think that it is encased in a hard, God given, shell for the protection of its life, but to no avail the Thrush with its, God given beak, and ‘anvil stone’ will destroy any attempt of the snail to escape with its life.
Why does God give to the snail protection and the thrush the means to destroy that protection? Well that is an easy question to answer.
All of God’s creation is like a ‘book’, which you and I enter when born and leave when we die. During our lives we read the pages of creation, by observing all that takes place around us. Creation declares many things, and helps us understand what God is like.
The Thrush with its sharp beak, and the snail with its protective shell, are displayed in creation, so that we may understand, that all the life protecting shells we may ware are useless. There is an evil in this world poised to take our life away in a moment; all that we ware will not protect us from the sharp beak of evil. Your safety is to look beyond the ‘shell’ of your own protection, to secure yourself in the safety of the arms of the one who made the Thrush, and the snail. He who powerfully made both: the lance of evil, and the inability of humans to protect themselves, is the one to whom we turn. His name is Jesus.
All have the ability to secure themselves in Him, in His love, and in the One who gave them life. Alternatively they are left to their own efforts, to fight endlessly, for their lives amidst the destructive invisible lance like forces which seek to take away their lives. The Creation which surrounds, and specifically the little part of creation being referred to here in this story; The Thrush and its connection with the common snail, is declaring that there is no safety from the predator, whether evil, human, political, philosophical, or religious. Your safety is only found by looking beyond these things, to your real and only defence –that of the Creator Himself. Jesus is your place of refuge, from the beak of evil; this can fall upon you in a moment, changing all your plans, and destroying you eternally on the ‘anvil stone’. You can protect yourself from most things but evil is different. Only Jesus saves from evil.
Make a choice while you live in God’s ‘book’. One day you will return to Him and be accountable as to how you have understood what was required. The connection between the Thrush and the Snail is made clear when you look beyond the story of ‘the death of a snail by a singing thrush’. We look to Jesus, the one who protects us from evil. Have you noticed the song thrush and the snail in your garden? Look beyond them both and see Jesus. Don’t get lost in the battle for your life, let Jesus save you, and secure you in His arms. You will surely sing for joy.
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