Sanctification

When You Find Yourself In The Middle Of A Battle

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The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.  And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab. And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and He was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.  And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.  For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.
1 Chronicles 5:18-22

The Chronicles are not easy reading, especially the first ten chapters of Book one. There are however, a few gems for thought, and the above verses are one of those jewels.

There were three of the tribes of Israel who had, with the help of the other tribes and Moses had chosen to have their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River.  Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh were those tribes. These three were required to send their fighting men over the Jordan, and aid their brethren in conquering Canaan, and they did. Read Numbers 34:13-16.

These men found themselves in the midst of a battle with the Hagarites, and were about to lose. Then they remembered the LORD, and  cried out to Him for help and God helped them. It was because they trusted in Him. One thing is for sure. They should have trusted the LORD God before entering the battle not wait until they were in the middle of it. I guess it is better late than never.

It is like sometimes we use God like a spare tire that is in the trunk of our cars. We can get to a place we forget about that spare tire, until we need it. Sometimes we can do God that way.

What we ought to do is always be mindful of God, and do like the psalmist wrote “Meditate on His word, day and night” (Psalm 1:2; 77:12; 119:148; 143:5). If we recognize the Lord everyday by getting into His word, and prayer, even praying His word, then He will not be a spare tire, but the Lord who is continually with us.

Jesus Christ is “God with us” and He never fails us. If you do not know Him you cannot know God. Jesus is the only way to God, because Jesus died for our sins on the cross becoming sin for us that we might become His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). When you find yourself in the midst of a battle of sickness, disease, marriage troubles, money problems, drug problems, work issues, or whatever is a battle for you. We all deal with these battles one time or another. I know I need God in my heart and mind every day, and I know that He is with me. I know that because I have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God who is Christ Jesus.

Come to Jesus today.

The Heavy Yoke

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And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that He might perform His saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
1 Kings 12:13-15

Solomon was the anointed king of Israel following David. He had been told by God Himself that if he would live as David had, that is, in fellowship with Him, the He would bless him by a continuing, perpetual kingdom. Read 1 Kings chapters 11 and 12.

Solomon is now gone to be with his fathers, and Rehoboam is king. Because of Solomon’s idolatry, due to the deception of his foreign wives, which began because he did not heed God’s word concerning marriage of foreign women. These women are not to blame, but rather, it is Solomon’s own undoing.

A prophet named Ahijah comes to a servant of King Solomon and tells him; his name is Jereboam that God is about to dived the kingdom of Israel, and that Jereboam will be the king of the northern kingdom. Ten of the twelve tribes of Israel would be in his rule. Judah and Benjamin would be only David’s descendants place of rule.

Through all of this travesty of the kingdom God shows Himself to be sovereign Lord over Adam’s kind. He has sent the prophet with the word of the LORD that this will take place, and He uses a matter of taxes to divide the kingdom. Jereboam is in on the rebellion and is appointed the first king of the northern kingdom which is called Israel, and the southern kingdom is Judah.

The division started when Rehoboam refused the counsel of the elders when he had asked what to do about the request from the people that the tax load be reduced. The elders said to do what the people requested. The King had also asked the young counselors about it, and they told Rehoboam to increase the taxes; and that what King Rehoboam did. Jereboam and those of Israel departed, and they were divided, just as God had said.

What can we learn from these things? One thing is that we need to hear and take heed to the word of God, and keep His commandments. Don’t tell me that the commandments of the LORD are done away with. They are not, The commandments show us when we have sinned, and point us to our Savior.

Another thing we can see is that those who are in leadership and positions of power, need to listen to the people. Pastors need to listen to the people whom they shepherd. We are all servants of God. Listen to Him.

The last thing I will point out is that when God says something and anytime God says something, then you can certainly count on it coming to pass. God will hasten His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12).

It is true for the Christian, and the non-Christian – unbeliever. if you do not believe one sentence of God’s word, does not nullify the truth of His word. The New Testament is just as much the word of God as is the Old Testament. In the New we hear of God sending His only begotten Son into a sinful world which God loved so much, that He sent Him to die for the sins of the world. He did. He died on a cross for your sins and mine, He was buried carrying our sins away as far as east is from the west, leaving them there, and He conquered death by rising from the grave, walking with us forty more days, then ascending into heaven where He is forever seated at the right hand of God the Father.

The only way of salvation is through Jesus Christ who was proven to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4). Call on the name of the Lord, and you will be saved (Romans 10:13).

The High Cost Of Sin

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And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
2 Samuel 18:33

King David has seen the price of his sins concerning the wife of Uriah, and his murder of Uriah the Hitite.  There is a son (Amnon) who raped his sister Tamar, the sister of Absalom. When Absalom hears about he is angry, and sometime later Absalom kills his brother Amnon for the rape.

The sword of death was in David’s house.  Some one has written, and said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go; sin will leave you longer than you want to stay; and sin will cost you far more than you can ever pay.” David was finding this out.

These tragic events were foretold by Nathan the prophet when he confronted the king about the sin he had committed, and said, “…The sword shall never depart from your house…” (2 Samuel 12:10).

Absalom rebels against he father, and tries to take the kingdom away. David loves Absalom, and flees Jerusalem, and Absalom and his followers give pursuit. Absalom has it in his heart to kill David. David has no such thoughts of killing his son.

Our text for today above shows a father’s heart for his son said, “If only I had died in your place.” The king have given orders to the three generals to not harm Absalom. However, Joab, one of the generals had other ideas. When he saw Absalom caught by his hair hanging in a tree, he ordered him to be killed. Now David is mourning the death of his rebellious son.

It is with great love that we did have someone die for us. Jesus Christ the Son of God , became flesh and blood, from a babe in a manger to the Man He is, that He might die for the sins of the world. The Bible also tells us that “Whosoever believes in in Him shall not perish, but will have eternal life” (John 3:16).

On the cross Jesus became sin for us, and was judged by the Father in our stead. He died there. He was buried, and in three days He rose from the grave, and He lives forever more.

Sin against God has a very high price to it. Sin takes your life away. Sin is all over the world. There is only one who never sinned, and that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He paid our sin debt. The wages of sin is death. The only escape from eternal death, is by calling on the name of Jesus in repentant faith, turning from your sin to Jesus Christ.

Do you believe today that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that God has raised Him from the dead? If you do then, you shall be saved.

The Death of a Stranger

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And David said unto the young man that told him, “Whence art thou?” And he answered, “I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.” And David said unto him, “How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?”  And David called one of the young men, and said, “Go near, and fall upon him.” And he smote him that he died.  And David said unto him, “Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, ‘I have slain the LORD’S anointed.’ ”
2 Samuel 1:13-16

Some background for these verses. First of all David loved his king Saul, and Jonathan the king’s son. Even though Saul had tried to kill David or have him killed, David trusted the LORD with his life, and that of the king as well. Also, David had promised Jonathan and Saul that he would show favor to their family.

Now, David has been told by an Amalekite stranger that Saul, and Jonathan are dead. The stranger tells David a cock a maime  story of how he killed Saul, when according to First Samuel 31:1-6 Saul fell on his own sword, thus killing himself, when he saw that the war was lost, and when Saul’s armor bearer saw that the king was dead he killed himself.

The stranger did not know David. It appears that he sought David out seeking some kind of reward for killing David’s enemy. Only he did not know that Saul was not David’s enemy; Saul was David’s king, and David would not lay a hand on him, neither permit anyone else to do so. David was king Saul’s enemy and all because of envy.

David had two opportunities to take Saul’s life, and he would not do it, because Saul was the LORD’S anointed king (1 Samuel 24:1-9ff; 26:1-16ff). So for this Amalekite stranger to come to David seeking a reward for killing his king was very foolish. Later on after David has become king another two men kill a son of Saul – Ishbosheth – whom Abner tries to set up as king. Ishbosheth was not God’s chosen, or anointed king of Israel. These two men, Rechab and Baanah kill Ishbosheth while he is lying in his bed in the middle of the day. They think they will get a reward from the king for killing an enemy. Their reward is death (2 Samuel 4).

King David remembers the covenants he had made with Jonathan, and he keeps them. That shows us that David is an honorable man of God. He keeps his word. He is faithful to the LORD God as well.

From David we learn how to trust the Lord, our God, and Savior. As David was a man of his word, so ought the Christian to be people who will speak the truth in love, and when we make a promise, or a covenant with someone we keep it. Also, just because someone takes a hit at you, and they consider you their enemy; they do not have to be our enemy.

How can we live like that? How can we love a neighbor who hates us, and does whatever they can to destroy us? We need to first know the LORD, and His Son Jesus Christ. We must have a different heart than that the world has. Do not strike back. Difficult? Most certainly, but remember David’s refusal to strike king Saul.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. He died on the cross for our sins – your sins and mine – He was buried, and He rose again. We have a risen Savior who is forever living and He intercedes for us continually. Call on His name. He will hear you and He will deliver you (Romans 10:13).

Futile Pursuits

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But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
1 Samuel 23:27-29

King Saul of Israel hates the young David who is  the one who killed the Philistine champion and giant  by the name of Goliath. Ever since the young maidens were singing “Saul has killed his thousands; and  David has killed his tens of thousands,” Saul has been envious to the point of hating David.

Saul also know that he will not have a son, or anyone from his family take the throne, because Samuel the prophet has told him so. He is in pursuit of David for the distinct purpose of killing him.

The king has no more loyal servant than David. David is fleeing from Saul out of his fear of the LORD God, more than any fear he might have of Saul. David does not want to harm his king, therefore he flees from him. Yet the king pursues.

In his pursuit of David he leaves his kingdom at the mercy of the enemies around them, and while he is out chasing a friend, and faithful servant the Philistines invade Israel. This takes Saul and his army out of the pursuit.

Futile pursuits take place when we take our eyes off the Lord, and go after what we want in our lives. Futile pursuits happen when we become envious over someone else’s successes, and do things that might sabotage their work, or ministry. Futile pursuits take place when we know the word of God, and the will of God, but we do things against the will of the Lord instead.

As a Christian we sometimes get involved in futile pursuits that take us away from what God called us, and leads us to do. Let us pursue the things of God, beginning with loving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with all our hearts, all our minds, all our souls, and with all our strength; and also loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

It is the will of God for you to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection; but you see your own way of salvation and there is no other way. Your pursuit of salvation is futile, and will fail. The enemy of God’s salvation is attacking destroying your kingdom because you are pursuing your own envy, and evil.

Turn your life over to Jesus Christ today.

Behaving Wisely

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And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.  And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
1 Samuel 18:28-30

King Saul had grown envious of David. Why?  Because Saul could see and he knew that the Spirit of the LORD had left himself, and was now in his servant David.

Why had the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul?  The king had been disobedient too many times. Some of the times his disobedience was due to his arrogance and pride. Those things can get in the way of behaving wisely.

The Spirit of the LORD was within David from the moment Samuel anointed David as the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:12-13). To make one thing clear for the Spirit of the LORD – He can dwell within many at the same time; because the Spirit of the LORD was on and in Samuel as well. It was because of David’s love for the LORD God, and thankfulness for His work in his life that he behaved himself wisely as he went out, and as he came in

Saul was afraid of David, also because he could see, and he knew that the LORD was with David. When the Spirit of the LORD is with you, and you know it, there is nothing you have to fear. You are at peace, you have faith, and confidence that the LORD is working in and through your life, and that nothing can get in the way of the Lord’s working in you.

Behaving wisely is  work of the Holy Spirit of God in the follower, the disciple of Jesus Christ today. Behaving wisely does not mean doing whatever I want with my life. Behaving wisely means following the Lord’s direction for one’s life; going where He goes, doing what He does, loving like He does, and loving what and who He does, and also hating what He hates.

We cannot behave wisely apart from the Spirit of the LORD, whom we know as the Holy Spirit given to everyone who comes by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ in  repentance, confessing one’s sin, turning from sin to Christ believing Him and His work on the cross dying for the sins of the world, His burial, and resurrection. When you have received this free gift of grace God gives us His Holy Spirit, and then we will begin “Behaving Wisely.” Also read Ephesians 2;8-10.

They Lifted Up Their Voice, and Wept

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Do people weep anymore? Do people cry over their own vile and wicked ways? Does anyone even care?

And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, “I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers;” and I said, “I will never break My covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed My voice: why have ye done this?” Wherefore I also said, “I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
Judges 2:1-5

The children of Israel had failed to do all that the LORD had told them to do. They were commanded to drive out the inhabitants of the land they took possession of; they did not do that in many cases. Reading chapter one we read that the enemy “Had chariots of iron,” so they could not drive them out. Some kept the enemy captives, and as servants/slaves, and this was disobedience to the LORD.

If you will notice three things in the text above:

1. The LORD reminds the people that He brought them up out of the land of Egypt delivering them from hundreds of years of slavery there. That is to remind them, and future generations; even believers/followers of Jesus Christ, that we have been given an even greater deliverance from sin;

2. The LORD reminds them that He will never break His covenant with us; and He does not ever do so. However, that covenant has a clause that says they are to believe Him, trust Him, through obedience in love for Him, so if the child of God gets out of the way and will of God, some discipline, chastisement takes place. So we must take notice of the danger for the follower of Jesus Christ. He does not break His covenant with us, and He will chastise us when we do not love Him enough to obey His word;

3. The LORD’S word to Israel was that the LORD would drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, as long as they were obedient to the commandments of the LORD and not take captives, but to destroy their altars, their idols – their worship of demons; because that is what it is to worship any so called god, made by the hands of men. Now the LORD says, “I will not drive them out from before you, they shall be thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” The LORD wants to bless His people; however, He cannot look upon iniquity.

Jeremiah the prophet told the people of his day “”Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that My fear is not in thee,” saith the Lord GOD of hosts (Jeremiah 2:19). We do need to realize that our sin offends God. When the child of God realizes sin is an offense to the LORD, that should cause us to weep until we draw near to Him (James 4:8).

One must first come to God through His Son Jesus Christ who became sin for us on the cross, receiving God’s wrath for us. He died in our place, was buried, and He rose again, and when we trust Him alone for salvation, He gives us His righteousness, and a place in eternity with Him.

When Things Get In The Way

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And the children of Joseph said, “The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.” And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, “Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: but the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.”
Joshua 17:16-18

It sounds as though the children of Joseph were not pleased with their part of the land as it was divided among all the tribes. It was not enough and the people who lived in the valley had weapons they did not feel like they could defeat.

Joshua had another idea though, and that was they could have the woods of the mountain, cut down those trees, and clean up the ground. Joshua gave them what they needed to take the land, however, they had not fully obeyed the LORD, in driving out the Canaanites out of that land (17:12-13),  and when they became stronger the made servants of the Canaanites. Joshua was telling them since you are strong use what land you have been given, drive out the giants, and God will give you victory even over iron chariots.

As the people of God we often let things get in the way of doing God’s will, and being obedient to Him, His word, and turn from the path He has laid out for us. There are spiritual leaders, pastors and deacons, and even other brothers and sisters in Christ who come into our lives to give us a word of exhortation, and encouragement, and plain ole rebuke and correction. When it cuts to the heart, it is probably a right word from God.

Like Joshua told the children of Joseph – Ephraim and Manasseh – “You are a great people and have great power…” and so are those who are in Christ Jesus. We let things get in the way of obedience, and faith in God’s ability to deliver us and give us the victory.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, then you will not even know what I am saying. If you will confess to Him that you have sinned against Him, and turn from your sins to Jesus Christ who died on a cross being the sinless sacrifice for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again to life, and when we put our faith in Him He gives us a new heart, and begins changing us into the likeness of God’s Son.

Let us not live with things in our way; preventing our victory over our enemy, which is the enemy of GOD.

It Is Not A Vain Thing

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And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.  And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel: and he said unto them, “Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.  For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”
Deuteronomy 32:44-47

For some the reading, and study of the Scriptures (our Holy Bible) is a worthless, senseless waste of time. Some may feel; even though they profess to be a Christian; that they do not need to read and study God’s word. That seems kind of odd to me since the Bible is the largest selling book in the world.

What has this got to do with what Moses has written, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, with the Christian of today?

First of all we need to know that Moses gave these words shortly before his death. Even though he had led the people of Israel for forty years through the wilderness, with great signs and wonders; he was not allowed to enter the land of  Promise, because of his actions at the waters from the rock of Meribah (Deuteronomy 32:51).

Secondly, Moses knew the people needed the words of the LORD in order to be faithful. They needed to know, and be reminded of the blessings of obedience, and the curses of disobedience.

So does the Christian need to know the word of God. So it is never a waste of time. It is never a vain thing. It is never a useless, worthless or empty thing to read, study, and know the word of God.

How will we, how can we stand before others, and tell others what makes a difference in our lives when they ask, if we do not know His word? How can we stand in a court of people, kings, and nations to defend our faith, and stand in the face of persecution? If we do not know the Lord’s words. Jesus said, “And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you”  Matthew 10:18-20. How does that happen without the presence of the word of God being already in our hearts, and coming to our minds – the Holy Spirit, of course, in what we have already put within.

So never feel like the reading and study of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, are a waste of your time. It is a necessity for life, faith, and increasing your fruitfulness.

We will hide His word in our hearts that we might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11).

If you want to know the One true God, there is only one way, and that is through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Will you call on His name today?

A Chosen People

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For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the LORD loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations; and repayeth them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them: He will not be slack to him that hateth Him, He will repay him to his face.  Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
Deuteronomy 7-11

They are called an “holy people” and a people who have been chosen to be a “special people unto Himself, above all people on the face of the earth.” What makes these people a special people? It is not because they are good, or holy, or righteous, or because they are worthy. It is because God says He loves them. Who are these people?

They are the descendants of  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The people are not holy because they are good, but because they have been made so by God Himself. They are a people who that the LORD is their God. That He is the faithful God, and that He keeps His promises, and is merciful, and He loves all who keep His commandments. Who are these people?

They are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are not special by their own works; they are special because the LORD keeps His promises, and He declares them a special people. God does not love them because they are worthy of His love; He loves them because He keeps His word.

Where does the Bride of Jesus Christ fit into this? We are part of the Body of Christ because we have been born again through faith in Christ Jesus, and His death on the cross of Calvary, His burial, and His resurrection. Jesus Christ is a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and through Him we are a special people, a holy people, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10

We were not chosen because we were good, righteous, or holy. We were dying, condemned transgressors of the law of God, yet He loved us, and called unto Himself (Romans 5:8). We also keep His commandments, because we love Him; Jesus said, “If you love Me keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

There is a reason to fear what the end may be for one’s life. It is certain that you will die. It is just as sure and certain, that we will all, one day stand before the Lord, and will be judged by what we did with Jesus Christ. If you refuse Him you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe Him, trusting in Him and loving Him with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and all your strength, then you will spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven.

Trust Him today, believe His word, His promises, and call on Him in repentance of sin.

To Be Alive

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But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
Numbers 33:55-56

As I was thinking about these verses I was reminded of Colossians 3:5, where the Apostle said, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry…”  The word “Mortify” means “to put to death,” and that is what a Christian is to do. Put the evil desires of the flesh to death.

In our text for today we have a warning from the LORD God through Moses, His faithful servant to drive out the inhabitants of the land. Now, remember God had promised this land, the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For four hundred plus years the children of Israel who is Jacob, were held captive as slaves to the Egyptians. Mean while the Canaanites were growing more and more vile and wicked refusing the love, mercy, and grace of the one true  God who created the heavens and the earth, and everything therein.

The children of Israel are nearing the time of going into this land that flowed with milk and honey.  I can understand why some people think God is cruel, mean, and offensive. He is not though. He tells  His people to cleanse the land. God is holy, and cannot look upon iniquity, and He was going to bless Israel for their obedience in purifying His land.

Now the comparison of Colossians 3:5; as Christians we are to die daily to self, and selfish interest. The Apostle even said, “I am crucified with Christ… “Galatians 2:20), and for the Christian that means we were as well if we are in Christ Jesus. Though we are Christians we still must fight the enemy. Our enemy is not people. Our enemy is the devil, and our own sin within. So the Christian life is a battle.

We are to drive out these lustful, selfish, covetous, rowdy desires, so that we might be better witnesses of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Even though we are saved from the penalty of sin, in our continued fighting against sin and evil within – which is our sanctification – we are being saved from the power of sin; and one day, when Jesus comes again we will be saved from the presence of sin – which is our glorification with Christ.

As long as we are living in this world, let us ever be faithful to drive out the enemy, and not let any of it remain within us.

A Prophets Letter For Those Taken To A Foreign Land

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Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
“Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.  And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.”
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; “Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.  For they prophesy falsely unto you in My name: I have not sent them,” saith the LORD.
For thus saith the LORD, “That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” saith the LORD, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you,” saith the LORD: “and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you,” saith the LORD; “and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”
Jeremiah 29:4-14

God Has A Plan For His Wayward People

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Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
“Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.  For I will set Mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.  And I will give them an heart to know Me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.’ ”
Jeremiah 24:4-7

Repentance and Return

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Therefore thus saith the LORD, “If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before Me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.  And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee,” saith the LORD, “and I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.”
Jeremiah 15:19-21

God’s Warning Of Judgment On His People

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O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.  I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.  The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.  Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! For the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.  Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
Jeremiah 6:1-5

May The God of Peace Make You Perfect

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Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21

The Marvelous Work Of God

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Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
Acts 13:38-41

To Stand Before The Son of Man

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“…And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36

You Be Ready

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“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
“Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Luke 12:35-40

They Shall Be Sanctified

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Thus saith the Lord GOD; “When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to My servant Jacob.  And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.”
Ezekiel 28:25-26

For My Name’s Sake

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As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; “Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto Me: but pollute ye My holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.  For in Mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” saith the Lord GOD, “there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve Me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up Mine hand to give it to your fathers. And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel,” saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 20:39-44

Out Of The Belly Of The Fish

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And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
“Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.”
So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey.  And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”
So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
Jonah 3:1-5

Dwelling By The Brook

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And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”  And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
“Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.”
So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.  And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
1 Kings  17:1-7

Let Your Heart Be Perfect With The LORD Our God

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Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant. The LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers: let Him not leave us, nor forsake us: that He may incline our hearts unto Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and His statutes, and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers.  And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that He maintain the cause of His servant, and the cause of His people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: that all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments, as at this day.
1 Kings 8:56-61

O God, Do Not Be Still

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Keep not Thou silence, O God: hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O God.  For, lo, Thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate Thee have lifted up the head.  They have taken crafty counsel against Thy people, and consulted against Thy hidden ones.
They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.”  For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against Thee: the tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.  Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: who said, “Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.”
O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.  As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; so persecute them with Thy tempest, and make them afraid with Thy storm.  Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek Thy name, O LORD.  Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: that men may know that Thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the Most High over all the earth.

Psalm 83:1-18