“If The Money Is Gone” (Gen 47:13-26)

So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, "Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed." Then Joseph said, "Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone." (vs15-16)

The Lord gives us the terms of salvation because He is God, the One who rose from the dead, the Perfect Man, and the One that God's enthroned for salvation through His blood. Having earned peace, He gives it to whom He wills, and He chooses to only bless those that honor Him. He will be Lord and Savior. He has this right because you can't stand on your own. If you needed no Redeemer, then you could spurn His claims justly. But, because we've sinned, it's either Christ or hell.

Secondly, bow to Christ because of your need (Gen 47:19-20). We read, “Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? But us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate. Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh's”. Only sinners love mercy. Only those oppressed by guilt and fear actually trust Christ. It has to be DESPERATE, or we won't trust the Son. We'll say, “How can all these people be wrong, and Christ be the way?” It doesn't matter if we KNOW that He is true, until we are God-taught and poverty consumes us, we'll despise God. Be thankful, therefore, that you need Him. I know it hurts fighting sin, resisting the flesh, and bearing the hatred of men. I know that you and I forsake everything for Him. But, it is better to need Christ and to suffer FOR having Him, than to be fattened for the slaughter and made to eternally suffer for NOT having Him (Gen 47:22, 26).

Thirdly, the Lord saves us by His commands (Gen 47:23-24). We read, “Then Joseph said to the people, Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones”. He doesn't rule in theory, but He tells us where to go, what to do, and how to live. He takes CONTROL of us, and it is right. His commands are faith and love, and they are good. His influence upon us is liberating, right, and humility producing. He's called us to love men to God. This isn't bad or oppressive. He provides the pardoning payment, provides the power of the Spirit, provides the joy of obedience, and He shall provide heaven's pleasures eternally. It is RIGHT that He reigns, and He actually does.

Lastly, don't be deceived and make up your own god, finding fault with Jesus Christ, as if you made the worlds and created yourself.

“Do Not Delay” (Gen 45:9-46:4)

“Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, Thus says your son Joseph: God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me... there I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine”. (vs 9-11)

The Lord Jesus bids us to Himself, and we are NEVER to delay (vs9-11). Believe on the Son, right now, receiving all that He gives in grace, and let nothing hinder you, not your past, not your inability, not your fears of tomorrow. Nothing. The Son has said, “Come down to me, do not delay”, and we let NOTHING keep us from Christ. We receive all that He gives freely, and we come to Him for all that we need, which is satisfaction by the Spirit.

Secondly, we have a commission from God (Gen 45:17-24). He tells us, “Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. Now you are commanded – Do this... See that you do not become moved along the way”.

Let nothing keep you from Christ's commission to save others, even as you let nothing keep you from Christ Himself.

He is with us, as we do His will, and we're never to be distracted by the past, by the trials, by the persecutions, or anything that might cause us to hide instead of confessing Christ. Don't let a love for this world hide the gospel in you, and keep pressing, though you have many failures. Satan says, “Why preach. You are a sinner and everyone knows it”, but he seeks to distract you from the business of ministry. All have sinned, so we RECEIVE the mercies of God, improve our behavior, and keep pressing. We don't say, “I'm saved, so I don't have to serve. Someone else will do it”, but every believer presses into the kingdom, and then gets grace from God to keep the fire hot, testifying of Christ, as God opens the doors (2 Tim 1:6, 14). We are not to be distracted by family or fun, but we sanctify all things by giving them to Christ, and living that men might be saved... living honorably... whether we eat or drink (1 Cor 10:30-31). Do not be distracted from love.

Thirdly, the word of God is good for us (Gen 46:2-4). God told Jacob, “Jacob, Jacob! And he said, Here I am. So He said, I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes”. The same gospel message that wounds will also heal. The same word that reproves us is the same word that will correct us unto salvation (2 Tim 3:16-17). The word of God is good, because God is good. He chose you, taught you the gospel, and gave you life by His gospel (James 1:17-22). How can anything that He says be bad, when love and goodness is the origin of every statement to us? It may not be what we wanted, but it'll give us what we really want – God's peace – if we're obedient.

Hear the word of God as it comes to mind in conscience. Do not put it away. It comes to help.

“Healing Them All” (Luke 6:19)

“And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.”

You get the sense of urgency. The Lord Jesus heals all that have need of healing, no matter what the sickness is. He makes the sinner forgiven, the mute to praise God, and the afflicted to bear the wings of victory. His healing isn't physical but spiritual, but He heals the needy, every last one.

First, the Lord Jesus heals ALL that have need of healing. You'll never have a spiritual need, a need for peace and power with God, acceptance and obedience, and the Lord Jesus drop the ball. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37). He has power because He is risen, and He uses His power to save ALL the Father gave Him as assuredly as He saves all who come to Him, believing on His name, and worshiping His glory. No one trusts Christ in vain.

Secondly, our needs drive us to Christ for healing. Sinners were tormented and oppressed, even as you are today, “who came to be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed” (Luke 6:17-18).

You are estranged from God, hopeless and helpless. You have fallen, and you can't get up to God, no matter how you try. Sin is at the door, mastering you, and you NEED a Savior.

Notice, He didn't heal the healthy, but the sick. He said in Luke 5, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (vs32). It is only when men are DEPRAVED and know there is no other hope that we will cleave to Christ. We're the four lepers who trusted in mercy when they had no other option but death. 2 Kings 7:3-4 says, “ And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us surrender unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.”

And, that's the issue, “surrender”, or falling down before the Lord; it is saying, “OK, I will do things your way. I will love because I'm loved”. Oppression, guilt, and fear bring us here: the fact that NOTHING else works.

Thirdly, the healing that God gives is spiritual. Many seek healing in the body, but you shall die eventually. Apostolic power is GONE, and those pretending to have it are liars (Acts 8:18-19). God's gospel isn't a physical party. You may come to Christ and then get cancer. Your HIV may never go away, etc. But, you will get obedience, peace, joy, and love. Ps 68:18 says of Jesus Christ, “You have ascended on high, You have carried away captivity; You have received gifts for men, even for the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell there”. He will make us able to walk with God in peace, and He'll bring us home. Jeremiah Burroughs said, "Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition."

Finally, do you need God's healing? If so, then He will heal you. Are you a church in need... a pastor... a saint? Have you seen areas you come short? Then, only believe that He heals you freely, He doesn't reject you, and what you need is yours. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and [it] will be made well” (Luke 8:50). Go out this day healed because you believe God is powerful, gracious, justified to save, and He is saving you.

No Shame For Whosoever Believes! (Rom 9:14-33)

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense: And he that believes on him shall not be put to shame” (vs33).

If we put trust in Christ, we won’t be let down.  We won’t believe Him for righteousness, trusting His cross and grace, and not have the righteousness and help that we need.  All who BELIEVE shall be saved.

Don’t say, “God is sovereign” and not believe.  Believe His grace.  Don’t say, “I’m evil”, and not believe His GIFT of eternal life - “For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:17).  Don’t stumble at the simplicity, freeness, or graciousness of eternal life; believe on the Son and be saved.

God preaches Christ FREELY, and people are saved because He is gracious, doing what He has said, exactly, “For He said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Rom 9:15).

People DO NOT believe, and yet, God gives us faith, for He determined to have a people - “And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, You are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God” (Rom 9:26).  We are unworthy, but grace is for sinners only.  We are not better or worse because of the nation we come from, etc. We are all objects of mercy by the electing and willing love of God, that gave us the Son.

It doesn’t matter who you are; it only matters who Jesus is to you.  Is He God’s Son, the open-armed Savior?  Then believe.  Is He saving all who come?  Then come - “All the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and him that comes to Me, I will for no reason cast out” (John 6:37).

Don’t stumble and say, “This is easy; it can’t work”, but BELIEVE on Him to give you His grace.

Don’t say, “This is hard; I can’t get in”, when salvation is for those who believe, “For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed“ (Rom 10:11).  Why can’t you and I believe on God to save us, when He says, “whosoever”?  Why must we doubt grace?

God will save you.  Believe.

No Spot In You (Song 4:1-7)

“You are all fair, my love; there is no spot in you” (vs7).

The Lord Jesus commends us, calling us beautiful inwardly by the Spirit in the new nature, because He wants us for Himself.  It is like a husband talking to his wife in loving adoration, so that she draws near, so they can fellowship in love.

The Son “sweet talks” us, not because He is wrong and cannot see our sin, but because sin is punished, and we have new natures that love, serve, and honor God.  And, it is by His cleansing love, love that made us pure within, that we draw near to Him, being constrained by His great love to serve Him, laying down our lives in grateful submission (Eph 1:4; 2 Cor 5:14).

The love of Christ produces holiness in those that believe.  As He commends us, we lean on Him increasingly and seek His face in this world.  Rather than allowing our minds and bodies to serve another beloved, we think on Him, setting our minds on things above (Col 3:2).

Many fear that love revealed is unbecoming, that Christ cannot speak of us this way, but don’t ever let your blackness keep you from believing that you are pure (Song 1:5).  If you believe God, though you’re as vile as possible in the flesh, it is the new man that He commends, loving us WHILE we were yet sinners and in spite of our vileness, and loving us as obedient children, whom He has made so by His blood, promise, and Spirit.  Hear the Son speak well of you:

• Your hair is as a flock of goats; it is long and shows your submission, that you subject yourself to Christ, willingly, taking His yoke upon you and learning of Him (Song 4:1; 1 Cor 11:15).
•  Your teeth are not the ravenous teeth of wolves and lions that lash out at the Savior, but you have the submissive teeth of sheep, hear His voice, and you follow Him (vs2).

• Your lips and mouth speak the gospel of God’s grace in knowledge of His love for you.  You are not merely saying nice stuff about Christ, but you believe that He loves you, so you speak of His glory sincerely (vs3).

• Your neck is strong and has overcome the enemy.  You have yielded yourself to Christ, and thereby, you conquer sin, resisting Satan, and he flees from you (vs4).

• Your breasts are nourishing to Christ, satisfying to Him, and a place for Him to rest His head, knowing that He’s made you able to care for the church, to love as He gave commandment.

And, He says this to draw us to Himself. He tells us where He will be, “Until the day break and the shadows flee away”, until we’re in heaven with face to face communion, “I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense” (vs6). He is where He is blessed and praised, and He is where He is depended upon in prayer: He will meet us there.

“Come Away” And Be Changed (Song 2:8-17)

“My beloved spoke, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away” (vs10).

The Son of God comes to us skipping upon the hills and leaping upon the mountains of our sin and unbelief - “The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes” (vs8).  Having paid for sins and being gracious to sinners, our unbelief and obstacles are no problems for Him; He isn’t hindered.

He comes to us saying, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away”. He calls us TO Himself.  Salvation isn’t forgiveness only, but forgiveness and cleansing, so He calls us to obedience, faith, love, joy, and peace, by doing things His way.  

He will cleanse and change the character, so that we can enjoy Him in the change that He makes and the peace of His Spirit, “being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God“ (Col 1:10).  He doesn’t merely say, “I’ll fellowship with you, as you are, in the way that you want to live”, but He says, “Come unto ME all you that labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). I’ll fix you, pardon you, strengthen you, and cause you to obey, and in this, you’ll have power, love, joy, and peace: you’ll have Me (John 14:15).

The Lord could have simply come all the way in and saved her without her response, but He desires us to come to Him - “My beloved is like a gazelle or a young deer: behold, he stands behind our wall, he looks forth at the windows, showing himself through the opening“ (vs9).  He will not have us ignorant or constrained by outside force, but He’ll have us come to Him by faith, confess our sins to the Beloved, and live by willful obedience.  It isn’t the unintelligent worship of the robotic that He seeks but the willing worship of people who need Him and take hold of salvation.

He says, “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away” (vs13). Come away with Him.  Do not stay where you are; don’t refuse to repent of known sins, and don’t seek Christ’s peace on your terms. Come to Him, believe, repent, and obey by the Spirit’s power, and you’ll have Christ returned to you in experience: you’ll taste His power, “For, lo, the winter is past, and the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land; the fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell” (vs11-13).

But, be careful. Your Winter season is past for a beautiful Spring time with Christ, but don’t think that you are a big shot now - “Take us, the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes“ (vs15). Yield yourself to Him and lean on Him continually, because your new fruit is tender, and there are foxes who seek to distract and deceive you, taking your eyes off Christ and causing you to sin, so that His presence is gone.  Take great care to maintain fellowship with Christ by repentance, faith, and love continually.  Be changed, and He will stay with you.

Here is an Illustration:

My boss got under my skin, and I can either keep my anger and bitterness, or I can have Christ, but I can’t have both.

Needing Christ for peace, I came to Him, and He instructed me to submit to my boss and then taught me things that I can do to make the situation better, perhaps.  God gave me PEACE, as He gave me His will, pardoning and changing me to love.

Now, Christ RETURNS and I have something more valuable than the pleasure of sin for a season, something better than hate and pride: I have love, joy, and peace.

“Fair to Look On” (Esther 1:10-11)

 “On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.  But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king‘s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.” (vs10-12)

God’s commands are not grievous. He intends only our best, as He COMMANDS us what to do.  He is the source of peace, and in obedience to His goodness, our joy will be full (John 14:27). He is more pleasurable than Satan and the pleasures of sin, which are short lived - “The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Truly there is a reward for the righteous; truly he is a God that judges in the earth” (Ps 58:10-11). He is pure, exalting, and love.  He teaches us the good way, then He fills us with gladness in obedience. He does for us by the Spirit, so that we don’t use human power to glorify God, but He gives us what we need.

Do not be foolish and rebel. Do not say, “The pleasure of sin is better than Christ”, because it isn’t.

You will lose your soul and your life down here, squandering it on sin - “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (Matt 16:26). If you will be happy, pursue God’s commands with zeal, leaning on His strength, trusting His obedience to earn your obedience, and doing His will to the gladness of your heart and the glory of God in helping others. This is the high-life, as God commands us to live BETTER than the squalor of the earth. We’ve wasted time in sin, and now we must shine.

God gives us FEAR and trembling so that we come, and then He blesses our coming.  God DAMNS everyone else.

Sin, Righteousness, and Judgment (John 16:8-11)

 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

Of Sin (vs9)

Unbelief is the conviction of sin, that we haven’t obeyed the Lord, as commanded. We have not followed Him in obedience, as He demands. We have been DISOBEDIENT children, negligent, and wrong. We are ungodly sinners SLAIN by the law, killed by the Spirit, and shown to be vanity and the wind. We are nothing.  The conviction of the Spirit leaves us no leg to stand on in self; it is either salvation by Christ or damnation by our deserving.

Sin’s conviction remains the entire life of faith, so that believers HAVE it, presently; it is not what we outgrow; it moves us to Christ continually, as He faithfully shows us our need, so we can love the Son who meets the needs so freely. Grace is for guilty, and we are that by the Spirit’s enlightening and illumination of us.  We are in need, unable to stand, and without any hope but Christ: sinners, we are.

Of Righteousness (vs10)

Christ ascended God’s right hand victorious over sin and Satan; He conquered sin by the cross, and by One Man’s obedience we’re saved.  We fell in Adam, and we are REDEEMED by faith in Christ, trusting Him to have obeyed God so exactly, even to death, that God saves SINNERS because of Him. 

We are undone, and He shows us the Worthy Lamb of God.  We are unable to help ourselves, and He reveals the help that’s in Christ, freely, to the vilest of men. His obedience is enough: God punished Christ, Christ honored God, and all that believe on Him shall be saved. You are JUST by faith in Christ, forgiven of sins. You have the new covenant by believing on Him, trusting Him, because of what He did. It is written, “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”, so we preach Jesus, so that men may say, “Lord, save me”, entrusting themselves to Him (Rom 10:13).  Then He saves them by His obedience for them, rather than something the sinner does himself. We are free from sin’s penalty and just by the blood that He shed; we are in the covenant of blessing, whereby all is ours for Christ’s sake only.  We have obtained mercy by the blood that He shed, the sacrifice sufficient to redeem us from sin. God exacted from Christ all needed punishment to pardon all that obey the gospel, trusting Him.

Of Judgment Upon Satan Our Adversary (vs11)

Jesus defeated Satan. It is written, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil”, and putting away sin is only one work, the other work is putting DOWN the sin’s of believers, until we sin no longer in heaven (1 John 3:8).  Satan’s power is BROKEN because wrath is answered, so that we have God’s FAVOR and love, rather than wrath. Instead of being evil and worthy of God’s back and fury, instead of being punished by failure and given over to Satan as the result of our sins, we are near to God in Christ, loved MANIFESTLY, and powered by forgiveness, so that we can obey God by the Spirit given to us by right. We have power from on high to conquer the sin of Satan and this world, because we’re justified by faith, so that what God commands, He will perform by faith only. It is written again, “Believe you that I am able to do this”, and the same God that justifies will conquer sin, too (Matt 9:28). The God who is alive is the God who enables us to do His will, so that we are not without power and might.  The gospel reconciles us to God who helps us with sin. The gospel saves, not only by forgiving, but also by changing conduct to sin no more. The gospel’s POWER is revealed in the obedience of His loved ones, and we are them.

Extemporaneous and Desperate Prayer (William Huntington)

I kneeled down, and began to pray extempore, in the language of one desperate, precisely thus - "Oh Lord, I am a sinner, and thou knowest it. I have tried to make myself better, but cannot. If there is any way left in which thou canst save me, do thou save me; if not, I must be damned, for I cannot try any more, nor won't."

The very moment the last sentence had dropped from my lips, "the spirit of grace and of supplication was poured into my soul," Zec. xii. 10; and "I forthwith spake as the Spirit gave me utterance," Acts, it. 4. I immediately prayed with such energy, eloquence, fluency, boldness, and familiarity, as quite astonished me: as much as though I should now suddenly speak Arabic, a language that I never learned a syllable of. And the blessed Spirit of God poured the sweet promises into my heart, from all parts of the scriptures, in a powerful manner; and helped my infirmities greatly, by furnishing my faltering tongue with words to plead prevalently with God. Yea, that blessed Spirit enabled me to compass the Almighty about with his own promises; which were so suitable to my case, that his blessed Majesty could not get out of his own bonds. It came to pass that, after I had been wrestling in this manner for about the space of a quarter of an hour, behold, Jesus Christ appeared to me in a most glorious and conspicuous manner, with all his body stained with blood! He appeared in his aspect as one greatly dishonored and much abused, and yet inclined to pity me. I turned my eyes from him, but he pursued me, and was still before me. I fell to the ground, and laid on my face, but could not shun the sight. I never before saw sin in such a light as I then did.

(Taken from, “The Kingdom of Heaven Taken By Prayer”)

“A Virtuous Woman” (Ruth 3:10-11)

“And he said, Blessed be you of the Lord, my daughter: for you have showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you follow not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to you all that you require: for all the city of my people does know that you are a virtuous woman” (vs10-11).

If we come to God in the gospel, then He’ll give Himself FREELY unto us.  Coming to God is rewarded for all that come by faith, which glorifies God, saying that what God’s promised, though I’m evil, He will surely do (Rom 4:20-22). This will bring us joy, peace, power, and every blessing of faith. He will help us indeed, even as He helped Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to serve and honor God in the flame. He will ensure that we are not hurt, but we are LIBERATED by the flame that we endure, so that this trial of faith will do nothing but LIBERATE us to know and enjoy God forever in Jesus Christ. God puts us in positions TOO HARD for us, so that we can glorify His grace, being MIRACULOUSLY saved by God.

Trust Him for holiness of conduct, and He’ll GIVE it to you (Ex 12:8-9). Trust Him for obedience, and you have it. Just deal with Him in the FREENESS and delight of grace, whereby God is PLEASED to do us good by Jesus Christ and the GRACE that He righteously earned, so that God is HOLY and gracious both, by Christ, and you‘ll have your petition. We can‘t have a million things, but we CAN have God, so seek Him in the freeness and sovereignty of grace.  He’ll give Himself to you.

God answers prayer, hears the call of sinners, and saves His people by grace. Learn the word “grace” and know it is free, mighty, and glorious: it subdues and eases the heart, it works SALVATION on God’s terms, God’s way, unto God’s glory in Jesus Christ, causing us to do His will.

We don’t come to Him able; we come by faith, and He enables us. We don’t come STRONG; we come by faith, and He puts might in us to obey (Eph 3:16-17). We don’t even come PRAISING God with our joy; we come EMPTY and He saves us to the praise of His glory, which we see.

Of all things in this world you can’t have (fame, honor, worship, etc), you and I may have God who is above all.

Men mock at God, and yet He is patient and REWARDS all that BELIEVE: He will not cast you off, if you come trusting Him to do you good for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood (John 6:32-68)

“Whoso eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (vs54).

Eating and drinking is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We feast on Him like leeches, taking of His blood and life laid down for us (Prov 30:15). We never get to a point that we no longer take from Him, depend upon Him, and receive from Him all that we need. He says, “Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53).

This life is the GIFT of God, for all who come to Christ, and it is a life of continual believing.

First, eternal life is God’s gift. He says, “Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven”, so that Christ is GIVEN to all who hear the word (John 6:32). The Son of God, the Savior, the Substitute for sinners is not in a corner hidden away to be earned. The Father, rather, preaches and gives Him freely to us. He says, “For the bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and gives LIFE unto the world”, not just a chosen few, but ANYONE who wants salvation may have it through Christ (John 6:33, 51).

Secondly, this gift is received by coming to Christ, and He will not cast out or turn away any. It is written, “All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). It doesn’t matter your sin: come to Christ, and He’ll take you. Sometimes, I hear of things being free or maybe I have a coupon, but it has expired, or I do not meet some qualification. I am rejected ultimately. But, with Christ, it isn’t so. Come to Him sin condemned, sin loving, God hating, and evil to the core, but come to Him TRUSTING Him to be gracious to you by His own blood and life laid down, and you shall get the grace that you need. He will never say to anyone that looks to Him, “I’m sorry. Go away. You’re too vile, came too late, have squandered too many sermons, and you do not please me”. Instead, He will take the sinner and heal him, He’ll take the guilty and cleanse him, and He’ll take the transgressor and change you and me into sons of God.

He will be faithful to us all the way through, though we’ve been faithless to Him. He is the Great God and Savior, the Lord who saves sinners ONLY (John 6:29).

Thirdly, believing is the way that we live (John 6:29, 40). You have no merit, so believe that He’s enough and stand RIGHT with God. You have no strength, so believe that He is why God will help you, and you have the Spirit and strength that you need. You have sinned against the light, but believe that He is MERCIFUL to transgressors, receives you freely, and gives you all that you need for obedience. In all things, BELIEVING God’s GOODNESS to sinners is the way to live, the way that we’re RIGHTEOUS, and the way to inherit and obtain blessings. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ“.

Lastly, only God draws men to Christ - “It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life“ (John 6:63). He says, “No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). We are SINNERS who must be TAUGHT of God (vs45). He must teach us our need until we despair of anything in self, and He must TEACH us our salvation in Christ, so that we TRUST Him (God Almighty) in spite of what we are.

For the elect, God will do the teaching - “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father comes unto me“ (vs45). We will feast on Christ all of our lives. We will believe unto the saving of our soul. And, when multitudes walk no more with Him, we will say, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the living God” (vs68-69). The Spirit has given us life, caused us to take this Bread, and He will feed us continually, causing us to NEED and BELIEVE on Christ.

"The Point of Death" (John 4:49)

"The nobleman said unto him, Sir, come down before my child die" (vs49).

We come to the Lord Jesus because we need Him. Miserable things happen in our lives that hurt us, but if they BRING us to Christ, then they are for good. Yes, all things work together for good to them that believe. Perhaps, this man thinks, "All hope is almost lost. Death has come by my evil". But, don't let your sin or anyone else's KEEP YOU from Christ. He is merciful to sinners and He helps us out of sin and its consequences. He is MERCIFUL to people we'd avoid and shows His glory by doing good to the afflicted.

Are you hurt, burdened, sick, or weary? Has life gotten you down, do you taste the bitterness of DEATH all around you in this world? Then, COME to Jesus Christ the Lord. Your poverty is a blessing, if properly used. Let grief bring salvation to you. Let your sickness get you healing that makes you thankful that you showed SYMPTOMS that you were sick. A little pain can foreshadow a GREAT illness, and you can then be spared by action. You may have ruined your life so far, but you'll ruin it now no longer!!