“Like a Weaned Child” (Ps 131)

A Song of Ascents. Of David. O Jehovah, my heart is not proud, nor have my eyes been lofty; nor have I walked in great things, nor in things too wondrous for me. Surely I have set myself and have quieted my soul, like one weaned by its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. Let Israel hope in Jehovah, from now and till forever. (vs1-3)

Being weaned by the Lord and made submissive to Him is hard.  Like infants, we scream and protest, until we’re submitted.

I remember my little sister, when she went from the breast to the bottle, refused to drink all morning, all day, and well into the night.  She cried and screamed angrily and hungrily, but then suddenly, she took the bottle, her tears were comforted, and her belly was fed. It is the same with us. We kick and scream, we cry “unfair”, and we do all that we can our own way, until finally, we SUBMIT to God as God.

He rules by right and by power. He forces our submission by not giving us what we want, but by giving us PAIN, until we do it His way.  “For Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’ But you would not… 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 (Is 30:15-18). Then, the soul says, “I will obey. I will do what He says, and it will be better for me.” And, when this submission takes place, then we enjoy the peace and power of God, even the blessedness of His way.

Blessed are the meek, and blessed are you and I, if we’re bowed down to Christ, submitted to Him, and getting grace to obey. Blessed are you when you bow to salvation by grace, instead of merit, by God’s Son, instead of yourself (Rom 4:5). Blessed are you to bow to His way of living. We are to love our enemies, do good to them who curse us, and minister the gospel in love. It is not, “My will”, but “Thy will be done” (Luke 22:41-42).

Everyone who bows enjoys the pleasures of obedience, the joy and confidence of the gospel, and the assurance of God’s presence (Is 32:9-19).  We are rewarded in obedience, which we couldn’t be in our sin, so it is better that we’ve learned meekness and submission. He says, “O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever” (Ps 131:3).  We wait on God, instead of forcing our own hand. We go where He says, and we do what He says, no matter the war within, because He will help and it is BEST.  God blesses obedience, and blessed are you to have it, to willingly follow Christ.

Where do you stand?  In rebellion?  Do you think that God will change, and you will win (Heb 12:6)? Will He bow to you? No, the only thing that rebellion can do is prove that we don’t know Him and bring misery upon us. We must be changed, and you must become God’s servant, willingly.  

Look at the pain coming upon you and the pain that you’ve already experienced, and turn to God in repentance and faith.  Say, “Lord, help me obey, at all cost, as the most important thing in my life.  Take me, right where I am, and help me. I want Your will.” And, He will give it to you.  He says, “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matt 7:8)!  What words!  He’ll hear your cry, answer you, and peacefulness and obedience will result. Be as a weaned child, satisfied with the nourishment, which is God’s will, and strength.

“Peace Be Upon Israel” (Ps 125)

Do good, O LORD, unto those that are good and to them that are upright in their hearts.  As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity; Peace be upon Israel. (vs4-5)

God’s peace is only upon Israel, those with uprightness of heart.  He describes a people saved and protected, whom He doesn’t allow wickedness to rule, “for the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity” (vs3).

Satan wanted to cut Peter down, ruin him, and get him away from the gospel, but the Lord prayed for him, kept him from quitting, and sent him to recover others by the strength that he received (Luke 22:31-32). It is our lot in life to be tempted, but NEVER too much… to fall, but NEVER to fall from grace.  He doesn’t give us more than we can handle. He says, “They that trust in the LORD shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abides for ever.  As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth, even for ever. (vs1-2)”  He is a wall of fire, an unfailing Savior, and Someone who rules the enemy of sin, giving help continually. He saves by stopping the enemy from doing too much, and by forgiving us, giving us repentance, and then rewarding our faith.

We are upright because Christ made us so (vs4). He says, “Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in heart”.  We started out wicked, dead in sins, but faith justifies us and receives the Spirit (Gal 3:1-14).  We believe that we are saved by grace, and this causes us to live uprightly by the power that He gives.  We are pure in heart, because we see grace in God, and so we are gracious to others.  He says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” (Matt 5:7-9).  We delight to show mercy, because we’ve obtained so much.  Like Paul, we’re motivated by God’s election, Christ’s blood of redemption, and the undeserved power that the Spirit continually gives.  These privileges and others make us respond properly, and this response pleases God, “but without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6). He calls faith’s work uprightness, and this is found in everyone that He calls good.

Count your blessings, which include newness of life.  Sin is a great wickedness in you, but your forgiveness is real from God, and you are given love thereby.  Receive these promises because you’ve received Christ who makes you good.

Finally, however, the wicked are not blessed of God, and it is foolish to think that He is FOR you while you live in sin (vs5). He says, “As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity”.  He shall destroy them. Your relationship with Christ must be according to His word (the bible), for He gave it to express His will, so that we can please Him (2 Tim 3:15-17). Rejecting Christ is not safe ground; it enrages God that sinners rebel against His Son, and He isn’t for you, but against.   

He is no “nice old man in the sky” who doesn’t judge people.  He is the One who punishes sinners eternally, and He is angry even now.  He says, “God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.  If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready.  He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts” (Ps 7:11-13).  He doesn’t treat men the same, but He makes distinctions between saved and lost, Israel and the wicked of this world. He is not for you, unless He saves you from sin by grace.

God loves and cares for Israel alone, and He hates the wicked.  Which one are you?  Under wrath or blessed with power over sin?

Peace Guaranteed (Eph 5:17-33, Col 3:12-25, 1 Pet 3:1-13)

My brothers and sisters who are married have a way, just like all believers, of dealing with the bitterness of life and the evil of their spouses conduct; it is FULL submission to Christ (1 Pet 3:13).

If the husband is wrong, then let the wife, by her spirit, show that she knows God, and He will be with her, as her Rewarder! 1 Peter 3:1 says, “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of the wives”. She cannot lose out by obeying Him, and neither the spouse, nor the world, can change the fact that God rewards all who obey Him (Col 3:24). Your peace isn't determined by the obedience of someone else; it is completely between you and God.

The husband is offended and ready for wrath, but he has no reason to sin because his wife sins against him. Eph 5:25-26 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word”. We BELIEVE God, obey the gospel, and put into practice the loving, patient, spirit of Christ. He loved us while we were yet sinners, and He cleansed us by laying down His own life! What a blessing to have peace guaranteed for bosses, employees, parents, and children, and to have it NEVER depend on the obedience of someone else (Col 3:18-4:1). They may bring a blessing to your door in the form of a curse, but when you respond according to scripture and submissiveness to Christ, then God promises to pay you back good for their evil (1 Pet 3:8-12).

I'm learning not to take matters into my own hands. You can't force the wife's obedience, nor change the husband by your will, but you can obey God, have peace within, and hope that God, by your example and the Spirit will work conviction, correction, and good works in the one you're dealing with. In all things, obey. Know that you can, and you must, through Christ (Phil 4:13). He'll give the grace to obey, so that other people's sins don't destroy your peace, but through prayer and submission, He'll give a peace that cannot can be destroyed (1 Pet 3:13).

You may go to Him over and over, arising early to prayer and resting your head in cries for mercy in the night, but it can and will be done.

One Sure Ground For Peace - Bruce Crabtree, Pastor

One of the most dreadful things I have ever witnessed was talking to an ungodly man just a few hours before he died. I ask him if he was afraid. His answer to me was, "Y’ no". He died a few hours later with a calm conscience. This poor soul was on the very verge of eternity without one ounce of a God given hope and yet his conscience was calm.

What God refuses to do for some men here, that is, to awaken the conscience out of it’s gross ignorance, He will suffer the torments of hell to do yonder. The rich man fared sumptuously every day and may well have lived with a calm conscience - and died with one too. But as soon as the flame of hell touched him he knew he was in trouble. That poor man I was talking to, I fear, suffered the same fate.

There is but one sure ground for peace and calmness of conscience and that is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood is there, there is no sin there. If there is no sin there, there is no wrath of God there; there is no hell waiting.

I may not be in Christ and yet have a peace, but it is a false peace. My heart may say, "I am not afraid", but it wouldn’t be the first time my heart has lied to me.

God, give me no rest or peace of conscience until you give me the peace that Christ has made through the blood of His cross.

“To You All Flesh Will Come” (Ps 65)

Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; and to You the vow shall be performed. O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come. (vs1-2)

God provides for us in the most special way, providing His Son an atonement for sin, and giving His Son to sinners in need, who have nothing to pay (vs1-3). He says, “Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them”. Elsewhere, we read, “And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both” (Luke 7:42). He provides GRACIOUSLY and generously, covering all sins, reconciling us to God, and earning grace. He who gave the Son will give us every good thing, so we don't have to worry, ever, about tomorrow or who will care for us. He says, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom 8:32).

We don't have to compromise to provide happiness for ourselves, not when He's promised the fruit of the Spirit and JOY amidst persecutions. You who see Him providing, rest your souls in His care. Pray to Him. Come to Him in trouble, and He will meet your needs.

If a man doesn't provide for his own house, he is an infidel and worse than an unbeliever, not providing for his believing mother or grandmother (1 Tim 5:3, 8). Will God do this? Will He create, and not care for His creation? Will He save and not care for His people? Fret not. He who rules the world and provides the wind, sun, and the rain, will also provide for you, not only now, but eternally. We have nothing to fear. We are not people with no hope; we have the GREATEST, most fulfilling, and the only real hope there is, Jesus Christ and God's grace in Him. He will delight Himself to care for you, so cast all your cares – troubles, anxieties, and fears – upon Him. (vs3)

Secondly, the provision of God is full (vs4-10). He says, “You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it. You water it's furrows abundantly, You settle its broken ground; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth”. He is not an empty stream, dry and dirty, barely moving, and insufficient for the task; He is a mighty river, always full, giving everything to the needy, and yet having more bounty and forever undiminished in His ability.

We don't have to be jealous of others, when you may have Christ and the Spirit yourself (Gen 26:14-16). I've seen churches prosper in the ministry, but why must we fear if our influence is small? It won't matter in a hundred years how big my church was, and the same God that gave grace to Spurgeon and Luther has PLENTY of grace, being rich in mercy, unto all that call upon Him. He says, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him” (Rom 10:12). So, I don't have to fear or doubt, no need to envy or covet man's approval, not when God has all of the grace, all of the wealth, and all of the provision that I'll ever need.

Spurgeon said that when pondering the sufficiency of Christ's grace, he felt like a minnow, pondering if he could swallow the ocean! The very thought of God's greatness put him at rest, and let it do the same with you. You sinned yesterday, and He gave you peace and atonement. You sinned today, will grace and peace run empty? No, our God is a FULL river, with PLENTY of what you need, so that if everyone alive came to Him for grace, and we were all satisfied beyond our dreams, He'd still be rich in mercy, full of pity, and not lacking the ability to give, and give, and give!

Look at the heart of God: He GAVE His only begotten Son, the infinite God. Is it possible that He is lacking in generosity or ability to provide for you a job, a wife, a home, and everything that you need? There is no stinginess in God, and you'll never believe upon Him, only to have Him say, “Sorry. I'm empty. I have no more to give”.

I'm frustrated when “all you can eat” runs out, or “take all you need” is only for the first five visitors, and I'm number six. But, this WON'T happen with God. Whenever you need Christ, He is FULL of mercy, full of grace, and generously giving. He cares for us, just like He does for this planet, providing all that we need.

Peace and pleasure is the result of provision, so that God rejoices to give us joy by meeting our needs (vs11-13). He says, “You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered with grain; they shout for joy, that also sing”. Trust in Him, O you people. Give God your heart. We spend wasted time worrying and caring for ourselves. Sinners are perishing THINKING that God won't give them joy, so they slave for Satan. But, it isn't true: God is willing to give you Himself, and thereby joy in your Great Provider meeting your needs. I have to be happy, but it comes from God blessing me, rather than sin. Bless His name by TRUSTING in Him to put a smile on your face, to raise you again, and to make you happy in what He has done. He is good and gracious, giving and just. He is the One that finds it more blessed to GIVE than to receive.

“Her Refuge” (Ps 48)

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge. (vs1-3)

God, and not we ourselves, is a refuge for us in trouble and against the war of sin (vs1-8). We read, “God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge”, and again, “As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever”. We may sink into His arms and know that we're protected and cared for by His love and power. Like a city, set on a hill, hidden by fortresses and protected by the mightiest army, we run to God and hide in Him when trouble happens.

Anxiety is the result of dealing with life without God, taking decisions and matters into your own hands, as if you're on your own or something depends on you. This FALSE hope leads to fear, doubt, and grief, but our REAL hope is Jesus Christ and the God who will always care for us for His sake. We may trust Him with our sin, both to put it away and to subdue its lusts; we may trust Him with our future, knowing that all things work together for our good and heaven is where He'll bring us. We may trust Him amidst any storm, drawing near to Him and getting His care and direction.

God's righteous judgments have benefited His church (vs9-11). He says, “We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, in the midst of Your temple. According to Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of Your judgments”. He judged us guilty,but He made the Lord Jesus the bearer of our sins. He judged us impotent, but for Christ's sake and because of His death for us, He gave us the Spirit of obedience, so that we can serve and honor God. I hear people talking of believers being INCAPABLE of good works, but God hasn't judged it so. I hear talk of “get yours now because tomorrow we die”, but God has judged fit to give us eternal life, and the real pleasures AFTER we leave this world. He judged us to be His children in election, but He chose us in Christ and based upon His obedience, so all that He's judged has been for our good, because He has loved us, and it has been done righteously on our behalf! We have no fear of God in slavish dread; all that He does and whatever He decides for us is best. We surrender to His will and ask for Him to intervene against our foes, for He has judged that He'll save us and destroy any who oppose.

Finally, God will be with us for all times sake (vs12-14). He says, “Walk about Zion, and go all around her. Count her towers; mark well her bulwarks; consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following. For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our leader even to death”. He will never leave nor forsake us, so we REST assured, declaring His greatness to those who will believe - “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God...For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe (1 Cor 1:18-25).”

We preach Christ and Him crucified in a sinful world, telling sinners the only place of refuge, where they will be secure, and then we bid all, by faith, to enter into the City, know that you're right with God and protected by His love. He isn't wishy-washy - here today and gone tomorrow - but He is faithful to the end of time and into eternity. He will never let you down, but He will save and prove Himself a refuge, continually.

Don't despair, but know where your safety is, and then don't keep quiet; let the others know who will believe. He says, “Walk about Zion... count her towers... consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following”. He says the preaching of the cross is foolishness to the perishing, but unto the believer, it is God's power whereby He saves! God's message of peace secures the soul, changes the life, and gives the blessings of everlasting bliss to a people who proclaim His goodness.

“In Your Holy Hill”

“Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart” (vs1-2)

The Lord teaches us what it means to dwell with God in holy affection and acceptance.

First, the Lord Jesus is the perfect Man, the One “in whose eyes a vile person is despised”, so that He walks in holiness, loving sinners (vs4).  The Lord is the Man “who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in His heart” (vs2).  He isn't double-faced, but sincere in his mercies and warnings.  He is the Man who "does not backbite [spy] with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach [shame] against his friend" (vs3).  He is honest, sincere, and upright in motive and speech. He doesn't say one thing and mean another, nor use His words to hate. He is perfection, worthy of trust and love. He "honors those who fear the Lord" with life eternal, forgiveness, and pleasure.  And he "swears to his own hurt and does not change", dying in the place of elect sinners, ransoming us to God by blood payment (vs4).  He does not oppress the poor, for He “does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent" (vs5).  He paid for our sins and demands no extra payment from us. He gives and gives, knowing that His blood is enough for grace to be free.  He is the perfect Man who "shall never be moved", and we are perfected in Him.

Secondly, by faith, immediate transformation happens, and we're like Christ in the inner man, so that as He is, which is loving, we are also in this world (1 John 4:12-17).  We're transformed and holiness comes out.  We're forgiven, so the evil is removed, and all that remains is righteousness at the Day of Judgment (2 Cor 5:9-10).  Through the perfect Man, we have access to God by what Christ has made us, which is clean and purified eternally. Hebrews 10:22 says, “having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water”.  He does such a great work, that we become holy in our dealings, walking uprightly by faith.  We work righteousness, doing God's will, from the heart.  We are sincerely boasting in Christ and loving our neighbor, walking in humility, instead of pride.

God didn't merely justify us by imputing righteousness, but He gives righteous character, so that we don't speak ill of each other, gossip against our neighbor, nor do we smile in friends faces while slandering and promoting hateful words behind their back. Our tongue isn't deceitfully used because love is in our heart. Jesus has become the example to us, so that we walk the way that He gives us command (1 John 2:3-6).

Don't be ashamed.  Know how God sees the righteous and grow in grace.  Know pardon and stop the fear.  Know righteousness by experience, walking more and more by faith, experiencing increased fellowship with God and confidence in heaven.

The Fatherhood of God (James S. Stewart)

Now Jesus did not only teach faith. He lived it. He practiced what He preached. Every page of the Gospel's shows you Jesus taking the faith in a Father – God, which He proclaimed to men and putting Himself into it, body and soul. Out of a great mass of instances, take just one (Mark 4:37). There was a night on the Galilean Lake when the sudden whirlwind blew and the waves were lashed to fury, and the frail fishing craft sagged and struggled in the trough of the waves. The fisherman looked into one another's terrified faces and cried that this was the end. But Jesus lay asleep on a pillow. To us, reading the story today, that sleeping Christ in the storm is one of the most compelling arguments for faith in the world. Asleep – why? Because it was God's sea, and the waves and the wind and the dark were in His Father's hand, and underneath were the everlasting arms.

By teaching and life Jesus showed that to know a God who is thus vitally interested in all his children's concerns is to have the secret of a peace, a poise, and a steadiness that nothing in life can disturb. The man who has made that discovery has passed out of the bondage of fear and worry into a glorious liberty and release. He is a man who has achieved absolute independence of circumstances in utter dependence upon God. He has found what Jesus meant by “blessedness” (Matt 5:3). He is doing what the New Testament calls “overcoming the world”. Because God is at his right hand, he shall not be moved”.

From "The Life and Teaching of Jesus Christ"

“Submit Yourself” (Gen 16:9)

“The Angel of the Lord said to her, Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand” (vs9).

We submit ourselves to the Lord Jesus, if we will be saved, and the gospel SUBMITS us to God. We are not saved apart from bowing the knee, even as Pharaoh gave command to everyone saying, “Bow the knee! So he set him over all the land of Egypt” (Gen 41:43). We surrender to Him as Boss, Lord, and Rule Maker for our lives.

God has counsel for us, even as He had for Hagar: “Submit yourself under her hand”.

Husbands, love your wife, “just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Eph 5:25-28). This is submission to Christ. You do it because He loves you, because He commands, and because you can't be happy or saved in sinfulness. Wives, “submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord”, because He is the Savior of the body, the church (vs22-24). He died for you, and He commands, gives, and takes pleasure in your obedience.

Children, pastors, employees, employers, etc, are all TOLD what to do. John the Baptist, when approached by the crowd about what they should do, told them specific instructions according to their station in life. He said, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise”. Others came and he said, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you”, so that he taught according to station, and you have been placed in this world, in your body, in your situation and with your ability to honor God, and you're to use it abundantly by submission (Luke 3:10-14).

We obey in every station of life to find salvation. Hagar is weary, and God gives her, like you and I, weary and heavy laden with shame, the power to get out. He tells us clearly what must be done. Submit to His will.

Secondly, the promise is given to the weary. Ishmael never had Hagar's weariness, so he never had Hagar's God. Hagar had God's grace to see Him who sees her. She was afflicted and on the run, “feeling from the presence of [her] mistress”, when God told her to submit to her hand.

If she hadn't been weary, the command would have no power in her life. She left home because her PRIDE forced the issue and caused a repercussion, even as our sinfulness has brought us to misery, helplessness, and willingness to obey. Now, she hears “submit yourself”, and rather than saying, “I'm too good. I don't need God or you”, she now says by her obedience, “Amen. Your will be done. If this is the only way of peace, then THANKS, and I take it!” Our Lord Jesus says to the weary, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:29).

Finally, only obedience can reveal the joy of the gospel. The Lord said, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?” She went home at God's command, and things were as He promised. The child was born, she found refuge, and so shall we. He shows you His beauty AS you believe. She said, “Have I also seen Him who sees me?”

Single Life (1 Cor 7)

The single life is not the bad life or the least desired life. Don't live your life wishing that you were married, when you have a gospel to preach and a life to live for Christ.

The single pastor is not less of a pastor than the married man. A single man can tell you what the single man, the apostle Paul, has to say about husbands and wives loving and being in subjection according to the gospel, even as Christ loves the church and She bows to Him. The gospel of Jesus Christ sets us obeying God, whoever we are, and we don't need to have a 14 year old teach us the gospel, if we're 14. I don't need someone who's in my exact circumstances to teach me; I need someone who knows what God has to say, which will meet my need, from the Book.

The single life isn't a failure. God has given us much to do, and if we live our singleness SINGLE-HEARTEDLY for Christ, then we'll prosper. Paul said, “He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord – how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world – how he may please his wife” (vs32-33). Don't waste your life lusting for what you don't have. Live for the God you have, and when it is time, as you honor Him and seek His will, He'll give you someone, if He sees fit.

But, you and I miss nothing by serving Him single-heartedly in singleness. Don't be snared by “you need to marry” or any such thing.

When God gives you a believer who shares mutual attraction, then marry. Make it work for God's glory. We read, “But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (vs8-9). But, until then, pursue Christ zealously.

“That They May Not Understand One Another's Speech” (Gen 11:1-9)

(vs3-9) Then they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

God overthrows our plans, so we don't destroy ourselves, so it is a mercy when things we desire do not work, so long as it leads us to REAL refuge in Him. You won't find refuge in your wife, ministry, or any thing other than Christ. You can have peace and safety in His will, you can be happy in His presence, or you can suffer PERPETUAL defeat. “There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked” (Is 57:21). But, when God THROWS DOWN our Babel's and confuses our godless ambitions, it is a mercy, even though it leads to grief, because it leads us to Him, our rest.

Do not be deceived. You and I will have peace in Christ, or there will be no peace. Scripture says, “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt” (Is 57:20). We will love people to Christ and live that God be honored, or we will get CONFUSION to our faces from God. Bless Him that He destroys our hands to give us Jesus' salvation. Bless Him that He destroys our plans to save us.

These sons of men rejected the Son of God, whom He's highly exalted, but He would not be forgotten. You and I forget too.

Remember, God is your peace, God is your hope, and God is your life. Don't find any peace apart from Him.

Be At Peace Among Yourselves and Be Ready (I Thess 5:1-13)

The times and seasons - the exact and the non-exact date - are hidden from us completely, so that no man, not even the Son of Man, knows the day and the hour - “But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (vs1-2). We cannot be sure, but here are things we can be sure of, or signs of the times: 

1.  It will come as a surprise and take all who are not ready.  Believers won’t know when He’s coming, but we’ll be looking for Him by faith, living as commanded: we wait in hope and hope reveals itself in conduct, like a man waits for his wife in faithfulness.

2.  When unbelievers are confident they’re safe without God, when Christ in the truth of His gospel is ignored without prick of conscience, then they’ll die in their sins with blasphemy in their mouth - “For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (vs3).

3.  The brethren are taught to be ready.  I know He may come for me at any moment, so I prepare by faith and obedience to meet Him.  I live pleasing to Him for His glory, so that when He returns, He sees me believing - “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief” (vs4).

We are God’s children, enlightened and living for Christ. We have the Spirit to teach and equip us NOW, and we’re ready to meet Him in peace.

There is no need to prepare, no last minute arrangements, and no turning up the radio to blind the thoughts of Judgment. We TRUST Christ, love Him, and love His people - “You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness” (vs5).

4.  Others are unprepared, but STIR yourself up and be ready: don’t play with your eternal soul. This isn’t something I can fix after the Day is set and I’m before God. I cannot plea bargain or ask for another chance: this is once in eternity, and we must treat it as such, even though others don’t - “Therefore, let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  For they that sleep sleep in the night [unprepared]; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night [overly in love with this world] (vs6-7).

Don’t let their BLINDNESS make you blind, or their indifference make you live for yourself instead of Christ.  Don’t say, “They’re having fun, and I’m not” and join in the wickedness because the Judgment is no longer pressing to you.  Be ready always, even if the world lives ignorantly.  Meet God as one prepared, not as a fool.  Live for eternity in thankfulness - rather than over-indulgence in this world - perfecting FAITH and love down here.  Live as seeing the Invisible - “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for helmet, the hope of salvation.  For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him” (vs8-10).

(a)  We need faith to make it: believe on the Lord and keep on believing. Never stop.  We are not to START only, but to FINISH is the goal: keep on walking by faith, trusting His good news.

(b)  Love each other. As you need love, you will need faith.  If we don’t need love, then our faith will be fleshly, and we’ll take “forgiveness” without cleansing, which is delusion.  But, if I must LOVE you, then I’ll believe God to cleanse me so I can.

(c)  Keep hoping in what is real.  The God of everlasting judgment has DECREED from eternity that we’d be blessed and never cursed.  Therefore, live in knowledge of your calling, knowing heaven is sure for you.  Don’t put it out of your mind as if it is something to be earned; remember it’s God’s gift, He gave it to you, and He’ll see you to the end.

(d) This is through Christ only.  No need to go anywhere else for strength, hope, power, or a reason for His love. He gives it FREELY for Christ’s sake, so receive it freely.  The blood is the confidence of the believing, and it PRODUCES the persevering faithfulness that we need. To be godly we ALWAYS look to God in Christ, reconciled to us.

5.  Let’s help and encourage each other - “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and build up one another, even as also you do” (vs11). Christianity is no individual sport. Your relationship with God manifests itself in your love to His church; it REVEALS who you are. Don’t say, “I’m OK” and care not for others. Being OK = love, and love = caring for others, encouraging, supporting, and building up His church.

FINALLY

Know your teachers, leaders, pastors, and elders. Know them intimately in love for their works’ sake - “And we beg you, brothers, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.  Be at peace among yourselves” (vs12-13). Don’t just know their names, or know when they preach, or even know their message, but know THEM, so that you love them obediently to the word.

They labor to preach the gospel, being SENT by God, and they’re known by their labors, so that what they preach is God-taught from them to you.  He doesn’t teach the lazy, so He sets men aside to labor in His word, labor to preach it FAITHFULLY, and labor to see results.  This labor is to be rewarded by love, not disrespect or light-esteem.  They have headship, and many can’t abide authority, but God gives authority in every area of life. We SUBMIT one to another, we submit wife to husband, children to parents, church to pastor, people to government, etc.  God bows us to Christ, and then we bow to others in response (1 Cor 11:3).

Don’t be mad at admonishment; it is par for the course and part of godly ministers’ job. They must tell you “Thus says the Lord” faithfully, and wherever we’re wrong, they correct with authority. They are NOT to say, “All is well”, but they are to show you how all shall be well and how to improve.  

Where there is order and proper estimation of men, there is also God-given peace.  Pastors are not lords to be blindly followed, but as servants of the Most High, they TEACH and lead by example in what we are to do (1 Thess 5:13).  Having learned HOW to live, we have peace living God’s way.

“Life and Peace” (Rom 8:6-10)

“For the minding of the flesh is death; but the minding of the Spirit is life and peace” (vs6).

The only hope for life (spiritual life to serve God) and peace (the peace that surpasses all knowledge in the gospel of Jesus Christ, forgiveness, and LOVE to my neighbor) is by the law of the Spirit, whereby God REWARDS you and me for what the Lord Jesus Christ did, giving us what we need for life and peace. He GRACES us FREELY amidst our sin, because Jesus’ DEATH to pay for sin ANSWERED justice completely - “For what the law (of Moses) could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law (love, spiritual life) might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit“ (Rom 8:2-3).  Now, according to God, we must receive spiritual life because we are justified, and the just must live, even as Christ, who redeemed us from sin, must rise again to declare His righteousness and obedience is perfect. God has done this for us in Christ Jesus, and we’re to receive JUSTIFICATION by faith as the assurance of SANCTIFICATION by the Spirit by the same faith that’s in Christ Jesus.

Do not walk on any other terms; do not walk in merit, getting what you and I deserve, but ALWAYS walk before God RECEIVING what Christ DESERVES to give, freely, unexpectedly, and IN THE FACE OF your horrible sins.  Don’t minimize your sin, but magnify God’s grace, the power of Jesus’ blood, and the Spirit, knowing that God is GOOD enough, JUSTIFIED, and POWERFUL enough to do for you what you need, even giving you the Spirit of LIFE (love for others) and PEACE (God’s love known in your soul). Do not earn these GIFTS, but receive them daily and continually, knowing that God must save and will save all who believe. Look away to Jesus all the day, and walk in the FINISHED work of Christ with THANKFULNESS and openheartedness to RECEIVE what you need, what He gives.

The gospel is powerful, but it is by faith only; it cannot be felt in the first place, though the power is real. It cannot be EARNED by resolve, but it is GIVEN to all who believe. And, it is God WHO draws us to Jesus, exposes the cross, makes us HATE our sins, and gives us confidence and peace. We CHOOSE the blood continually because He chose us; it is the evidence of faith, which God gives to all He loves.

“Second Rank”, A Message On Contentment (Numb 2:16)

“All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were a hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.  Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards” (vs16-17).

If we don’t have the highest place, if we are not the most blessed and spiritual, then we STILL have the blessing of God, whom we can have fully - “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet I show unto you [love] a more excellent way“ (1 Cor 12:31). We can’t all have the same gifts, because the body needs different members. If everyone preached like Whitefield, then the church couldn’t meet together, as God intends. But, whatever place God commands you and me to have and whatever gifts He gives us, just know that you and I have God, the delight of life, and we can need no more -“And having food and raiment, we will be therewith contented” (1 Tim 6:8)*. We live to SAVE sinners, whether we save 10 or 1,000,000.  It doesn’t matter; it ONLY matters the life we live FOR Christ.

* If food, raiment, and God DON’T make us happy, it is because we need more of God and not less.  Don’t turn your back and chase the world; God and the essentials of life (food and shelter/raiment) is enough, so SATISFY your thirsts in Christ, who will give you more.

“Peace Among Yourselves” (1 Thess 4:12-13)

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves”. (vs12-13)

We’ll have peace, if we esteem God’s ministers for their work’s sake. It has NOTHING to do with who is the most gifted; it has to do with RECEIVING them as MESSENGERS of God, not in a competition of skills, but in actually viewing them as sent by God to live and preach Christ.

Those men gifted should be esteemed and their ministry honored. Christ should be TRUSTED and honored through their mouth. It isn’t about the man; it is about the Man whom we preach, the Son.

If you love your pastor and other preachers through the gospel, not in self-exalting preacher worship, then you’ll also have peace among yourselves. Notice that PEACE and order go hand in hand (1 Cor 14:33-34). I must be under my pastor FOR the right reasons: the gospel - not because I fear or honor him instead of Christ, but I esteem him highly in love because of Christ, so that I love him for what he preaches, which means that his message of Christ my Savior is important: he is an instrument of honoring God in my hearing, so I can believe (Rom 10:17).

There won’t be peace for you wives, employees, etc, without order. Don’t think that you can rule your life and have peace with God. Remember, when David showed himself mighty to save (1 Sam 17)? Afterwards, Jonathan loved him as his own soul, stripped himself, and gave David all glory and honor, knowing that he SHOULD and would be king (1 Sam 18:1-4). Contrary to this, Saul envied and hated David (after receiving him at first) because he loved his own authority and being king more than he loved the one whom God exalted (1 Sam 18:6-15). This is the same with Christ: if we know He is worthy of worship, then bow to Him, and be at peace. Live as COMMANDED, and peace will be yours. If we rebel against authority, wanting to be king instead of Jesus, then we’ll have problems with God, contentions with men, and peace will be gone.

The only peace is under order and authority: we must obey God to have the PEACE that He gives, and when obedience isn’t first, then peace will fly away too - “first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace” (Heb 7:2).

They Shall Be Called the Children of God (Matt 5:1-12)

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (vs9).

God’s children make peace with others. We are not war like and cruel. Rather, we WANT people to know God. Our life is not about ourselves but leading people to the Lord, and this directs our conduct.

Here, in Matt 5, we have God’s people identified:

1. We are poor in spirit, sinners in ourselves, depending on the mercy of God’s grace - “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:3). We are not seeking merit; we seek God to be propitious to us freely, for we have nothing to give. The sinner isn’t discouraged. His poverty qualifies not excludes him.
2. We have sin, so we mourn - “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matt 5:4). We have difficulty and we watch people deceive themselves eternally. We live in a world of sin and pain, but God’s people mourn godly sorrow that works repentance not to be repented of. This is the one who’s comforted.
3. The meek are those that wait on God, and we wait on Him to save, doing things His way - “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (vs5). The meek are not able to help anyone, so we obey God, in the hope that He helps whom He will. II Tim 2:25 says, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth”. (God’s people have FAITH, and that is what is identified here, which is faith in its internal hope and external results.)
4. God’s people hunger and thirst, desiring to do God’s will - “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matt 5:6). We are not left to coldness of heart, but we WANT to obey increasingly. God’s law is in our heart, we have a holy nature, and holiness wants to glorify God for His grace. We are not satisfied, so long as we aren’t perfect in these cursed bodies of death. We need God, and we need to honor God, so we hunger to grow.
5. The merciful are those that have obtained mercy - “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt 5:7). God is good to us, so we are good to others. We deal with them by Christ rather than wrath because that’s how we’ve been dealt with. We do unto others as God does unto us.
6. The pure in heart are those that BELIEVE unto the cleansing of the conscience and acceptance with God - “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8). We see God gracious because we deal with Him by faith in His Son’s blood, so He REVEALS Himself to us as promised. Having taken away the sin, God REVEALS Himself to believers in saving love (I Tim 1:5). We see His mercy, rather than His wrath only.

God’s people don’t reject the gospel, so we see His beauty, while others who reject Christ see nothing but OFFENSE in His Person. They stumble because He is not who they thought, and rather than believe unto the cleansing of the conscience, they sin unto the destruction of the soul, refusing the blood of Christ (Mark 6:3).
7. The Kingdom belongs to the persecuted, so don’t fear to STAND for God’s grace - “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (vs10-11). Take no retreats, make no friends, and COMPROMISE nothing for anyone.

What is man that we hide God’s glory? In America, all they can do, typically, is get upset, twist their faces, say stuff that reveals them lost, and walk away. In modern America, they don’t even have authority to kill you. Why should we fear, when we are right? We tell the truth, not to be mean, but so that sinners might be saved, seeing God’s UNSEARCHABLE riches in Christ.

We are not mad men, and we are not evil men. We are DOING MEN GOOD by telling the ONLY truth that saves. We preach and practice so men may believe Him for who He is, so they can be saved (Acts 26:18). We do men good, when we live in a way they persecute.

But, be persecuted for WELL-DOING rather than sin (I Pet 4:15-16).
8. All the spokesmen for God have been persecuted – “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you”. Don’t be mean or cowardly (Matt 5:12). Lovingly preach God’s grace in Christ UNFOLDING the truth and hoping that God will save, rather than hiding truth to please men.

Preach all that He tells you, all that He makes you live by, proclaim on the house tops, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). He cares for you, and His favor is MORE important than the smiles of men. Don’t be afraid at their faces; fear God whose face makes you smile.

Love Truth and Peace (Zech 8:19)

“Thus says the Lord of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.”

Love truth and peace because the end result of the gospel and love towards each other is joy.

God has promised a salvation that saves His way, and He will give the peace through the means appointed. We have sinned, do all manner of evil, and yet, He is RETURNED to us in love. He says, “Thus says the Lord; I am RETURNED unto Zion”, and, “so will I save you”, so that He pardons the sins, promises prosperity, and compels us to abide in Christ, doing God’s will (Zech 8:3, 13). He says that I am with you now, and the result is going to be peace – “not as the world gives”, a halting false peace in delusions and bubbles soon to burst. No, He says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I” (John 14:27-28).

His peace is in the gospel of the ascended Christ, the equal with God, who came down here to obey perfectly. He has risen, come back for us in the Spirit, and taught us the gospel of God, that His exaltation is our salvation, for He was raised to proclaim redemption through His blood and sits enthroned to bring to pass our eternal good, causing us to rejoice in Him because He’s put love for Christ in the heart. This peace, which God’s Son gives, quiets the storms and makes us bold in God, no matter what.

Therefore, live the way that God says - trusting Christ and loving others - and you will experience the “joy and gladness, and cheerful assemblies” of the gospel (Zech 8:19).

The gospel isn’t a fairy tale of words only, but it changes people, brings peace, love, and strength to the heart: it DELIGHTS us – “And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be you clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Matt 8:3). It is real, and as we love because we are loved, speaking truth and forgiving sinners, God will give us the pleasure He has promised.

Therefore, look to Christ to SATISFY you, and don’t take the fools gold of this world – “For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbor” (Zech 8:10).

The world PROMISES peace, but you end up with GOD against you, and when this happens, no amount of praise and applause from Adam’s race can alleviate the horror that comes from God - “Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, says the Lord of hosts: but I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.” (Zech 7:13).

Choose peace towards others and belief of the truth, and you will have joy as the result – “For thus says the Lord of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, says the Lord of hosts, and I repented not: so again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear you not” (Zech 8:14-15).