By Faith...

 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.—Hebrews 11:27

Moses could have had an easy life as the adopted son of an Egyptian princess.  By faith, he instead, trusted God, forsook Egypt and endured by seeing Him who is invisible. Moses considered the sufferings of this present time as not worthy to be compared with the glory which would be revealed in him. He saw what he faced on earth as light, momentary affliction. By faith he understood that the passing trouble of this world was working for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  

Beloved, Moses fixed his eyes on that which is eternal in the heavens. Moses believed God. He turned away from worldly safety and comfort and embraced that which those surrounding him despised.  Why?  Because Moses looked to the reward. 

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

Moses looked to the things that were NOT seen. Beloved...THAT IS HARD...THAT FEELS IMPOSSIBLE to me this morning.  Thankfully though, that is the right feeling.  It IS impossible for me but not for God. 

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul quotes King David in Psalm 116. It was true for David, it was true for Paul and it is true for us today.  Do not lose heart...Hold fast.  

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.—2 Corinthians 4:13-15

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews 12:1-2

Desiring a Heavenly Country...

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.—Hebrews 11:1-2

This was so good to read this morning.  This world is not my home.  As the past several weeks have shown me, placing my trust in anyone or anything other than God is foolish and bound to disappoint.  Today I am grateful that my God changes not...He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  His promises are sure.  He is faithful. 

My faith is my assurance...my title deed to all that is divinely guaranteed to me as a believer.  (See Ephesians 1 below). My faith understands and “sees” as facts what I cannot experience in the physical realm.  

As Christians our faith is what marks us...without it, the Bible tells us, it is impossible to please God.  At the moment of salvation through faith, we are bound eternally to Jesus and are preserved through this life by His power...not by our own human efforts.  All of it is by His grace...those who are in Christ stand in God’s unmerited favor both now and forever.  This said same grace IS sufficient for every trial that we will face here on this earth.  John 10 tells us that as His child, no-one can snatch us out of His hand. Romans 8 reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Our sins...past present and future are forgiven and our destiny is assured because we have been sealed by His Spirit. Beloved, if our God is for us, who can be against us?  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? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.  

Father,  Thank you that none of those who wait for you will be ashamed.  We, who believe, desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.  Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called our God, for He has prepared a city for us.  

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.—John 14:1-3

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.—Romans 5:1-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.  7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.—Ephesians 1:3-14

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 I and My Father are one."—John 10:27-30

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

"For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."  37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:35-39

7 "For the Lord GOD will help Me;

Therefore I will not be disgraced;

Therefore I have set My face like a flint,

And I know that I will not be ashamed.

8 He is near who justifies Me;

Who will contend with Me?

Let us stand together.

Who is My adversary?

Let him come near Me.

9 Surely the Lord GOD will help Me;

Who is he who will condemn Me?—Isaiah 50

Encouragement from Scripture to Hold Fast...

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.—Psalm 57:7

 steadfast- fixed, firm, immovable, established 

Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.—Psalm 86:11

Oh Father!  Give us undivided hearts!  

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.—Hebrews 10:23

Beloved, let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. May our God reveal and remove any double-mindedness and give us steadfast hearts united to fear His name..  By His Spirit of Grace, may we bring Him honor and glory by our Christ-confidence and not our self-confidence.  He IS faithful that promised!  Temptations will abound, but our God will provide a way of escape that we may be able to bear it. His grace IS sufficient.  

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;—Hebrews 3:6,14 

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.—Hebrews 4:14 

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.—Revelation 3:11 

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.—James 1:6 

That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:—Hebrews 6:18 

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.—Hebrews 11:11 

God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.—1 Corinthians 1:9 

Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].—1 Thessalonians 5:24 

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep [you] from evil.—2 Thessalonians 3:3 

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;—Titus 1:2 

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.—Psalm 51:10

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.—1 Peter 5:10

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.—Galatians 6:9

You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.

Trust in the LORD forever,

For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.—Isaiah 26:3-4

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.—1 Corinthians 15:58

Observing the Lovingkindness of the Lord....

 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy (lovingkindness) endures forever.(is everlasting)—Psalm 107:1

Whoever is wise will observe these things,

And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.—Psalm 107:43

Verse 1 of Psalm 107 commands us to give thanks to the Lord.   It also tells us why.  For He is good and His lovingkindness is everlasting. The very last verse of Psalm 107 says that whoever is wise will observe these things and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.  Most of this psalm is spent reviewing the variegated trials that come humanity’s way in the course of a lifetime while at the same time showing us how God assists us and supports us through each of these hardships and distresses.  What are we wise to observe as God does this?   His lovingkindness!   What a great thing to make a practice of observing as we navigate through the sorrow and tribulation that comes with life lived in this fallen world.  Trials can become opportunities to observe the Lord’s goodness and rightly understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.  How often during a trial does Satan try to confuse and discourage us with lies.  He whispers to us when we are scared telling us that we are alone without anyone to help.  But making a practice of “looking for and seeing” God’s merciful hand on our lives will serve to counter the lies and shore up our assurance as we become personally acquainted with it (His lovingkindness) in our own hearts and lives. Psalm 26:3 is so helpful here..

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your truth.

Keep God’s goodness before your eyes and His truth as a light to your path.  He has given us His Spirit to help us.  We are NOT alone.  

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” —John 14: 25-27 

Who is wise?

Let him understand these things.

Who is prudent?

Let him know them.

For the ways of the LORD are right;

The righteous walk in them,

But transgressors stumble in them.—Hosea 14:9

But let him who glories glory in this,

That he understands and knows Me,

That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these I delight," says the LORD.—Jeremiah 9:24

[that we] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--

19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.—Ephesians 3:18-19

Hebrews 9...

 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.—Hebrews 9:3-5

This is the Most Holy Place where the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat dwelt—the place of atonement.  “The Holiest of All” representative of being in Christ.  It also contained the golden censer.  The golden censer  remind me of Christ’s intercession with the Father.  My boast is in Christ and His atoning sacrifice for me. I am accepted in the Beloved not because of anything I have done, but because of His finished work on the cross at Calvary.  

The golden pot with the manna causes me to remember His grace and favor toward me.  He is my Provider and that only in Christ am I acceptable to God.  In Him, I am kept separate from corruption in this world and in the next. 

Aaron’s rod that budded reminds me of Christ’s omnipotence.  All authority on heaven and earth has been given to Him. He is not only my Savior but my Lord.  He desires my obedience.  This is also the rod that was used to smote the rock (Christ) and from which the life giving water poured. 

The tablets of the covenant remind me of the law that in my flesh I cannot keep.  It is only in and through the grace by which Christ strengthens me that I can do anything good.  Anything done without Him is as filthy rags. 

Finally, the mercy seat is a picture of Christ...of His perfect righteousness that covers our sin.  

I am very thankful this morning for the patterns and shadows of the Old Testament revealed in the New Testament...the substance is Christ. 

Psalm 106:14-15

 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,

And tested God in the desert.

And He gave them their request,

But sent leanness into their soul.—Psalm 106:14-15

And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."—Numbers 21:5

A contented person will wait on God and trust in His providence. Their joy is found in their God....it is independent of their circumstances.  They are satisfied with little and are focused on the needs of others.

The Israelites primary focus in prayer was on their physical comfort rather than spiritual desires.  

And He gave them their requests but sent leanness into their soul. Sometimes we “fret and fume” like children until we get what we want.  More often than not our getting what WE want brings more bitterness and grief because the “getting” brings more disappointment.  The Israelites became “fat” on the outside but starved from within because they were missing what would truly satisfy...God Himself.  I can’t really think of anything more dreadful than that. 

Beloved, our joy will be found in the our obedience to Christ...in doing the will of our Father in Heaven.  May His desires ALWAYS be our desires and when they are not may our prayer be that our would reveal that to us. May our own lives reflect the sacrificial, servant heart of Jesus who for the joy (us) set before Him endured the cross. 

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.—Galatians 2:20

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."—Matthew 16:24-28

He Always Lives to Make Intercession for Us...

But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.—Hebrews  7:24-25

Jesus’ heart toward us is right there in verse 25.  

What does He LIVE for...

What did He die for...

What does He desire in the deepest part of His soul..

The answer:  to save us so that through Him we can draw near to God.  Verse 25 says that He LIVES to make intercession for us. Beloved, that is the heart of Jesus toward you and toward me.  Take that precious truth deep into Your soul.  Meditate on it. This morning, this woman (me) who, by God’s grace, has been forgiven much, has Jesus the Son of God interceding for her.  She has Jesus dwelling in her heart working in her and daily transforming her into His image.  She has Jesus praying for...He is her Advocate before the Father!  His desire is to be one with her as He is one with the Father.

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.—John 17:20-23

May our prayer today and every day echo our Jesus’.  That through us the light of the glory of God would shine in our hearts so that the world would believe that Jesus, is the Son of God and have life in His name.  

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.—2 Corinthians 4:5-6

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34, ESV)

A Channel of His Grace...

"Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. But I will spare a few of their men from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the Gentiles wherever they go. Then they shall know that I am the LORD." --Ezekiel 12:15-16

There is always a remnant of the children of Israel who remain faithful to God.  God uses them the same way He uses us today to declare who He is to those who do not know Him.   When God has delivered us, our job is to glorify him and be a channel of His grace to others.  Sometimes it is afflictions that brings us to this point where we acknowledge our sin and are made to know that He is God.  God can use this type of witness to bring others to Him.  Be a channel of His grace today and love those whom God has placed providentially in your path. 

Strong Consolation...

 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.—Hebrews 6:17-20

I could read Hebrews 6:17-20 over and over...God is faithful and His promises are sure!  He cannot lie.  He changes not. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He cannot act in a way that is contrary to His nature or His will. He is the God Who Sees, the God who remembers, the God who puts our tears in His bottle, and the God who is for us.  He encourages us earlier in this chapter to continue and not to become sluggish but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.  

Beloved, the consolations of God are enough to get us through the very worst of trials.  He IS sufficient for all we face.  

Set Your minds then, on those things that are above.  Turn your heart upside down before Your God!  Go to Him who is meek and lowly in heart.  Go to Him in whom redemption and everlasting life are found.  Go to Him who is your hope....your anchor...that keeps you sure and steady...never ever lost or cast away.  Go to Him because in Him THERE IS comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, affection and mercy.  Go to Him whose lovingkindness is precious.  Go to Him in whom abundant satisfaction is found and in whose light you see light. Jesus is the Great I AM...the Becoming One...He Himself becomes for you whatever your need may be. 

1 God is our refuge and strength

A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear,

Even though the earth be removed,

And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,

Though the mountains shake with its swelling.

Selah

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,

The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;

God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;

He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah—Psalm 46:1-7

Psalm 105...

1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD!

Call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples!

2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;

Talk of all His wondrous works!

3 Glory in His holy name;

Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!

4 Seek the LORD and His strength;

Seek His face evermore!

Oh Father...No matter where I am right now in my walk of faith, help me to love You more, trust You more and praise You more.  Draw me by Your lovingkindness deeper into Your Presence.  I don’t want to just read your word and forget it...I want to live it. I want it to become the very fabric of who I am.  Help me, as it says in Philippians, to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling for it is You who works in me both to do and to will for Your good pleasure.  Encourage my heart in this today, Father!  The closer I draw to You the more I see the ugliness of my own heart. The closer I draw to You, the more I see how little I love, how little I trust and how little I give You thanks and praise.  By Your Spirit of Grace, help me to be both a hearer and a doer of Your precious word.  Set my heart and my soul to seek You forevermore!  Set it to walk in Your perfect law of liberty which frees me from the power of sin and death and enables me to walk in Your love toward those around me.  Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore, love fulfills the law.  

Thank you, Abba, that You remember the prayers of my heart long after I have forgotten them. Thank you that nothing  overwhelms You. Thank you that all that goes on in my life goes through Your perfect hand of love first. Thank you that You rule and overrule all of it for my good. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

Seek the LORD and His strength;

Seek His face evermore!—Psalm 16:11

Rest for the People of God...

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.—Hebrews 4:10-11

Let us, cling tenaciously to our faith.  Let us live absolutely trusting our precious Savior in everything and for everything. And not, the author of Hebrews tells us, JUST for ourselves, but so that no one will fall by following the wrong example we might set.  Beloved, how we live before our God MATTERS.  We are to live in obedience to the living and powerful word of God.  Jesus is the WORD who became flesh. He says this in Matthew 11:  

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

In gentle and lowly, Jesus is where our rest is found. May each of our lives point others to Him...not only with our words but our actions also.  May we listen to and follow the apostle Paul’s final commands in 1 Corinthians 16.  

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.

Take particular note of that last one. 

Let all that you do be done with love.

Without love, all our watching, all our bravery and strength will be empty, hollow and meaningless unless it is done in the meek and humble attitude of our Savior’s love.  

"Talk no more so very proudly;

Let no arrogance come from your mouth,

For the LORD is the God of knowledge;

And by Him actions are weighed.—1 Samuel 2:3

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,fn but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails.—1 Corinthians 13:1-8