Jason Upton - One Step Away

Be Thou Strong!

"Only be thou strong and very courageous." Joshua 1:7

Our God's tender love for His servants makes Him concerned for the state of their inward feelings. He desires them to be of good courage. Some esteem it a small thing for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God thinks not so. From this text it is plain that our Master would not have us entangled with fears. He would have us without carefulness, without doubt, without cowardice. Our Master does not think so lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are desponding we are subject to a grievous malady, not to be trifled with, but to be carried at once to the beloved Physician.

Our Lord loveth not to see our countenance sad. It was a law of Ahasuerus that no one should come into the king's court dressed in mourning: this is not the law of the King of kings, for we may come mourning as we are; but still He would have us put off the spirit of heaviness, and put on the garment of praise, for there is much reason to rejoice. The Christian man ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that he may glorify the Lord by enduring trials in an heroic manner. If he be fearful and fainthearted, it will dishonour his God. Besides, what a bad example it is. This disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is an epidemic which soon spreads amongst the Lord's flock.

One downcast believer makes twenty souls sad. Moreover, unless your courage is kept up Satan will be too much for you. Let your spirit be joyful in God your Saviour, the joy of the Lord shall be your strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you: but cowardice throws down the banner. Moreover, labour is light to a man of cheerful spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The man who toils, rejoicing in his God, believing with all his heart, has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope shall reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, "be thou strong, and very courageous."

~ Charles H. Spurgeon ~

Behold Your King

You Must See A Throne

Faith, in the midst of God’s silence…

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. – (Habakkuk 1: 2-4)

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. – (Hebrews 10: 35-39)

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. - (Romans 1: 17)

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid” – (Hebrews 13: 5b-6)

The Great White Throne Judgment

He who truly believes in Christ

There is a dead faith as well as a living one. There is a faith of devils as well as a faith of God's elect. There is a faith which is vain and useless, as well as a faith which justifies and saves. How shall a man know whether he has true saving faith? The thing may be found out! The Ethiopian may be known by the color of his skin; and the leopard may be known by his spots. True faith may always be known by certain marks. These marks are laid down unmistakably in Scripture. Reader, let me endeavor to set these marks plainly before you. Look at them carefully—and test your own soul by what I am going to say.

He who truly believes in Christ—has a NEW HEART. It is written, "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature—old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Cor. 5:17.) A believer has no longer the same nature with which he was born. He is changed, renewed, and transformed after the image of his Lord and Savior. He who minds first, the things of the flesh—has no saving faith. True faith, and spiritual regeneration, are inseparable companions. An unconverted person—is not a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—is a HOLY person in heart and life. It is written that God "purifies the heart by faith," and that Christians are "sanctified by faith." "Whoever has this hope in him, purifies himself." (Acts 15:9; 26:18; 1 John 3:3.). A believer loves what God loves—and hates what God hates. His heart's desire is to walk in the way of God's commandments, and to abstain from all manner of evil. His wish is to follow after the things which are just, and pure, and honest, and lovely—and to cleanse himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. He falls far short of his aim, in many things. He finds his daily life, a constant fight with indwelling corruption. But he fights on—and resolutely refuses to serve sin. Where there is no holiness, we may be sure there is no saving faith! An unholy man is not a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—works godly WORKS. It is written, that "faith works by love" (Gal. 5:6). True belief will never make a man idle, or allow him to sit still, contented with his own religion. It will stir him to do acts of love, kindness, and charity, according as he sees opportunity. It will constrain him to walk in the steps of his Master, who "went about doing good." In one way or another, it will make him work. The works that he does may attract no notice from the world. They may seem trifling and insignificant to many people. But they are not forgotten by Him who notices a cup of cold water given for His sake. Where there is no working love—there is no faith. A lazy, selfish professing Christian—has no right to regard himself as a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—overcomes the WORLD. It is written, that "whoever is born of God, overcomes the world—and this is the victory which overcomes the world—even our faith" (1 John 5:4). A true believer is not ruled by the world's standard of right or wrong, of truth or error. He is independent of the world's opinion. He cares little for the world's praise. He is not moved by the world's censure. He does not seek for the world's pleasures. He is not ambitious of the world's rewards. He looks at things unseen—he sees an invisible Savior, a coming judgment, and a crown of glory which never fades away. The sight of these objects, makes him think comparatively little of this present world. Where the world reigns in the heart—there is no genuine faith. A man who is habitually conformed to the world—is not a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—has the witness of the Holy Spirit. He has hopes, joys, fears, sorrows, consolations, expectations, of which he knew nothing before he believed. He has internal evidences which the world cannot understand. Where there are no inward pious feelings—there is no faith. A man who knows nothing of an inward, spiritual, experimental religion—is not a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—has a special regard to the person of CHRIST Himself. It is written, "Unto you who believe—Christ is precious" (1 Peter 2:7). That text deserves especial notice. It does not say "Christianity" is precious, or the "Gospel" is precious, or "salvation" is precious—but Christ Himself! A true believer's religion, does not consist in mere intellectual assent to a certain set of propositions and doctrines. It is not a mere cold belief of a certain set of truths and facts concerning Christ. It consists in union, communion, and fellowship with an actual living Person, even Jesus the Son of God.

It is a life of . . .
faith in Jesus,
confidence in Jesus,
leaning on Jesus,
drawing out of the fullness of Jesus,
speaking to Jesus,
working for Jesus,
loving Jesus,
and looking for Jesus to come again.

Such life may sound like enthusiasm to many. But where there is true faith, Christ will always be known and realized, as an actual living personal Friend! He who knows nothing of Christ as his own Priest, Physician, Redeemer, Advocate, Friend, Teacher, and Shepherd—knows nothing yet of genuine believing!

Where these marks of which I have been speaking, are utterly lacking, I dare not tell a man that he is a true believer. He may be called a Christian, and attend a Christian church. But if he knows nothing of these marks—I dare not pronounce him a believer. He is yet dead in trespasses and sins. Except he awakes to newness of life, he will perish everlastingly.

Show me a man who has these marks—and I feel a strong confidence about the state of his soul. He may be poor and needy in this world—but he is rich in the sight of God. He may be despised and sneered at by man—but he is honorable in the sight of the King of kings. He is traveling towards heaven! He has a mansion ready for him in the Father's house. He is cared for by Christ, while on earth. He will be owned by Christ before assembled worlds, in the life which is to come!

J.C.Ryle

Hard Places

This was shared by a contributor at another blog I contribute to, and I wanted to share it here, in hope that it may bless you as it did me:



Genesis 28:10-12 - “Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold a ladder was set up on the earth, and it’s top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

I am slowly losing my Mom. Sick for several weeks now and hospitalized she gets further away from me daily. Some days are better than others but this situation will more than likely get no better. I watch helplessly as she loses control of her body and mind. My once strong Mom is fading away. I pray daily for God to heal her and help restore her body and mind and I have not given up hope that he can do that, but I am mentally trying to let go of her at the same time and it’s so very hard. Why God chooses to restore life to some yet call others home is a question no one can really answer, but I think there is a greater lesson, a higher calling for those of us willing to ask him.

There has been a huge focus lately on Revival.

Regardless of our opinion, one thing is for sure the the claims of signs, wonders and controversy are happening within the body of Christ and people are talking. To me the most important thing that can come out of this kind of situation is dialog, with each other and with God and that is happening. I think people are so hungry for a move of God in their lives that sometimes anything, regardless of the source is a quick fix. There has been a lot of talk of late about anointing which to me basically means the fullness and blessing of God. People are so desperate to bring or see this anointing manifested they will take planes, and drive thousands of miles for the latest “outpouring” but God’s anointing is already here and available to us.

In John 1:51 Jesus is the divine fulfillment of Jacob’s dream. A few verses earlier Jesus tells of Nathaniel, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”. I don’t think the Lord was just dishing out complements but saying that because Nathaniel had a true, pure heart he “Got it”. Nathaniel had no falsehood, he was real, transparent and open of heart and therefore he could see the vision of Jacob as it really was, that Jesus was God’s provision in the flesh and made available to all who walk with God, bless God, and through that relationship or “dialog” bless others.

Life has sometimes been very hard for me. It’s often been lonely, frustrating and dark but God has been there every step, every stumble with me. Oddly enough when I have been frustrated to the point of giving up, that is where I find him. I think sometimes in our push to just get through life and not ever ‘feel bad” we miss God the most. At one very difficult point in my life my family were not very supportive. I had been laid off from my job and was working two very hard but not too impressive jobs. I was exhausted and when I was laid off I paid all of my bills but food was scarce to say the least. It was sweltering hot and I came home from work to find the air conditioning was not working. I went to my basement only to discover that my breaker box had caught on fire. I tried to call my landlord but found out they were on vacation and had left no contact information. I had no electricity in half of my house for a week. I only had air conditioning in my living room, so I slept on the floor there. The only food I had was a jar of peanut butter and come stale crackers, but I was so grateful to have that.

I remember coming home from work, worn out, hungry and just emotionally spent. I had no family or friends to turn to but I had Jesus and I just sat on the floor crying, eating my crackers and praying.

It’s sort of funny now but at the time it was just the worst feeling. Alone, no one cared. I had many friends but I had recently been saved so they no longer wanted anything to do with me. I was so tired from working two jobs that on top of everything I caught a cold, and that was just the last straw. I remember vividly laying down just bawling like a baby asking God why were things so bad. I guess I just wore myself out feeling sorry for myself and fell asleep but I awoke a few hours later. I distinctly heard a voice in my ear as I was waking say to me “This is a blessing”. I was startled and sat right up but I was so groggy I remember saying “What is a blessing?”. I knew in my heart that God was telling me something, I did not know the answer then but he brought this to my memory this morning while writing this.

My blessing was the intimate time spent with him, developing my relationship with him, in his word, without any distractions.

Every time I have wrestled with God trying to get beyond some pain, some ache, he is always there. I know that voice was an angel, you could never tell me otherwise I just know! There has been so much deception lately concerning Angels but many in the body of Christ have this all wrong. Angels are real and biblical, but they are not in existence solely for our provision. When we try to find cheap imitations of God that is exactly what we will find. Satan is a counterfeit we all know that, but what of us? Do we really need nourishment but grab a bag of Frito’s instead as a quick fix? I read this quote once “God has a greater purpose our eyes cannot see but our hearts can understand”. I always had trouble with the Apostle Paul saying “He was poured out like a drink offering”. To me that sounded painful, just awful. How on earth could a mouse like me ever be that strong? How can people actually live that way, dying for Jesus.

Suffering unimaginable things. I have since learned the provision of God came to Jesus in the Garden, when the suffering started the Angels were there. They gave him strength for his journey, they did not take the journey away. Satan would have liked nothing better than to have stopped it.

There is authentic revival, and I for one want that.

I am tired of the fairy dust, the gold teeth, barking and writhing on the floor. To cheapen the Holy Spirit with such goofery is appalling to me. You will never convince me that Christ hung on a cross in agony, took my sin and the sins of the world into his body for this carnival atmosphere.

I believe in miracles, healing and the gifts of the spirit, but those things bring repentance and authentic transformation based on Christ and Christ only. There is a place for manifestations but I want to be part of something more, the higher calling.

My problems, with his provision have given me purpose and a testimony. I only hope that I can get out of the way so God can use that testimony to help other hurting people. I know that my only purpose is to make much of Jesus, not me and in that serve his sheep. If I had never known fear, hunger, frailty, how could I ever give of myself to anyone? The selfish Christian is never a threat to Satan, he loves it! They have no witness, no testimony and no fruit. Authentic servant-hood comes from authentic relationship with Christ and the study of the word of God, nothing else. The Martyr’s, the Apostles did all things through Christ who strengthened them. It is possible! Authentic compassion, wisdom and power come in the delight of being in the will of God. There is an authentic anointing, the presence and power of God and that will always be Christ centered and Christ focused. Anything less is a cheap imitation.

Have you ever really thought about the fact that in order to come into his Temple in the old Testament, his dwelling place you needed to make a sacrifice?

God can heal, God can perform any miracle that suits him but maybe, just maybe your blessing is in something hard, difficult even. Maybe if we stopped looking for a way out we could finally get into the holy of holies, really see his face and his desire for us.

Oswald Chambers said “Our Lord’s teaching is always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of man, His purpose is to make a man exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is self-expenditure.”

If we believe in Jesus and for just one minute slow down and stop asking what he can do for us, it will not be about what we gain, but what he pours out through us that counts. I am sure we will be blessed beyond measure in the end.

Oh and Jacob? See what God can do with your hard places?

Verse 13-22 “And behold, the Lord stood over and beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Issac; I will give to you and to your descendants the land on which you lie, I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south;and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in the place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of Heaven!”

It Is God Who Worketh All in All

"One day I was talking with a missionary," writes Andrew Murray, "and he said to me, ‘Brother, remember that when God puts a desire into your heart, He will fulfill it.’ That helped me; I thought of it a hundred times. I want to say the same to you who are plunging about and struggling in the quagmire of helplessness and doubt. The desire that God puts into your heart He will fulfill.

"If any are saying that God has not a place for them, let them trust God, and wait, and He will help you and show you what is your place. I have learnt to place myself before God every day, as a vessel to be filled with His Holy Spirit. He has filled me with the blessed assurance that He, as the everlasting God, has guaranteed His work in me. If there is one lesson that I am learning day by day, it is this; that it is God who worketh all in all.

Oh, that I could help any brother or sister to realize this!"

Andrew Murray ~ 1828-1917

God Cares

Sometimes it seems that no one cares about your pain.

David said: “no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life” (Psalm 142:4 NIV). Do you sometimes feel like that? Do you sometimes cry out with Solomon that even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel? (Proverbs 12:10). Does it seem that no one is listening and that people, who should be concerned, hurt you more, rather than minister to your need?

Sometimes these are just our perceptions but often, they are a reflection of the hard-heartedness and self-absorption of those around us. Yes, even of Christians! But there is One who truly cares – God cares for you.

Sometimes we wonder if God even knows about our existence. I knew a man who was in the same (small) church as me and with whom I spoke every week and who, after many years, still did not know my name. He always called me by a name which is not mine. People often act around as though we don’t even exist. But God not only knows that you exist, He knows your name.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1). “I know you by name” (Exodus 33:17). We are not just numbers in God’s big database, but he knows our names and not only our names, but everything about us. We often find it hard to understand how God can know us by our names when people around us don’t. That’s just the problem. We tend to feel that because people don’t care, God also does not care. But God does care even more than we can imagine.

He keeps track of every bird that dies and of every hair upon our heads (Matthew 10:29-30). If He is concerned about such unimportant details, don’t you think that He is even more concerned and informed about those major issues you are wrestling with? Of course He is. There is no problem in your life that is too big or too small for God to know about and to care about. I have never come across anyone who counts the hairs on their head, yet God does. So if he is concerned about the least of our worries, is He not even more concerned with those major problems, traumas, upsets, fears and frustrations that you face?

Often people say they care yet you know that they remain unaffected by your pain. But God not only knows about your heartache, He feels with you and for you. Have your friends forsaken you, do people misunderstand you, do they turn your kind words into something you did not mean, do they slander you, do they actually try to hurt you (physically and emotionally), do they act as though you do not exist? They did the same to Jesus, and much more, and so He is touched by our struggles. He feels with us, and feels for us when we go through tough times. There is not a single hurt that you feel, that he does not feel as acutely as you do.

Not only does God know about your problems and not only does He feel your pain – He cares for and about you. He has compassion on us. People often respond to our problems by saying that we have brought it on ourselves, and often that is true. But God is not in the blaming business, He loves, cares, is concerned and is merciful on all who are in need.

Sometimes we cannot bear to look upon other’s hurt as it is too much for us to bear. But He never turns His face away, no matter what happens. When those rocks were crushing Stephen’s bones, and his ears were filled with blasphemy, insults and accusations, and his friends fled, Jesus stood at the right hand of the Throne and took every blow together with Stephen. It was just as though Jesus was right next to Stephen on that landfill as they buried him under the rocks and the insults.

People’s insensitivity and hardness to our needs often hurt more than the problems. But God is sensitive, merciful, tender, compassionate, kind and gentle with those who are struggling. The problem is that we are sometimes so concerned with reaching out to people for help that we forget to see that the Almighty God is actually reaching out to touch us in our moment of weakness.

Peter, writing to suffering Christians says: “…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1Peter 5:7). Yes, He indeed cares for you but you and I need to cast our cares on Him. So often we try to bear them ourselves and often we bemoan the fact that no one else cares to lift a finger to help us with our load when the Lord Jesus is just waiting for us to unload it all on Him. Won’t you come to Him now and place your burdens at His feet. Yes, the problems may not go away, but knowing that He is sharing the load makes it so much lighter and easier to bear.

I cannot put it any better than that great hymn of Joseph Scriven. You probably know it by memory, but look at these words once afresh. Listen here

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer

Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Christ The Only Way

What Will You Do?

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS?

Jesus is standing in Pilate’s hall-
Friendless, forsaken, betrayed by all.
Listen! Here comes the urgent call,
What will you do with Jesus?

Will you evade him as Pilate tried?
Or will you choose him, whate’er betide?
Vainly you struggle from him to hide.
What will you do with Jesus?

What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Someday your heart will be asking,
What will he do with me?

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY TO YOU?

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

The Spirit Of Truth

By Joseph R. Chambers, Paw Creek Ministries



It's breathtaking to know that the Holy Bible is intimately connected to the Holy Ghost. The Bible is not man's words or man's ideas, nor is it human wisdom or knowledge. The Bible is God-breathed and perfect in the same way that God Himself is perfect. The same Spirit that gave us the Holy Scripture is still part of that Scripture and holds the Word in His hands. The Bible is the Sword of the Spirit and is the only weapon to defeat our enemies. When the Son of God appears in the sky to defeat the Antichrist at the Valley of Megiddo, the authority of the Bible is His weapon.

The vision that Apostle John describes of the triumphant Christ is awesome, "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God"(Revelation 19:12-15).

He comes as the glorified Christ with all the trappings of His eternal office and His one weapon is a "sharp sword" with which He defeats every enemy.

Holy Scripture will not be any more powerful then than it is right now. Satan cannot cross the line drawn by truth and sealed by Divine blood. The entire prophetic future is already designed and revealed in Scripture. When men devise strange and undocumented schemes for the days ahead, they are guilty of blaspheming the Spirit of Truth. Our Father left us an absolute command not to tamper with His words.

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Revelation 22: 18-19).

The Lord even spoke audibly to John as he finished the plain command above. He said, "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

One of the surest ways to blaspheme the Holy Ghost is to change or alter the Word of God. The positive aspect of this truth is that we can live in and by these words of truth everyday.

David, the sweet songwriter and King of Israel, said, "The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide" (Psalm 37:31). He also declared His unashamed faith in Holy Scripture, "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever" (Psalm 12:6-7). The promise of God was to keep them forever.

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). The Son of God spoke these words. The great revivals of the past were the result of men that dared to believe that truth was infallible. They treated the Bible like a paper pope, but were often condemned as idol worshippers because they believed and obeyed Scripture. One modern blasphemer called the Bible, "a dusty old book." I believe he has already blasphemed the Holy Ghost.

This incredible Divine book is yours to trust and see the supernatural effect of believing faith. Everything of your life is predestined to be complete in believing.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified" (Romans 8:28-30).

If you will dare to believe and trust in none other, He will move swiftly to defend and fulfill His Word. His Words are His absolute will in all things. There is no true Christian outside of the Holy Bible. There is no failure inside the Holy Bible.

Updated photos of my children

God is good to me, looking forward to Christ's soon return.

The Story of Christ's Birth

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

(Taken from Luke 2:1-21)

*********************

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MOSES

Taken from; Shadows of Good Things Or the Gospel in Type

By Russell R. Byrum, 1922

CHAPTER I - THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MOSES

The gladdest message ever proclaimed to a world of sinners, was the angel’s announcement on Bethlehem’s plains that a Savior is born. But the angel’s proclamation on that wonderful night was not the first time the glad tidings of salvation had been preached. Centuries before God’s holy seers with prophetic eye had foreseen in the dim future, beyond the miseries of many generations, the coming of Christ and his great salvation. Not the least of these was Moses.

We often speak of the gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, and sometimes we call Isaiah the “evangelical prophet,” but too often we pass by the “gospel according to Moses.” Yet according to the true meaning of the term “gospel,” Moses wrote it as truly as did any of the four evangelists of our New Testament. The gospel is the proclamation of a way of salvation for sinners, the announcement of grace to the guilty, of Christ’s love for the lost. Matthew wrote the gospel by relating the life story of Jesus. But Moses wrote it at greater length, more systematically and in greater detail in types and shadows. Moses’ writings are as much about Jesus and his salvation as are those of the four New Testament evangelists.

Moses sets forth the same great fundamental facts of true religion as are given in the New Testament.

He continually holds before us under various symbols—by veils that bar the sinner from God’s holy presence, by the sprinklings of blood for cleansing, and by different representations of ceremonial uncleanness—the awful fact of man’s [7] sinfulness and depravity. He also vividly sets forth the glorious truth of salvation by God’s free favor through the vicarious death of Christ, under the type of the sprinkling of the blood of animals on God’s altars.

Mosaic Rites Were Typical

Those who see nothing more in the elaborate ceremonies at the tabernacle of ancient Israel than an expression of natural religion or meaningless forms with no significance for us today, will doubtless find but little interest in reading that portion of Scripture which so minutely describes them. Alone it will be dull and uninteresting. But when it is read in the light of the Epistle to the Hebrews, in the New Testament, it sparkles throughout with dazzling gems of truth.

Our authority for believing in the typical element of the Pentateuch is no less than Jesus and Paul, the Son of God and his apostle. Jesus himself said: “Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me” (John 5:46); “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17).

And to the two sorrowful disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, . . . Expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). And shortly after, when he appeared to the disciples in Jerusalem, Jesus said, “All things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44).

Jesus was able to preach the gospel from the writings of Moses. He positively stated that he is the center of all the Scriptures, including those of Moses. He is their alpha and omega— their beginning and end. Paul also commonly taught the gospel according to Moses. When he arrived at Rome and the Jews came to him, he “expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the Prophets, from morning till evening” (Acts 28 :23). [8]

We may get a good idea of what these great exponents of Christianity taught from the law of Moses in the interpretation placed upon it by the inspired writer to the Hebrews, and in other more specific statements of Paul. The great apostle says, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (Col. 2:16, 17).

This important statement is very definite and clear, and is conclusive proof that the Mosaic rites, those outward forms of religion, were typical. They were a shadow, or, as the original word, skia, implies, an adumbration, a faint sketch, a dim transitory outline of a real substance to come, which is said to be Christ.

Fully as definite and in much greater measure are the many positive statements in the Hebrew letter. The priests of the tabernacle are said to “serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shown to thee in the mount” (Heb. 8:5).

Here the tabernacle and all connected with its worship are said to be an “example,” or, according to the American Revised reading, a “copy,” a “shadow,” and a “pattern” or type. The inspired writer is here definitely arguing to convince his Jewish brethren that all that ancient worship of theirs was typical and that Jesus is the great Priest “of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (Heb. 8:2).

In the ninth verse of the ninth chapter it is said of the first tabernacle, “Which was a figure for the time then present…. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.”

The original word here, parabole, from which we translate “figure,’ is that from which we commonly get “parable.” The twenty third and twenty fourth verses are especially definite in showing that ancient worship was typical. “It was therefore necessary that the patterns [ copies. A. S. V ] [9] of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures [pattern, A. S. V.] of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

And again this same writer reiterates in the beginning of the tenth chapter, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

Doubtless the texts already cited sufficiently prove the typical element in the Mosaic institutions; but a good foundation is important, and inasmuch as our future argument is to rest largely upon these Bible statements of this fact and for the sake of cautious or skeptical persons we shall call attention to one other Biblical proof. The first given and one of the greatest of all the Mosaic institutions was the Passover.

Paul plainly shows the typical nature of this in these words, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:7).

If it were necessary, many other proofs of this point could be given; but these are evidence that the good things of Christ’s salvation were portrayed in the Old Testament types. These types all pointed forward to Christ and his salvation, to the Priest greater than Aaron, the Prophet like unto Moses, the true King of Israel.

Types Deserve Our Study

A considerable portion of the Bible, especially Exodus, Leviticus, and Hebrews, is devoted to the subject of types. This is just as much a part of God’s Word as is any other part of the Bible. But this, and especially the books of Leviticus, is about as little read as any part of the Bible. The grand truths taught there deserve more earnest attention than most Christians give them. God doubtless means that we should explore its deep truth that we may the better understand the way of salvation. Probably in no part of the Bible is the method of salvation so systematically and vividly set forth as here.

God has been pleased to reveal his salvation in various forms: John presents it in letters of love; while Paul sets it forth in profoundest logic. The evangelists describe it in historical form by simply relating the facts of that greatest life earth has ever known. Prophets tell it in poetry; and the Psalmist utters it in song. The Revelator takes us up into heaven and pictures mysterious visional symbols; and Moses by an extensive series of material symbols or practical hieroglyphs depicts the same great truths.

But why study types and shadows when we have the substance? Were not these things written for generations long dead, and not for us?

A New Testament writer answers, “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope.”

The implication here is clear that these things were not only intended for us, but that we can understand and learn from them. Also types give a more vivid presentation of truth very much as do the parables of Jesus. Illustrations are important in God’s message to give interest and force to it. The human mind is so constituted that it gets a clearer understanding of truth if presented in a concrete rather than in an abstract form.

For this reason Bunyan’s allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress, is one of the most enlightening and useful religious books that have ever been published.

Jesus is coming again

Jesus is coming again, scriptures is filled with promises of His 2nd Coming. It will bring hope and rest to the true church, but it will bring judgment to the unbelievers.

James 5:8 Be also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws near.

1 Corinthians 1:7-8 So that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

The time when He comes will be when the church is spiritually sleeping and people are concerned about enjoyng life.

Luke 17:28-32 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he who shall be upon the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife.

There is no new age of peace coming where different religion harmonize and appreciate each other, because our basic problem is not lack of tolerance, our basic problem is our tolerance for sins. This world's greatest problem is not global warming but global rebellion again God.

The bible is clear that all of us have sinned:

Romans 3:10-14 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

The remedy for our sin is to cry out to Jesus for our salvation, he saved us from the curse and control of sins when he died at the cross, shedding His innocent blood for you and me. We are saved to live a holy life, a life that glorify God, we are not saved to have a self fulfilling time on earth.

Today Jesus is calling you, will you come to Jesus?

Jesus is calling you

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.

Luke 5:31-32 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick. I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 18:2-4 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Bitterness

Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

James 3:14-15 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

Bitterness is an ugly sin, and it grow out of resentment and unforgiveness on our part. Often the root cause of it is due to being hurt in the past. I know of a friend who is bitter because of being ill-treated while serving in the army, then he become bitter to the university because of his failures in the school examination. Now he continues to be bitter and is evident in his conversation everytime he mention about God or the army or the university.

I struggle with bitterness because another group in my church is doing better in their ministry than the ministry I am involved in. Why do I feel bitter? I think it is because their better performance make me feel inferior, and I think I dislike a church elder and another deacon who feel they are superior to me and critique me because their ministry is growing, I was hurt by it. The ministry I was involved in is struggling and we need support and encourgement, not someone to critique and find fault with my ministry.

So I think God knows bitterness will come that is why God inspired the two verses above. Bitterness defiles us, it make us unpleasant people and cause us to focus on ourselve rather than on God, prolonged bitterness lead to anger.

What is the remedy for bitterness?

The same verse says we should look diligently that we may not fail from God's grace. Meaning we should be very careful, very vigilant to guard ourselves from loosing focus on God's grace, being diligent means we nip it in the bud and don't allow our mind to dwell on bitterness.

Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

We are saved by God's grace, and this grace continues to abound in us, helping us to forgive others and surrender our hurt and bitterness to God. We grieve the Holy Spirit and reject grace each time we give in to bitterness. When we resist grace and continue in bitterness, we are like someone kicking against the pricks:

Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

What is the meaning "kick against the pricks" ? read Barnes commentary on this:

The word translated "pricks" here--kentra--means, properly, any sharp point which will pierce or perforate, as the sting of a bee, etc. But it commonly means an ox-goad, a sharp piece of iron stuck into the end of a stick, with which the ox is urged on. These goads, among the Hebrews, were made very large. Thus Shamgar slew six hundred men with one of them, Jg 3:31: Comp. 1Sa 13:21. The expression, "to kick against the prick," or the goad, is derived from the action of a stubborn and unyielding ox, kicking against the goad. And as the ox would injure no one by it but himself--as he would gain nothing--it comes to denote an obstinate and refractory disposition and course of conduct, opposing motives to good conduct; resisting the authority of Him who has a right to command; and opposing the leadings of Providence, to the injury of him who makes the resistance.

So when we are bitter, we are like a stubborn ox kicking against a piece of sharp iron, it only hurt ourselves.

Resolve in our heart to pursue peace and grace and holiness, seek reconciliation with those who have hurt us, even if they don't reconcile with us, we should pray for blessing on those who have hurt us.

We can overcome bitterness because Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

When we overcome bitterness, the reward is the joy of fellowship with our Lord Jesus.

THE DIMENSIONS OF GOD’S LOVE

Ephesians 3:17-19 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

THE DIMENSIONS of the Love of Christ! It is broad as humanity, “for God so loved the world”; the length—God’s love had no date of origin, and shall have none of conclusion. God is Love, it continueth ever, indissoluble, unchangeable, a perpetual present tense. Its height—as the Flood out-topped the highest mountains, so that Love covers our highest sins. It is as high as the heaven above the earth. Its depth—Christ our Lord descended into the lowest before He rose to the highest. He has touched the bottomless pit of our sin and misery, sorrow and need. However low your fall, or lowly your lot, the everlasting arms of His love are always underneath.

The Apostle talks by hyperbole, when he prays that we may attain to a knowledge of the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ. We cannot gauge Christ’s love, but we can enjoy it. Probably the only way to know the love of Christ is to begin to show it. The emotionalist, who is easily affected by appeals to the senses, does not know it; the theorist or rhapsodist does not know it, but the soul that endeavours to show the love of Christ, knows it. As Christ’s love through you broadens, lengthens, deepens, heightens, you will know the love of Christ, not intellectually, but experimentally (1 John 4:11, 12; 20, 21).

But you say, “there are people in my life whom I cannot love.” Granted, but you must distinguish between love and the emotion or feeling of love. You may not be able to feel love at the outset, but you can be willing to be the channel of Christ’s love. I cannot love, but Christ is in me, and He can. Is it too much to ask that all this should be realized in ourselves and in others? No, because God is already at work within us by His Holy Spirit, and He is able to do infinitely beyond all our highest requests or thoughts. Ask your furthest, think your highest, and the Divine Love is always infinitely in advance.

PRAYER—We thank Thee, O God, for the infinite love which Thou hast given us in Jesus Christ. We have no measure for its heights and depths, its breadths and lengths. Teach us with all saints to know more because we love more. AMEN.

By F.B. Meyer