Scripture reading: Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Our needs are the things we need for life to live. Poverty reveals what your needs are. If you are rich and have many things in your home and a good bank balance, many things, sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between your wants and your needs. But if a crisis comes and you are in dire straits, you may sell off some of these things to get some money. Soon all the baggage goes. Soon you come down to just the things you need to live. Food, water, shelter and clothing. Today we have gotten very confused with our wants and needs and Christianity. When we come to the Lord in prayer and supplication we get confused with what we need to be pleading for in these last days. We need to identify what God wants us to know and what we need to pray for.

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Have a look, take in and consider the love of God. What has God done? This word behold is the call to everyone. John the Baptist had the same words, behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world. Look at the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Lamentations 1:12 [Is it] nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted [me] in the day of his fierce anger.

Behold and look at the love of God.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me.

Is it not true that the story of the cross has caught the attention of the world? Whether they are Christian or not it is a very interesting story. This story of love of the prince of heaven and laying down his life for the bride has been the foundation of many love stories. The foundation of this story has captivated the whole world. Behold and see this kind act. You will see that wherever you look there is always some illustration of this love romance story of the Bible. I will draw all men unto me.

Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Jesus has done such a kind of thing for us. Any kind act would make someone think that someone has done something nice. Christianity today is looking and saying wow that’s great what a nice story. Like any love relationship, when a person wants to attract someone else, they show kindness and love. They show courtesy and all good attributes. A true gentlemen will show these things and then withdraw from the wicked when someone has a lack of self control. The gentleman of the Lord shows love and then withdraws himself as the Lord is fishing. He is trying to awaken love. Love always has actions. Jess will show you his love by his actions and then he waits to see what you will do. If love has woken in you then there is a recipe for a relationship. If a person says I appreciate the kindness but has no response back in action then other can say I can see this relationship won’t be long term. God lets things evolve. Jesus bestows his love to the world, behold look at it. The world is looking at it but who is responding? When God hides himself, what do you do with this love relationship? Do you say that was nice thank you back to my life or when he withdraws do you start thinking about it? Maybe he has something I want. When it’s hidden you want it. Your neighbours have something you want but if you can’t see it you don’t know about it. If diamonds were scattered over the road like pea gravel I don’t think anyone would want them. But if they are harder to find then you would. Your reaction to Jesus Christ love is important.

A Love Relationship

To establish a relationship takes real effort from both parties. If effort from both parties is not there, it is not a relationship. If a gentleman bestows gifts to a lady and she never gives anything back then this relationship will never work. As our Lord is the master relationship creator, he knows how to do it. He will show you his love and then leave you to it. Let you think about it and see if you pursue it. There was a difficulty but now it’s gone.  Do you think Jesus would love everyone to be in heaven? For everyone to be saved? For everyone to accept him as their king and Saviour? He would. The Bible says God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

The Gate

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

This gate is for entering in. You have a gate for a reason, to keep people in or out. this gate is a straight gate. The word strait is a word of difficulty. The Bass Strait is a very difficult part of the ocean. The strait gate is a difficult gate and as it’s difficult the first word is strive. Strive to enter in. The gate is not so easy to come into. It testifies many would like to be in there but cant. Many people enjoy what Jesus has done for them. It is beautiful to think about. People would like Jesus to keep pouring all these gifts on them. For one person to bestow and receive nothing back is not a relationship at all. Try and come in to receive more because the relationship is calling for an effort. Behold what manner of love, the Lamb of God and behold my sorrow. Have a look what I have done and now strive to enter in. Strive to enter in at the straight gate.  We will establish this point by some examples of how Jesus is in attracting love. He is not obsessed, he is not obsessive compulsive. He is a gentleman. Notice the action of gentleman Jesus;

Jesus Is A Gentleman

Luke 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem [about] threescore furlongs.

24:14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

These two people were talking and they were very sad as Jesus had been killed. They loved him and they were sad because he was gone. Jesus appears to them;

Luke 24:15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed [together] and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

24:16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Where has Christ gone? He has entered into glory, he has gone somewhere. The disciples have received the benefits of his love and care and they liked that but he was gone and they were sad.

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

Jesus is walking with these two men and he expounds the scriptures, it burnt in their hearts and they come to het village and they have finished their walk and Jesus is as he is going to keep walking.

Luke 24:29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

24:30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed [it], and brake, and gave to them.

He then revealed who he was to them. They knew it was Jesus who had been raised from the dead. Jesus revealed to them such an outpouring of his love again. But there was one thing that had to happen again. What gentleman.  He is walking with two friends and then says ok I’ll leave you to it I’m going. What gentleman, I’m not going to harass you but they constrained him. That word is powerful, it means to hold down. They held him and put their arms around him and said it is evening you are going to stay with us. Jesus would have thought yes I wanted this to happen. He wanted to make them happy. You will find this example all through the Bible. They constrained him.

Lot

Genesis 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing [them] rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

19:2 And he said, Behold now, my Lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

There are two angels, ministers that are intensely interested in salvation. The two angels come into the city and Lot says please can you come and stay with me but they say no we will stay in the street. What gentlemen. So kind, so unobtrusive. Lot is not happy with that.

Genesis 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

Lot said I’m not happy with this no I’m going to compel you. The illustration of Jesus on the road to Emmaus is what Gods people will portray, very gentle, very kind people.

Elisha

1 Kings 19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who [was] plowing [with] twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

19:20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and [then] I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

19:21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

Elisha said to Elijah I want to say goodbye to my parents and then I’ll come. Elijah said well go back, what are you following me for? Elijah said what have I done to you? Whether you like it or not I’m going to do my thing and I’m going to follow you.

2 Kings 2:1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2:2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said [unto him, As] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

2:3 And the sons of the prophets that [were] at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know [it]; hold ye your peace.

2:4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, [As] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

Elijah said I’m going be myself and Elisha said no I’m coming.

2 Kings 2:6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, [As] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

2:8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped [it] together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

2:10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: [nevertheless], if thou see me [when I am] taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be [so].

2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

2:12 And Elisha saw [it], and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where [is] the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

Elisha would not have received such a blessing if he went back to his oxen and kept plowing or if he stayed in Bethel. Here is the test of the relationship, you stay here I’m going by myself. Jesus did it to the two men and he did it to test them. Lot was tested to see if he would have a relationship with God.

God wants to hear us say I am very interested in this relationship. I’m not happy with the general beholding of things, I want to taste it and I want a relationship with you. The test is will you come back against an offence and follow him? Lot could have been offended or Elisha could have been offended. Does an offence get in the way of your relationship with Jesus? There is an example of someone who could have easily been offended.

The Woman of Canaan

Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast [it] to dogs.

15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

15:29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

From Capernaum he went to the coasts of Tyre. It took four days to walk there. He saw this lady then walked back. That is all he did in this place. She comes and he in no uncertain terms calls her a dog. She was not a Jew. Should I give bread of the kings children to the dogs? How many women would be offended to be called a dog? You may think perhaps he is not a gentleman to do this. The first time she came he didn’t answer her, he ignored her. Why did Jesus go walking for approximately four days? The purpose why he went there was that he knew this woman was needing his help.  He went to help her but why travel for four days and not talk to a woman that needed help? This is divine, this is the strait gate. Praise the Lord this woman strove to enter in and she did.

Christ knew this woman’s situation. He knew that she was longing to see Him, and He placed Himself in her path. By ministering to her sorrow, He could give a living representation of the lesson He designed to teach. For this He had brought His disciples into this region. He desired them to see the ignorance existing in cities and villages close to the land of Israel. The people who had been given every opportunity to understand the truth were without a knowledge of the needs of those around them. No effort was made to help souls in darkness. The partition wall which Jewish pride had erected, shut even the disciples from sympathy with the heathen world. But these barriers were to be broken down. {DA 400.1}

Christ did not immediately reply to the woman’s request. He received this representative of a despised race as the Jews would have done. In this He designed that His disciples should be impressed with the cold and heartless manner in which the Jews would treat such a case, as evinced by His reception of the woman, and the compassionate manner in which He would have them deal with such distress, as manifested by His subsequent granting of her petition. {DA 400.2}

How many of us pray and there is no answer and say there is no God? We get offended. The human flesh gets annoyed at this. The disciples were annoyed. They were tired of her and said send her away. The disciples like a typical human get annoyed at this continual request.

“Again He went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon unto the Sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis.” Mark 7:31, R. V. {DA 404.1}

Jesus tested her so he could have a relationship. He could have healed the daughter. Jesus has come down from heaven, it was not four days journey. It was an immense travelling to become tempted in all points as we are. He came down to answer our prayers and we think he is not listening to me?

We can see in these illustrations, the road to Emmaus, in Lots experience, Elisha’s experience and also this woman. They all could have taken offence but no. They know what their needs are. They are not mixed up with their wants and their needs. The Bible identifies them. If you are mixed up don’t give up asking. It is to be a continual asking, a request. It is not that Jesus is ignoring us, there is something else to learn. We read that angels are ministering spirits and they have come to minister to those that would be heirs of the kingdom.

Balaam

Balaam is with his donkey and what is standing in his way? An angel not ready to give a hug but with a sword drawn. The donkey thinks oh no I’m going off the road. Balaam doesn’t see what the donkey sees and hits the donkey. Then the Lord opens Balaam’s eyes and he falls on the ground and he is scared. Angels are ministering spirits.

1 Chronicles 21:16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders [of Israel, who were] clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

David

When David was young he killed a lion, a bear, Goliath and thousands of Philistines. He was a man of war, a valiant man. Then there was an angel with a sword drawn and this valiant man fell on his face.

1 Chronicles 21:27 And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

21:28 At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.

21:30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

Even after the angel put his sword away David was still afraid of the sword. Why did ministering spirits frighten David? Joshua went out of the camp to pray and then he sees a man of war standing there and gets a fright and says are you with or against us? And he said I am the captain of the Lord and Joshua fell down and worshipped.

The Tomb of Jesus

The angels were at the tomb of Jesus. The Roman guards, men of war were there. The Bible describes the nation of Rome as strong as iron. One angel came to roll the stone away and the soldiers fainted as dead. There was an angel at the burning bush and Moses trembled at this angel. When Zacharias was at the altar, the angel was standing there to tell him some good things but he was scared. The shepherds had the best news to tell the world and what did they do? They fell down scared. Angels? We are in warfare and these angels are the army of God. Who killed the first born of the Egyptian people? The angel of the Lord killed them. The angels are ministering spirits indeed.

The Tree of Life

You will find that the angels in Genesis are guarding something.

Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

There are angels that are guarding the tree of life. Do you think it’s free access to the tree of life? Doesn’t Jesus want everyone saved? Yes but no. Not everyone is to eat of this tree and there are angels standing there guarding it. This tree of life is it a necessity or want? There is an angel standing in front that will make you tremble and you may have God not hearing and you may think maybe I don’t need it and I’ll die. Strive to enter in at the strait gate. Why is it so difficult? It is easy to see Jesus who has died for our sins and we can behold it and enjoy that but to enter in is something different.

Genesis 32:22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.

32:23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.

32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

32:27 And he said unto him, What [is] thy name? And he said, Jacob.

32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

32:29 And Jacob asked [him], and said, Tell [me], I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore [is] it [that] thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

Jacob wrestled with the angel of the Lord, the messenger of the covenant. As he wrestled, he thought it was some enemy. He thought someone was going to kill him. He was scared. With all the fear and adrenaline in his system he fought so strongly. As he fought he saw the angel was gaining and he touched his thigh. Maybe he thought I shouldn’t be blessed but he said I want to be blessed. Can you see what God wants in his people? The type of relationship. He doesn’t want a one sided relationship. That you ask and receive everything you want. He is looking for someone that will wrestle with him. What is the power of God? The gospel is the power of God. Do you have the gospel or do you just behold the gospel? To have the power with God is not just a hearing only approach. You must hear and then do.

It was in a lonely, mountainous region, the haunt of wild beasts and the lurking place of robbers and murderers. Solitary and unprotected, Jacob bowed in deep distress upon the earth. It was midnight. All that made life dear to him were at a distance, {PP 196.3}

It was just him and his life. Everything he had that was dear to him had gone. It was at a distance. He thought his brother Esau was going to come and kill him. He knew what he had done wrong.

With earnest cries and tears he made his prayer before God. Suddenly a strong hand was laid upon him. He thought that an enemy was seeking his life, and he endeavored to wrest himself from the grasp of his assailant. In the darkness the two struggled for the mastery. Not a word was spoken, but Jacob put forth all his strength, and did not relax his efforts for a moment. While he was thus battling for his life, the sense of his guilt pressed upon his soul; his sins rose up before him, to shut him out from God. But in his terrible extremity he remembered God’s promises, and his whole heart went out in entreaty for His mercy. The struggle continued until near the break of day, when the stranger placed his finger upon Jacob’s thigh, and he was crippled instantly. The patriarch now discerned the character of his antagonist. He knew that he had been in conflict with a heavenly messenger, and this was why his almost superhuman effort had not gained the victory. It was Christ, “the Angel of the covenant,” who had revealed Himself to Jacob. The patriarch was now disabled and suffering the keenest pain, but he would not loosen his hold. All penitent and broken, he clung to the Angel; “he wept, and made supplication” (Hosea 12:4), pleading for a blessing. He must have the assurance that his sin was pardoned. Physical pain was not sufficient to divert his mind from this object. His determination grew stronger, his faith more earnest and persevering, until the very last. The Angel tried to release Himself; He urged, “Let Me go, for the day breaketh;” but Jacob answered, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.” Had this been a boastful, presumptuous confidence, Jacob would have been instantly destroyed; but his was the assurance of one who confesses his own unworthiness, yet trusts the faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God. {PP 196.3}

Jacob “had power over the Angel, and prevailed.” Hosea 12:4. Through humiliation, repentance, and self-surrender, this sinful, erring mortal prevailed with the Majesty of heaven. He had fastened his trembling grasp upon the promises of God, and the heart of Infinite Love could not turn away the sinner’s plea. {PP 197.1}

He wanted to bless Jacob even before he got afraid. But this gentlemen that we have in Christ knows how to awaken a relationship in you. Not just to give you everything to show how eager you are. How hard do you knock on that door? Will you keep praying with earnestness to what mortals will seem annoying? The heart of Jesus Christ loves that. It tells him that here is a relationship that will last forever. The angel will not put off people coming to the tree of life. We are to say I am going to get there. We are not asking for worldly comforts. If you ask your father for bread will he give you a stone or serpent? No, bread.

Good Gifts

Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

There still seems to be this apparent reluctance to give it. There seems to be this reluctance that I want Jesus Christ. I’m sinful but I want the things of light. There are three things presented to us as light;

1. The tree of life
2. The bread of life
3. Christ

Jesus is our friend and he likes us and wants to give us the bread.  There is a parable of the man who had bread at midnight and his friend had no bread and he couldn’t feed his guests or himself. The bread at midnight was in someone else’s house and that person was asleep. You may think I need bread but he is asleep and I don’t want to disturb him and be rude. But no he went and knocked on the door and said I have guests and I need bread. The other man said it is midnight I am asleep. But the man annoyed him and he gave him the bread because of his importunity.

You Need To Upset Your Friend at Midnight

The water of life was locked up in a rock. Israel was wandering in the wilderness and they were thirsty. These things are the staple of life – water and bread. The children of Israel were murmuring and Moses got annoyed. He tempted the Lord. God told Moses to go to the rock and hit it once. The things of life are bound up in the treasury of heaven and you need some violence to get it out. You need some violence to get the water. You need to upset your friend at midnight. You need to wrestle with the angels around that tree.

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

The violent take the kingdom of heaven by force. Is that saying the king of heaven is overthrown by the wicked one? No. Jesus says the gates of heaven will not prevail. But to go in you have to put your face like a flint and say I need Jesus Christ and what he has. He has shown me good things and it has awakened in me and now he’s gone I’m going to chase him down. Jesus is hoping we will chase him. He is hoping we will pray hard as he wants the relationship.

With the great truth we have been privileged to receive, we should, and under the Holy Spirit’s power we could, become living channels of light. We could then approach the mercy-seat; and seeing the bow of promise, kneel with contrite hearts, and seek the kingdom of heaven with a spiritual violence that would bring its own reward. We would take it by force, as did Jacob. Then our message would be the power of God unto salvation.. {RH, February 14, 1899 par. 13}

What turns the theory of the gossip into something powerful to change your life? The gospel is the power of God. But come to church alone in a sleepy way has no power of life it. How many Christians are covering their sins when the gospel is being preached all over the place?  When you keep praying to overcome, if you have a habit, keep praying and keep pleading for help.

Then our message would be the power of God unto salvation. Our supplications would be full of earnestness, full of a sense of our great need; and we would not be denied. The truth would be expressed by life and character, and by lips touched with the living coal from off God’s altar. When this experience is ours, we shall be lifted out of our poor, cheap selves, that we have cherished so tenderly. We shall empty our hearts of the corroding power of selfishness, and shall be filled with praise and gratitude to God. We shall magnify the Lord, the God of all grace, who has magnified Christ. And he will reveal his power through us, making us as sharp sickles in the harvest-field. {RH, February 14, 1899 par. 13}

As you wrestle with God you seem to drop off your selfishness because all those things we are called such as dogs and sinners, we will say that is fine I am. It is of a truth the woman said. Of a truth but don’t dogs get the crumbs? She referred to herself as a dog and said okay but don’t dogs get some benefits as she got rid of this cosseting of self. As it said we will be lifted out of ourselves. This sensitivity we have of ourselves needs to be lost in the gospel. This mentality we have that people call me names and we get upset. I need help and I know where to get it, I won’t be put off or offended angels or no angels in the way.

The Ladder

What was on the ladder that came down from heaven? Angels of the Lord.  Do you think that sinners that don’t repent can climb that ladder? The person that needs light and has emptied themselves before God can go through the gauntlet of the ladder and the angels are happy that you’ve made it. All around us can seem like its failing but these words abide forever.

Isaiah 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

50:8 [He is] near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who [is] mine adversary? let him come near to me.

50:9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who [is] he [that] shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

They can condemn me but I’m going to set my face like a flint. The great day of the Lord which is upon us gives a description;

Jeremiah 30:5 For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

The angels are holding back the winds of strife. They have the vials of the wrath of God. They have their swords drawn.

Jeremiah 30:6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

Men will know what it is like to have a baby. The pain of the loins. When you are stressed what does your stomach do?

Jeremiah 30:7 Alas! for that day [is] great, so that none [is] like it: it [is] even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

Every Christian will meet that strait gate and if you can’t enter in, you never had a relationship with Jesus. Although you wanted it and enjoyed hearing these lovely things, hearing it is not the end of it but doing it. I will show a man what is good. What does the Lord require of thee?

Micah 6:8 He hath showed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

He is wanting a relationship but he is going to test us if we want his love. He has travelled day and night to bless us but he is going to call us a dog as we are sinners. He is going to be cold to us to test if we really want him. This strength doesn’t come from physical strength it comes from weakness. The person who is so weak and in need is the one who will cling to the door of the fridge. It is not a full man that is going to cling but a hungry man. Strength comes from weakness.

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

If you don’t move with him then there is a separation. Will I be put off by some troubles in following my saviour where he is going? What separates when there is love? Nothing never. Will the flaming sword separate you from the love of God?

Romans 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen.