It is, and has been, for centuries, the day of celebration of the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. As our heavenly Father rested after His work of creation, and set aside the seventh day as the Sabbath, so, we rest in Christ and set aside the new day of worship on the day that He rose in victory from the grave, creating new life for His people.

This day is the day that I remember His atoning work on the cross for me.  All who are a part of His redeeming work meet together to give unto Him the glory due unto His name. I see this day as a new beginning; starting the new week in Christ and with His people.  Actually, at times it seems that this is the eighth day— ending the previous week with a day of praise for all that He has done —-and the first day, both rolled into one.

Years ago, when I realized that this day is a gift to His people, it became a goal every week for me, a projection from one Lord’s Day to the next, with everyday between as a day of preparation for the next Lord’s Day.  As mentioned in another post, each Lord’s Day is a taste of heaven, a prelude to that day when we will be worshipping our Lord eternally.  Then everyday will be a day of rest, and worship.

“And upon the first day of the week,
when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul preached unto them.”
Acts. 20:7

Today is the day that I will celebrate my Lord Jesus Christ, His person, His work; the day that I will praise Him, serve Him, love Him and His people as we meet together; the day that I will “hunger and thirst” for Him and His righteousness, be filled more and more with His Spirit; and be in awe as I hear His Word proclaimed in power.  Besides all this, He amazes me with great and mighty things I have not yet known, asked for, or imagined.

Again, I ask that you share your comments about how the Lord leads you on this day.  What difference does the Lord’s Day make in your life?  What impression does the Lord’s Day make in your life for eternity?

May you be blessed today as you “delight yourself in the Lord and His Day.”  Isaiah 58:13-14

~~~~~~~~
Someone who reads my posts concerning the Lord’s Day (Sabbath) has blatantly attacked this blog by his/her comments. (I say “this blog” because I, personally, will not accept such comments).

This blog was not set up as forum to discuss different religious beliefs, but to encourage those who are of “like faith” in Jesus Christ.  The title itself is meant to bring all attention to God’s grace working in every believer, for His own glory.  The sub-title “growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ” is to encourage others in this growth.  If you are only looking for a debate this blog is not for you.

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It is the same path our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, took, the way that was laid out for Him.  And if we are to “come” to this path—the only way to heaven—it must be “after” Him. (Luke 9:23) He said clearly that the only way is by “self-denial”—taking up our own cross to “follow” Him.  It is not a matter of, “But, wait Lord, until I have done “my thing;” when I have made a name for myself; then I think I might be ready to start on this path. Then I might have an interest in your glory.”
No, there is a cost to enter through this “strait gate”—my life, my own desires, my own glory.“

The disciple is not above his master,
nor the servant above his lord.”
Matthew 10:24

 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.”
2 Timothy 3:12

Bitter and Sweet Promises

The promises that are given in this way to God’s glory are both hard to swallow, and pleasing to our senses.  Our heavenly Father knows how, and has planned, to direct us and minister to our needs.  On the way, and at the end, are great and precious promises that others will never know or understand because they have not yet entered through this strait gate that leads to the narrow way.

As we look at these promises from God’s Word let us meditate on the connections between Christ, our suffering with Him, and the results.  For example, in the following we are promised that we shall have tribulation; with it—in Christ, we are promised peace, and victory in overcoming the world.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”  1 Peter 4:12-14

The Heirs of Glory

The path is laid out for, and revealed to God’s children.

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”  Romans 8:17-19

The Humbling and Proving

 This is the time of testing and proving, here on this earth, of those who are His.

 “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”  Deuteronomy 8:2-3

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 1:7

 His Presence and Power with Us

He promises all that we need for the way, though long and tedious it may be.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

 “For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”  Psalm 32:6-8

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

“So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” Psalm 73:22-24

The Nature of Those On This Path

God, our Father uses His own children to draw others to the path.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life.” Philippians 2: 12-15

The Holy Bible, God’s Word, is our guide book.  The Holy Spirit is our constant companion and help in time of need.  Through prayer, and in Christ, we are never alone, He is our  joy and the assurance of our safety and endurance to the destination to which He has called us.

“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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
–bringing many sons unto glory“
Hebrews 12:2; 2:10
Music: My Grace is Sufficient for Thee

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But in order to get past the earthly, and the dung, we have to address it.  It is a reality.  We have to see it for what it is, and know how to deal with it.   How do we know what we are dealing with, and how do we get through it.  It is all part of the understanding of the path that God calls us to.

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory
by Christ Jesus,
after that ye have suffered a while,
make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
1 Peter 5:10

The path to glory, by some, is paved with good intentions.  When the veneer cracks and crumbles they and their followers, like the Kohathites, (Numbers 16:32) will be swallowed up.  They want people to be a part of their ministry and so they make everything inviting; promising comfort and ease in joining their ranks.  Some hope for others a good life and try to make it look easy for them.  They have not yet understood, nor can they lead others in this path.

This path is not a “glory path” here on this earth. God, our heavenly Father does not promise us a path back to the Garden of Eden, but one that leads to Gethsemane.

Hidden and Narrow

“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,  because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
Matthew 11:25

It is a hidden path.  Only those to whom the Father reveals the Son and draws them to Him will find the path. (John 6:44-45)  It is always in following Him that He leads us to it.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate,
and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.”
Matthew 7:13=14

The path begins through a gate so slim that we can take nothing with us.  More so, there is a compression of all that we are that enables us to get through.  Humility, faith, and repentance empty us of our baggage, and shrink us to the size we need to be.

It is a narrow path.  This is the path that Jesus describes to his disciples.

He says that only a few will come to Him. The multitudes won’t lead us to it. The crowded path leads to destruction. The path to glory is not a wide path, but one that we most often will have to walk alone; not that others are not on the path, but there are times when they will not understand what we are dealing with or going through.  We may be too slow for them; we only get in their way. For the most part, only Christ can understand and lead us through.

Not Our Choosing

It is never the path we would choose for ourselves.  We would choose the easier way, but if we are to follow Christ it must be His way or not at all.  This is why many cannot find, know, or walk this path here on earth.  We must know our calling in Christ to be one of suffering and sacrifice for His name’s sake—for “righteousness’ sake.”

It is a walking path, not a bike lane or busy highway; we have no vehicle, only feet and body for the endurance; for proving of His own grace and power in our perseverance.

What God teaches us is — the path to His glory is difficult.  He has said it; and His saints are witnesses to the fact and experience that it is a struggle to endure the pains and trials of the Christian life.  It does not get easier as we get older; we simply require more of God’s grace and strength.

Steep, Rocky, and Dark

The path is steep, sometimes turning like a spiral, leading round and round, onward and upward. It is rocky; it seems that things are literally thrown into the path.  There we stumble and oftentimes we fall—right into the dung. There are times when it seems that we cannot take another step; our arms get so tired; or when we can no longer walk, the wheels on our chair get bogged down and won’t turn.

It is sometimes dark, with only the Word of God as a “light for our path, and a lamp for our feet.” It can lead to the mountains, where the sky is the bluest; the air is the freshest, and the aroma as heavenly as the very presence of God.  Other times it leads to the valley, or through a tunnel where all that we have is a glimpse of light at the end; other times we are led into a cave where all is black, and the only thing we can do is sit still, and wait.

Unless you are on the path that we describe, and you know the purpose in all your struggles, and striving, stop and examine where you are.  Stay with us for Part 2 to look at the promises that are posted on this path to encourage us and bring us gracefully, triumphantly, and gloriously into the presence of God, the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, here and for eternity.

“Confirming the souls of the disciples,
and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:22

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“Let every one that loves Christ keep holy the Lord’s day–,the queen of days, the resurrection day, the highest of all days.”  Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, A.D. 101

“On the Lord’s day, every one of us Christians keeps the Sabbath.” Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, who also lived in the second century, and who was a disciple of Polycarp, who was a companion of apostle John, speaks of the Lord’s Day as the Christian Sabbath.

“A Christian, according to the command of the gospel, observes the Lord’s day, thereby glorifying the resurrection of the Lord.”  Clement of Alexandria

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“He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things,
and sure; for this is all my salvation, and all my desire.”  2 Sam. 23:5.

“I have made a covenant with my chosen.”  Psalm 89:3.

“This was David’s plea and confidence, when, with eternity full before him, he was just going to make his appearance before an infinitely pure God.  This must be our plea also, if ever we would obtain the approbation of our Judge.  After a life of the most eminent holiness, the best of men will have reason to cry out, “Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord.”  It is true, indeed, the believer will discover some evidences of grace, just to show the child of God, and no more; but all so imperfect, that he dares not ground his expectations on them.  Here the covenant of grace steps in to his relief, wherein he sees ample provision made for the security of his eternal interest: for the covenant is made with Christ and his seed.  It is an everlasting covenant, not only made before time, but extending its beneficial effects through the ages of eternity.  It is ordered in all things, therefore nothing can be wanting in it, either to promote the glory of God, or the salvation of believers.  It is sure also:  depending on no conditions, requiring nothing but what it gives, conferring its blessings freely, and making them sure to all the seed, being established upon better promises.  Happy souls, who are interested in this well-ordered covenant.  May it be all my salvation, and all my desire.”

Thy word, O God, begetteth faith;
From thence our hope doth spring,
Founded alone on what God saith:
My soul, adore and sing.

Thy word is truth, thy promise sure;
Hence faith and hope abide:
True faith in Jesus will endure;
Naught can from Christ divide.
________
(Bogatzky’s Golden Treasury ~ February 8) agoldentreasury.com

Pastor Truelove did not use his microphone because he thought the batteries were dead. (Someone else had turned it off.) As we are ending the study of the Gospel of Mark, he was bringing us to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It was not a sermon preached with great oratory, but in spirit and truth.  His desire is always to convey the Word of God and not his own opinions and personality; and so he relies heavily on the authority of the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit to deliver it.  It needs nothing added from man.

 What we hear depends on the preparation of the heart.  When I am in the presence of a man that God has appointed and anointed as a messenger of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ I fear that I might miss something that He has for me, so I prepare with prayer and reading during the week for this special time on the Lord’s Day.

Just a few weeks ago our pastor took us to the Garden of Gethsemane to the scene of Jesus’ arrest.  There were no special effects that were used for that sermon either, but I think I will never forget the words of Christ (simply spoken by our pastor) as He responded to those who were looking for Him. Just as His words “I AM HE,” when spoken to the soldiers knocked them backward, so I heard them as if He had spoken them directly to me.  There was a similar effect of fear, but not in the same sense as theirs.  His words were affirmation for my heart, strong words for my own soul, confirming Who was being arrested, how He was arrested, and the purpose to accomplish His ministry and   fulfill prophecy of the scriptures. He and His disciples were always, “going up to Jerusalem” for this event.  He was ready now to “finish” the work He had come to do.

In the sermon on Christ’s resurrection this past Lord’s Day the same thing happened.  When the two Mary’s came looking for Jesus, it was not our Lord who spoke, but His messenger.  The man in white said, “HE IS RISEN,” and again my heart leaped after Him—not the angel, but Jesus, my Lord.  Here was another confirmation of the truth of God’s Word working awe, wonder, and faith in this old heart of mine.

With this authority and power I can stand, sit, and walk daily in the knowledge and reality of Who He Is.  There is a testimony of God, through His written Word, in me and through me.  His Spirit fills this temple, using His Word to cleanse, purify, separate, and sanctify me for Himself, and to proclaim Who He Is.

You have to be there.  The message is for those who come to Him, hungering and thirsting for Him, seeking His kingdom and His righteousness.  Hearing a recording or watching on television is not the same as gathering as one people  “all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee (the messenger) of God.”   Acts 10:33

“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things?”
Romans 10:14

Gracious Father, today, speak to us through your Word.  We pray for the authority of your Word to be commanded in us by the power of your Holy Spirit. Prepare our hearts to come together with your people to hear, believe, and live in the light of your truth.  In Jesus name we pray, praise you and thank you.  Amen.       

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John Bunyan

Have a special care to sanctify the Lord’s day; for as thou keepest it, so it will be with thee all the week long.

Make the Lord’s day the market for thy soul; let the whole day be spent in prayer, repetitions, or meditations; lay aside the affairs of the other part of the week; let thy sermon thou hast heard be converted into prayer: Shall God allow thee six days, and wilt not thou afford him one?

 In the church, be careful to serve God; for thou art in his eyes, and not in man’s.

 Thou mayest hear sermons often, and do well in practicing what thou hearest; but thou must not expect to be told thee in a pulpit all that thou oughtest to do, but be studious in searching the Scriptures, and reading good books; what thou hearest may be forgotten, but what thou readest may better be retained.

 Forsake not the public worship of God, lest God forsake thee, not only in public, but in private.

 In the week days, when thou risest in the morning, consider,

1. Thou must die.
2. Thou mayest die that minute.
3. What will become of thy soul.
4. Pray often.

At night consider,

1. What sins thou hast committed.
2. How often thou hast prayed.
3. What hath thy mind been bent upon.
4. What hath been thy dealing.
5. What thy conversation.
6. If thou callest to mind the errors of the day, sleep not without a confession to God, and a hope of pardon.

Thus every morning and evening make up thy accounts with Almighty God, and thy reckoning will be the less at last.

Taken from John Bunyan’s Dying Sayings.  

Now, what do we make of His Law—not the ceremonial law.  That was abolished when Christ said, “It is finished.”  It was all nailed to the cross.

 We still have the Ten Commandments, all the law that pertains to His kingdom; the way of life that He ordained for His people.  We could just as well put aside the sixth commandment, (“Thou shalt not kill”) as to leave off the fourth, for all ten came in the same package.  Written together they are each one part of the same covenant, a covenant describing the intents of God’s heart and mind for His own children in His kingdom.  Who would disagree that there can be a detriment to the honor of human life when we fail to honor God in the other commandments.  Study the history of the Israelites.  One thing led to another, even to murder, when what seemed to be the lesser of the commandments were disobeyed.

 We might say, “Father, I understand that you don’t want me to kill anybody; that’s a basic understanding for most of humanity.  But, things have changed, and we don’t really see the need for some of the other commandments.  It’s hard, these days, to keep a whole day separate and holy.  There are so many other things I need to do on the day that I am free from work, and other responsibilities.”

What we do with the Lord’s Day is a matter of the heart.  Where is your heart on the Lord’s Day?  In the weeks ahead I want to continue to quote God’s Word, and other writings from His servants, on this subject.  I welcome your comments on what the Lord’s Day means to you, and how you and your family prepare for, and observe it.  I will be recommending some new books on this subject, as we see more and more of God’s people being convicted.

 There is more instruction concerning the fourth commandment than the other ten.

Join me in the following weeks for what our heavenly Father teaches us about His Day—the special day we are to live in fellowship with Him and His people.

“Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy.”
Exodus 20:8

What did you make of this day?  Was it holy unto the Lord—for His glory?

“Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

The nature of being adamant is God-given, but in Adam it was turned against Him.  He desires that we be strong-willed in the right things.  In the antithesis, which began in the Garden of Eden with Adam, we see the continual nature of man against God.

If we do not learn to “stand in the truth of God’s grace” (1 Peter 5:12) we will be deceived and continue to live here on this earth under the wrath of God, walking in the paths of destruction.

 The only other reference is in Ezekiel 3:9.

“As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.”

 It has been said that if we don’t stand for something we will fall for anything; but it depends on what we “stand” for.

With the new heart (Ezekiel 11:18-20 Part 1) our minds and wills are with God, not against Him.  He gives us the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2: 16) so that we can “stand” for Christ, with Christ, “against the wiles of the devil.”  (Ephesians 6:11)  We cannot do it by ourselves.

 With the new heart we are called to, and given the wisdom and strength, to stand for the only thing that matters in this world and the next—Christ, and the kingdom of God, our Father.  If we stand with, and in Christ, we are, as God’s people, with all of God’s people called to “adamancy” in the following references.  Notice the link between Christ and the mind.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye all speak the same thing,
and that there be no divisions among you;
but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind
and in the same judgment.”
1 Corinthians 1:10

 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty,
so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
2 Corinthians 11:3

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:
…that ye stand fast in one spirit,
with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”
Philippians 1:27

“That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God,
even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 15:6

 Dear Father, as with Ezekiel, and with all your people, set our “foreheads” “harder than a flint,” with “the mind of Christ,” that we may stand together in this world for your kingdom and your righteousness against the things of this world; to “live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age,” by the power of your grace.—for your glory and our joy. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

This word adamancy came to mind this week, after talking with a friend.  She was expressing her concerns about someone else’s problems—what they should or should not be doing.  I thought of how she could be handling her own opinions, but didn’t say much because it seemed she was so set in her own thoughts that nothing I said to her would matter.

Then I began to wonder how many times I have been in this same way of thinking—  when my opinions were so set that what anyone else said wouldn’t register with me.

A Stone
One dictionary definition of adamant is that of “a legendary stone.”  The word is used twice in the Old Testament, the word referring to the hardness of a stone, with further reference to the character of a diamond.

After looking up the definition of adamant in Webster’s and online I kept coming back to the thought: Adamancy seems to be the character of Adam, the first man; and the nature of all of his descendants.

With all that God had given Adam and his wife, Eve, and the command against what they shouldn’t have, they were rebellious, stubborn, and unwilling to listen and obey. This is the nature of all men until the Lord gives each of us a new heart.

A New Heart

“I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”
 (Ezekiel 11:18-20)

This promise was fulfilled when Jesus Christ came to earth, Immanuel—God with us.  He prepared the way for the Spirit of God to come into our lives and to give us a new heart.  The new spirit is His own Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are His children. We cry, “Abba Father” to work in this new heart, desiring that we would be conformed to the image of His dear Son.  (Romans 8:15-16, 28-29)

Dear Father, thank you for your Spirit of truth that brings conviction of my own sins, and by your goodness I ask you to bring me to repentance as often as this is needful.  As you are sanctifying me show me what you and others see that needs to be changed.  Transform me by the renewing of my mind to think your thoughts and to follow hard after Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
(Join us for devotions at agoldentreasury.com)

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