The Days of Vengeance

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath UPON THIS PEOPLE. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captives into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled. And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near."
(Luke 21:20-28)

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that Day come upon you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare ON ALL THOSE WHO DWELL on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

(Luke 21:34-36)

Jesus recognized "a certain poor widow" for she, out of her poverty put in the offering to God all the livelihood she had. (Luke 21:1-4) Pray the Lord that He show you how to become the offering!

“Let Us Walk by the Same Rule”

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; AND IF IN ANYTHING you think otherwise, God will reveal even THIS to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, LET US WALK BY THE SAME RULE, LET US BE OF THE SAME MIND." What rule? 

(Philippians 3:12-16)

"Brethren, JOIN IN following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern." What pattern? (Philippians 3:17)

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. YET INDEED I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is THROUGH faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)

Other than Paul's "zeal" for persecution of the church, which of the things listed that he considered rubbish would be thought badly of? Yet as he followed the "rule" or "pattern", all those things he was "confident" in were removed for that which is vital: Christ. The rule/pattern removes those confidences in the flesh. Yet indeed we should understand and walk accordingly. If, in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you!

“Come, for All Things are Now Ready”

"Then He said to him, 'A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, '''Come, for all things are now ready.''' But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, '''I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask that you have me excused.''' And another said, '''I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.'''

Still another said, '''I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.''' So that servant came and reported these things to the his master: Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, '''Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.''' And the servant said, '''Master, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room.''' Then the master said to the servant, '''Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.''' ' "
(Luke 14:16-24)

Notice that each of those who made excuses had something more important to them than that great supper. I think you could say that they were devoted to other things than what was needful. Or were they 'asking to be excused' because they had an idea what those (all) things would entail? Jesus gave, at His last supper, words for His disciples to hold fast to: to eat the bread and drink the cup, worthily.

"Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 'If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it---lest, after he had laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish'? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:25-33)

You see how hard it was for that master to fill his house for that great supper! Many recognize the cost and ask, or decide, to be excused. How narrow is the gate? Only He, Jesus Christ, by the Father's Holy Spirit can show you through the word of faith!! The word of faith in Christ Jesus will empower to 'meet him who comes against' with twice as many, or more.

Leaven That Makes the Vessel for Honor

When we consider 'leaven', we remember that Jesus taught His disciples to 'Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.' (Luke 12:1)

"And again He said, 'To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.' "(Luke 13:20,21)

leaven- an element that produces an altering or transforming influence; to permeate with an altering or transforming element
(2 of 5 from WCD)

So, the process of leavening can be for good or bad, depending upon what 'element' we are permeated with. We see that the woman in the parable hides leaven in meal until all the meal is leavened- permeated with that good element.

"And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, 'Lord, are there few who are saved?' And He said to them, 'Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door; and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where are you from,' then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' "
(Luke 13:22-27)

So we strive to be leavened, or built, with that element which sanctifies completely (wholly), faith in Jesus Christ, believing in Him. We desire to be wholly, or completely built in Him.

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may you whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23,24)

Ask, Seek and Knock for Bread, Day by Day

"And He said to them, 'Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, '''Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'''; and he will answer from within and say, ''' Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'''? I SAY TO YOU, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him ALL HE NEEDS."

"So I say to you, ask, and it (bread) will be given to you; seek, and you will find (bread); knock, and it (bread) will be opened to you. For whoever asks receives, and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" 

(Luke 11:5-15)

"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so He who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven---not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever." 

(John 6:57,58)

So we see that the Holy Spirit is the entity that brings those good things, the bread, to the Church. Ask, seek and knock, day by day (Luke 11:3) for His bread. You will receive what He knows you need to hear!

The Mystery

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.' " (Matthew 16:24-27)

"When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will SAVE it.' "(Mark 8:34,35) "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this sinful and adulterous generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."(Mark 8:38)

"Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will SAVE it.' "(Luke 9:23,24)

“But Jesus answered them, saying, 'The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.' " (John 12:23-26)

"To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ACCORDING TO THE ETERNAL PURPOSE WHICH HE ACCOMPLISHED IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” (Ephesians 3:8-12)

Paul writes that "God, by revelation, made known to me (him) the mystery, by which, when you read, you may understand my (his) knowledge in the mystery of Christ." (Ephesians 3:3,4)

Paul understands the mystery because he was good ground for the seed of His words: a hearer and a doer! It is a mystery how one loses his life, for Christ's sake, to save it. But the Father will show you if you are willing to ask. 

“Master, Master, We Are Perishing!“

(Luke 8:22-25)

"Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, 'Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.' And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!"

"Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, 'Where is your faith?' "

"And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, 'Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!' "

The centurion gave example, Jesus confirming, that great faith understands that Jesus Christ speaks by the authority (Luke 7:8-10) of God, the Father. He knew, if Jesus Christ speaks a word, it will be done. Jesus asking His disciples about their faith qualifies their doublemindedness. In jeopardy they did not perish, physically. What Jesus did, rebuking the winds and water, gave them the opportunity to relinquish the confidence of their experiences so confidence in Him, His words, could become complete. He does the same for us today. With "no variation or shadow of turning He brings us forth by His own will, by the word of truth". Jesus Christ speaks just the same today!

"Master, Master, we are perishing!" Yes, YOU are!