The Heaton File

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)

Has Salvation Come To Your House?

One of the favorite children’s hymns from the Bible is “Zacchaeus Was A Wee Little Man.” It is a wonderful story of a short, rich man, who climbed in a sycamore tree to see Jesus. When the Lord passed by, He called out to this wee little man and told him to come down because the Lord was going home with him that day. Children laugh and giggle at the joyful little hymn. Luke is the only gospel writer to mention this story but it is a powerful lesson for adults to learn. Any encounter with Jesus is going to have eternal lessons especially if you are one of the people the Jews scorned for their involvement with the Roman government.

Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem where He will enjoy a momentary appeal to the masses as they welcome Him with great fanfare. As He was passing through Jericho, the Lord saw a man of great wealth clinging to the branch of a sycamore tree anxiously straining his eyes to watch the crowd below. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. He was a man of authority who closely tied himself to the Roman tax system thereby bringing the hatred of the people upon him. Tax collectors had free reign to extort money from the people and many did this with great gain. Zacchaeus suggested that false accusation was a means collectors would use to rob the people. A chief tax collector was not viewed upon with great favor by the community of Jews.

Before Jesus arrived in his town, Zacchaeus had heard something about the Lord. Something in the story of Jesus appealed to him and he had a great interest to know more about him. What kind of man was Jesus? What did He look like? As a tax collector Zacchaeus enjoyed a certain level of authority among the people but he resorts to climbing a tree to see Jesus. It would have been most undignified for such a wealthy man to be seen climbing a tree of any kind. As Jesus passes by, He looks up into the tree and sees this man dressed in fine apparel gawking at Him. The Lord knows the heart of the man and calls him by name. That must have shocked Zacchaeus. How did Jesus know his name? Overjoyed at the invitation of Jesus the little man climbs down out of the tree and receives Jesus with great excitement and anticipation.

The crowd is not amused. How could Jesus go into the house of a man who was called a sinner? Jesus knew the heart of His host even if the crowd did not see what a wonderful expression the chief tax collector was showing. His life was changing. Zacchaeus was moved by Jesus and he wanted to make a change. Standing before the Lord, Zacchaeus proclaimed his willingness to give half of his goods to the poor and if there were any he had wrongfully taken from he would restore fourfold. He was a changed man. The Lord had come to his house and he wanted to show his love for God. Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this house.”

Jesus came to seek and save lost people like Zacchaeus. The chief tax collector had lived his life getting what he wanted from his own people and on occasions falsely robbing them. Jesus changed all that. There was a deeper meaning to life. The man who took from others now became the giver of gifts. All of this came about because Jesus had come into his home. There is a powerful lesson for all to see what happens when they bring the Lord into their homes. Every home has an altar at its center. There is something that is more important than anything else and this is what the home revolves around. Before Jesus came, Zacchaeus could only see the joy of possession of wealth. His altar was the god of money, power, prestige and worldly pleasure. After Jesus came into his home, Zacchaeus realized life was more than raiment, gold or silver. He worshipped the Lord and his home changed.

If Jesus is not the center of our homes we are serving a false god. Salvation comes from the Lord and putting Him first in our lives will change our outlook, our goals and our desires. You cannot serve God and mammon. The story of Zacchaeus should remind us of the need to put the Lord first in everything we do. It may require repentance and acknowledging our sins but when we do there will be great rejoicing. Invite the Lord into your home and bring salvation. Let His rule and His mind become the center of the home in creating a place where God is honored and worshipped.

And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you. (2 Peter 3:15)

He Suffers Long

With each passing generation the belief that none can be as wicked fuels speculation of impending doom. Immorality is the norm, wars and rumors of wars pervade the social conscience and the world seems in peril of the promised destruction by the hand of the Lord. Fear grips the soul as the nature of man falls deeper into the pit of self-destruction and the world spirals further away from righteousness and truth. The Lord promised to send His Son with a destruction fire bringing vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. His plans for the final demise of earth are clearly stated in scripture.

Two thousand years have transpired since the early disciples wrote about the coming of the Lord and yet the earth remains. Generations come and go and the world is intact. Evil has its way in the hearts of men as sexual freedoms explode with greater freedom and the righteous are persecuted into a corner. False religions rule the hearts of men. Wars are fought bringing sorrow, pain and woe. If there was a time the Lord would come, now is that time – or say those who prognosticate the doom of the world. Another generation passes and the affairs of man continue unabated.

One of the greatest measures of God’s grace is His longsuffering. In the eyes of the righteous, there are plenty of reasons the Lord should destroy the world. The problem is that God is not man and men forget how great the mercy of God is shown throughout all generations. There will come a day when the world will come to an end. This is a fact and should never be trifled with. The certainty of the end of the world is in the mind of God and man has no control over that. There will come a day when judgment will come. It will be a remarkable day when the heavens and the earth will melt with fervent heat. Until that time, the patience of God continues to allow man to exist. Is the Lord grieved because of the sin of man? In more ways than we can imagine. But God’s love is shown in His forbearance to put off judgment.

The longsuffering of the Lord is more clearly seen in our own lives. There is coming a day for the world to end but the frailty of man is limited in a very short time. Life is but a vapor and soon cut off. The old must die and the young can die. God’s longsuffering extends His hand of mercy to our lives when we sin and displease the Father. As hard as we struggle why does the Lord continue to forgive us? Will there be a time when the Lord says no more? His longsuffering reminds us of His love. He knows our frame and when we repent and express our sorrow for sin He will forgive. Time and again He will remove our sin as far as the east is from the west. The longsuffering of the Lord is salvation because He loves us so much. Whenever I bow before the Father, my heart should acknowledge the longsuffering of the Almighty leads to His grace granting my soul deliverance from the penalty of sin. Love is expressed in His longsuffering and how great His love. Thank you Holy Father for your incredible grace exhibited in the spirit of Your longsuffering. None deserve the love You give us and grant by Your hand of longsuffering. Lord come quickly.

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

A Great Church Plan

Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” The church of the New Testament was a goal oriented group of saints who were encouraged often to examine themselves and their work. As a congregation of God’s people, the early disciples were exhorted by the apostles and especially Paul to focus their efforts in growing spiritually. No greater need was there in the writings of Paul than the church at Corinth. As a congregation, there were so many problems it is hard to believe the Lord continued to allow the candlestick to remain. When Paul began his letter he commended the Corinthian disciples and the conclusion of his letter is filled with the same types of exhortations.

Watch. Corinth needed a plan and Paul’s five point directive is valuable for any congregation to follow. As sentinels of truth, the Corinthians needed to be on watch. They had allowed carnality and immorality to infiltrate their ranks causing great harm to the church. False doctrine was being promoted as the worship of the Lord digressed to recreational chaos. Somebody was not watching out for the wiles of the devil. Each congregation must be watchful for the influences of error that so easily creep in unnoticed. Being watchful requires being vigilant and on guard for anything that is not according to truth.

Stand fast in the faith. The church at Corinth was rocked by its acceptance of immorality and frivolity of the Lords Supper along with division and marital problems. There was a need to stand boldly in the faith of God and not move. Like warriors repelling a great enemy, the church must be made up of soldiers who are willing to stand in the face of persecution. The faith must be held high as the banner of truth declares allegiance to the King of Kings. Every congregation must be a bastion of strength to stand without fear in the faith of Christ.

Be Brave. Going to war is a frightful thing and fighting against Satan is the greatest battle man will wage. Courage is the watchword of the day. In this epic battle of truth and righteousness, bravery will be needed to face the problems Corinth was dealing with. The congregation of saints in Corinth were in the fight of their life and without the courage to go to the man who had his father’s wife and delivering him to Satan – they would not survive. Repelling the false doctrine of no resurrection would destroy the church. Restoring the order of authority took the brave hearts of the righteous to stand for truth. Any congregation of God that lacks courage will fall for everything.

Be Strong. Courage is not enough if there is not enough moral fortitude to press the fight against Satan. Bravery can only be useful when the strength of the will brings the battle to the devil. Exercising in the faith will build up the courage of the saints to face the challenges of apostasy. It is clear Satan wants to destroy every local congregation of God’s people. A pressing battle is being waged. Saints who have not exercised themselves in building up their strength to overcome the forces of evil will soon fall. Satan will never give up. Strength of character is needed to keep pressing the battle against the influences of the world trying to destroy the church.

Love. Simply put – let all that you do be done with love. Do you find it interesting Paul would give this exhortation to a congregation like Corinth? The church of the Corinthians was a train wreck of extraordinary proportions. As Paul draws his first letter to a close he tells his fellow saints they can do all these things if they have love for one another. The second letter testifies the Corinthians followed Paul’s advice. The man who had his father’s wife was restored. Watching and standing fast with bravery and strength will go a lot further when it is motivated by love. The church belongs to Christ and men should remember the work of the Lord is about the Lord – not man. Love is the central theme of the church and even when discipline must be exercised against a man who has his father’s wife; love is the motivating factor.

A great plan. Five points. The Corinthians accomplished a lot with five points. Can we?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Peace

People who make for peace are people of peace. Learning to be a person of peace is a difficult challenge in a world filled with unrest. One of the characters that separate disciples of the Lord from the world is the spirit of peace manifested in their lives. Their words are measured, their reactions are cautious and their purpose is for a higher design than self-interest. Through the Holy Spirit, a Christian learns to live in harmony with themselves and others seeking the better good for the glory of God. The antithesis of peace is discord, hatred, war and disagreement. These are characters that should never define the spirit of God’s children.

Setting oneself apart from the world will come easier with a spirit of peace. Allowing the word of God to dwell in the heart, a child of God will learn greater patience seeking peace in all situations. Seeking peace will make a man a better husband and a woman a better wife. Parenting will be motivated by creating a home filled with friendship and love. The work place will be changed when the Christian plans his day guided by the Holy Spirit as one seeking unity in one accord. Peacemakers are those who are not seeking their own but how the Spirit of God moves their life to show glory to the Father. People of peace will not show road rage or fly off the handle in anger toward others. The fruit of the Spirit is peace and this peace is the engine that drives the mind of God’s child.

Learning to exercise peace is not an easy task. We blame our environment to allow us to be the person we have always been. “That is just the kind of person I am,” we declare. Some folks have a greater trial holding their peace than others. When Paul wrote the admonition to the churches of Galatia, he was not suggesting this applies only to those who have a natural affinity towards peace. Fruit is something that grows and the fruit of the Spirit in the life of a Christian is something that must be cultured and nourished through prayer and devotion to God’s word. Some will find it harder to be a person of peace but the fruit of the Spirit is not a suggestion – it is a command. Learning to exercise peace gives glory to God. A soft answer turns away wrath because the person has learned to hold his peace so that he may give peace.

A Christian is known for his holy conduct. One of the most important parts of the life of a disciple of the Lord is to be known as a person of peace. We must make for peace in every circumstance. Controlling the emotions is a sign of seeking the blessing of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in peace. Be watchful at the kind of language that defines us. Let our lives be an example of peace in our homes and workplace. Learning to have peace will bring peace and let us hold our peace because we are the light of God in a world of darkness. Against such there is no law.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. She shall then continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled. ‘But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her customary impurity, and she shall continue in the blood of her purification sixty-six days. ‘When the days of her purification are fulfilled, whether for a son or a daughter, she shall bring to the priest a lamb of the first year as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then he shall offer it before the Lord, and make atonement for her. And she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who has borne a male or a female. ‘And if she is not able to bring a lamb, then she may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons–one as a burnt offering and the other as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’ ” (Leviticus 12:1-8)

No Lamb For The Lamb

The birth of Jesus was in most parts not uncommon with all births. His conception was miraculous but the process of birthing was the same as in all women. When her time was complete, Mary gave birth to Jesus in the city of Bethlehem as prophesied by Micah. In accordance with the Law of Moses, Mary was unclean for seven days and on the eighth day, Jesus was circumcised and His name given by the Angel before He was conceived in the womb. The Law prescribed that Joseph and Mary bring the baby Jesus to the Temple with a lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering. However, a provision in the Law was given if the family did not have a lamb or could not afford a lamb, two turtledoves or two pigeons could be substituted. Luke writes that Joseph and Mary brought the sacrifice according to the exception.

It would seem clear the family of Jesus was not affluent. The King of Kings came into the world as an impoverished family. He who would be called by John the Baptist the Lamb of God was presented at the Temple without a lamb. His impoverished presentation before the house of the Lord was an eternal testimony of the poverty He suffered in coming to the earth to die for all men. The confusion for many of His day was the quiet manner He presented Himself as the Messiah. For many, the demeanor of the man from Nazareth did not fit the model of the greatness of the coming King. Jesus lived an austere life. He had no home and no place to rest His head. He was of the lower class as the son of a carpenter. His brothers and sisters were known by name and they were of no distinct character. Remarkably, the Son of God who formed the world came into the world as a servant.

What made Jesus great was not what he owned or His pedigree of family. Men measure success by the wealth of things and treasure of knowledge. Jesus was a common person who came with the simple message of divine redemption. His preaching was plain yet forceful. The spirit of His presence was demonstrative and people realized He came with authority. His birth was as humble as possible. Born in a place where animals are tended to a family of no importance. Eight days later as an infant child, the Son of God was presented to the Temple without a lamb. It would not matter because He would grow up to become the Lamb of God.

She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31:27-31)

What Children Say About Their Mother

Abraham Lincoln said, “All that I am, or can be, I owe to my angel mother.” Every person that walks on the face of the earth owes their life to the woman who carried them in her womb. The miracle of motherhood is the foundation of all humanity. Adam called his wife Eve because she was the mother of all living. Through the creative power of God, man and woman create a new life as a child is conceived in the womb of woman and life grows. All men have entered the world in the same manner including Jesus Christ. One of the most poignant moments in the history of man is when Jesus looked down from His cross and recognized Mary, His mother. He implored John to care for His mother.

A godly woman who has impressed upon her children the mantle of God is a woman worthy of the praise of her children. There are no trophies for the woman of the year because her humble spirit is rooted deep within the pages of God’s word. A successful woman is not measured by her degrees of education, outward beauty or wealth. The true character of a woman praised by her children is one that receives from the heart of godly children thanksgiving for her devotion to the Lord. Her children praise her because of her love for truth and righteousness. They have been taught the outward adorning of the body is of no value. The beauty of their mother is seen in the hands that toiled endlessly to provide for the family and then folded in quiet prayer. Children rise up, call their mother blessed as they remember the songs that taught them early that Jesus loved them, trust, and obey. The knowledge of the mother is imparted to the hearts of the children as she teaches them the wonderful stories of God.

Children who praise their mother know that charm is deceitful and beauty is passing. The honor given to a godly woman is the joy of hearing their children speak of the Lord in the home, praying together in the harmony of Christian love and letting their lights shine in the world as righteousness. Children who love the Lord honor their mother who taught the old, old story of the Father. Trinkets of this world pass away but the memory of a godly mother never will. Never let a day go by that expressions of love and honor be given to the women who have toiled in the home to build a foundation of truth and righteousness and a deep love for God. Children should rise up and bless their mothers for the joyful example given to them. It required a life of sacrifice. She excelled in her duty first to the Lord and then to her family. Her life was forfeit for Christ. Children can see this. Praise flows from the lips of children who know the joy of godly mothers. May the Lord raise up more women who will embrace the cloak of righteousness and teach their children the way of truth. And let not the children forget to honor godly mothers.

For Your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. (Psalm 25:11)

Forgiveness Glorifies The Father

Sin leaves a terrible mark upon man. There is nothing he can do to provide the answer to sin apart from God. When Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden, they hid in fear and shame. There was nothing they could do to find salvation until the Lord granted His mercy and grace upon them. Noah was told of an impending flood that would destroy all humanity but he would not have known this apart from God. Having received the news of the flood, Noah was still at the mercy of the Lord to know what to do to avert the tragedy. By the grace of God Noah was instructed to build an ark that would save himself and his family. When David and Bathsheba sinned in their liaison of adultery leading to murder, they were to be stoned to death in accordance with the Law of Moses but God removed that penalty. It was David who wrote that when God pardoned iniquity, it was to show the glory and majesty of the Almighty.

Forgiveness takes place in the mind of God. Man cannot boast of his own worth when the Lord removes his sin. Receiving the remission of sin glorifies the Father. The incarnation of Jesus was God’s idea. Allowing His Son to die on a cross brought exaltation to the Father. Granting remission of sins in the waters of baptism sets a man free from the bondage of sin but it magnifies the character of God more than anything else does. Forgiveness promotes the name of the Father “that His glorious character may be displayed; that he may show himself to the universe to be merciful and gracious. There are, doubtless, other reasons why He pardons sin – reasons drawn from the bearing which the act of mercy will have on the welfare of the universe; but still the main reason is, that His own honor will thus be promoted, and His true character thus made known” (Albert Barnes)

Each time I ask the Father to forgive me I must remember that what I ask of Him is to glorify His name. I am a sinner because I have transgressed His law. The only hope of redemption is in the name of the Father. There is no other way, there can be no other truth and the only life I can find that is eternal is in the name of the Father. Salvation is all about the mercy and grace of the Lord God Father. Without Him, I would be nothing and am nothing. Godly sorrow comes from the realization that my sin injures the name of my heavenly Father. Granting forgiveness exalts the name of God and His name alone. The conclusion is a powerful reminder of my own insignificance and the eternal glory of the One who grants me His abiding love to promise eternal life in His presence. How great the name of God.

And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:27-30)

Relief To The Brethren

The pattern of the New Testament church is a clear demonstration of the divine will of God. When the Lord came to Noah and instructed him to build an ark, a divine pattern was given that must be followed. The Law of Moses was strict in its laws concerning the pattern of the Tabernacle enforced by the command to build it according to the divine pattern. In the early church, a pattern was given by the Holy Spirit that early disciples followed to establish the eternal plan of God in establishing the work of the church. Luke shows this pattern how the brethren extended their hearts of benevolence in caring for their fellow disciples in the region of Judea. What is important to understand about this work of benevolence is the targeted efforts of the church in Antioch (and other places) focused upon one group of people.

During the days of Claudius Caesar, a great famine engulfed the world. There were people impacted by this famine reaching far and near the region of Judea. In Judea, there were thousands of people impacted by this severe famine. Many hungry people, needy people and folks were in desperate need to find food. It is certain the Roman government was trying to stem the tide of this catastrophe but there was only so much they could accomplish. What the church of Antioch (and others) did was to send relief to some people in the region of Judea so they could have something to eat. It is imperative to see exactly how the Holy Spirit worded the relief effort: “send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.” The actions of the benevolent brethren in sending relief to the famine stricken area of Judea were to assist the Christians in the area. There were more non-Christians in need of relief than Christians but the only thing the Antioch church could do was to care for the needs of their fellow brethren. Did the brethren in Antioch not care about those other people in need? The Holy Spirit established a pattern of authority regarding the work of the church as being restricted to the brethren alone.

The early church was limited in what it could do in its work of benevolence. No example is given where the church became an organization of community relief. There were many brethren who could take it upon themselves to help anyone in any fashion but the authority of the church was limited in what the collective group of saints could do. As long as it was in keeping with the word of the Lord, an individual can expend their resources to be involved in many parts of society. The local congregation is restricted in the authority they have in becoming a community benevolent organization as much as it is not authorized to be involved in political, economic and social issues of the day. There is one purpose of the church and that is limited by the command of the Lord demonstrated by the New Testament scriptures. Using the treasury of the church to send relief to saints is in keeping with the New Testament authority. Allowing these funds to be used for non-Christians is against the work of Christ.

Many religious organizations today have become social bastions of community efforts that have no authority in scripture. Men have taken the simple design of the church and created a benevolent institution that Jesus never intended to be the work of His church. Every part of the church in the New Testament was established upon three principles of authority: command, example and necessary inference. Modern pundits have cast aside these tenets of authority as antiquated and useless. Weak arguments have been supported by misuse of passages trying to circumvent the authority of God’s word to support human institutions of error. When the dust settles and arguments are finished, the three tenets of authority remain intact and the arguments of men fail. The benevolence of the church is restricted because that is the pattern found in the word of God. Jesus did not contradict His Father in establishing the pattern of His church. If the early church understood the teaching of Jesus to send relief to everyone in Judea (brethren and non-brethren) then they would have done so. Luke clearly shows the early Christians understood the sermons of Jesus and teachings of the Holy Spirit that relief was to go to the brethren in Judea. And that is what Luke wrote. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Joy

Happiness is one of the most amazing parts of God’s creation instilled in the heart of man. Made in the image of God, man elevates his spirit with a happy knowledge of his purpose in life. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is the exaltation of a spirit of joy transcending the trials and tribulations of life. Joy is the feeling of contentment acknowledging the benevolent hand of the Father in the life of His child. The eyes of joy see hope and promise in the midst of turmoil and pain. Made for the glory of God, man finds within the bounds of God’s love a spirit of peace brought about by the joy of the Spirit. Being anxious for nothing, joyful Christians share their lives in trusting the Father for all things and for His guiding hand to watch over their hearts.

Joy brings about contentment. Seeing the importance of the little things keeps the heart from wanting the things of this world. In the spirit of joy, an understanding of what is valuable in life and what is not comes clear. Little children are filled with joy because they have no worries or concerns. They may suffer pain or loss but they soon put those things behind them and find joy in other things. Like a little child, we are to view life as sandcastles built on the seashore. It will not be long before the tide comes in and washes away everything that was made. Life is transient. A joyful heart realizes the brevity of life and listens for the sounds of the bird or the smell of the roses.

Joy instills a heart of complete happiness. The measure of happiness we enjoy is not governed by laughter but the filling of the heart to know the purpose of life. Jesus endured the cross with a view of joy because He knew the purpose of His life. To be happy in the Lord is to know the value of our life before Him and how His grace guides our life. The fruit of the Spirit is a joy that completes our purpose. Seeing that life can be difficult yet find the plan of God in our day-to-day walk is the joy of the Spirit. Every sun that rises reminds us of the joy we have as children of God. The day is prepared so that we can find the joy in serving the Lord.

Joy is having the knowledge of the ages. There is power in knowledge and meditating on the word of God fills our heart with joy because we see the wisdom of God. His truth guides our minds to serve Him and through this knowledge, we are able to discern the questions of life. One of the great blessings of Spirit filled joy is the ability to understand the meaning of life and knowing how and why things affect our lives. There is an answer for everything and that answer is the word of God. The Bible is complete in revealing all the questions of man. The longer we spend at the well of the Lord the more joy we will have in knowing the eternal wisdom of the Creator. Like a tree planted by the waters, we will enjoy the blossoms of joy coming from the Holy Spirit.

Be filled with joy today. Learn to rest upon the word of God and in so doing you will find the greatest joy.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:1-4)

Living By The Word Of The Lord

The temptation of Jesus was an essential beginning of His ministry as the devil tried to dissuade the Lord from having to die on the cross. Satan used the same scheme he used on Eve in the Garden of Eden but failed. His purpose was to offer Jesus an easy way to glory rather than going through all the suffering and death on the cross. He attacked the physical needs of the body first. Jesus had been fasting for over a month and was in a terrible place of hunger. This was not just a few days of not eating. Luke writes Jesus ate nothing during this time. When the devil came to Jesus, the Lord was feeling the far reaches of death languishing His body. He was not hungry as if He missed a meal or two. Jesus was in a crisis and unsure when relief would come. The devil knew the Lord had the power to turn stones into bread and made the temptation real to Him.

Tempting Jesus with food was not just the idea of eating something but rather the temptation of not dying. Jesus had come from the Father to fulfill the plan of salvation for all men. As He languished from severe hunger, death was not far. If Jesus died from starvation, what would happen to the plan of His Father? The devil is suggesting to Jesus that turning the stones into bread would save His life allowing Him to complete His mission. There was a half-truth and a full lie from the lips of Satan. Creating food would sustain His body but destroy His place with the Father. Jesus may have had a desire to turn the stones to bread but He trusted the word of His Father and would not go beyond what God had promised Him in caring for him.

Jesus answered the devil with a quote from the Law of Moses. The book of Deuteronomy is the recounting of the Law by Moses prior to the conquering of Canaan. Often in the New Testament and frequently in the teaching of Jesus, the Law of Moses is referenced for the context of the message. Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3 but in fact, He was using the whole of the Law to defeat Satan. Moses began his fifth book showing the necessity of loving the Lord God with all the heart, soul and strength. The Jews were a chosen people as holy and sanctified to the Lord God. Obedience was shown to be a blessing of trusting in the word of God above all things. Moses recounts how the Lord had tempted the children of Israel in the forty year wandering allowing them to go hungry. His purpose was to teach them complete reliance on the will of God.

The devil did not succeed in tempting the Son of God to disobey His Father. Temptation is a strong desire and the flesh tempts all men. Sin is one-third fleshly desire and giving into this need is from a lack of trusting in the word of God. The key element in Jesus overcoming temptation is the preparation He made knowing the will of God. When faced with the incredible desire of hunger, the Lord fell back on the word of God and trusted in what He knew was truth. He did not know how the fasting would turn out whether He would live or die. He only knew the Father would fulfill His purpose in His own way. This pattern of defeating Satan is the same mechanism we must use today. Defeating Satan requires knowing the word of God and trusting that what is read is truth. Jesus rebuffed the devil because He trusted in His Father to care for Him regardless of the outcome. Our faith must rest upon knowledge of His word and a trust in the plan God has for my life. Jesus began His defense with the words, “It is written.” That is where we must begin.