Today I want to focus on the King Zedekiah’s reign over the kingdom of Judah. Zedekiah had been made king over Judah by Nebuchadnezzar. The Babylonians came against the kingdom of Judah three times – the first two times they took into captivity Judah’s royalty (including Jehoiachen the previous king) and the talented people of the land: the military, the skilled workers, and such. Nebuchadnezzar left behind the so-called lower class people and the criminals and the poor. When the Babylonians came back the third time, they destroyed the city of Jerusalem and ransacked and burned down the Temple of God. Zedekiah had been taken into captivity originally, but was brought back to reign as a puppet king for Nebuchadnezzar. Zedekiah had pledged loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar, but he ended up rebelling against him instead.

2 Chronicles 36:13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.

Sadly, when Zedekiah turned away from Nebuchadnezzar, he did not turn toward God. Instead, Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart – meaning that he determined that he would not follow God except in his own fashion. When you read the Book of Jeremiah, you see Zedekiah coming to Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord God, but Zedekiah never follows what God tells him to do.

Jeremiah 38:14-23 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me. (15) Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me? (16) So Zedekiah the king swore secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life. (17) Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: (18) But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. (19) And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me. (20) But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. (21) But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath showed me: (22) And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back. (23) So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.

Zedekiah secretly came to Jeremiah to ask him to inquire of the Lord and Jeremiah warned Zedekiah to do what God said or suffer grave consequences. If Zedekiah had not hardened his heart against God, then he would have followed God’s instructions. Instead, Zedekiah made a pretense of following God, but he really just followed his own desires. And fears. God told Zedekiah to have all of Judah willingly go into captivity in Babylon. If they did that, then Jerusalem would not be destroyed and after seventy years they would be restored to the land. But Zedekiah feared man more than he feared God. Someone once said: We fear men so much because we fear God so little. Because Zedekiah refused to follow God’s instructions, and chose to follow his own poor wisdom, Zedekiah’s family was killed by the Babylonians, and his own eyes were put out before he was dragged off to captivity in Babylon.

2 Chronicles 36:11, 12 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. (12) And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD.

Zedekiah followed the example of the wicked kings that had reigned in Judah. He chose to neither follow Nebuchadnezzar or God. You would think that after the trials he had already been through, Zedekiah would have turned to God as previous kings of Judah had. Zedekiah had the privilege of having Jeremiah giving him the Word of God but he rejected it every time.

2 Chronicles 36:14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

The people of the kingdom of Judah followed the example of their leadership and walked in the ways of the heathen. The last four kings over Judah had done evil in the eyes of the Lord and the people of Judah followed suit. Look at what verse 14 states: transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen – they did not just slightly follow the abominations of the heathen, they very much transgressed the laws of God and followed the abominations. Then verse 14 tells us that they polluted the Temple. The Book of Ezekiel chapters 8-10 tells us what the condition of Judah was in and what was going on in the Temple. Ezekiel 8:9-10 And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. (10) So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about.

The people had decided to follow their own desires rather than follow God. Essentially, they chose to make themselves gods, because they had decided that they knew what was right. They may fooled themselves into thinking that they were following God, but they were not doing anything that glorified Him. God, in His great mercy, reached out to the people of Judah.

2 Chronicles 36:15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up quickly, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

God sent out His messengers – the true prophets of God – to preach to the people and warn them of the wrath to come if they continued to refuse to follow God. The people were warned by the Word of God and look at the results in verse 16:

2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

The people mocked God’s Word and His messengers. They hated His Word and murdered His prophets. And that brought His wrath down upon them. The prophet Amos warned:

Amos 8:11-12 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: (12) And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

God’s wrath was coming upon His people. The wrath would not have come if the people had repented and turned to God. If they had turned to God, He would have held off His wrath. 2Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This is the state that the United States of America is in today. The people of America have turned away from God and have chosen to follow their own paths. There are no more moral standards or absolute standards, because the Bible is no longer being read, taught or preached. People are confused about God’s Word because of all the different translations out there. People do not want to hear the truth from God’s Word because it offends them. People will only care about in issue if it affects them, otherwise, they are apathetic. They don’t know and they don’t care. Listen to this quote by Georgia Anne Geyer:

I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to have a moral community or nation without faith in God, because without it everything rapidly comes down to “me,” and “me” alone is meaningless. Today Americans have stopped acting in terms of their own moral, ethical and religious beliefs and principles. They’ve stopped acting on what they knew was right — and the “me” has become the measure of everything. However, moral societies are the only ones that work. If anyone thinks there is not a direct and invaluable relationship between personal integrity in a society and that society’s prosperity, that person has simply not studied history. And this should not surprise us. Great moral societies, built upon faith in God, honor, trust, and the law blossom because they are harmonious; because people love or at least respect their fellowman; because, finally, they have a common belief in something beyond themselves. It simplifies life immensely; you do not waste and spend your days fighting for turf, for privilege, for money and power over your fellowman.

Alexis de Tocqueville said it best in the 1830′s when he realized even at the very beginning of our national life, “America is great because America is good. If America ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”

America needs to turn back toward God before His wrath is unleashed upon us. Revival can still happen in this country if everyone would repent and cry out to God. This needs to happen from the President, to the Congress, the Senate, the Judicial system, the states and the people. If we do not repent and cry out soon, it may be too late.

Paul is telling the Thessalonians that the Holy Spirit is restraining the devil and his plans, but a day is coming when the Holy Spirit will be removed and the devil will be let loose on earth. Verse 7 shows us that because the “he” refers to the Holy Spirit and when the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way, then the devil’s plans can go forward unimpeded. When will this happen? We simply do not know other than it could happen at any moment. Right now believers should be focused on spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The harvest is ready, but the workers are few.

James 5:7-8 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (8) Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

God is patient and wants everyone to come to Him, but not everyone will. Right now He is trying to draw everyone to Him, but not everyone will come. 2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God is long-suffering and patient with us, but that patience will end at His discretion. He wants everyone to repent of their sin and place their faith in Jesus Christ, but not everyone will. Sadly, I believe that there will be less people that will be raptured out than people expect. When the rapture happens there will be people left behind because they only had a head knowledge of Jesus Christ and had not truly placed their faith in Him.

2Thessalonians 2:8-12 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Believers do not know when Jesus Christ is coming, nor should we. It will be a surprise and you know why? Because if we knew when Jesus Christ is coming, we would wait until the last minute before trying to let people know. Remember as children, if your parents left the house and they left you chores to do, did you do them right away or did you wait? Most people tend to wait and then at the last minute hurry to wash the dishes or mow the lawn or whatever the chore was. “Why do today what you can put off till tomorrow?” Believers in Jesus Christ will not see the revealing of the antichrist. We simply will not know the time of His coming. It will be a surprise. We will not see the Antichrist make his covenant with Israel. We will not see the Antichrist stand in the temple and announce himself as God. We will not see the mark of the Beast forced upon the world. We will not see the great judgments poured out. We will not see the northern power of Ezekiel 38-39 descend upon Israel and be destroyed by God. We will not see the armies of the world congregate in the middle east to stand against Christ at Armageddon.

The Apostle Paul warned us that there will be many false teachers and false prophets in the world. These false teachers will lead people astray. What is even sadder yet, is the many that are lead astray actually willing to be led astray. They will pursue their own desires rather than God’s desires. They will decide upon their own version of holiness rather than follow God’s holiness.

2Timothy 3:1-7 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The false teachers may even deceive themselves into believing they are following God but they actually going further away from God. As it says in verse 5: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. These false teachers may appear to be holy and godly in some fashion, but ultimately they are known by their fruits. Listen carefully to what they say. Pay attention to what they do. That is what Jesus Christ warned:

Matthew 7:15-23 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

A man predicted that the end of the world was coming this weekend. It did not happen, not yet, but it will happen soon. Are you ready?

Our main focus today is going to be verses 11 through 18, but I wanted to give the context of the passage by reading the first 18 verses of Galatians 5. After Paul had started the churches in Galatia, he left to start churches elsewhere. Sadly, Judaizers came in and began teachings the Galatians that aspects of the Law that was given to Moses had to be followed as well. Essentially, they were teaching another Gospel that required works as well as faith for salvation. Paul was saddened and distressed at how quickly the Galatians chose to listen to these false teachers and follow what they taught, rather than cling to the teachings that Paul had founded their churches upon. Go to Galatians 1:

Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (9) As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

These are very strong words condemning the misuse of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul does not mince words here, the Gospel cannot be changed or added to or have things taken from it, because then it turns the Gospel into a lie. In Galatians chapter 5, Paul is showing that circumcision or no circumcision does not bring a person into a right standing with God.

Galatians 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Once a person decides that they need to keep part of the Law, then they are required to keep all of the Law – there is no picking and choosing. We cannot state that we will keep the dietary portions of the Law and ignore the rest. We cannot state that we will keep the Sabbath, but ignore the Feasts of the Lord. James 2:8-12 If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: (9) But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. (10) For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (11) For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. (12) So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

People will say that The Book of James and the Books that Paul wrote are contradictory, but note what James wrote in verses 8, 9: If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: (9) But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. And what Paul wrote in Galatians: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (15) But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Both verses discuss loving your neighbor and point out the proper way of treating them. The point is that believers need to choose to live in the liberty of God’s grace or live in the bondage of the Law.

Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offense of the cross ceased.

Paul is pointing the position that he is being put into: if Paul preaches that circumcision and other works of the Law doing nothing for salvation, then he is persecuted; and if he were to preach for circumcision, then he is persecuted. The problem is this: the Gospel of Jesus Christ offends the natural man – the unbeliever, the lost person. Whether it is the idea of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross or His shed blood or His burial and resurrection, the truth of the Gospel upsets people. John the Baptist’s message from the wilderness was not, “Smile, God loves you.” It was “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come.” Jeremiah was not put into a miry pit for preaching, “You can have your best life now.” It was for crying against the adultery, idolatry and other wickedness of his nation. Noah’s message from the steps of the ark was not, “Something good is going to happen to you.” He condemned the world and was a preacher of righteousness. Jesus Christ was not crucified for saying, “Consider the lilies, how they grow,” but for saying, “Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites…children of hell …fools and blind guides … whited sepulchers…generation of vipers.”

then is the offense of the cross ceased. What does that phrase mean? It means that the cross of Jesus Christ is offensive to those who do not truly believe in Him. It is offensive to man because the cross was something that only Jesus Christ could do, and man believes that he has to do something in order to be saved. Billy Sunday told of a man who came to him and said, “I will cut out the booze and get on the water wagon,” “Good; what else?” “Of course, I am a gambler; I will quit gambling and I will never touch a pack of cards.” “All right; what else?” “I am a bad man, and I will live a clean life.” “Good; what else?” He said, “If I quit these things, I think they cover about all. I will quit drinking, swearing, stop gambling, and I will quit being impure.” Billy said, “Good. Give me your hand and say you will accept Jesus Christ as your Savior,” He said, “No, I will not. If I stop those things, I won’t need to do that.” The cross is offensive to man’s pride because God accepts those that are meek and lowly and humble and mankind is not naturally any of those things. The cross is offensive to man because shows him his sinfulness and need for salvation.

Galatians 5:12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you. The Apostle Paul desires that the Judaizers would have nothing to do with the Galatians.

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

There are three methods of trying to live the Christian life – two of them will not work. One is a life of legalism, which Paul has been discussing. The other is the life of license, which Paul discussed in Romans 6: After we are saved by grace, can we live in sin? Paul’s answer is:”God forbid.” You cannot live in sin and be a Christian. Now you may fall into sin, but you will get out of it. The Prodigal Son can get in the pig pen, but he won’t settle down there – the pig pen won’t be his forwarding address. He will leave it. The Christian life is neither the life of legalism nor the life of license. (J. Vernon McGee)

All glory and dominion should be to God and God alone. At the beginning of this passage I have read this morning, we see that believers will receive a crown of glory from the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. However, God deserves all the glory and the believer will gratefully give up the crown of glory and place it before the throne of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 4:10-11 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, (11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

As much as believers today state that God deserves all glory, I do not think we can still fully grasp the concept of God’s glory from here on earth. What is glory? The dictionary defines glory as being “brightness, luster, splendor, magnificence.” Peter helps define “glory” in 2 Peter:

2 Peter 1:16-17 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (17) For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

This passage is referring to the transfiguration of Jesus Christ, when Peter, James, and John saw Jesus Christ transfigured in all of His glory and speaking with Elijah and Moses. Glory is something that can be seen and felt.

Luke 9:28-32 And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. (29) And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. (30) And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elijah: (31) Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (32) But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

If glory can be seen, how big is it? Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Consider how large the universe is and that still does not come anywhere near the full size of God’s glory. Scientists have roughly determined that the universe is 90 billion trillion miles and that is still small compared to the glory of God, especially since He created the universe.

If glory can be seen, what color is it? In the passage about the transfiguration of Jesus Christ, we see that His clothes have become white and glistering – I never noticed that before that the word here is “glister”, which means the same as “glisten” – bright and shiny. And Jesus Christ’s glory shone from within Himself, it was not like a spotlight that shined upon Him: Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And glory is more that just the color white: Matthew 6:28-29 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: (29) And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. The lilies of the field are more than just the color white and they were more colorful than even Solomon in his best robes ever looked. God’s glory is more than we can fully understand here on earth, but it something we should look to do: glorify Him, rather than glorify ourselves. Charles Spurgeon said: If I might have but one prayer, it would be, “O God, glorify thyself in thine own church, and in the salvation of men!” And the wonderful thing about God’s glory is that it does not fade away. If a chair is constantly exposed to the sun, the colors of the chair eventually fade and lose their brightness, but God’s glory never fades and never loses its brightness.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Peter is exhorting his fellow believers to be humble, to be willing to submit to one another. It is very hard to be humble, each of us want to be in control of something in some way, but a proud person cannot know the grace of God. Peter states that the believer should be clothed with humility, meaning that humility should be in every facet of our lives. Believers are special in the eyes of God, but we should not be proud of our specialness. Charles Spurgeon said: I imagine there may be some of you ready to say, “Sir, I am nothing.” Then I shall reply, “You are a young Christian.” There will be others of you who will say, “Sir, I am less than nothing.” And I shall say, “You are an old Christian,” for the older Christians get, the less they become in their own esteem.” “When you are half an inch above the ground, you are that half-inch too high. Your place is to be nothing.”

Before a person can come to Jesus Christ for salvation, they must realize that they are not the center of their universe. The sun does not revolve around each of us. John the Baptist realized this and declared to the Pharisees: John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. It is not about me, it is about Jesus Christ. A long time ago, Nicolaus Copernicus studied the sky and declared, “If man is to know the truth, he must change his thinking! Despite what we have said for years, our earth is not the center of the cosmos-but just one celestial body among many. The sun does not move around us; we move around the sun.” This was a revolutionary idea for his time – people were positive that everything in the universe revolved around the earth. Years later, Jean Piaget studied children and declared, “Each child must experience his or her own ‘Copernican revolution.’They must learn that they are not the center of their world.” This is another revolutionary idea, and one that is not followed today. “After all,” each infant thinks, “My wants have always been met. I want it to always be that way!” “Walls should move out of the way before I run into them. The floor should become soft just as I fall. Everyone should give me their toys if I want them. The rules of games should change so I can always win.” Sooner or later, life does not cooperate and the child is shocked. But what about as adults – have we learned that lesson? Most of us learn it. But Satan urges us to put ourselves back in the center. And we often do, even when we know better.

The message of Jesus Christ to everyone is essentially: “If you want to enter the kingdom of heaven, you must change your thinking! Despite what your sinful nature tells you, you are not the center of your world. To find life, you must know the truth. Accommodate yourself to that; it will make you free!” John 8:28-32 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. (29) And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (30) As he spake these words, many believed on him. (31) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

This is a hard lesson for everyone to learn. The illusion is easier. It justifies selfishness. And we all like being selfish.Too bad that the selfish way is not true.Too bad that it does not bring satisfaction or life. A hard lesson. But an important one. Life goes much better once you have got it.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

The believer in Jesus Christ is to humble himself before God in submission. That means we are to do His Will, not our own will. That means that we are to do things His way, not our own way. If we are not sure what that way is, then we are to pray and read His Word to discover what He desires. Sometimes that means being patient and waiting for Him to show what His Will is. Psalm 27:11-14 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. (12) Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. (13) I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. (14) Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

God will teach if the student is willing to learn. That means being humble and submissive to God. That means surrendering control to God. A pastor traveling on a train was the sole occupant of a compartment, save for a young man reading a newspaper. The youth was also a Christian, but so weak was his faith, and so many were his temptations, that he told the pastor he did not think he would be able to stand life a week longer. The pastor took from his pocket a Bible and a pen and said, “See, I will make this pen stand up on the cover of this Bible, in spite of the rocking of the train.” The young man, thinking that this was some magic trick, watched the proceeding with interest, saying, “I am afraid that it will not be very easy to do that , sir.” “But,” said the pastor, “I am doing it.” “Oh, but you are holding it,” replied his fellow passenger. “Why of course. Did you ever hear of a pen standing up on its end without being held up?” “I see,” was the young man’s comment. “I see you mean to teach me that I cannot stand unless Christ holds me. Thank you for reminding me of that.”

Think about it for a moment, who has mightier hands than God? Do I? Do you? Does anyone? Of course not. That is exactly why we should put ourselves in His Hands – how can any of us possibly trust anyone else, especially ourselves? The Lord God encouraged Joshua in Joshua 1:9 Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. As D. L. Moody said, “Trust in yourself, and you are doomed to disappointment; trust in your friends, and they will die and leave you; trust in reputation, and some slanderous tongue may blast it; but trust in God, and you are never to be confounded in time or eternity.“

Proverb 30:26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

Now we are not completely sure what a cony is, but most scholars guess that it is some sort of rabbit. Rabbits are not strong animals and they cannot defend themselves very well in a fight. People have to be careful how they pick up a rabbit because their backs are fragile and could be broken if they are picked up wrong. A rabbit’s only defense is to run and hide. They are a feeble folk, but look where they choose to hide: the rock. When the cony sees a hawk or an eagle, it does not try to defend itself, instead it runs and hides in the rocks. The cony knows that it is too feeble to fight off a predator, so it lets the rocks protect it. That is what the believer must do as well – we are too weak to defend ourselves against the enemy, we must rely on the Rock: Jesus Christ. Look at how Peter describes the enemy: 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Personally, I do not want to confront a lion and if I had to then I want Jesus Christ as my Rock to hide behind and trust in His Word.

1 Peter 5:6, 7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

The only way a believer can cast his or her care upon Jesus Christ is to trust Him with the care. He loves His children and takes care of them. Too often we say, “I trust you, Lord” but then determine things our own way. It is when we decide that we know best, that we run into trouble. Let us say I have a brain tumor. A brain surgeon does not expect me to give him advice when he is conducting surgery. I have to trust that he has learned how to perform the surgery and let him work. The same is true with God: He is the Creator of all things – He is all powerful and all knowing, who better to cast my cares upon than Him? Jesus Christ declared:

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

He promises to give the believer rest, when they rely upon Him. If we cast our care upon Him, as Peter wrote, then we will have rest with God. What a blessing that is to know that God cares for each of us, He just wants us to come to Him. But the only way anyone can come to Him is by humbling ourselves before Him. Looking to do His Will in love and obedience.

God hath not promised skies always blue
Flower strewn pathways, all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labour, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing kindness, undying love.

God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptations, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.

But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labour, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing kindness, undying love.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain, rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.

But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labour, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing kindness, undying love.

1 Peter 5:6, 7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

This is our third week of looking at Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life and we are going to look especially close to verse 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. What a blessing it is to know that Jesus Christ is what we need in our lives and points that out by declaring that He is the Living Water and the Bread of Life. All people need bread and water to survive and we can live for awhile on just one or the other, but to grow, we need bread and water. Why is it a blessing to know that what all people need is Jesus Christ? Because He is the source of all things. Because He is inexhaustible. He never runs out. Think about this: when the weatherman predicts a big snowstorm coming what do many people do? They run to the grocery store and stock up on bread, milk, and other staples. Why? Because they fear they may be snowed in and may run out of the essentials. Thankfully, we do not have to stock up on Jesus Christ, because we can never run out of Him. Sadly, we may run away from Him, but He is always available to a person when they come back to Him.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Let us break this verse down: All that the Father giveth me refers to more than just the apostles because we know that one of the apostles did not get saved; Judas Iscariot. John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled. Judas Iscariot did not know Jesus Christ as his Saviour and became the son of perdition – in other words, Judas remained a child of the devil.

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; Jesus Christ is talking about election here – the thought that God has decided who will get saved and who will not be a child of God. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. A person is only going to become a believer when they are led by the Holy Spirit to Jesus Christ. The elect are those that are led to Jesus Christ and given to Him for salvation. The elect are known by God before they are saved. 1Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (2) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. The elect are known by God ahead of time, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they are obedient to God… but wait, can obedience be forced on someone? Is that truly obedience then? Was Judas Iscariot obedient? We know that he was not saved, but was he ever really obedient? In faith? Paul wrote to the Romans: Romans 1:5-6 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name; (6) Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: What else do we know about Judas Iscariot? We know that he was an apostle, we know that he was the son of perdition, we know that he betrayed Jesus Christ, and we know that he was the treasurer for the apostles – he held the money bag. We also know that Judas Iscariot was a thief: John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Judas Iscariot was only faithful to one person: Judas Iscariot. He was not obedient, and he was one of the ones given to Jesus Christ, but Judas Iscariot did not become a child of God.

Election is more than God choosing some people to get saved and choosing others to not get saved.

Romans 9:10-12 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (11) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) (12) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. This passage refers to Jacob and Esau and God chose that Esau would serve Jacob even though Esau was the first born twin. Jacob was not chosen for his good works and Esau was not rejected because of his evil works, but Jacob did come to salvation while Esau did not. Esau chose to follow his own path, while Jacob chose to ultimately follow God.

While referring to the Israelites, Paul wrote: Romans 11:5-7 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (6) And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (7) What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. And again, people are not called because of their good works, but by God’s grace.

So how do people know if they are the elect? Charles Spurgeon wrote: Is your heart resting upon Jesus Christ? Does it meditate upon divine things? Is your heart a humble heart? Are you constrained to ascribe all to sovereign grace? Do you desire holiness? Do you find your pleasure in it? Does your heart ascribe praises to God? Is it a grateful heart? And is it a heart that is wholly fixed upon God, desiring never to go astray? If it be, then you have the marks of election.

Election is more than God choosing who will be saved and who will not be saved. Election is by God’s grace and not of man. Charles Spurgeon also said: Your damnation is your own election, not God’s. From the Word of God I gather that damnation is all of man, from top to bottom, and salvation is all of grace, from first to last. He that perishes chooses to perish; but he that is saved is saved because God has chosen to save him.

There is more to election, man still needs to choose Jesus Christ. A young nurse was helping to care for a sick, Christian gentleman whom she loved very much. He said to her, “Ellen, it is time I should take my medicine. Measure just a tablespoon and put it in a glass.” She quickly did so and brought it to his bedside. He made no attempt to take it from her but said, “Now, dear, will you drink it for me?” “Me drink it? What do you mean? I am sure I would in a minute if it would make you well, but you know it won’t do you any good unless you take it yourself.” “Won’t it really?” “No, I am sure it will not.” “If you cannot take my medicine for me, neither can I take your salvation for you. You must go to Jesus and believe in Him for yourself.” The dear old saint of God had been trying to explain to his young nurse that she could not be saved on his account and by serving him, but rather through her own acceptance of Jesus Christ as her Savior.

We are commanded by Jesus Christ in Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He did not state that we should only preach to the elect, because how would we know who that is? Thus we must let everyone know the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let the Word of God determine who will be saved, because Jesus Christ’s sheep will hear His voice and come to Him and follow Him. Because Charles Spurgeon once preached a “whosoever will” gospel, someone said to him, “If I believed like you do about election, I wouldn’t preach like you do.” Spurgeon’s answer was something like this, “If the Lord had put a yellow stripe down the backs of the elect, I’d go up and down the street lifting up shirttails, finding out who had the yellow stripe, and then I’d give them the Gospel. But God didn’t do it that way. He told me to preach the Gospel to every creature that ‘whosoever will may come.’” (J. Vernon McGee) The gospel of Jesus Christ – His death, burial, and resurrection needs to go out to all of the world.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Look at the second half of the verse: and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. People must still come to Jesus Christ for salvation. They may have been elected, but they still need to choose Him. That desire to choose Him must also come from Him by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but they must choose Him. People must realize that God is not asking them to give up something, He wants them to receive salvation. A gentleman residing in the fashionable part of London, and thoroughly carried away with the follies of society life, was walking down the street one day with a Christian woman of his acquaintance. He turned to her and asked, “How is it that you religious people are always trying to rob us of our pleasure? I enjoy life, and I can’t see why you should be forever trying to rob me of what pleasure this short life affords.” “You are greatly mistaken if that is what you think,” replied the woman. “We do not want you to give up anything, but to receive.” The gentleman kept thinking of the word “receive.” It refused to leave him. Not long after, he called on the woman, told her his life was miserable, and asked what he must do to receive peace of soul and joy of heart. She led him to the Savior, where he found pardon and joy he had never known before.

J. Vernon McGee wrote this about John 6:37: Election and free will are both in this verse. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me;” states a truth, and that is election. But wait a minute! “and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” is also true, and “him that cometh to me” is free will. I don;t know how to reconcile them, but they are both true. The Father gives men to Christ, but men have to come. And the ones that come are the ones, apparently whom the Father gives to Him. You and I are down here, and we don’t see into the machinery of heaven. I don’t know how God runs that computer of election, but I know that He has given to you and to me a free will and we have to exercise it.

There must be that willingness on the person’s part to humble themselves before God and realize that they cannot have eternal life without Jesus Christ. People cannot rely on their own personal plan of salvation, because it will not work! What it truly takes on the unsaved person’s part is the realization that they are unworthy of being saved on their own and must trust in Jesus Christ alone. Who comes up to their doctor and says, “Please, Doctor, cure me of my cough, but I would like to keep the fever.”? What kind of cure is that? Likewise, a person cannot choose to remain to in their sins, and expect to be saved. They must repent of their sins and ask Jesus Christ to forgive them and ask for His salvation! When do you take a bath? When you are clean or dirty? The only way a person can stand before God is if they are clean – in other words – sinless. But nobody is clean, nobody is sinless, except for Jesus Christ. Everyone of us is not only dirty, but filthy in the eyes of God! However, when a person has accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they are cleansed of their sin and can stand before God.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Note what is said in verse 11: For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men – not “some” men and not “many” men, but the Bible says ALL MEN, meaning salvation is offered unto all, but not all are going to receive salvation and accept salvation. Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

A person may think, “I am the biggest sinner of all!” The Bible says: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). A person may say, “But I am ungodly!” The Bible says: Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6). A person may say, “But I am lost!” The Bible says: Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. “But I have many sins!” Jesus Christ had many drops of blood. “But I am a great sinner!” Jesus Christ is a great Saviour. “But I am so old!” Yes, but Jesus Christ can make you born again.

1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. What a blessing that verse is.

Last week we began looking at Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life and the people’s reaction to Him. Jesus Christ has just recently fed over 5000 people with five barley loaves and two fishes. He has healed many people of many different diseases and exorcised demons, and yet, these people standing before Him want more signs!

John 6:30, 31 They said therefore unto him, What sign showest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? (31) Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

These Israelites are asking Jesus Christ to show them yet another sign and then they will believe on Him. They want to be able to see and then they will believe. Hebrews 11:1 gives the definition of faith: Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The believer in Jesus Christ cannot obediently walk with God if they only rely on their sight – where is the faith in that? A pilot was having trouble bringing his plane down to land. From the control tower, he was given instructions. “But there is a pole there,” he objected. The answer came back, “You take care of the instructions; we will take care of the obstructions.” So with the child of God. In the Word, he or she has God’s instructions. God will take care of the obstructions. It is ours to obey the instructions from God’s Word.

The signs and wonders that Jesus Christ did perform were done because He had compassion upon His people. He healed them and He fed them because He loved them. But the miracles were also done to confirm what He said. Jesus Christ taught the Israelites to repent and come to Him and to show why they should come, He healed people.

Hebrews 2:2-4 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; (3) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (4) God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

How sad it is that these people desired to see another sign from Jesus Christ. To require even one sign from God is a lack of faith and trust. God is the only one we can trust in. As D. L. Moody said, “Trust in yourself, and you are doomed to disappointment; trust in your friends, and they will die and leave you; trust in reputation, and some slanderous tongue may blast it; but trust in God, and you are never to be confounded in time or eternity.”

Look at verses 30 and 31 again: these people were not ready to believe and they did not want to believe – note that in verse 30 they bring to topic back to their stomachs.

John 6:31, 32 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. (32) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

Notice how the Israelites phrase their quote: He gave them bread from heaven to eat. It is almost as if they are crediting Moses with providing the manna from Heaven. They have left out the LORD from the quote. Go to Exodus 16.

Exodus 16:14-15 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. (15) And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

Moses did not provide the Israelites with manna, God did – every day for forty years. People need to be nourished and God provided for them. The manna gave the Israelites physical life, but Jesus Christ is pointing out that what people truly need is the spiritual Bread of Life to feed them for an eternity. The bread that Jesus Christ is speaking about cannot be eaten but it can be devoured. The bread that Jesus Christ is speaking about will not physically grow you, but you can grow spiritually with it. That Bread of Life is Jesus Christ and believers grow through Him through His Word.

John 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

The problem is that people want things that they can see. Bread and fish, that is something that is tangible and can be held, and smelled and eaten. But Jesus Christ has even better offer: Himself. No, we cannot see Him, but believers know that He is there. Believers cannot hold Him or smell Him and they certainly do not eat Him, but they know that He is real. Consider the first verse of “How Great Thou Art”: O Lord, my God, When I in awesome wonder; Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed. The more time a believer spends with God, the more and more real God becomes to him or her. The closer to God a believer becomes, the more peace and happiness they shall experience. A baker never expects to get a better cake than the ingredients he puts into it. Yet many people who complain that life is not as rewarding as they expected it to be, forget that in leaving out God, they have left out that which alone can give life its glory, hope, love, and joy.

Jesus Christ is who gave life to this world because He is the Creator of all things. He had just demonstrated that to the Israelites by feeding them with five barley loaves and two fishes and this group in front of Him still would not believe and asked for another sign.

John 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Back in John chapter 4, when Jesus Christ was speaking to the woman at the well, He spoke of living water and she desired to be given this water so she would not have to draw from the well anymore. Jesus Christ was able to teach her that He is the Living Water. Here the Israelites are still focused on their stomachs, believing that they can get an endless supply of bread from Jesus Christ.

John 6:36 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Man needs bread and water in order to live. Without physical nourishment, man will wither up and die. Likewise, spiritually man needs the Bread of Life and the Living Water in order to grow in God’s Grace. Man needs spiritual nourishment just as much, if not more, than he needs physical nourishment. Jesus Christ wants everyone to come to Him and, in coming to Him, they will believe in Him. Jesus Christ declared in John 7:37 If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. Each day, people need around 2000 calories of food. Nobody decides that on Monday they will eat 14,000 calories and they are done eating for the week. By Tuesday they will be hungry again. It is the same idea for the believer in Jesus Christ – a believer should decide that they have gotten all they need for the week spiritually by coming to church once and then not doing else the rest of the week. Believers must be reading God’s Word on a daily basis and praying on a daily basis.

Some people have the idea that once the relationship is established between God and man, nothing more is needed. This is a mistake. When a child is born it has the general nature and characteristics of its parents, but does it not continue to need their loving care? It could not live without it. So it is with us and God. He gives us of His nature, His fullness; we become His children, but we need Him constantly and uninterruptedly if we are to go on living spiritually. Our lives as Christians cannot be maintained at all unless it is He who maintains them. This is unlike our earthly parent-child relationship in one sense, however. In our relationship with God we never outgrow our need to be dependent on Him. And though, in the New Testament, Christian maturity is enjoined on all believers, this process of spiritual growth never brings us to a point where we may become independent of God. We are given to understand that our relationship to Him is always that of children. Woe unto anyone who ceases to be a child of God in his own estimation and thinks he has grown up sufficiently to be independent of God!

Dr. Horatius Bonar once said that he could tell when a Christian was growing. In proportion to his growth in grace he would elevate his Maker, talk less of what he himself was doing, and become smaller and smaller in his own esteem, until, like the morning star, he faded way before the rising sun.

In the Book of Hebrews, the Jewish believers are rebuked by the writer because they have not grown in Jesus Christ like they should. Hebrews 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskillfull in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. The Jews were the first people that God reached out to and those that believed in Jesus Christ were not spiritually growing like they should. Why did that happen? Because they were focused on staying the same rather than growing in Christ. If we plant a tree, it begins to grow; if we set a fence post, it begins to decay. There was an old farmer who, in the prayer meetings of his church in describing his Christian experience, always said: “Well, I’m not making much progress, but I’m established.” One spring when the farmer was setting out some logs, his wagon sank in the mud in a soft place in the road, and he could not get out. As he sat on top of the logs viewing the situation, a neighbor who had never accepted the principle of the old farmer’s religious experience came along and greeted him: “Well, Brother Jones, I see you are not making much progress, but you’re established.”

When James A. Garfield was president of Hiram College, a man brought his son for entrance as a student, for whom he wished a shorter course than the regular. “The boy can never take all that in,” said the father. “He wants to get through quicker. Can you arrange it for him?”

Mr. Garfield said, “Oh, yes. He can take a short course; it all depends on what you want to make of him. When God wants to make an oak, He takes a hundred years, but he takes only two months to make a squash.” Many want instant spirituality-like instant coffee or potatoes! It doesn’t come that way! There are no short courses! No short-cuts! No gimmicks! It takes time to grow! Growth is a sequence-an orderly arrangement! “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again” was God’s indictment of the Christians in the Book of Hebrews chapter 5.

John 6:36-37 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. (37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Remember back in verse 30, the people said to Jesus Christ: What sign showest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? Jesus Christ is declaring to them that they have seen what Jesus Christ has done and they have still not come to a saving knowledge of Him. That is the problem with relying on only your eyes, they can deceive you. We can be fooled into looking in another direction and we end up taking our eyes off of the Lord. Peter was doing fine walking on the water toward Jesus Christ until he took his eyes off of Jesus Christ. These people have Jesus Christ right in front of them! They have seen the wonders that He has performed. More importantly, they have heard Him speak!

John 7:45-46 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? (46) The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

These officers knew that there was something different about Jesus Christ – they never heard a man speak like He does. Jesus Christ is different from every other person that has ever been here. These officers recognized something about Jesus Christ that the scribes and Pharisees refused to recognize. If only the scribes and Pharisees had been willing to humble themselves before God and Jesus Christ, they would have seen it too. And the blessing is in John 6:37: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Jesus Christ would have accepted them too if only they had come to Him. When you are in the process of humbling yourself, the Lord will load you with blessings. God wants you to be like the stalk of wheat that is full of beautiful grains. The more it is loaded the lower it stoops down. Thus, my dear friend, your real riches will be manifested by your humility.

Born To Die by Ron Hamilton

On the night Christ was born

Just before break of morn,

As the stars in the sky were fading,

O’er the place he lay,

Fell a shadow cold and gray

Of a cross that would humble a King.

(chorus) Born to die upon Calvary,

Jesus suffered my sin to forgive;

Born to die upon Calvary,

He was wounded that I might live.

Jesus knew when He came

He would suffer in shame;

He could feel ev’ry pain and sorrow.

But He left Paradise.

With His blood He paid the price –

My redemption to Jesus I owe.

(chorus) Born to die upon Calvary

Jesus suffered my sin to forgive;

Born to die upon Calvary,

He was wounded that I might live.