Orange Moon Friday, February 28, 2025 "To Will and To Do"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"To Will and To Do"      

     

   The will of God must be recognized and affirmed by born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as the deepest desire of our innermost being, wrought in our redeemed hearts by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

    "I delight in the law of God after the inward man… So then with the mind, I myself serve the law of God" (Romans 7:22; 25).

     "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

    Find the most wayward believer on the planet in any given moment.  The Holy Spirit works in that brother or sister in Christ "both to will and to do" no less than in the most godly Christian.  Indeed, our Lord's working ever proceeds based on His faithfulness rather than our own.  He does what He does, regardless of whether we do what God calls us to do.  This constitutes unbelief and disobedience as a far more serious matter than we often consider.  We oppose the delight of our Christ-inhabited hearts when we walk after the desires of the flesh.  This constitutes "the most wayward believer" in terms of epic tragedy when exultant triumph ever lies at hand, and even more, in heart.  

    "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6).

     Paul's affirmation of delight in his "inward man" regarding the will of God did not originate in his own dedication and devotion.  The dedication and devotion of the indwelling Spirit of the Lord Jesus rather formed within Paul his joy in the will of God.  Indeed, the Christ devoted to His Father's will lives within believers as the Life of our lives.  He infuses His delight for obedience in us, meaning that if we walk in the truth and reality of our redeemed "new man, created in righteousness and true holiness," we walk in faith and faithfulness (Ephesians 4:24).

    So much seems to counter this plainly stated truth of Scripture.  The flesh screams and whispers that nothing could be further from reality.  "The flesh lusteth against the spirit" (Galatians 5:17).  Our experience often seems to belie the presence and working of the Holy Spirit in us "both to will and to do."  Thus, we must determine who and what we will believe.  The Word of God?  Or anything and anyone else?  From the most wayward to the most worshipful,  the Spirit of the Lord Jesus abides as the greatest presence and influence of the innermost temple of our being.  How could it be otherwise in light of the grace that came to us in the new birth, based on a sacrifice so costly that we will never know its full extent?  "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" He promises.  "My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken Me?" was the price He paid to secure His eternally abiding presence and working within us (Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 27:46).

   Let us settle it once and for all as a matter of faith-formed conviction: the will of God is our deepest and truest delight.  We may not and will not always walk accordingly.  Nothing, however, changes the truth because nothing can stop the Holy Spirit from His faithful working in believers "both to will and to do."  Yes, wherever we may be along the path of righteousness, a faithful Lord moves within the depths of our hearts to reveal Christ's devotion to His Father's will, which by faith can and must be realized as our devotion.  Such grace and truth will give hope to the wayward, humble the worshipful, and most of all, glorify the Savior whose faithful presence and working on the cross made possible His faithful presence and working in our hearts.

"Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments, for therein do I delight."

 (Psalm 119:35)

"He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

(II Corinthians 5:21)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

(Ephesians 6:10)

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Orange Moon Thursday, February 27, 2025 "A Teacher More Marvelous"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"A Teacher More Marvelous"      

     

   In the relationship between the believer's teacher, the Holy Spirit, and our response as student, whose role is more important?

    "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (Acts 14:26).

    "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4).

   Obviously, the Spirit of God's marvelous ability to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ and explain Scriptural truth serves as the primary means whereby Christians "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior" (II Peter 3:18).  In human education, poor students often become motivated and enabled to effectively learn when brought into the sphere of a good teacher.  This is even more true in the spiritual nurturing of believers who discover how perfectly able the Holy Spirit is to enlighten our hearts and minds as we place our confidence in His teaching capacities.  Without minimizing our privilege and responsibility in the learning process, faith in the Spirit's promise and skill serves as our first response in seeking to learn.

    "For Thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness" (Psalm 18:28).

   The good teacher leads students in both what to learn, and how to learn.  In our generation, tools abound whereby we may learn to learn.  We will more avail ourselves of these gifts if we trust that our Teacher is so effective in His educational abilities that even if we perceive ourselves as deficient in learning, His skill can and will overcome our weakness.  Indeed, in spiritual matters, we are all utterly dependent on our Lord's guidance and enabling, meaning that the seminary professor and the doorkeeper in the house of the Lord find themselves in the same place of need for a profoundly inspiring and informing teacher.  We all have one, namely, the greatest and most glorious of all instructors.  "Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God.  Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness" (Psalm 143:10).  

    Class is in today.  Our Teacher stands not only before us, but dwells within as the the Light of our lives.  He will so effectively communicate His Subject, the Savior and the Scriptures, that regardless of how dull we may perceive ourselves to be,  the issue will far more involve how luminous He is.  The Psalmist well knew this reality, at once both invigorating and humbling.  We do well to join him in acknowledging with joy the great and good glory of a Teacher more marvelous than we can imagine…

"So foolish was I, and ignorant. I was as a beast before Thee. Nevertheless I am continually with Thee.  Thou hast holden me by my right hand.  Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."

(Psalm 73:22-24)

Weekly Memory Verse

  Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

(Ephesians 6:10)

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Orange Moon Wednesday, February 26, 2025 "Best Known"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"Best Known"      

     

   The most explained and defined person in existence is God Himself.  By His Spirit, His Word, His people, and His creation, our Lord's revelation of Himself far transcends all others.  "The true Light… lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9).

    Upon first consideration, this truth may seem unlikely.  We cannot see, hear, or touch God in a lifetime wherein we "walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 5:7).  Moreover, our present spiritual perception is greatly limited as the world, the devil, and the flesh continually seek to hinder our realization of the One in whom we "live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).  It remains true, however, that the Lord Jesus Christ declared as "the Word" possesses infinitely more capacity to reveal Himself than any other conscious being (John 1:1).  Indeed, if all others were asked the question, "Who and what are you?," only the fool would believe that he could explain himself to any significant degree.  God, conversely, would respond that He continually bears the most accurate and ongoing revelation of Himself to any who will open eye and heart to see.  "The true Light lighteth…"

    Our Lord knows Himself perfectly and could define Himself completely were there any other heart and mind that could fully comprehend the revelation.  A glorious truth lies in this wonder of the greatest communicator in existence.  Namely, we can know God better than any other person in our lives.  In fact, we must.  He alone dwells with the believer always.  He alone dwells within us as our light and life.  He alone has inspired a document of self revelation that perfectly unveils His character, nature, and way.  He alone has birthed a company of multitudes in whom He lives, and who "shine as lights in the world."  And He alone fills the universe with His presence and His sounding voice that calls us to behold His glory by the faith that sees and perceives more clearly than our senses (Matthew 28:20; I Corinthians 3:16; II Timothy 3:16; Philippians 2:15; Psalm 19:1-3)

    Do we believe this about our Lord and His ability to communicate Himself?  Do we believe this about ourselves and our ability to see, based on His illumination, guidance, and enabling?  Can we know our Lord better than any other, even in this lifetime wherein we "see through a glass darkly?" (I Corinthians 13:12).  Sober and Biblically-guided consideration renders the answer as obvious.  Of course, God can - and must - be known better than any other person in our lives.  It matters not where we may be in our walk with Him, or how long we have known Him through Christ.  Our God offers Himself as the closest friend, confidant, companion, and Father of our hearts.  No one can so perfectly and effectually communicate Himself, and no one else can accompany His calling to know Him with the grace that makes such discovery possible.  "O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles" (Psalm 43:3).

    Let us settle the matter within our hearts as a matter of utmost belief and conviction: we can know God better than any other and all others.  He is that good in revealing Himself to those whose confidence lies in His capacity for shining the light of Himself and His truth upon those willing to see - and upon those who believe  they can see by His illuminating grace in the Lord Jesus.  "Call unto Me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not" sounds and resounds the ongoing summons of the Great Communicator (Jeremiah 33:3).  What things?  First and foremost, the glories of Himself as the One we can and must know best…

"This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent."

(John 17:3)

Weekly Memory Verse

  Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

(Ephesians 6:10)

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