Lifting Up Jesus in the Gates — Carter Conlon

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Lifting Up Jesus in the Gates Through Proverbs 31

I want to speak this morning something that I feel is from the heart of God for you. From Proverbs chapter 31. It's called, Lifting up Jesus in the Gates. Lifting up Jesus in the Gates. If you'll turn there with me please, Proverbs 31.

Last chapter in the book of Proverbs. Now, Father, I thank you for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Now, I know, Lord, that I have your heart. God, you've got to come and quicken this frail vessel. You've got to give me the ability.

Take my mind and heart and every aspect of my being far beyond my natural limitations. Holy Spirit, you've got to come and take this and multiply it and convey something so deep from the heart of God to this end time bride.

Father, I thank you, Lord, for this quickening. I thank you for the ability that you give for us to hear. The ability you give me to speak. In all things, Lord, I ask that your name alone be lifted up and glorified.

Be satisfied today, Jesus. Let the desires of your heart be satisfied. I ask it in your precious name. Proverbs 31, beginning at verse 10. Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchant ships. She bringeth her food from afar. She rises also while it is yet night and gives meat to her household and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field and buyeth it, and with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

She girds her loins with strength and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good and her candle goes not out by night. She lays her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff.

She stretches out her hand to the poor, yea, she reaches forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry.

Her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen and selleth it and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looks well to the ways of her household and eats not the bread of idleness. Lifting up Jesus in the gates. Now I want to speak this morning about a virtuous woman.

The Virtuous Bride Brings Honor to Her Husband

Now who is in great measure responsible for her husband being known in the gates. That's what the scripture indicates. Everything in this entire passage virtually is about this woman. And in some measure because of the virtuousness and all of the aspects of that virtue that's found in this woman.

Her husband is known, recognized in the gates. Proverbs chapter 12 and verse 4 says a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. In other words there's something about a virtuous bride that gives to her husband honor.

It elevates him as it is in the sight of others. And makes him the one in the gates to which the inquiring stranger might be first inclined to go for advice. Now picture yourself in an Old Testament city if you will.

Coming in as a stranger and it's in the gates that were places of government. It's where the future and financial planning went on. It's where disputes were settled. Land was bought and sold. And in the gates the stranger or perhaps those who dwelt in the city would find direction and find advice.

Now if you were approaching the gates and there was an assembly of men sitting there. But one of the men had a crown on his head. Assuming that it's a legitimate crown. Not some foolish thing. You would go to that person.

You and I would be inclined. You'd say now there's something about this particular man that differentiates him from all the others around. Now in measure according to Proverbs chapter 31. We are reading about the behavior and manner of living of a bride.

That this manner of living and behavior has contributed to the recognition and honoring of her husband at every level of society. Now I believe in Proverbs 31 we're looking at a description of the church of Jesus Christ.

It's a type beloved. Now I know it may have had a particular application in this particular writing. But there's a type. Because all of the Bible from Genesis through to Revelation is about a savior and his church.

If you see it. If you read it in that context of Christ and his church. You'll see it all through the scriptures. Everything is pointing to the Messiah and his beloved bride. And we're looking at the type of this Christ honoring church of the New Testament.

What are some of the characteristics of this bride that brings her husband into recognition in the marketplace? In other words her husband is brought to a place where strangers will inquire of him. Where he's given honor.

Would you agree with me that we're living in a generation where the name of Jesus Christ is not given high preeminence in places of finance and government. Or lip service to his name. But not high preeminence.

People are not seeking him perhaps the way they ought to. And perhaps used to. Even within the borders of this country. Now look at some of the aspects of this particular bride. Verse 11 says the heart of her husband does safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Really what it means is she will not hold back anything from him and he knows it. If he asks her to do something she will do it. If he says what have you been about today? She will give him full disclosure.

There's nothing hidden in her heart. There's nothing hidden in her hands. And he has no need of any mistrust in his heart. Because this bride is not holding anything from him. Verse 12 says she will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Her motive is to do good. To gladden his heart and to honor him all the days of her life. Is that the motive of your heart this morning? Surely it has to be. If we're going to be the bride of Christ in these last days.

We've got to say God it's got to be in my heart at least to do good. It's got to be in my heart to bring gladness to your heart and to bring honor to your name all the days of my life. Lord let me not live in a manner that dishonors you.

Let me not reach out in a manner that brings dishonor to your name. Let me not speak in a manner that brings dishonor to you. Verses 13 and 14 says she seeks wool and flax and works willingly with her hands.

She's like the merchant ships. She brings her food from afar. In other words this bride knows that she needs material to do the work of her husband. And she goes to the throne of God to get it. She's not casual in this relationship.

She says no I've been given something to do that brings honor to my husband. So therefore I'm going to whatever limit I have to go to get it. And folks there's no greater limit you can go to than the prairie closet.

And she goes to the throne and says I realize what I have been called to do. But I don't have the resources for tomorrow. And I can see this bride daily now coming into the throne and finding the resources that she needs to do what she's been called to do.

Verse 15 says she rises while it is yet night and gives meat to her household and a portion to her maidens. And really what it means she's giving her energy to others. She's not living for herself. A selfish bride brings no honor to her husband.

No this bride is giving of herself. She's finding what she needs at the throne of God. Her motive is to gladden the heart of her husband and to do good to him all the days of her life. She won't hold back anything that he asks her to do.

Verse 16 tells us she considers a field and buys it. And with the fruit of her hand she plants a vineyard. She considers her calling and she goes and where she is found she plants a vineyard there. Folks I want to tell you something.

Your calling is not somewhere other than where you are. And many people live and think that way. You know I have a calling of God on my life. Forgetting. The moment you receive Christ as your Savior. The moment the Holy Spirit came upon you.

That calling of God came upon you. It was to live as a shining light in a darkened world. In such a manner that glory would be brought to God. The calling is where you are. The calling is in the family that God placed you.

The calling is in the apartment building that you live in. The calling is in the work environment where you are. Not anywhere beyond that. The calling came the moment that Christ came into your heart.

It's not a sometime somewhere thing. We're called every day all day to bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ. She plants a vineyard. Folks it's time for the church to begin to realize I am where God wants me to be.

I am today where God has planted me. And by God's grace I'll bring gladness to his heart. How do I bring gladness to his heart? I go to his throne and I find what I need to plant a vineyard right where I am.

That means I go throughout my day and I'm planting seeds of God and good all around me. Things that will grow in time and bring others to honor and to bring glory to that which she says I know is my husband.

Strength From God for the Calling

Verse 17 says she girds her loins with strength and strengthens her arms. She spends time with God. And she discovers that her strength is in him. Praise be to God. Aren't you thankful that when we get saved that we're not sent out in our natural strength to accomplish the supernatural.

You and I can't do it. We don't have the power to do it. The power that we have as a church as a bride is when we go into the presence of God. And he begins to speak into our hearts and he says now here is what I promise you for today.

We lay hold of these promises. We take them into our hands and heart as if they are our very own. And we discover that our strength is in him. Therefore as we walk through the day we are naturally giving glory to him.

We're not giving glory to ourselves. We're not walking through this world with some kind of human ingenuity or human plan. No, we're walking through this world divinely enabled by the spirit of almighty God.

We're walking through with a new mind, a new heart and a new spirit. Things that are given to us freely of God that Christ in us may be truly glorified. Verse 18 says she perceives that her merchandise is good and her candle does not go out by night.

She looks and her husband has given her discernment. She knows what is right. She knows what is wrong. She knows what is truth. She knows where she's going. And even though darkness may come into her life, her heart for a season, her candle doesn't go out because it's supernaturally placed within her by God himself.

Folks, thanks be to God. You and I go through seasons of darkness. You and I go through seasons where hell is on every side and seemingly all around us. But the word of God says that what God has given us is good and the light that Christ has put within us cannot be extinguished by any amount of darkness around about us.

The cry of the true bride of Christ is, Oh God, the darker it gets, the more glory bring to your name, the more let your light begin to shine from within mine, oh God, and bring glory and honor to your name.

Verse 19 says she lays her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff. She stretches her hands out to the poor. Yea, she reaches forth her hands to the needy. In other words, she is right focused.

This bride is not greedy. She's not going into the marketplace seeking her own gain. She's going out and doing the work of her husband. And as she goes out, she's stretching her hands out. She's working.

And all of this is for those who have no one to call any helper other than God their own. Verse 21 says she's not afraid of the snow for her household are all clothed with scarlet. In other words, she has an abiding trust in God.

She's not afraid of dark days when they come. And difficult days. Of days of cold and days of terror. She's not afraid of these things because she has an abiding trust in her husband. Verse 22 says she makes herself coverings of tapestry.

Her clothing is silk and purple. In other words, she sees herself as her husband sees her. Praise be to God. It doesn't matter how old you are. Whether you have hair or no hair. How many teeth are still left in your head?

Jesus Christ looks at you. And he said, you've taken my heart. He said, with one of your eyes. Just one glance of your eyes and you've stolen my heart. That's what he writes in the book of Song of Solomon.

He looks down and he sees this virtuous bride. And he says, you've stolen my heart. Because you are living in a manner that is true and it's right. And you've wanted to honor my name. And I've placed upon you a righteousness.

And you're aware now of this righteousness. Nobody can call you ugly. Nobody can call you unclean anymore. You know that I have cleansed you. You know I've given you a robe of righteousness. You know the glory of heaven is upon you.

You know that you don't need to be ashamed of anything in your past. You know that I cover your ever-present failings that are with you every day. You know that I've covered you. Just as when Mephibosheth, this lame boy, sat at King David's table with his lameness as it is hidden under the tablecloth.

I've covered your lameness. And I've covered the things in you that you would look at and say, I'm not attractive. But the Lord says, I don't see you that way. That's why in the scriptures, it says in Psalms, we have the right to condemn every voice that rises against us in judgment.

We have the right to condemn those voices, because our righteousness is not of ourselves. It's of the one who has betrothed us to himself for all of eternity. Hallelujah. I hope this morning you see yourself as your eternal husband, Christ, does.

I hope you see it. I hope you're not running around thinking and speaking of your failings every day, all day. Yes, we have to sometimes face some things that need to be changed in our lives. But ultimately, you've got to see yourself the way that Christ sees you.

The Law of Kindness as the Fruit of Virtue

Verse 26 says, She opens her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. The law of kindness is in her tongue. Folks, it's one of the ways that we finally get to realize whether or not we've grown in grace.

Whether or not we are truly honoring Christ in this world. The law of kindness is written inside of our hearts. There's a law of kindness in us that begins to manifest itself on our lips. Now, this law of kindness is not necessarily the beginning of virtue, but it's one of the final fruits of it.

Remember Paul said in Corinthians, If I had faith that I could move mountains, if I understood mysteries, if I could speak in the tongues of men and angels, if I could do all of these supernatural things but didn't have love, if I was not a manifestation, as it is, of the heart of God, if God's love was not coming through this vessel, if my words were not kind, if the law of kindness was not in my lips, then I'm doing all of these things, but ultimately I'm not honoring the one who bought me with his own blood.

The end result of this inner working of virtue is a law of kindness. That's why Jesus said, when it's all over, every man and woman is going to be judged by every word that you have spoken. You see, this law of kindness is something that you and I, if Christ is in us, will naturally come from us.

If it's not naturally there, we will be brought under deep conviction of the Holy Spirit. Every crooked way will be made straight, and every place where we have exalted our own speech above the knowledge of God will be brought down, and every low place will be lifted up, and Christ will be glorified through his bride.

You and I have got to have within us this law of kindness. In 2 Peter chapter 1, in the New Testament, he speaks of faith, and where does faith lead to? Let me just read it to you for time's sake. Beginning in verse 2, he said, Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that's called us to glory and virtue.

And glory and virtue means something that is of excellence. It's of moral and spiritual excellence, and it brings God to the reputation that his name deserves. That's what Peter is saying. We are called as a body, and we're called into a moral and a spiritual excellence, through which the name of God, the name of Christ, will be glorified among men.

Then Peter goes on, he says, Now, whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that's in the world through lust.

And the word lust means impulses that come from the diseased condition of the human soul. Peter says you can escape, you and I can escape these diseased impulses, this diseased speech, diseased thinking, things that came because of the fall in the Garden of Eden, where the law of kindness was turned into the law of evil speech, as it is.

That's why Paul says, I see within me a law at work. There's a law of sin and death at work in me. I know what to do, but I don't know where to find the resource to do what I know I ought to do and to be what I know I ought to be.

And Peter answers Paul's dilemma, as Paul also does, but he says, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature. Remember the virtuous woman comes to the throne to get what she needs.

And at the throne, her husband begins to speak into her heart and says, No, I will change you from image to image and glory to glory. Where there used to be bitter water, there now will be sweet. Where you used to walk in unbelief, you'll become a person of faith.

Where you used to be selfish, there will be a kindness that can only come from God, begin to come from the inward parts of what I'm going to do within you. These promises make us partakers of the divine nature.

That's why, beloved, we've got to know this book now. If ever there was a church age that should know this book, it's ours now. We're living in the last days, folks. We've got to bring as it is or lift up Jesus in the gates of the city one more time.

He goes on and he says, Add to your faith virtue. Remember, we're talking about a virtuous woman. And to virtue, knowledge. And to knowledge, temperance. That's the ability to control oneself. And to temperance, patience.

And to patience, godliness. And to godliness, brotherly kindness. And to brotherly kindness, charity. Remember, I said kindness is not the beginning. It's the end of this deep work of God. And it's truly how you and I can learn to glorify God in our generation.

The Law of Kindness in Creation and Redemption

Think with me for a moment. In Genesis, we see the law of kindness in the mouth of God. When he spoke, his words not only created, but he gave boundaries, brought divine order, and gave purpose. After Adam and Eve sinned, we still see, even after they sinned, we still see this law of kindness in the mouth of God.

Remember, God turned to the serpent, to Satan himself, and said, I'm going to put enmity between you. You see, Satan caused the fall of man through corrupted speech. And that's how his kingdom advances.

That's how he fights against the testimony of Christ, through corrupted reasoning and corrupted speech. That's why the scriptures say that we have been given authority to cast down these high-sounding arguments that exalt themselves against the truth of God.

And he says, I'm going to put enmity between you, or distance between you, which is the law of corrupt speech, and the woman. And between your seed and her seed. And it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

In other words, she will triumph through Christ over your corrupt speaking, Satan. I have a bride, and it was a gauntlet as it is, was thrown down in the Garden of Eden. And God Almighty said, I will have a bride for my son, and my bride is going to overthrow your corrupted reasoning.

She's going to overthrow your corrupted speech. She's going to be brought back in Christ to the image of the God who created her. And out of her mouth is going to come the law of kindness. The law of God's kindness.

The law that when God speaks, He creates. Gives order, boundaries, correction, instruction in righteousness. Help and hope to those that are weary and have no helper. No, she is going to stand, and she's going to bring honor to her husband again.

She's going to have in her mouth this law of kindness. Think about Calvary for a moment. When unkindness is being manifested on every side. The religious of that day are wagging their heads and saying, He saved others, He cannot save Himself.

Come down from the cross now, if you be the Son of God. Even the thieves on either side are casting insults at Him. He's surrounded as it is by this law of unkindness. Manifesting right from the heart of the devil himself, and everything of human creation that he has access to.

This law of kindness conformed the lips of Jesus to the heart of God, His Father. In Him was the law of kindness. And when all this unkindness is going on, you remember the scripture says, even though being reviled, He reviled not.

He did not respond in like kind. His heart was gripped by the heart of His Father. His lips were touched as Isaiah's were by the call from the altar of God. And this work of God was being manifested in His life.

And as people stood and waiting perhaps for what was going to come. Is He going to curse? Is He going to call fire? Is He going to revile? Out of His lips comes Father, forgive them. For they don't know what they do.

Those who are standing hardened perhaps to human suffering, hardened to goodness heard Him say to a thief beside Him, this day thou shalt be with Me in paradise. He saw Him speak to John and said, John behold your mother and to his mother behold your son.

The law of kindness is radiating from the lips of Jesus, because the heart of God is His heart. And Mark 15 .39 says,. And when the centurion which stood over against Him saw that He so cried out, and gave up the ghost, He said, truly this man was the Son of God.

The centurion moved by the kindness, and by the manner in which He spoke. And the centurion said, the depth of the cry I've heard from this man, can only be born of God. Every time He pushes Himself up in suffering, because that's the only way you can breathe when you're on the cross, you've got to push yourself up, and that nail through His feet would send excruciating pain through His entire body.

But every time He pushed Himself up and was able to draw a breath, out of His mouth would come kindness. No malice, no ill will, no responding insult to insult. And the centurion who's standing there, he's very familiar with death, he's heard so many curse God, he's heard so many beg for mercy, he's heard so many slander, and all of a sudden he sees the depth of a cry coming from a man, and in his hardened condition, he says, truly this man was the Son of God.

Only God could do this. Only God could give a man this kind of a compassion. Only God could cause a condemned man to speak with such incredible kindness. Now folks, kindness does not mean the absence of anguish, or the absence of pain, or the absence of suffering, or the absence of suffering wrong at the hands of others.

Many of you now in the marketplace are beginning to experience the difficulty of a generation that is trying to push Christ out of its collective consciousness. And if Christ is in you, they're going to try to push you out too as well.

And you're experiencing this very thing that Christ had experienced at the hands of unregenerate men and women. But it does mean that within us, we are motivated by the desire to see the heart of God satisfied.

Living Out the Virtuous Bride in a Hostile Culture

And folks, that's the evidence that Christ is truly in us. That we're truly living in a manner that brings Him to honor one more time in our generation. That when we are reviled, when we are spoken against, when we are suffering sorrow and anguish, when voices are risen against us, when difficulty is all around us, Proverbs 31, 12 says, she will do Him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She chooses to live in a manner that conforms to the cross. Jesus, this is your heart. And if your life is within me, God Almighty, let my lips speak for you. And let them speak for you in such a manner that honor will be brought again to your name.

She lives to see the will of God accomplished. Proverbs 31, 16 says, she considers a field, and that's even a field with all of its sorrows, and all of its difficulties. And she buys it and begins to plant there.

She considers a field, not living to get out, but truly living to honor Christ within. And I know that some of you live in places. I spoke with a professional person just recently, who has been brought into the office of a psychiatrist in their particular firm, because this person speaks to people about Jesus Christ.

And the whole of that particular firm is treating her as if she's insane, because she is speaking the name of Christ, trying to intimidate her, asking her if she's afraid, and all of these kinds of questions.

No, she considers a field with all of its sorrows and buys it, considers the calling of God, considers the place where the Lord has planted her, and says, no, that's my field. That's where my husband has sent me, and by the grace of God, I shall bring honor to the name of my Christ in that place.

I'll not look to escape. My husband will give me wisdom. I'll know when to speak, and when not to speak, I'll know how to plant. But I'm going to live in a manner that his name is brought to honor. Hallelujah.

I'm going to live in a manner that others around me, even seeing the way I'm persecuted, but yet still speaking the law of kindness. They will see it. They will see this new song that God's planted within my heart, and they will go to the gates, and they'll begin to ask my husband, Christ.

They will begin to ask him for a reason for the hope that he has planted within my heart. She's motivated by the desire to see the good things which God has spoken towards man done. Proverbs 31, 20 says,.

She stretches out her hands to the poor, she reaches out her hands to the needy. As Christ stretched out his hands on Calvary to you and I when we were in our sin and in our need, she stretches out her hands to the poor and does not draw her hand back from the place where God has planted her.

She lives to see the name of Christ glorified. Proverbs 31, verse 23, it says,. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. But folks, none of this can happen if the law of kindness is not in her heart or on her lips.

I want to suggest to you that the law of kindness can bring Christ again into a place of honor in your situation. I want to suggest to you that it's time for the church of Jesus Christ to truly bring honor to her Lord by allowing this virtue that can only come from the promises of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to reign within her heart one more time.

I want to suggest that you and I need to have the grace to ask Christ for the strength to honor the one who went to a cross, who did not revile those that were reviling him, but spoke with the law of kindness.

And folks, I want to tell you something. When you speak with the law of kindness to those who are unkind to you, you will take your Savior and you will put him in the gates in a position of honor. People will notice the strength that you have.

They will see this law of kindness at work within your heart, and men and women who are reasonable will realize that they don't have this strength. Oh, they may not say it to you in the work environment or wherever you live, but in their quiet moments, they will go to the gate, and they'll not be looking for a radio talk show host to find their help, or a doctor, or so-and-so, or anybody else.

But they will look to the one who wears the crown. And he wears the crown because you have put it on his head. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. You will have placed a crown upon the head of Christ in the eyes of those who don't know him.

And it will cause them to begin to go to him and say, Would you tell me where strength can be found? Would you tell me where this bride of yours finds her provision? Would you tell me how my life can be like hers is?

Would you tell me, sir, you seem to have given so much to this bride, and I seem to have so little. Would you open to me the treasure of your resources? Will you help me to understand how I might stand in the midst of all the perversity that's all around me?

You see, this virtuous woman will cause a society to go and inquire of Christ one more time. I see a day coming of such calamity where people will need advice. They'll want help with their planning, their settling of disputes and direction for their lives.

And the simple cry, I believe, from the heart of God for this morning is that you and I must call out to Jesus and bring honor to his name one more time. Now, we don't have the power to do this within ourselves.

You can't do it, and I can't do it. But in the power of the Holy Spirit, we can. If we would go to the throne and say, Lord, I'm not looking to get out anymore. I'm going to plant a vineyard. I'm going to plant, not a seed, a vineyard.

I'm going to plant a vineyard. I'm going to walk in that place, and I'm going to be kind to people, and in my mouth will be the law of kindness. I will not gossip. I will not slander. I will not give back insult for insult.

I will not defend myself when I'm unjustly. Yes, I'll speak, but not to the point of becoming contentious. I will be known as a person of tempered speech, and truly through this, Jesus Christ, I ask that you be honored.

May I be known as a virtuous bride that truly brings honor to her husband. Oh, folks, I've been through some of this. We all have to be taken to deeper depths of this dependence on God, but I've been through some of this.