WILLOWS BY THE WATER COURSES
When I was a very young Pastor (1942) I had to do some serious “scratching” to find subjects for my sermons. Our teachers at Bible School had stressed prayerfulness more than sermonizing, so we were sort of “paddling with one oar” for quite a while.
One Sunday morning I seemed to “hit the jackpot” as far as topics for sermons was concerned. People left the Church with a spring in their step—really encouraged in the Lord. I was very happy, because I thought I had delivered a Masterpiece to my flock.
Ignorance really is bliss sometimes. Neither I nor the congregation knew that I had flagrantly butchered the Truth of the Scriptures I had taught from that morning. Fact is, some of them went to their graves believing that what I had preached was “Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth.” George ……, one of the family fathers, died suddenly a short time afterward, but he went on a victorious note, fully believing that God would save his family. The Lord was faithful, and honored his faith.
You see, we who were students of the Bible were strongly in favor of the idea that the Bible was full of “promises” that we could apply to ourselves indiscriminately. We seemed oblivious to the fact that some of those promises didn’t apply to us at all—that some of them were for specific people, for specific times, and for specific purposes.
I will never be able to understand why or how the Lord could add His Blessing to such horrible mis-applications of His Word as some of us were, and are still, doing.
One of my sons expressed it as “The Untrammeled Grace of God”, which is a very apt description, in my mind. It has no guidelines, no rules of conduct, no restrictions or compulsions of any sort. It responds only to the Wishes of our Loving God.
My topic for that Sunday morning was delightful.
Isa 44:1 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
Isa 44:2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
The emphasis was on verses 3 and 4:
Isa 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Isa 44:4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
It was a perfect “springboard” for launching a plea for faithful attendance at Church, for tithing of our increase, for playing in the orchestra and teaching a Sunday School Class and always having a ready testimony for that portion of the service. If we would do our part, God Would Do His Part.
Well, I still believe that to be a good principle to live by, but I had missed the correct application of the Scripture by a “Country Mile”, and didn’t know it. Nor did anyone else, as far as I know.
Oh, the “Untrammeled Grace of God.”
I have had many “experiences” with the Lord since that time, and have learned many things about Him and His Word, but a few of them are “special”.
In October of 2005, a small group of praying people was gathered in the Church Prayer Room, seeking the Lord. I was having trouble remembering things, especially Scriptures, and asked the group to lay hands on me and ask the Lord to help me. They did, and we disbanded.
The next day one of the ladies who had participated in the prayer meeting was driving into town when the Power of God came upon her. She stopped the car and began to plead with the Lord to, in her own words, “Give Bro. Fretwell what he wants.”
For me, the following week marked the beginning of a tremendous change in my understanding of God and His Purposes in the Earth. It seemed as if the “eyes of my understanding were being enlightened” (Eph 1:18), and the “pieces of the puzzle” were going into place in a miraculous manner. It was the beginning, but ONLY a beginning, of a series of rays of light being focused on different aspects of God’s plan for the ages.
Gradually, two main themes came to the forefront, and they were intertwined, one with the other, so closely that it was difficult to tell them apart.
Indeed, they were both integral parts of the “Over-all” Plan of God for the ages of Planet Earth and the inhabitants thereof. The books of Isaiah and Jeremiah came alive with new meaning as I was able to more fully comprehend the Purposes of God.
In the very early 60’s, I had been working with a crew of men, recompressing bales of hops for shipment to South America. Talking was discouraged, so I passed the time in mentally reciting portions of the book of Isaiah. I discovered that chapters 52 and later seemed to be telling a story—before it happened. Sort of Pre-written History, but, since I could not understand it, I tucked it away in the back recesses of my memory—eventually forgot what I had discovered.
That week in October 2005 marked the beginning of an “explosion” of sorts in comprehending the meaning of many of those scriptures I had recited so many years ago while trying to drown out the doleful groaning of the hundred-ton hydraulic press.
For years I had wondered about the fate of the Ten Tribes of Israel. What happened to them after their captivity in Assyria (721 BC—to 606 BC)? Are they still in existence, and if so, where/who are they, and what are they doing? I had read in Jeremiah 18 about them being likened to clay on a Potter’s wheel that would not go into the form the Potter wished, so He formed it into another vessel that did please Him. I had also read in Jeremiah 19 that Judah would be like an earthen vessel that had been baked and then broken to shards. It could never be made whole again. What did all this mean? “The Remaking of Israel, and the Desolation of Judah.”
Well, like a torrent of water rushing down a ravine, comprehension came flooding over me in that October week Random bits of Biblical knowledge that I had accumulated over many decades were suddenly brought together to reveal a plausible pattern of Divine guidance in the affairs of humanity.
It seemed that the Lord was telling me that the Apostle Paul figured very strongly into the equation—that he had been the instrument of God’s Choice to facilitate the “Changing” of the ancient Israelites.
The “Changing of Israel” was to be their conversion to Christianity, (after seven centuries, and having drifted into horrible depths of idolatry) and this conversion was facilitated by Paul and other early Christian Missionaries in a few years after the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. They are being “re-made” into the Church of the Living God. (Judah is STILL in DESOLATION, as far as God is concerned—UNTIL they shall say, “Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.”) Remember the parable of the two sons who were asked by their father to go “work in the vineyard. One said, “Sure thing, Dad”, but didn’t get anything done. The other said, “Are you out of your mind?”, but later repented (had a change of heart) and went and worked for his Father. Israel (ten tribes) rebelled, and were taken into Assyrian captivity, never to return to Palestine, but to wander into Europe from the area of the Black Sea. (Judah and Israel were the two sons of the parable)
Just two days ago, I learned from an Encyclopedia, that the bands of people who had moved into, and populated Europe in the centuries gone by were once called “The Galatians”. Paul had ministered to them when Christianity was almost “brand-new”, in the area that is now known as Turkey (the “Asia” of New Testament times). Do the “Seven Churches of Asia” of the Revelation possibly figure into the equation?
I don’t know how I will learn whether Paul ever got to Spain or not, but I do know that the Spaniards were greatly used of God in spreading Christianity to many parts of the World. (It’s hard to get somewhere that a Spanish Priest has not been, before you get there.)
I do also know that the growth of the Church has been greatly enhanced by the invention of the printing press and the distribution of Bibles and Christian literature, and that these things were predominantly of European origin. Europe has supplied vast numbers of Missionaries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is precisely what the Bible says that Israel would do in her latter years
You may be wondering by this time, “What about the children being like WILLOWS BY THE WATER COURSES”? Listen while I explain about them.
That scripture, like many others in Isaiah and Jeremiah, were NOT given for the sake of George’s children, but were referring to the Children of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, and ten of Jacob’s sons AFTER THEY CAME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST.
Not under Moses. Not under the LAW. Not with animal sacrifices. Not with Sabbaths and New Moons, and Feast days, but IN JESUS CHRIST.
God has His “WILLOWS” by worldwide water courses, and they are multiplying “exceedingly” (like they did in the natural in Egypt—from 70 to over 2 million in 4 generations). The CHURCH is growing at an alarming rate. It is steadily being built up by the Power of God to engulf the entire world, and overshadow any and all other religious and political systems. It will “FILL THE EARTH.”
The “Prince of Persia” is in Panic Mode, visualizing his utter defeat shortly.
The Prophet said that these “Willow” children would call themselves by different names, but they would all be of the same Body. (Israel Made Into The Church)
Isa 44:5 One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
“A rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet”--////Shakespeare
The Biblical “rite of passage” to being classed as a Christian was the simple statement, “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
Most Christian denominations make that confession. We can worship where we are happiest
I am proud to be affiliated with any of them.
Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Isa 44:7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them.
Isa 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE
CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE
II Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. But we all, with OPEN FACE beholding as IN A GLASS the GLORY of the Lord, are CHANGED into the SAME IMAGE from GLORY to GLORY, [even] as BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD.
I heard something a few evenings ago that "hit like a ton of bricks". I have been ministering about the Lord wanting us to become OVERCOMERS after we have made our peace with Him. This is a facet of the Christian life that has been, I fear, terribly neglected by Christians in general.
But, as I analyzed the verses, I discovered that there is a secret contained in them, which, if put into practice, will produce outstanding results in our quest for the likeness of Jesus in our lives.
FIRST: The term "OPEN FACE" comes from a word which means "no covering" or "unveiled". Our modern vernacular would be "what you see is what you get"-- we have nothing to hide-- we have no subterfuge, no reservations. This is the BEST way to deal with any person or thing we come in contact with. It is the ONLY way to deal with God.
Other humans might have to guess at our true motives, but GOD KNOWS THEM ALREADY.
NEXT: "BEHOLDING AS IN A GLASS"-- speaks to us of the comparison which can be drawn between HIS HOLINESS and our lack of it. Looking at the GLORY OF THE LORD tells us something about ourselves-- IMMEDIATELY.
Many folks are tempted to give up in despair when they make the comparison between the face of Jesus and themselves. But, here in the Word is the solution and immensely heartening hope for each of us. We CAN become more like Jesus-- in every aspect of our lives. And the process is a relatively simple one--
"BEHOLDING...THE GLORY OF GOD."
What does it mean-- to BEHOLD THE GLORY OF GOD? I can not give a testimony for you, but I know what it means to me. The Christian community has, for the most part, lost the art of WORSHIP to God. We PRAISE HIM in various ways, but praise can NEVER take the place of real heart-felt worship.
David had discovered the formula about a thousand years before Jesus was born. AND IT CHANGED DAVID'S LIFE, just like it will change ours today, if we will do it.
Psalms 27:4 One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.
I Chronicles 29:3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, ----
Third: We are CHANGED into the SAME IMAGE--, from Glory to Glory-- a process that involves TIME and CONCENTRATION.
The word "changed" comes from "Metamorphoo", which is the process by which a caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly. The real meaning is to be transfigured, or transformed.
Fourth: EVEN AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD. Friend, this is the WORK OF GOD. It can not be accomplished by human efforts. Resolutions are futile. Good intentions fall flat.
Education is totally inadequate. Our most noble efforts are exercises in futility.
Spending QUALITY TIME with the Lord (not necessarily FOR the Lord) seems, to me, to be the master key which can make it all happen in our lives.
II Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. But we all, with OPEN FACE beholding as IN A GLASS the GLORY of the Lord, are CHANGED into the SAME IMAGE from GLORY to GLORY, [even] as BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD.
I heard something a few evenings ago that "hit like a ton of bricks". I have been ministering about the Lord wanting us to become OVERCOMERS after we have made our peace with Him. This is a facet of the Christian life that has been, I fear, terribly neglected by Christians in general.
But, as I analyzed the verses, I discovered that there is a secret contained in them, which, if put into practice, will produce outstanding results in our quest for the likeness of Jesus in our lives.
FIRST: The term "OPEN FACE" comes from a word which means "no covering" or "unveiled". Our modern vernacular would be "what you see is what you get"-- we have nothing to hide-- we have no subterfuge, no reservations. This is the BEST way to deal with any person or thing we come in contact with. It is the ONLY way to deal with God.
Other humans might have to guess at our true motives, but GOD KNOWS THEM ALREADY.
NEXT: "BEHOLDING AS IN A GLASS"-- speaks to us of the comparison which can be drawn between HIS HOLINESS and our lack of it. Looking at the GLORY OF THE LORD tells us something about ourselves-- IMMEDIATELY.
Many folks are tempted to give up in despair when they make the comparison between the face of Jesus and themselves. But, here in the Word is the solution and immensely heartening hope for each of us. We CAN become more like Jesus-- in every aspect of our lives. And the process is a relatively simple one--
"BEHOLDING...THE GLORY OF GOD."
What does it mean-- to BEHOLD THE GLORY OF GOD? I can not give a testimony for you, but I know what it means to me. The Christian community has, for the most part, lost the art of WORSHIP to God. We PRAISE HIM in various ways, but praise can NEVER take the place of real heart-felt worship.
David had discovered the formula about a thousand years before Jesus was born. AND IT CHANGED DAVID'S LIFE, just like it will change ours today, if we will do it.
Psalms 27:4 One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.
I Chronicles 29:3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, ----
Third: We are CHANGED into the SAME IMAGE--, from Glory to Glory-- a process that involves TIME and CONCENTRATION.
The word "changed" comes from "Metamorphoo", which is the process by which a caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly. The real meaning is to be transfigured, or transformed.
Fourth: EVEN AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD. Friend, this is the WORK OF GOD. It can not be accomplished by human efforts. Resolutions are futile. Good intentions fall flat.
Education is totally inadequate. Our most noble efforts are exercises in futility.
Spending QUALITY TIME with the Lord (not necessarily FOR the Lord) seems, to me, to be the master key which can make it all happen in our lives.
Friday, April 11, 2008
ATTAINING TO KINGDOM STATURE
ATTAINING TO KINGDOM STATURE
The first thing we need to touch when studying about the Kingdom of God is the fact that it is a condition entirely WITHIN the heart of every individual believer, instead of an earthly government which endures for a thousand years. We must forget about those things that resemble our earthly governments, for, as Jesus said,
“The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold,
the kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU. Luk 17:20-21
IT WILL BE NOTHING LIKE ANY GOVERNMENT WE SEE IN THE WORLD TODAY.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN HAS OR DOES NOT HAVE, DEPENDING ENTIRELY UPON WHAT THE LORD SEES IN THEIR LIFE.
WE EITHER MEET HIS REQUIREMENTS, OR WE DON’T. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OBTAINING, OR MAINTAINING, SALVATION. THAT IS FREE!
Let’s look at a few of the requirements for attaining to Kingdom Stature.
Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as A REFINER AND PURIFIER OF SILVER: and he shall purify the sons of Levi (the He Goats before the flock), and PURGE THEM AS GOLD AND SILVER, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness (rectitude).
Luk 13:24 STRIVE (agonize) to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (those who do whatever feels good to the flesh)
Luk 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the KINGDOM OF GOD, and you yourselves thrust out.
Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation (LIT. pressure) enter into the kingdom of God. (Most of the pressure is from within our own hearts)
Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man PRESSETH into it.
2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought (agonized) a good fight (agony), I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness (equitable character), which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the HIGH calling of God in Christ Jesus.
HIGH CALLING-- Used in a COMPARATIVE sense, contrasted to other levels. The verses following indicate that whatever level of Spiritual Maturity we have attained to, we should walk in that level, regardless of what others are permitted to do.
“OTHERS MAY--- YOU CAN NOT”
Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth (agonizes) for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly (straight for the finish line); so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection (weary it) (make it my slave): lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (unfit for the task at hand, but not necessarily a lost soul)
Phi 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness (EQUITY OF CHARACTER), which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot (morally unblemished), and blameless (in His Sight).
Contrary to popular opinion, ALMOST ALL of the New Testament is dedicated to INSTRUCTIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS for entrance into the Kingdom of God, rather than to SALVATION.
The Sermon on the Mount has been called “THE CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM, because it is primarily instructions about how to conduct our lives AFTER WE ARE SAVED. We have made it A REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION.
Little wonder, then, that people flee from our Churches in fear. We preach a message of CONDEMNATION instead of CONFIDENCE in His Love and Power to Save.
Wasn’t it Jesus who said, “Take my yoke upon you, and LEARN OF ME?” “Ye shall find REST FOR YOUR SOUL.
If my understanding is correct, we DO OUR LEARNING AFTER we have put our trust in Jesus, rather than before. LEARNING IS A PROCESS, NOT AN EXPERIENCE.
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Isa 28:9 Whom shall he TEACH KNOWLEDGE? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
According to the parable of Jesus, the seed that fell on the good ground produced varying results—some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold. See Mar 4:8
The successful life of a Christian, then, is NOT a set of rules and regulations—“do’s and don’ts” but a life of following the teaching of the Holy Ghost in His work of defining the Will of God to each individual, as the Lord pleases.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
It is the WORD OF GOD (the SEED) that produces the increase in our lives. It performs the MIRACLE of TURNING DIRT INTO FRUIT.
2Pe 3:18 But GROW IN GRACE, and in the KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
The “little Sister” who “hath no breasts” (saved, though undeveloped) might not make it into the Kingdom. What a shame. see SONG 8:8
The first thing we need to touch when studying about the Kingdom of God is the fact that it is a condition entirely WITHIN the heart of every individual believer, instead of an earthly government which endures for a thousand years. We must forget about those things that resemble our earthly governments, for, as Jesus said,
“The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold,
the kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU. Luk 17:20-21
IT WILL BE NOTHING LIKE ANY GOVERNMENT WE SEE IN THE WORLD TODAY.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN HAS OR DOES NOT HAVE, DEPENDING ENTIRELY UPON WHAT THE LORD SEES IN THEIR LIFE.
WE EITHER MEET HIS REQUIREMENTS, OR WE DON’T. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OBTAINING, OR MAINTAINING, SALVATION. THAT IS FREE!
Let’s look at a few of the requirements for attaining to Kingdom Stature.
Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as A REFINER AND PURIFIER OF SILVER: and he shall purify the sons of Levi (the He Goats before the flock), and PURGE THEM AS GOLD AND SILVER, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness (rectitude).
Luk 13:24 STRIVE (agonize) to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (those who do whatever feels good to the flesh)
Luk 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the KINGDOM OF GOD, and you yourselves thrust out.
Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation (LIT. pressure) enter into the kingdom of God. (Most of the pressure is from within our own hearts)
Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man PRESSETH into it.
2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought (agonized) a good fight (agony), I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness (equitable character), which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the HIGH calling of God in Christ Jesus.
HIGH CALLING-- Used in a COMPARATIVE sense, contrasted to other levels. The verses following indicate that whatever level of Spiritual Maturity we have attained to, we should walk in that level, regardless of what others are permitted to do.
“OTHERS MAY--- YOU CAN NOT”
Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth (agonizes) for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly (straight for the finish line); so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection (weary it) (make it my slave): lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (unfit for the task at hand, but not necessarily a lost soul)
Phi 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness (EQUITY OF CHARACTER), which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot (morally unblemished), and blameless (in His Sight).
Contrary to popular opinion, ALMOST ALL of the New Testament is dedicated to INSTRUCTIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS for entrance into the Kingdom of God, rather than to SALVATION.
The Sermon on the Mount has been called “THE CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM, because it is primarily instructions about how to conduct our lives AFTER WE ARE SAVED. We have made it A REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION.
Little wonder, then, that people flee from our Churches in fear. We preach a message of CONDEMNATION instead of CONFIDENCE in His Love and Power to Save.
Wasn’t it Jesus who said, “Take my yoke upon you, and LEARN OF ME?” “Ye shall find REST FOR YOUR SOUL.
If my understanding is correct, we DO OUR LEARNING AFTER we have put our trust in Jesus, rather than before. LEARNING IS A PROCESS, NOT AN EXPERIENCE.
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Isa 28:9 Whom shall he TEACH KNOWLEDGE? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
According to the parable of Jesus, the seed that fell on the good ground produced varying results—some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold. See Mar 4:8
The successful life of a Christian, then, is NOT a set of rules and regulations—“do’s and don’ts” but a life of following the teaching of the Holy Ghost in His work of defining the Will of God to each individual, as the Lord pleases.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
It is the WORD OF GOD (the SEED) that produces the increase in our lives. It performs the MIRACLE of TURNING DIRT INTO FRUIT.
2Pe 3:18 But GROW IN GRACE, and in the KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
The “little Sister” who “hath no breasts” (saved, though undeveloped) might not make it into the Kingdom. What a shame. see SONG 8:8
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
THE GREAT TRIBULATION
THE GREAT TRIBULATION
MAT 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Jesus had just finished pronouncing desolation to the nation of Judah, when He made the above declaration to them or about them.
Here is what follows that episode.
MAT 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to [him] for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
MAT 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Those words of Jesus set the stage for a much longer discourse at a later time.
MAT 24:3 ¶ And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The primary concern of Jesus as He talked to them on the Mount of Olives was a warning about letting men deceive them.
MAT 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
THAT IS STILL HIS MAIN CONCERN. It should also be ours.
Let's take a good look at what the Disciples asked Jesus that day.
Tell us, when shall these things be? That was the first portion of a
three-part question. They, being men and not possessing Spiritual
knowledge, THOUGHT they were asking only one question.
The last thing He had told them was about the Temple buildings—that they would be completely demolished. He DID NOT tell them WHEN it would happen, nor WHY it would happen.
40 years would roll by before the prophecy of Jesus would be fulfilled. It would be accomplished by the Roman general Titus in 70 AD. But Jesus gave them no date.
He only said, "Take heed that no man deceive you." He then related some conditions whereby they might have an idea of what was about to happen.
MAT 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
MAT 24:16-21 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For THEN shall be great tribulation, SUCH AS WAS NOT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THIS TIME, NO, NOR EVER SHALL BE.
I readily admit that I do not have all the answers, but I believe I have SOME OF THEM. I also have to admit that I have serious doubts about the validity of most of the answers that are floating around today.
Sounds like Jesus was telling His disciples that the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 AD would be the time of what is called THE GREAT TRIBULATION.
(Remember that Jesus was talking about Jerusalem and the Temple when He mentioned the term "GREAT TRIBULATION"
Now, if this be correct (and I am convinced that it is), how in the world did the GREAT TRIBULATION get shoved clear down into what is considered the LAST DAYS? Who did it, and why? I can tell you, if you are interested.
There are a couple of other scriptures where the words "GREAT
TRIBULATION" are found. But neither scripture mentions the fact that it will be the worst that has ever happened, or ever will happen.
REV 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into GREAT TRIBULATION, except they repent of their deeds
This one is talking about the great Whore that rides on one of the three (wild) Beasts of the Revelation, as it was given to John.
How come she is a whore? What does it mean to be a scriptural whore? It means to have a divided allegiance-- both to the God of the universe, and to the god of this world. Jesus said we CAN NOT serve two masters.
The word "kosmos" is used to denote the World. Its root means "an orderly arrangement", and is definitely referring to secular rulership, (government) which we are all under today if we are a citizen of any country.
TIT 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
The Word teaches us that our CITZENSHIP is in Heaven.
PHI 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
We are given instructions about the relationship we should have toward the affairs of government while we inhabit the earth.
Jesus said for us to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's. We get into trouble when we try to mix the two.
Yet, we should maintain an attitude of being pilgrims and strangers in the world. We are citizens of the "city" that Abraham was looking for.
HEB 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Another mention of GREAT TRIBULATION (Rev 7:1-14) refers to a "great multitude which no man could number" standing before the Throne and giving Glory to God. An angel asked John who they were, and where they came from.
REV 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Again, I submit that I do not have all of the answers, but it would seem to me that GREAT TRIBULATION is an essential element in our Spiritual Development, and is an integral part of becoming an OVERCOMER.
I am of the opinion that the person/s who, for whatever reason, changed the interpretation of the Scriptures, made a mistake.
The Church has seen many periods of intense persecution. But there is ONE such persecution/tribulation which the Word indicates as being the GRAND DADDY TRIBULATION.
That one was identified by Jesus as being what happened at 70 AD., when the Temple was burned. The gold overlay melted and ran into the cracks between the stones. Every stone was separated from all others to retrieve the melted gold.
It indicated that the Law of Ordinances was finished.
Faith in Jesus Christ is all that remains. There simply IS NO OTHER WAY TO APPROACH GOD.
Perhaps in a later issue we will discuss the other two facets of the
question asked by the Disciples on the Mount of Olives. "The sign of Thy coming, and the end of the world.
MAT 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Jesus had just finished pronouncing desolation to the nation of Judah, when He made the above declaration to them or about them.
Here is what follows that episode.
MAT 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to [him] for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
MAT 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Those words of Jesus set the stage for a much longer discourse at a later time.
MAT 24:3 ¶ And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The primary concern of Jesus as He talked to them on the Mount of Olives was a warning about letting men deceive them.
MAT 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
THAT IS STILL HIS MAIN CONCERN. It should also be ours.
Let's take a good look at what the Disciples asked Jesus that day.
Tell us, when shall these things be? That was the first portion of a
three-part question. They, being men and not possessing Spiritual
knowledge, THOUGHT they were asking only one question.
The last thing He had told them was about the Temple buildings—that they would be completely demolished. He DID NOT tell them WHEN it would happen, nor WHY it would happen.
40 years would roll by before the prophecy of Jesus would be fulfilled. It would be accomplished by the Roman general Titus in 70 AD. But Jesus gave them no date.
He only said, "Take heed that no man deceive you." He then related some conditions whereby they might have an idea of what was about to happen.
MAT 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
MAT 24:16-21 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For THEN shall be great tribulation, SUCH AS WAS NOT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THIS TIME, NO, NOR EVER SHALL BE.
I readily admit that I do not have all the answers, but I believe I have SOME OF THEM. I also have to admit that I have serious doubts about the validity of most of the answers that are floating around today.
Sounds like Jesus was telling His disciples that the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 AD would be the time of what is called THE GREAT TRIBULATION.
(Remember that Jesus was talking about Jerusalem and the Temple when He mentioned the term "GREAT TRIBULATION"
Now, if this be correct (and I am convinced that it is), how in the world did the GREAT TRIBULATION get shoved clear down into what is considered the LAST DAYS? Who did it, and why? I can tell you, if you are interested.
There are a couple of other scriptures where the words "GREAT
TRIBULATION" are found. But neither scripture mentions the fact that it will be the worst that has ever happened, or ever will happen.
REV 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into GREAT TRIBULATION, except they repent of their deeds
This one is talking about the great Whore that rides on one of the three (wild) Beasts of the Revelation, as it was given to John.
How come she is a whore? What does it mean to be a scriptural whore? It means to have a divided allegiance-- both to the God of the universe, and to the god of this world. Jesus said we CAN NOT serve two masters.
The word "kosmos" is used to denote the World. Its root means "an orderly arrangement", and is definitely referring to secular rulership, (government) which we are all under today if we are a citizen of any country.
TIT 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
The Word teaches us that our CITZENSHIP is in Heaven.
PHI 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
We are given instructions about the relationship we should have toward the affairs of government while we inhabit the earth.
Jesus said for us to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's. We get into trouble when we try to mix the two.
Yet, we should maintain an attitude of being pilgrims and strangers in the world. We are citizens of the "city" that Abraham was looking for.
HEB 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Another mention of GREAT TRIBULATION (Rev 7:1-14) refers to a "great multitude which no man could number" standing before the Throne and giving Glory to God. An angel asked John who they were, and where they came from.
REV 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Again, I submit that I do not have all of the answers, but it would seem to me that GREAT TRIBULATION is an essential element in our Spiritual Development, and is an integral part of becoming an OVERCOMER.
I am of the opinion that the person/s who, for whatever reason, changed the interpretation of the Scriptures, made a mistake.
The Church has seen many periods of intense persecution. But there is ONE such persecution/tribulation which the Word indicates as being the GRAND DADDY TRIBULATION.
That one was identified by Jesus as being what happened at 70 AD., when the Temple was burned. The gold overlay melted and ran into the cracks between the stones. Every stone was separated from all others to retrieve the melted gold.
It indicated that the Law of Ordinances was finished.
Faith in Jesus Christ is all that remains. There simply IS NO OTHER WAY TO APPROACH GOD.
Perhaps in a later issue we will discuss the other two facets of the
question asked by the Disciples on the Mount of Olives. "The sign of Thy coming, and the end of the world.
Monday, April 07, 2008
THE GLORY
THE GLORY
There is an interesting story to be gleaned from the book of Ezekiel, if we take the time to search it out. It concerns the Glory of God, which was, at times visible to the eyes of men, as we read in Exodus 24:17-And the sight of the glory of the LORD [was] like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
God used this visible "Glory" to keep the children of Israel in line while in the wilderness. It "scared the daylights" out of them when it appeared at the door of the Tabernacle. Twice in two days, it stopped them from lynching Moses and his family.
Num 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
Num 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
Num 16:42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.
It also served as a protection for them in the wilderness, in the form of a cloud by day, from the blistering sun, and a pillar of fire by night, from the cold, and other enemies.
It appeared at the dedication of Solomon's Temple as a thick cloud like smoke, stopping the priests from going in to perform their duties. It was perceived as a blessing and an approval from God. Ezekiel's story follows this theme through his prophecy. Let' follow it through its journey. We start at the river Chebar.
Ezekiel 3:15 Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
Next stop is on the plain.
Ezekiel 3:23 Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.
All aboard for Jerusalem, where we see some strange sights. Jerusalem is a picture of the Church today.
Ezekiel 8:3 And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where [was] the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. ((ContemporaryEnglishVersion) where there was an idol that disgusted the LORD and made him furious.)
And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel [was] there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
Ezekiel 8:6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? [even] the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, THAT I SHOULD GO FAR OFF FROM MY SANCTUARY? but turn thee yet again, [and] thou shalt see greater abominations.
Ezekiel 9:3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. [and stood] over the threshold of the house; Ezekiel 10:18 Then the glory of the LORD DEPARTED FROM OFF THE THRESHOLD of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
Ezekiel 10:19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: WHEN THEY WENT OUT, the wheels also [were] beside them, and [every one] stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel [was] over them above.
Ezekiel 11:23 And the GLORY OF THE LORD WENT UP FROM THE MIDST OF THE CITY, and stood upon the mountain which [is] on the east side of the city.
What a sad commentary. Because of the sins and idolatry of God's people, the Glory of God was driven from its place, from the SANCTUARY, from the THRESHOLD of His House--even from the MIDST OF HIS CITY. It left by degrees--hoping that the people would sense its departure, and stop their wickedness. THEY DID NOT.
A British Evangelist told us some time ago that we had driven God from His Sanctuary, and set up in His place the idol of entertainment. Can this be true?
I am afraid it is so.
Happily, the story doesn't stop there. There is a group known as the heathen who are being ministered to by the Glory of God.
Ezekiel 39:21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
The good news is that in God's time, the Glory shall again be set in the midst of His people, but not until there has been a THOROUGH REPENTANCE FROM SIN AND IDOLATRY.
Listen to Eze 43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice [was] like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. Ezekiel 43:4 AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD CAME INTO THE HOUSE BY THE WAY OF THE GATE WHOSE PROSPECT [IS] TOWARD THE EAST.
Yes, there is a real restoration coming to the Church. GOD'S GLORY SHALL FILL HIS HOUSE.
Ezekiel 43:5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE HOUSE.
Ezekiel 44:4 Then brought he me the way of the north gate, and, behold, THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE HOUSE OF THE LORD: and I fell upon my face.
A CHANGE OF RAIMENT
Pearl Fretwell
All of us, when we are expecting company, if we are not dressed properly, change our clothes (raiment).
When Joseph was called from the dungeon to stand before the king, he shaved himself and changed his raiment.
Joseph had a god-given ability to interpret dreams; and the king had dreamed a dream, and was troubled, for he understood it not. Genesis 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved [himself], and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and [there is] none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, [that] thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, [It is] not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
It was not to receive honor nor glory, that he shaved and changed his raiment; it was the right thing to do.
As you look at the title of this article "A Change of Raiment", may the realization fall upon you and me-- that when we are called to stand before the Lord; the King of kings, Lord of lords, Almighty, Holy, Omnipotent God-- would it be proper and right to come before Him in our own righteousness, which is as filthy rags in His sight? Or in garments spotted by the "flesh" referred to in Jude 23? Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Most certainly not! We want to appear before Him in white garments, pure and clean; washed in the blood of the Lamb-- cleansed by the washing of water by the Word.
Hear what the Word says in Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth [to me]. And he divided unto them [his] living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
See also John 3:5,6 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Philippians 3:20,21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Zechariah 3:4,5 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
This is a pre-vision of the Atonement of Christ. Joshua the High Priest is clothed in filthy garments, symbolizing the sinfulness of the people. Joshua's filthy garments are removed, meaning that the people's sins are forgiven and they are accepted of God. It is a picture of the time when the sins of mankind would be removed "in one day", as the coming "branch" in David's house (the Messiah) is pierced, and a fountain for sin is opened.
Zechariah 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Zechariah 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
Our High Priest today is Jesus. There must come a change of raiment for us-- a change of heart-- a change of character-- a change in conduct. We have come to Jesus (our High Priest) for the removal of our sins. It is not optional-- it is essential, for only the High Priest could mediate. Now the Mediator between God and man is Christ Jesus.
Therefore, let all who will, whosoever will, come, and ask for the removal of their sins. Give Him your old tattered garment of sin and self righteousness; the garments spotted by the flesh.
He will give you a robe of pure white-- which He alone can give. He will put a ring (of betrothal) on your finger, and there will be a new hope, a new desire spring up within you-- FOR NOW. You will know you are accepted of Him-- Jesus our Lord.
There is an interesting story to be gleaned from the book of Ezekiel, if we take the time to search it out. It concerns the Glory of God, which was, at times visible to the eyes of men, as we read in Exodus 24:17-And the sight of the glory of the LORD [was] like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
God used this visible "Glory" to keep the children of Israel in line while in the wilderness. It "scared the daylights" out of them when it appeared at the door of the Tabernacle. Twice in two days, it stopped them from lynching Moses and his family.
Num 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
Num 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
Num 16:42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.
It also served as a protection for them in the wilderness, in the form of a cloud by day, from the blistering sun, and a pillar of fire by night, from the cold, and other enemies.
It appeared at the dedication of Solomon's Temple as a thick cloud like smoke, stopping the priests from going in to perform their duties. It was perceived as a blessing and an approval from God. Ezekiel's story follows this theme through his prophecy. Let' follow it through its journey. We start at the river Chebar.
Ezekiel 3:15 Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
Next stop is on the plain.
Ezekiel 3:23 Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.
All aboard for Jerusalem, where we see some strange sights. Jerusalem is a picture of the Church today.
Ezekiel 8:3 And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where [was] the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. ((ContemporaryEnglishVersion) where there was an idol that disgusted the LORD and made him furious.)
And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel [was] there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
Ezekiel 8:6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? [even] the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, THAT I SHOULD GO FAR OFF FROM MY SANCTUARY? but turn thee yet again, [and] thou shalt see greater abominations.
Ezekiel 9:3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. [and stood] over the threshold of the house; Ezekiel 10:18 Then the glory of the LORD DEPARTED FROM OFF THE THRESHOLD of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
Ezekiel 10:19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: WHEN THEY WENT OUT, the wheels also [were] beside them, and [every one] stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel [was] over them above.
Ezekiel 11:23 And the GLORY OF THE LORD WENT UP FROM THE MIDST OF THE CITY, and stood upon the mountain which [is] on the east side of the city.
What a sad commentary. Because of the sins and idolatry of God's people, the Glory of God was driven from its place, from the SANCTUARY, from the THRESHOLD of His House--even from the MIDST OF HIS CITY. It left by degrees--hoping that the people would sense its departure, and stop their wickedness. THEY DID NOT.
A British Evangelist told us some time ago that we had driven God from His Sanctuary, and set up in His place the idol of entertainment. Can this be true?
I am afraid it is so.
Happily, the story doesn't stop there. There is a group known as the heathen who are being ministered to by the Glory of God.
Ezekiel 39:21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
The good news is that in God's time, the Glory shall again be set in the midst of His people, but not until there has been a THOROUGH REPENTANCE FROM SIN AND IDOLATRY.
Listen to Eze 43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice [was] like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. Ezekiel 43:4 AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD CAME INTO THE HOUSE BY THE WAY OF THE GATE WHOSE PROSPECT [IS] TOWARD THE EAST.
Yes, there is a real restoration coming to the Church. GOD'S GLORY SHALL FILL HIS HOUSE.
Ezekiel 43:5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE HOUSE.
Ezekiel 44:4 Then brought he me the way of the north gate, and, behold, THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE HOUSE OF THE LORD: and I fell upon my face.
A CHANGE OF RAIMENT
Pearl Fretwell
All of us, when we are expecting company, if we are not dressed properly, change our clothes (raiment).
When Joseph was called from the dungeon to stand before the king, he shaved himself and changed his raiment.
Joseph had a god-given ability to interpret dreams; and the king had dreamed a dream, and was troubled, for he understood it not. Genesis 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved [himself], and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and [there is] none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, [that] thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, [It is] not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
It was not to receive honor nor glory, that he shaved and changed his raiment; it was the right thing to do.
As you look at the title of this article "A Change of Raiment", may the realization fall upon you and me-- that when we are called to stand before the Lord; the King of kings, Lord of lords, Almighty, Holy, Omnipotent God-- would it be proper and right to come before Him in our own righteousness, which is as filthy rags in His sight? Or in garments spotted by the "flesh" referred to in Jude 23? Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Most certainly not! We want to appear before Him in white garments, pure and clean; washed in the blood of the Lamb-- cleansed by the washing of water by the Word.
Hear what the Word says in Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth [to me]. And he divided unto them [his] living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
See also John 3:5,6 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Philippians 3:20,21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Zechariah 3:4,5 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
This is a pre-vision of the Atonement of Christ. Joshua the High Priest is clothed in filthy garments, symbolizing the sinfulness of the people. Joshua's filthy garments are removed, meaning that the people's sins are forgiven and they are accepted of God. It is a picture of the time when the sins of mankind would be removed "in one day", as the coming "branch" in David's house (the Messiah) is pierced, and a fountain for sin is opened.
Zechariah 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Zechariah 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
Our High Priest today is Jesus. There must come a change of raiment for us-- a change of heart-- a change of character-- a change in conduct. We have come to Jesus (our High Priest) for the removal of our sins. It is not optional-- it is essential, for only the High Priest could mediate. Now the Mediator between God and man is Christ Jesus.
Therefore, let all who will, whosoever will, come, and ask for the removal of their sins. Give Him your old tattered garment of sin and self righteousness; the garments spotted by the flesh.
He will give you a robe of pure white-- which He alone can give. He will put a ring (of betrothal) on your finger, and there will be a new hope, a new desire spring up within you-- FOR NOW. You will know you are accepted of Him-- Jesus our Lord.
THE FIRST FIRE
THE FIRST FIRE
The first fire on the Brazen Altar, that is. You will recall that the Lord had taken great pains to fully instruct Moses and the people about how the sacrifices were to be conducted, and the ceremonies of the Tabernacle were to be performed.
Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.
For many years, I had not been aware that the fire on the brazen altar was NOT ORDINARY FIRE. It was not, by any means. True, it LOOKED just like other fire, and normally ACTED like other fire, but that is where the similarity stopped. IT WAS ETERNAL FIRE. IT WAS GOD’S FIRE. Have you ever considered just how long it would take to BURN the carcase of an animal, using ORDINARY fire? Stop, and think about it.
No, the fire on the Altar was a special fire. The Bible tells us, Leviticus 9:24 AND THERE CAME A FIRE OUT FROM BEFORE THE LORD, AND CONSUMED UPON THE ALTAR THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE FAT: [which] when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
God started that fire, but there were certain rules that Moses and Aaron must observe in the CARE of that fire.
Leviticus 6:12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall BURN WOOD on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall EVER BE BURNING UPON THE ALTAR; IT SHALL NEVER GO OUT.
That command created a problem of fuel supply. THAT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN-- to keep the fire burning on the Altar. This speaks volumes to me.
We must DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep the Fire of God burning in our souls.
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
THREE MAIN ELEMENTS make up the FUEL for the FIRE OF GOD in our souls. They are: The WORD (Rhema) of God, PRAYER and OBEDIENCE to the Spirit.
I used the term "Rhema" instead of "Logos" because the Logos is not always the Rhema to us. Rhema is the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (Eph 6:17). Rhema is the WORD OF FAITH (Rom 10:8,17which we preach). Rhema is the WORD OF CREATION, (Heb 11:3) which we can understand through faith.
God gave a demonstration of what that fire COULD do when Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. I Kings 18:24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
I Kings 18:37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou [art] the LORD God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and CONSUMED the burnt SACRIFICE, and the WOOD, and the STONES, and the DUST, and LICKED UP the WATER that [was] in the trench.
Two of the sons of Aaron broke the rules of worship by taking ordinary (strange) fire to burn incense before the Lord, instead of getting their (eternal) fire from the Altar. The cost of that mistake was sudden death by the same CONSUMING fire that had been put on the altar.
Leviticus 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
I am wondering-- Is God concerned about our mode of worship today? What do you think?
The first fire on the Brazen Altar, that is. You will recall that the Lord had taken great pains to fully instruct Moses and the people about how the sacrifices were to be conducted, and the ceremonies of the Tabernacle were to be performed.
Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.
For many years, I had not been aware that the fire on the brazen altar was NOT ORDINARY FIRE. It was not, by any means. True, it LOOKED just like other fire, and normally ACTED like other fire, but that is where the similarity stopped. IT WAS ETERNAL FIRE. IT WAS GOD’S FIRE. Have you ever considered just how long it would take to BURN the carcase of an animal, using ORDINARY fire? Stop, and think about it.
No, the fire on the Altar was a special fire. The Bible tells us, Leviticus 9:24 AND THERE CAME A FIRE OUT FROM BEFORE THE LORD, AND CONSUMED UPON THE ALTAR THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE FAT: [which] when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
God started that fire, but there were certain rules that Moses and Aaron must observe in the CARE of that fire.
Leviticus 6:12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall BURN WOOD on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall EVER BE BURNING UPON THE ALTAR; IT SHALL NEVER GO OUT.
That command created a problem of fuel supply. THAT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN-- to keep the fire burning on the Altar. This speaks volumes to me.
We must DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep the Fire of God burning in our souls.
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
THREE MAIN ELEMENTS make up the FUEL for the FIRE OF GOD in our souls. They are: The WORD (Rhema) of God, PRAYER and OBEDIENCE to the Spirit.
I used the term "Rhema" instead of "Logos" because the Logos is not always the Rhema to us. Rhema is the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (Eph 6:17). Rhema is the WORD OF FAITH (Rom 10:8,17which we preach). Rhema is the WORD OF CREATION, (Heb 11:3) which we can understand through faith.
God gave a demonstration of what that fire COULD do when Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. I Kings 18:24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
I Kings 18:37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou [art] the LORD God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and CONSUMED the burnt SACRIFICE, and the WOOD, and the STONES, and the DUST, and LICKED UP the WATER that [was] in the trench.
Two of the sons of Aaron broke the rules of worship by taking ordinary (strange) fire to burn incense before the Lord, instead of getting their (eternal) fire from the Altar. The cost of that mistake was sudden death by the same CONSUMING fire that had been put on the altar.
Leviticus 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
I am wondering-- Is God concerned about our mode of worship today? What do you think?
Sunday, April 06, 2008
IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE
IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE
Back in Sept of 99 someone asked me via e-mail to explain something in more detail. Here is my answer to them.
You asked me to explain 1Cor 15:52-- especially "in the twinkling of an eye."
I Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
In my humble opinion, and I know I am off the beaten path of interpretation, this scripture is speaking of the "Manifestation of the Sons of God", rather than what has been erroneously called "The Rapture of the Church".
Bible scholars have mistakenly dumped several Biblical events into one bowl, and mixed them together, creating a teaching which has led us out into a swamp of error.
But, this doesn't discourage the Lord. He will do it exactly like He planned to do it from the beginning. His actions will catch the Church world off guard, for the most part, because they have believed a falsehood which they, themselves, have created.
It is MY OPINION that we have failed to correctly interpret
I Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the CLOUDS, to meet the Lord in the AIR: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The word "clouds" and "air" hold the key to a proper understanding of what is going to happen "in the twinkling of an eye".
If you will get all the scriptures together which have the word "cloud/s" in them-- you will soon see a pattern emerge which will surprise you. You will soon discover that in many cases it is talking about a SPIRITUAL phenomenon, and has nothing to do with the white vapors in the sky.
Then, if you will let the Bible speak its own language, you will also find that the ONLY Scriptural definition of "air" is that it is the "spiritual realm in which satan operates". He is called Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
In my opinion, the "twinkling of an eye" denotes the sudden change which is destined to take place in the beings of a people who are now meeting the requirements of God for their own individual lives, and are among what He calls the "OVERCOMERS". It is NOT FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN, as we have been taught. Neither is the CHANGE necessarily a PHYSICAL change, but one in our Spiritual being.
We are each laden with a horrible load of what I call the spirit of MAN. This spirit of MAN is contrary to God, and keeps us from obeying the Spirit of God-- in the degree that it has not been subdued by our seeking God for His Spiritual guidance every day. But, there is a degree of Spiritual victory which will meet God's approval, and we can be classed as OVERCOMERS in His sight.
These OVERCOMERS are the ones who will experience this CHANGE, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE. The CHANGE will be the impartation of COMPLETE VICTORY over the spirit of MAN, and an ability to KNOW, DISCERN, AND DO the complete will of God.
The CHANGE will impart an ANOINTING very nearly duplicating the ANOINTING which was given to JESUS at the River Jordan, when "THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED TO HIM." Jesus could then "SEE INTO THE HEAVENS", and could do the COMPLETE will of God on earth.
At Jordan, Jesus was 30 years old, and had to be "ADOPTED" as a SON of either Joseph the carpenter, or the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE. The "adoption" process consisted of a young man being "placed as a son" in the household business. Must it be Joseph, or will it be the Lord?
The God of the Universe stepped forward, and audibly claimed Jesus as his "adopted son" (full partner in the business) as soon as John had baptized him. It was a "SUDDEN TRANSITION". Jesus did not experience any PHYSICAL CHANGE. It was a Spiritual transition.
Those Christians who are alive when the "time for adoption" arrives, and are in GOD'S GROUP OF OVERCOMERS will have a similar experience-- instantly-- of the Heavenly realms being opened to them, and a MIRACULOUS CHANGE taking place in their spirit being.
There is more on the subject, but this is getting too lengthy, so I will stop here. More, if you like, later
Back in Sept of 99 someone asked me via e-mail to explain something in more detail. Here is my answer to them.
You asked me to explain 1Cor 15:52-- especially "in the twinkling of an eye."
I Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
In my humble opinion, and I know I am off the beaten path of interpretation, this scripture is speaking of the "Manifestation of the Sons of God", rather than what has been erroneously called "The Rapture of the Church".
Bible scholars have mistakenly dumped several Biblical events into one bowl, and mixed them together, creating a teaching which has led us out into a swamp of error.
But, this doesn't discourage the Lord. He will do it exactly like He planned to do it from the beginning. His actions will catch the Church world off guard, for the most part, because they have believed a falsehood which they, themselves, have created.
It is MY OPINION that we have failed to correctly interpret
I Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the CLOUDS, to meet the Lord in the AIR: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The word "clouds" and "air" hold the key to a proper understanding of what is going to happen "in the twinkling of an eye".
If you will get all the scriptures together which have the word "cloud/s" in them-- you will soon see a pattern emerge which will surprise you. You will soon discover that in many cases it is talking about a SPIRITUAL phenomenon, and has nothing to do with the white vapors in the sky.
Then, if you will let the Bible speak its own language, you will also find that the ONLY Scriptural definition of "air" is that it is the "spiritual realm in which satan operates". He is called Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
In my opinion, the "twinkling of an eye" denotes the sudden change which is destined to take place in the beings of a people who are now meeting the requirements of God for their own individual lives, and are among what He calls the "OVERCOMERS". It is NOT FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN, as we have been taught. Neither is the CHANGE necessarily a PHYSICAL change, but one in our Spiritual being.
We are each laden with a horrible load of what I call the spirit of MAN. This spirit of MAN is contrary to God, and keeps us from obeying the Spirit of God-- in the degree that it has not been subdued by our seeking God for His Spiritual guidance every day. But, there is a degree of Spiritual victory which will meet God's approval, and we can be classed as OVERCOMERS in His sight.
These OVERCOMERS are the ones who will experience this CHANGE, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE. The CHANGE will be the impartation of COMPLETE VICTORY over the spirit of MAN, and an ability to KNOW, DISCERN, AND DO the complete will of God.
The CHANGE will impart an ANOINTING very nearly duplicating the ANOINTING which was given to JESUS at the River Jordan, when "THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED TO HIM." Jesus could then "SEE INTO THE HEAVENS", and could do the COMPLETE will of God on earth.
At Jordan, Jesus was 30 years old, and had to be "ADOPTED" as a SON of either Joseph the carpenter, or the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE. The "adoption" process consisted of a young man being "placed as a son" in the household business. Must it be Joseph, or will it be the Lord?
The God of the Universe stepped forward, and audibly claimed Jesus as his "adopted son" (full partner in the business) as soon as John had baptized him. It was a "SUDDEN TRANSITION". Jesus did not experience any PHYSICAL CHANGE. It was a Spiritual transition.
Those Christians who are alive when the "time for adoption" arrives, and are in GOD'S GROUP OF OVERCOMERS will have a similar experience-- instantly-- of the Heavenly realms being opened to them, and a MIRACULOUS CHANGE taking place in their spirit being.
There is more on the subject, but this is getting too lengthy, so I will stop here. More, if you like, later
Friday, April 04, 2008
OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE
AUGUST 2005
OUR GOD IS A COMSUMING FIRE
One evening, a few nights ago, Pearl and I were in a service at the church, when, as clear as a bell, the words came to me, "For our God [is] a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:29
I do not remember the circumstances that might have prompted me to think of that scripture, but I have learned that these things do not just happen without a purpose. It seems that something I had unwittingly said in another public service had made such an impact on one or more individuals as to drastically change the course of their thinking-- for their good. I had not known about it until much later. But, it had re-enforced the conviction that we can do so much more good when we allow the Spirit to "prompt" us in speaking what we are given for any particular situation. That occasion had been one of those times, and I had forgotten about it altogether. Other people had not forgotten, for it had impacted their lives.
The statement, "Our God is a Consuming Fire" comes near the end of the letter written to the Hebrew people, and seems to be the summation of the entire letter. It was written to a people who were enduring much severe persecution for their faith in Jesus, rather than the ceremonies and restrictions of the Law of Moses-- especially the "modern" interpretations of the Law. The persecution was so severe as to cause some of the Hebrew Christians to turn back and return to the Law and traditions of the elders. It involved a ceremony in which they publicly denounced the Blood of Jesus and the Grace of God.
The writer of the epistle called that ceremony Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? Then, a couple of verses down, he writes, Hebrews 10:31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
In other words, "Be very careful what you do when in times of stress or distress, for-- Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Moses used the term "Consuming Fire" in Deut 4:21-24 when urging the Hebrews to be very careful in their walk with the Lord. In fact, the Lord used His Glory (which was like a Devouring fire Ex 24:17) to subdue rebellion and anarchy in the camp of Israel in the wilderness. See Numbers 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with
stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. Numbers 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation. Numbers 16:42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.
In the Hebrews letter, they are urged to listen carefully to what God is saying to them, for it is dangerous to let his voice fall on Spiritually deaf ears.
• Hebrews 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God [is] a consuming fire.
OUR GOD IS A COMSUMING FIRE
One evening, a few nights ago, Pearl and I were in a service at the church, when, as clear as a bell, the words came to me, "For our God [is] a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:29
I do not remember the circumstances that might have prompted me to think of that scripture, but I have learned that these things do not just happen without a purpose. It seems that something I had unwittingly said in another public service had made such an impact on one or more individuals as to drastically change the course of their thinking-- for their good. I had not known about it until much later. But, it had re-enforced the conviction that we can do so much more good when we allow the Spirit to "prompt" us in speaking what we are given for any particular situation. That occasion had been one of those times, and I had forgotten about it altogether. Other people had not forgotten, for it had impacted their lives.
The statement, "Our God is a Consuming Fire" comes near the end of the letter written to the Hebrew people, and seems to be the summation of the entire letter. It was written to a people who were enduring much severe persecution for their faith in Jesus, rather than the ceremonies and restrictions of the Law of Moses-- especially the "modern" interpretations of the Law. The persecution was so severe as to cause some of the Hebrew Christians to turn back and return to the Law and traditions of the elders. It involved a ceremony in which they publicly denounced the Blood of Jesus and the Grace of God.
The writer of the epistle called that ceremony Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? Then, a couple of verses down, he writes, Hebrews 10:31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
In other words, "Be very careful what you do when in times of stress or distress, for-- Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Moses used the term "Consuming Fire" in Deut 4:21-24 when urging the Hebrews to be very careful in their walk with the Lord. In fact, the Lord used His Glory (which was like a Devouring fire Ex 24:17) to subdue rebellion and anarchy in the camp of Israel in the wilderness. See Numbers 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with
stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. Numbers 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation. Numbers 16:42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.
In the Hebrews letter, they are urged to listen carefully to what God is saying to them, for it is dangerous to let his voice fall on Spiritually deaf ears.
• Hebrews 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God [is] a consuming fire.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
THE STONE CUT OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN
THE STONE CUT OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN
In the year 606 BC., The King of Babylon attacked and conquered Judah and Jerusalem. He took many captives to Babylon. Among them were some prime young Jewish men. Four of these young men came into close contact with the king during the time they were there. They were used of God to frustrate the king, and also to show him who was actually in control of the earth. Ancient Babylon is the present location of Iraq.
It is interesting to see what happened when ancient governments came into contact with the people of the Living God. Unusual things began to happen almost immediately.
Dan 2:1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep broke from him.
You are probably familiar with the story of how the king called for the wisest men of the kingdom to tell him what the dreams meant. When they faltered, he ordered them to be killed. (The Chaldeans were a cruel people). Daniel, who was one of the “wise men”, pleaded for more time. He was confident that his God would not fail him.
Dan 2:16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
He found the other three young Jewish men (Shadrack Meshack and Abednego), and they went to prayer.
Dan 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel
in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel returned to the king, and was able to recite before him the exact dream he had dreamed. He also had the interpretation of the dream.
That dream, with its interpretation, reaches down through the corridors of time, lo, these many years, to the time in which we are living today.
It is the pre-recorded history of the four (4) world-wide Gentile kingdoms that have dominated the world for over two and a half millennia. No one knows how much longer it may continue.
But please note that there were only four (4) kingdoms permitted before the Lord grinds them to powder and the wind blows them away.
If Communism, New age, Moslem, Buddha or any other form of government/religion were to aspire to world domination, they would come to naught, for God only provided for four (4) before He does what He is planning to do.
God is definitely NOT “PLAYING BY EAR”. He is not influenced by what might appear to be standing in His way to oppose Him. He has no “plan B” that He might need to resort to. Plan A will get the job done ON TIME. He has the resources and the know-how, plus the Will to do it.
Dan 2:31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. (dreadful) 2:32 This image's head was of fine gold, (Babylonian) his breast and his arms of silver (Medo-Persian), his belly and his thighs of brass (Greek),
Dan 2:33 His legs of iron (Roman), his feet part of iron and part of clay (Holy Roman). (Apostate religion) 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his FEET that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces. 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, THAT NO PLACE WAS FOUND FOR THEM: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH. 2:44 And in the DAYS OF THESE KINGS shall the GOD OF HEAVEN set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and IT SHALL STAND FOREVER.
Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain WITHOUT HANDS, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: AND THE DREAM IS CERTAIN, AND THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF SURE.
When I was a young man, I automatically thought that this portion of scripture was referring to Heaven, or at least the Millennium in the New Jerusalem. That was as far as our “light” would shine for us to see.
Out in the dimness, beyond the scope of our “light”, we could only “see” what we had been told was out there. Antichrist, great tribulation, mark of the beast, one-world government, cashless society, Common Market, Revived Roman Empire etc. etc. was all there was out beyond our “light”. It was murky, to say the least, and very few “pretended” to know a great deal about it.
Lately, there seems to be many who consider themselves to be experts in the knowledge of what will happen in the near future. Problem is, they all seem to know what WE should be doing TO CAUSE it to happen.
As soon as they suggest that we “fall in line” behind them, or that we send money to finance what they are promoting, I back away, for I KNOW THEY HAVE NOT HEARD FROM GOD, AND IT WILL NOT WORK.
The Bible tells us plainly how it is going to happen. The “hands of man” will have nothing to do with it. Nothing, that is, except to probably try to stop it for fear that it is “not of God.”
Dan 2:44 And in the DAYS OF THESE KINGS shall the GOD OF HEAVEN set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and IT SHALL STAND FOREVER.
Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain WITHOUT HANDS, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter….
THINK OF IT! No government, no religion, no economy, nor any military machine will escape the “breaking to pieces and becoming like the chaff of the threshing floor, and being blown away by the wind” when God “makes bare His Holy Arm” (Isa 52:10)
The “STONE” cut out of the mountain is none other than the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD--- the NEW JERUSALEM which is being built before our wondering eyes right now by the Spirit of God—without the hands of man. The OVERCOMERS, if you please.
After crushing and destroying “Babylon”, the stone (Church) goes on and completely fills the earth. “…and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. …” (Dan 2:35)
Like leaven, which penetrates to every molecule of the dough.
We are serving a BIG GOD!
I can not forgive the sins of anyone. I can not give anyone the Holy Ghost. I can not impart Faith to anyone. I can not make any of my fellow believers into Overcomers. Only God can do those things.
But, I CAN, like Abraham of old, BELIEVE that what God has promised, He is able to perform. I can BELIEVE and OBEY His Commands.
***********************************
(Following is an email answer to a question asked by a man who had read one of my articles on the InterNet.)
Dear Brother:
You wrote, << "First, I must disagree with your assertion that the Holy Ghost withdrew Himself from the body of Christ (sic) at the same moment he drew His final breath." >>>
(My answer)
Sorry, but you are not the only one who misunderstood what I was meaning to say. There have been others also.
I believe there was some reason for the anguished cry on the cross, "My God, My God, Why has Thou forsaken me?" Who was calling to whom? What had happened?
Between Jordan and Calvary, Jesus acted as the Anointed of the Lord. He had a FULL ANOINTING for those 3 1/2 years. It was that FULL ANOINTING which was taken from Him just PRIOR to death. That, coupled with the burden of the sins of the world produced the anguished cry.
You, and others, have questioned me about the Holy Ghost leaving AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH. I sure did leave that one open for misunderstanding. I should have written, "Before Jesus gave up the ghost, He was stripped of the special anointing given Him at Jordan, and the sins of the world were laid upon Him."
My understanding of JUSTIFICATION is such that Jesus could not be INNOCENT and GUILTY at the same time. He was nailed to the cross in total, absolute innocence. After God smote him on the cross, he was total and absolute GUILT. His innocence was to be made available to us, just as our guilt had been laid upon Him. There is no fence-straddling. We are either guilty or innocent-- not both at the same time.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him STRICKEN, SMITTEN OF GOD, AND AFFLICTED.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.
We ran into a teaching similar to your thoughts in the forties. It was widely held by the PAofJC brethren that God, Himself, died on the cross. They would not admit it to be so, but the belief was widespread at the time.
You asked about when the Anointing of Christ returned to Jesus. At the time of the resurrection. Acts 13:30 But God raised him from the dead: Acts 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE.
Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that GOD HATH MADE THAT SAME JESUS, whom ye have crucified, BOTH LORD AND CHRIST.
Bro. Evans, I really do appreciate your letter. You show a real Christian attitude. I also appreciate your concern about your belief that I have "bought in" to error.
Most of the difficulty has come from me not realizing that other folks may not know where I'm coming from in some of the expressions I use. I Pastored one Church for 23 years (the last one before I had to change my Ministry because of deafness), and had taught the people so well that they could "read" me when I spoke to them. You didn't have the privilege of sitting under such a wonderful Ministry. :-)
Christian Love
Marion
In the year 606 BC., The King of Babylon attacked and conquered Judah and Jerusalem. He took many captives to Babylon. Among them were some prime young Jewish men. Four of these young men came into close contact with the king during the time they were there. They were used of God to frustrate the king, and also to show him who was actually in control of the earth. Ancient Babylon is the present location of Iraq.
It is interesting to see what happened when ancient governments came into contact with the people of the Living God. Unusual things began to happen almost immediately.
Dan 2:1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep broke from him.
You are probably familiar with the story of how the king called for the wisest men of the kingdom to tell him what the dreams meant. When they faltered, he ordered them to be killed. (The Chaldeans were a cruel people). Daniel, who was one of the “wise men”, pleaded for more time. He was confident that his God would not fail him.
Dan 2:16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
He found the other three young Jewish men (Shadrack Meshack and Abednego), and they went to prayer.
Dan 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel
in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel returned to the king, and was able to recite before him the exact dream he had dreamed. He also had the interpretation of the dream.
That dream, with its interpretation, reaches down through the corridors of time, lo, these many years, to the time in which we are living today.
It is the pre-recorded history of the four (4) world-wide Gentile kingdoms that have dominated the world for over two and a half millennia. No one knows how much longer it may continue.
But please note that there were only four (4) kingdoms permitted before the Lord grinds them to powder and the wind blows them away.
If Communism, New age, Moslem, Buddha or any other form of government/religion were to aspire to world domination, they would come to naught, for God only provided for four (4) before He does what He is planning to do.
God is definitely NOT “PLAYING BY EAR”. He is not influenced by what might appear to be standing in His way to oppose Him. He has no “plan B” that He might need to resort to. Plan A will get the job done ON TIME. He has the resources and the know-how, plus the Will to do it.
Dan 2:31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. (dreadful) 2:32 This image's head was of fine gold, (Babylonian) his breast and his arms of silver (Medo-Persian), his belly and his thighs of brass (Greek),
Dan 2:33 His legs of iron (Roman), his feet part of iron and part of clay (Holy Roman). (Apostate religion) 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his FEET that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces. 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, THAT NO PLACE WAS FOUND FOR THEM: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH. 2:44 And in the DAYS OF THESE KINGS shall the GOD OF HEAVEN set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and IT SHALL STAND FOREVER.
Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain WITHOUT HANDS, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: AND THE DREAM IS CERTAIN, AND THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF SURE.
When I was a young man, I automatically thought that this portion of scripture was referring to Heaven, or at least the Millennium in the New Jerusalem. That was as far as our “light” would shine for us to see.
Out in the dimness, beyond the scope of our “light”, we could only “see” what we had been told was out there. Antichrist, great tribulation, mark of the beast, one-world government, cashless society, Common Market, Revived Roman Empire etc. etc. was all there was out beyond our “light”. It was murky, to say the least, and very few “pretended” to know a great deal about it.
Lately, there seems to be many who consider themselves to be experts in the knowledge of what will happen in the near future. Problem is, they all seem to know what WE should be doing TO CAUSE it to happen.
As soon as they suggest that we “fall in line” behind them, or that we send money to finance what they are promoting, I back away, for I KNOW THEY HAVE NOT HEARD FROM GOD, AND IT WILL NOT WORK.
The Bible tells us plainly how it is going to happen. The “hands of man” will have nothing to do with it. Nothing, that is, except to probably try to stop it for fear that it is “not of God.”
Dan 2:44 And in the DAYS OF THESE KINGS shall the GOD OF HEAVEN set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and IT SHALL STAND FOREVER.
Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain WITHOUT HANDS, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter….
THINK OF IT! No government, no religion, no economy, nor any military machine will escape the “breaking to pieces and becoming like the chaff of the threshing floor, and being blown away by the wind” when God “makes bare His Holy Arm” (Isa 52:10)
The “STONE” cut out of the mountain is none other than the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD--- the NEW JERUSALEM which is being built before our wondering eyes right now by the Spirit of God—without the hands of man. The OVERCOMERS, if you please.
After crushing and destroying “Babylon”, the stone (Church) goes on and completely fills the earth. “…and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. …” (Dan 2:35)
Like leaven, which penetrates to every molecule of the dough.
We are serving a BIG GOD!
I can not forgive the sins of anyone. I can not give anyone the Holy Ghost. I can not impart Faith to anyone. I can not make any of my fellow believers into Overcomers. Only God can do those things.
But, I CAN, like Abraham of old, BELIEVE that what God has promised, He is able to perform. I can BELIEVE and OBEY His Commands.
***********************************
(Following is an email answer to a question asked by a man who had read one of my articles on the InterNet.)
Dear Brother:
You wrote, << "First, I must disagree with your assertion that the Holy Ghost withdrew Himself from the body of Christ (sic) at the same moment he drew His final breath." >>>
(My answer)
Sorry, but you are not the only one who misunderstood what I was meaning to say. There have been others also.
I believe there was some reason for the anguished cry on the cross, "My God, My God, Why has Thou forsaken me?" Who was calling to whom? What had happened?
Between Jordan and Calvary, Jesus acted as the Anointed of the Lord. He had a FULL ANOINTING for those 3 1/2 years. It was that FULL ANOINTING which was taken from Him just PRIOR to death. That, coupled with the burden of the sins of the world produced the anguished cry.
You, and others, have questioned me about the Holy Ghost leaving AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH. I sure did leave that one open for misunderstanding. I should have written, "Before Jesus gave up the ghost, He was stripped of the special anointing given Him at Jordan, and the sins of the world were laid upon Him."
My understanding of JUSTIFICATION is such that Jesus could not be INNOCENT and GUILTY at the same time. He was nailed to the cross in total, absolute innocence. After God smote him on the cross, he was total and absolute GUILT. His innocence was to be made available to us, just as our guilt had been laid upon Him. There is no fence-straddling. We are either guilty or innocent-- not both at the same time.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him STRICKEN, SMITTEN OF GOD, AND AFFLICTED.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.
We ran into a teaching similar to your thoughts in the forties. It was widely held by the PAofJC brethren that God, Himself, died on the cross. They would not admit it to be so, but the belief was widespread at the time.
You asked about when the Anointing of Christ returned to Jesus. At the time of the resurrection. Acts 13:30 But God raised him from the dead: Acts 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE.
Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that GOD HATH MADE THAT SAME JESUS, whom ye have crucified, BOTH LORD AND CHRIST.
Bro. Evans, I really do appreciate your letter. You show a real Christian attitude. I also appreciate your concern about your belief that I have "bought in" to error.
Most of the difficulty has come from me not realizing that other folks may not know where I'm coming from in some of the expressions I use. I Pastored one Church for 23 years (the last one before I had to change my Ministry because of deafness), and had taught the people so well that they could "read" me when I spoke to them. You didn't have the privilege of sitting under such a wonderful Ministry. :-)
Christian Love
Marion
LIKE UNTO LEAVEN
LIKE UNTO LEAVEN
Mat 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, TILL THE WHOLE WAS LEAVENED.
The outstanding characteristic of leaven is its ability to penetrate to every molecule of the dough it is introduced into.
Please notice that Jesus used this characteristic trait of leaven in describing the characteristics and purpose of the KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE EARTH.
IT WILL NOT STOP UNTIL IT HAS REACHED, AND CHANGED, THE WHOLE EARTH! There are, of course, exceptions, for we know from Ezekiel 47 that there are some places (people) that will not receive the workings of the Holy Ghost. Eze 47:11 But the miry places thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ will penetrate into, and produce the desired effect, in every corner of the globe before we see the consummation of the purposes of God in the earth.
This means that EVERY NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGION will wither and die on the vine in the path of the DELUGE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD that is, I believe, starting on planet earth even as we write these lines.
Let me go a little farther and declare that EVERY DENOMINATION OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION WILL ALSO SUFFER THE SAME FATE, for they are the work of Man’s hands.
How in the world will God be able to accomplish such a monumental task? The earth is BIG, and there are billions of people on it. Most of the people are already entrenched in some other kind of worship that would have to be abandoned if/when they turn to Jesus Christ and His Salvation.
The Word of God gives us a few clues about the methods God will use to accomplish what he intends to do. The clues are masked in symbolic and parabolic language, and are easily missed if we are not in tune with the Spirit. God has intentionally masked them, to keep insincere people from finding them. Psa 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.
I could not possibly cite for you all of the ways the process has been described and likened to, but there are many places where they can be found, hidden in the scriptures.
The greater part of the teachings which are “standard” today are the results of the best efforts on the part of mankind to figure out and understand, with their own minds, what has been written BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. Confusion is the only possible result. There is certainly no shortage of that.
The “standard” prophetic curriculum has “the great tribulation that nearly abolishes the Church” in our future. The Word of God says it is already in the past, and it didn’t apply to the Church at all.
The “standard” curriculum has the Antichrist/man of sin rising to tyrannical, dictatorial power in some future era. The Bible doesn’t show that to be so at all. It shows it to have been here for centuries, and will be revealed and destroyed by the Spirit of God shortly.
How did all the prophecies get scrunched up into the last seven years of the dispensation? It was done deliberately, and for a purpose. Do you know why?
Isa 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
Jer 16:19 …..Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
Just as leaven keeps working until it has permeated the entire mass of the dough, so the Kingdom of God will keep doing what it is supposed to do until it has reached, and altered, the entire world.
Is our God big enough, strong enough, to do that?
In a message dated --/--/05 1:29:02 PM Pacific Standard Time,
--------- @yahoo.com writes:
The whole concept of which you wrote, however, is extremely plausible, even to my non-eschatologically sound mind. (I think I just made up a new word, or something) smile
Brother, what I have always wondered, and maybe you can clear this up, is if the Church is the New Jerusalem, does that mean that there is no City of God, into which we can enter and go out of? Are there going to be no 12 physical gates of pearl, and no streets of gold, and no crystal river, with trees of life growing on its banks?
***My answer**
The Bible is written in such a manner that it MUST BE INTERPRETED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
The term "City" means, IMHO, a group of people living under a COMMON LAW.
That does not mean that they are all in one place. It simply means that they live by the same law.
The "City" is not complete yet. We are still striving to completely comply with the LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE. Some of us are having an awfully hard time with it. (sigh).
The GATES are in place, being the twelve tribes of Israel.
The FOUNDATIONS of the wall are in place, being the twelve APOSTLES OF THE LAMB
If it were a LITERAL CITY, one corner could be in Seattle, and another in Los Angeles, the third near Chicago, and the fourth somewhere in Texas. And it would rise to a height of over a thousand miles.
It HAS TO REPRESENT something besides brick and mortar, gold and glass.
It represents the BRIDE OF CHRIST. Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Each Gate is a PEARL, representing the OVERCOMING of suffering and personal discomfort by each one who is permitted to enter into the City through the gates. (Strait {difficult} is the GATE, and NARROW is the way, to gain entrance into the BRIDE)
The WALLS (Christians who stand to guard against false spirits and unclean lifestyles) are garnished with 12 different precious stones (formed by heat and pressure).
When the City is complete, the streets (Avenues of Concourse) will not have any of the contaminants of the human spirit in them. The candidates for citizenship in the City will have been completely set free from the nature of Adam on the DAY OF ATONEMENT. Hence it is described as being PURE GOLD.
I can clearly see that all of the descriptions, i.e., the Bride adorned
for her Husband, filled with a light so bright that it gives light to all of the earth, etc., can be allegorically speaking of the church, but where do we spend eternity? Do we live on a renewed earth? What about us meeting the Lord in the air?
What/where is Eternity? The ONLY definitive statement about the nature of ETERNITY is Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One THAT INHABITETH ETERNITY, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
ETERNITY IS GOD'S DWELLING PLACE. If we let the Bible speak its own language, we can not (NOT) get it to say that eternity is like the bird sharpening its beak on Gibraltar. It is simply where God lives.
Likewise, making the Bible speak its own language, the ONLY DEFINITION OF AIR is Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
AIR is the Bible term for the SPIRIT REALM THAT IS CONTROLLED BY SATAN.
When he is (BOUND) CAST DOWN by the ANGEL (Over-
comers), the place of his present activity will be filled by the OVERCOMERS of earth, and his influence of hatred and war Etc. will be replaced by the influence of LOVE, PEACE, AND JOY
ETC. The new influence will COVER THE EARTH like the evil influence does today. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy Mountain."
Friend, to become an Overcomer and enjoy ALL the benefits of the Kingdom of God will be ample repayment (reward) for any sacrifice (time, money or pleasure) made in an effort to COMPLETELY please (satisfy) Him.
Wow...I have never been so excited about learning about somebody' s viewpoint in all of my life. Please tell me, however, you don't believe we are now living in the Millenial Reign of Christ, because in my neck of the woods, Satan is NOT bound.
DEFEATED, but NOT BOUND-- yet. Still operating the "AIR". But he knows his time is short. EVERY FALSE RELIGION will wither and die. EVERY NATION that does not acknowledge Jesus Christ will be dissolved.
The Spirit of God, through the OVERCOMERS, will bring about the BINDING and DISLODGING of satan from his office in the "AIR". They will be "CAUGHT UP" in the "AIR", and from there will spread the influence of GODLINESS and PEACE,
replacing the influence of WAR AND HATRED.
God Bless!
Mat 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, TILL THE WHOLE WAS LEAVENED.
The outstanding characteristic of leaven is its ability to penetrate to every molecule of the dough it is introduced into.
Please notice that Jesus used this characteristic trait of leaven in describing the characteristics and purpose of the KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE EARTH.
IT WILL NOT STOP UNTIL IT HAS REACHED, AND CHANGED, THE WHOLE EARTH! There are, of course, exceptions, for we know from Ezekiel 47 that there are some places (people) that will not receive the workings of the Holy Ghost. Eze 47:11 But the miry places thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ will penetrate into, and produce the desired effect, in every corner of the globe before we see the consummation of the purposes of God in the earth.
This means that EVERY NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGION will wither and die on the vine in the path of the DELUGE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD that is, I believe, starting on planet earth even as we write these lines.
Let me go a little farther and declare that EVERY DENOMINATION OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION WILL ALSO SUFFER THE SAME FATE, for they are the work of Man’s hands.
How in the world will God be able to accomplish such a monumental task? The earth is BIG, and there are billions of people on it. Most of the people are already entrenched in some other kind of worship that would have to be abandoned if/when they turn to Jesus Christ and His Salvation.
The Word of God gives us a few clues about the methods God will use to accomplish what he intends to do. The clues are masked in symbolic and parabolic language, and are easily missed if we are not in tune with the Spirit. God has intentionally masked them, to keep insincere people from finding them. Psa 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.
I could not possibly cite for you all of the ways the process has been described and likened to, but there are many places where they can be found, hidden in the scriptures.
The greater part of the teachings which are “standard” today are the results of the best efforts on the part of mankind to figure out and understand, with their own minds, what has been written BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. Confusion is the only possible result. There is certainly no shortage of that.
The “standard” prophetic curriculum has “the great tribulation that nearly abolishes the Church” in our future. The Word of God says it is already in the past, and it didn’t apply to the Church at all.
The “standard” curriculum has the Antichrist/man of sin rising to tyrannical, dictatorial power in some future era. The Bible doesn’t show that to be so at all. It shows it to have been here for centuries, and will be revealed and destroyed by the Spirit of God shortly.
How did all the prophecies get scrunched up into the last seven years of the dispensation? It was done deliberately, and for a purpose. Do you know why?
Isa 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
Jer 16:19 …..Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
Just as leaven keeps working until it has permeated the entire mass of the dough, so the Kingdom of God will keep doing what it is supposed to do until it has reached, and altered, the entire world.
Is our God big enough, strong enough, to do that?
In a message dated --/--/05 1:29:02 PM Pacific Standard Time,
--------- @yahoo.com writes:
The whole concept of which you wrote, however, is extremely plausible, even to my non-eschatologically sound mind. (I think I just made up a new word, or something) smile
Brother, what I have always wondered, and maybe you can clear this up, is if the Church is the New Jerusalem, does that mean that there is no City of God, into which we can enter and go out of? Are there going to be no 12 physical gates of pearl, and no streets of gold, and no crystal river, with trees of life growing on its banks?
***My answer**
The Bible is written in such a manner that it MUST BE INTERPRETED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
The term "City" means, IMHO, a group of people living under a COMMON LAW.
That does not mean that they are all in one place. It simply means that they live by the same law.
The "City" is not complete yet. We are still striving to completely comply with the LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE. Some of us are having an awfully hard time with it. (sigh).
The GATES are in place, being the twelve tribes of Israel.
The FOUNDATIONS of the wall are in place, being the twelve APOSTLES OF THE LAMB
If it were a LITERAL CITY, one corner could be in Seattle, and another in Los Angeles, the third near Chicago, and the fourth somewhere in Texas. And it would rise to a height of over a thousand miles.
It HAS TO REPRESENT something besides brick and mortar, gold and glass.
It represents the BRIDE OF CHRIST. Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Each Gate is a PEARL, representing the OVERCOMING of suffering and personal discomfort by each one who is permitted to enter into the City through the gates. (Strait {difficult} is the GATE, and NARROW is the way, to gain entrance into the BRIDE)
The WALLS (Christians who stand to guard against false spirits and unclean lifestyles) are garnished with 12 different precious stones (formed by heat and pressure).
When the City is complete, the streets (Avenues of Concourse) will not have any of the contaminants of the human spirit in them. The candidates for citizenship in the City will have been completely set free from the nature of Adam on the DAY OF ATONEMENT. Hence it is described as being PURE GOLD.
I can clearly see that all of the descriptions, i.e., the Bride adorned
for her Husband, filled with a light so bright that it gives light to all of the earth, etc., can be allegorically speaking of the church, but where do we spend eternity? Do we live on a renewed earth? What about us meeting the Lord in the air?
What/where is Eternity? The ONLY definitive statement about the nature of ETERNITY is Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One THAT INHABITETH ETERNITY, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
ETERNITY IS GOD'S DWELLING PLACE. If we let the Bible speak its own language, we can not (NOT) get it to say that eternity is like the bird sharpening its beak on Gibraltar. It is simply where God lives.
Likewise, making the Bible speak its own language, the ONLY DEFINITION OF AIR is Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
AIR is the Bible term for the SPIRIT REALM THAT IS CONTROLLED BY SATAN.
When he is (BOUND) CAST DOWN by the ANGEL (Over-
comers), the place of his present activity will be filled by the OVERCOMERS of earth, and his influence of hatred and war Etc. will be replaced by the influence of LOVE, PEACE, AND JOY
ETC. The new influence will COVER THE EARTH like the evil influence does today. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy Mountain."
Friend, to become an Overcomer and enjoy ALL the benefits of the Kingdom of God will be ample repayment (reward) for any sacrifice (time, money or pleasure) made in an effort to COMPLETELY please (satisfy) Him.
Wow...I have never been so excited about learning about somebody' s viewpoint in all of my life. Please tell me, however, you don't believe we are now living in the Millenial Reign of Christ, because in my neck of the woods, Satan is NOT bound.
DEFEATED, but NOT BOUND-- yet. Still operating the "AIR". But he knows his time is short. EVERY FALSE RELIGION will wither and die. EVERY NATION that does not acknowledge Jesus Christ will be dissolved.
The Spirit of God, through the OVERCOMERS, will bring about the BINDING and DISLODGING of satan from his office in the "AIR". They will be "CAUGHT UP" in the "AIR", and from there will spread the influence of GODLINESS and PEACE,
replacing the influence of WAR AND HATRED.
God Bless!
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