TAMMUZ, THE DESIRE OF WOMEN
The story of Tammuz goes back into the ages of antiquity. Whether he ever lived or not is not exactly important. He was probably an invention of his mother, Semiramis, who was the young widow of Nimrod, the rebel against God. Nimrod was cut off shortly after the confusion of tongues at Babel. Semiramis quickly took the helm of the religion of her fallen husband, and declared herself to be the virgin queen of heaven, and the mother of the re-
incarnated Nimrod, the baby Tammuz. The Babylonish names of the
MOTHER AND SON were Semiramus and Tammuz. The Greeks called them Ashtoreth and Adonis, while the Romans knew them as Venus and Cupid.
Worshippers of Tammuz would make he form of a "T" across their breasts as they came to worship him, or say their prayers and rosary.
Today we see the same sign "T" on Hot Cross Buns, and the same crossing of the breast with a "T". Women wept for Tammuz (Ezek. 8:12-14), because he was supposed to have been killed by a wild boar, but came back to life at the time of the
Feast of Ishtar in the spring of the year. A forty day period of fasting
and weeping (lent) before the feast. The prophet Daniel refers to
Tammuz as "The desire of Women" in Dan 11:37 where he is placed in a category with other gods.
The women of Israel were scolded by the Prophet for making cakes to the queen of heaven. It was a family affair, including fathers, mothers, and children. See Jer 7:18 It got them into trouble, but they did not realize it until it was too late. Jer 44:15-25 shows how they mis-interpreted the cause and effect of their condition.
Tammuz reputedly loved chickens, eggs, and rabbits, hence they were incorporated into the feast Ishtar.
Tammuz loved evergreen trees, so they were incorporated into the birthday of the sun god at the winter solstice.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
SHALL OVERTAKE YOU
SHALL OVERTAKE YOU
To be OVERTAKEN by someone or some thing means that you were unable to outrun them or it, however much you might have wished to do so.
The admonition which Moses gave to the children of Israel in the wilderness is as valid today as it was the day he spoke it-- with the exception that the Ceremonies of the Law are no longer imposed upon us-- just the Moral portion of the Law.
In effect, the Lord was telling the people through Moses that they would be OVERTAKEN by one of two forces-- depending upon their actions relating to His Commands.
Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these BLESSINGS shall come on thee, and OVERTAKE thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt NOT HEARKEN unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these CURSES shall come upon thee, and OVERTAKE thee:
Deuteronomy 28:45 Moreover all these CURSES shall COME UPON thee, and shall PURSUE thee, and OVERTAKE thee, till thou be DESTROYED; because thou HEARKENEDST NOT unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:
After many years of disregard for the Commandments of the Lord, Isaiah laments the sad state of affairs in Israel. They were in Phase 2 (reaping) of their lack of obedience.
Isaiah 59:9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice OVERTAKE us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, [but] WE WALK IN DARKNESS.
Our truly Godly leaders of today are likewise weeping over the conditions of the Nation, AND THE CHURCH.
Paul Harvey has a saying, "You can run, but you can't hide." That is precisely what Jeremiah was telling the leaders of Judah, who were wanting to go into Egypt in order to escape what they feared would happen to them if they stayed where they were.
Jeremiah 42:16 Then it shall come to pass, [that] the sword, which ye feared, shall OVERTAKE you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.
God knows where we are, and can find us when He wants to.
While it is certainly true that we are no longer under the Ceremonial Law, we are not free to do as we please. We are told of an OBEDIENCE which is required of us if we hope to have the blessing of God on our lives.
It is OBEDIENCE to the GOSPEL. It is OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH. It is OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH. It is OBEDIENCE TO LIGHT.
John 3:19 And THIS is the CONDEMNATION, that LIGHT IS COME into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, because their deeds were evil.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye YIELD YOURSELVES SERVANTS TO OBEY, his servants ye are to WHOM YE OBEY; whether of SIN UNTO DEATH, or of OBEDIENCE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS?
Romans 10:16 But they have not all OBEYED THE GOSPEL. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not OBEY THE TRUTH, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH among all nations, for his name:
To be OVERTAKEN by someone or some thing means that you were unable to outrun them or it, however much you might have wished to do so.
The admonition which Moses gave to the children of Israel in the wilderness is as valid today as it was the day he spoke it-- with the exception that the Ceremonies of the Law are no longer imposed upon us-- just the Moral portion of the Law.
In effect, the Lord was telling the people through Moses that they would be OVERTAKEN by one of two forces-- depending upon their actions relating to His Commands.
Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these BLESSINGS shall come on thee, and OVERTAKE thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt NOT HEARKEN unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these CURSES shall come upon thee, and OVERTAKE thee:
Deuteronomy 28:45 Moreover all these CURSES shall COME UPON thee, and shall PURSUE thee, and OVERTAKE thee, till thou be DESTROYED; because thou HEARKENEDST NOT unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:
After many years of disregard for the Commandments of the Lord, Isaiah laments the sad state of affairs in Israel. They were in Phase 2 (reaping) of their lack of obedience.
Isaiah 59:9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice OVERTAKE us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, [but] WE WALK IN DARKNESS.
Our truly Godly leaders of today are likewise weeping over the conditions of the Nation, AND THE CHURCH.
Paul Harvey has a saying, "You can run, but you can't hide." That is precisely what Jeremiah was telling the leaders of Judah, who were wanting to go into Egypt in order to escape what they feared would happen to them if they stayed where they were.
Jeremiah 42:16 Then it shall come to pass, [that] the sword, which ye feared, shall OVERTAKE you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.
God knows where we are, and can find us when He wants to.
While it is certainly true that we are no longer under the Ceremonial Law, we are not free to do as we please. We are told of an OBEDIENCE which is required of us if we hope to have the blessing of God on our lives.
It is OBEDIENCE to the GOSPEL. It is OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH. It is OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH. It is OBEDIENCE TO LIGHT.
John 3:19 And THIS is the CONDEMNATION, that LIGHT IS COME into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, because their deeds were evil.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye YIELD YOURSELVES SERVANTS TO OBEY, his servants ye are to WHOM YE OBEY; whether of SIN UNTO DEATH, or of OBEDIENCE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS?
Romans 10:16 But they have not all OBEYED THE GOSPEL. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not OBEY THE TRUTH, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH among all nations, for his name:
I CANNOT FIND HIM
I CAN NOT FIND HIM
Each of us have had our times of uncertainty about our relationship with the Lord-- wondering why God is silent when we call upon Him. We are sure to ask ourselves what His reason is for being silent.
It is in these times that our faith has a chance to grow. We KNOW that God will not turn His back on us. The price of our redemption has already been paid by Jesus on the Cross.
Many times I have been able to identify with Job when he said: Job 23:8 Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: Job 23:9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him]:
I am so glad those words were preserved for us to read over and over again. It is a source of strength to know that someone else has been where we are.
Though Job could not feel nor see the presence of God, there was one thing he was sure of. We can be sure of the same thing. Listen to him as he says: Job 23:10 BUT HE KNOWETH THE WAY THAT I TAKE: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
God knows where we are at all times. He is with us, whether we can "feel" Him or not.
"Who can separate us from the Love of God?"
Each of us have had our times of uncertainty about our relationship with the Lord-- wondering why God is silent when we call upon Him. We are sure to ask ourselves what His reason is for being silent.
It is in these times that our faith has a chance to grow. We KNOW that God will not turn His back on us. The price of our redemption has already been paid by Jesus on the Cross.
Many times I have been able to identify with Job when he said: Job 23:8 Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: Job 23:9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him]:
I am so glad those words were preserved for us to read over and over again. It is a source of strength to know that someone else has been where we are.
Though Job could not feel nor see the presence of God, there was one thing he was sure of. We can be sure of the same thing. Listen to him as he says: Job 23:10 BUT HE KNOWETH THE WAY THAT I TAKE: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
God knows where we are at all times. He is with us, whether we can "feel" Him or not.
"Who can separate us from the Love of God?"
A SMOKING FLAX
A SMOKING FLAX
The Prophet Isaiah gave us a very good description of the nature and work of Jesus in His Ministry.
Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Matthew, in his writing, quoted from the above, and said that Jesus was fulfilling it. Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
I am glad those words were penned about Him, for they will give comfort to anyone who is struggling to keep their head "above water" in their Christian walk.
Pearl and I were attending the grave side service of a young lad who had, apparently, strayed from the "way", and had been killed. One of the Ministers took the opportunity to "lay it on" about rebelling against God and the Gospel. The second one soundly "put him in his place", or so I thought. What the second one said was a new thought to me, and it cleared up a lot of uncertainty about some scriptures in my mind. Quoting as nearly as I can: "There is a difference between open "rebellion toward God", and "struggles in the Faith", though they both look the same on the surface.
As the words were being spoken, I did a quick "retake" of some of my past ministry, and realized I might have made exactly the same mistake that the first Minister had made there by the grave. After much soul searching, I began to repent before God for some of my former attitudes toward people who were not measuring up to my expectations for them. With God's help, I am doing better now, though I still have difficulty once in a while.
When reading about "a bruised reed" I am carried back in memory to boyhood, driving the cows to pasture in the summer mornings. We passed a grove of "tules", as we called them. "Cat tails" is another name for them. We got so we could cause them to break down by throwing rocks at the stem. The tops would fall down, and we supposed they would die. But such was not the case. They kept on living, bruised as they were. The QUALITY of their life changed, but they lived on.
I am now convinced there are many of God's children who are in that same condition. They have been through some experiences that have created a real struggle in their lives, and their heads hang low as a result of it. Many times we tend to be harsh in our judgment of them. That is because we do not have the capacity to know the heart condition which underlies what we see on the surface. WE TELL 'EM TO SMILE! THEY CAN'T!
"A smoking flax" describes a situation where a fire, which at one time blazed high, has, for some reason, died down to embers. The cause is probably beyond the scope of our knowledge. And though Jesus knows the cause, His main concern is getting the "fire" going again. It should be ours also. I can visualize Him "blowing" on the "smoking" embers, fanning them to life. THE BREATH OF THE LORD!
I have "felt" the "blowing of Jesus" on my own life a few times. He blows gently, lovingly, persistently until new courage springs forth. Oh! GLORY TO JESUS!
This is the Jesus we love! This is the Jesus who loves us!
Take courage, struggling one. The "blowing" of the Lord shall come upon you. I feel I am prophesying into someone's life right now. God bless!
The Prophet Isaiah gave us a very good description of the nature and work of Jesus in His Ministry.
Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Matthew, in his writing, quoted from the above, and said that Jesus was fulfilling it. Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
I am glad those words were penned about Him, for they will give comfort to anyone who is struggling to keep their head "above water" in their Christian walk.
Pearl and I were attending the grave side service of a young lad who had, apparently, strayed from the "way", and had been killed. One of the Ministers took the opportunity to "lay it on" about rebelling against God and the Gospel. The second one soundly "put him in his place", or so I thought. What the second one said was a new thought to me, and it cleared up a lot of uncertainty about some scriptures in my mind. Quoting as nearly as I can: "There is a difference between open "rebellion toward God", and "struggles in the Faith", though they both look the same on the surface.
As the words were being spoken, I did a quick "retake" of some of my past ministry, and realized I might have made exactly the same mistake that the first Minister had made there by the grave. After much soul searching, I began to repent before God for some of my former attitudes toward people who were not measuring up to my expectations for them. With God's help, I am doing better now, though I still have difficulty once in a while.
When reading about "a bruised reed" I am carried back in memory to boyhood, driving the cows to pasture in the summer mornings. We passed a grove of "tules", as we called them. "Cat tails" is another name for them. We got so we could cause them to break down by throwing rocks at the stem. The tops would fall down, and we supposed they would die. But such was not the case. They kept on living, bruised as they were. The QUALITY of their life changed, but they lived on.
I am now convinced there are many of God's children who are in that same condition. They have been through some experiences that have created a real struggle in their lives, and their heads hang low as a result of it. Many times we tend to be harsh in our judgment of them. That is because we do not have the capacity to know the heart condition which underlies what we see on the surface. WE TELL 'EM TO SMILE! THEY CAN'T!
"A smoking flax" describes a situation where a fire, which at one time blazed high, has, for some reason, died down to embers. The cause is probably beyond the scope of our knowledge. And though Jesus knows the cause, His main concern is getting the "fire" going again. It should be ours also. I can visualize Him "blowing" on the "smoking" embers, fanning them to life. THE BREATH OF THE LORD!
I have "felt" the "blowing of Jesus" on my own life a few times. He blows gently, lovingly, persistently until new courage springs forth. Oh! GLORY TO JESUS!
This is the Jesus we love! This is the Jesus who loves us!
Take courage, struggling one. The "blowing" of the Lord shall come upon you. I feel I am prophesying into someone's life right now. God bless!
Friday, June 18, 2010
THE FIRSTBORN
THE FIRSTBORN
On the night of the first Passover, when the death angel passed over the land of Egypt and killed the firstborn of every creature, the Lord laid claim to the firstborn of every Israelite.
EXO 13:2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of man and of beast: it [is] mine.
I do not claim to know WHY the Lord planned it the way He did. I merely know a little bit of WHAT He did. But, I am sure that if our eyes were able to focus more clearly on what was done, we might be able to know more about why it was planned that way.
The Law of the Firstborn was incorporated into the Ordinances and ceremonies of the Law given by Moses. The Bible informs us that the Law given by Moses was for the purpose of TEACHING us about Jesus Christ and His work in our hearts. If we understand the Law of Moses, we can also understand the work of Jesus in the world.
GAL 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Biologically, there is little reason to believe that the first child is any better than the second or third. But, the Lord, in His plan for the Church, placed a premium on the firstborn of the family.
It is a type of something that has little to do with the natural order of birth. The Lord is trying to teach us something about HIS PLAN that we would otherwise know nothing about.
If we can learn what the Lord is trying to teach us through this, we can know more about what to expect in the future of the Church.
Being the firstborn son in a family entitled a person to the BIRTHRIGHT. This custom was started long before the Law of Moses, the same as the practice of tithing of our income to the Lord. It also carried the blessing of the DOUBLE PORTION of the fathers goods
There were some notable EXCEPTIONS to the rule or custom. Some firstborns LOST their claim to the birthright and double portion, while others who were not the firstborn ATTAINED to those blessings.
GEN 49:3-4 ¶ Reuben, thou [art] my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou [it]: he went up to my couch.
GEN 48:20-22 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.
Joseph, in Egypt indicated that God had a plan in store for the sons of Jacob when he arranged the seating and the portions at the table as he entertained his brothers who had returned with Benjamin.
GEN 43:33,34 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another. And he took [and sent] messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.
We also see here that the racial hatreds we see today are not just a recent thing,
GEN 43:32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that [is] an abomination unto the Egyptians.
A little while after the first Passover, Aaron made a golden calf for the Children of Israel, and they danced around it. Moses came down from the mountain and called to them, "Who is on the Lord's side?" The tribe of Levi came out. There was a fight, and several people were killed. It is not wise to play with the things of God.
When it was time to start the ceremonies of the Tabernacle. God did NOT choose the firstborns to be priests. Rather, He chose the Levites. I suppose that the episode at the golden calf influenced His choice. Only God knows the real reason.
The fact remains that He reserved the firstborns FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE and substituted the Levites to be Priests.
The firstborns were symbolic of something else, and it was NOT TIME for that yet, in the economy of God.
The LEVITES were to portray, IN SYMBOLIC LANGUAGE, what the firstborns were chosen to do IN REALITY at a later time.
And, by the way, REALITY is what the word TRUTH means as it is used concerning the work of Jesus in the Church. TRUTH equates with REALITY, as compared with symbolic activity. "Grace and TRUTH (REALITY) came by Jesus Christ.
JOH 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] GRACE AND TRUTH came by Jesus Christ.
The Law was SYMBOL; Jesus is the REALITY.
The LEVITES were SYMBOLIC; Jesus, the FIRSTBORN is REALITY.
COL 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE:
TRUTH IS NOT A DOCTRINE. There are several true doctrines, but none of them is THE TRUTH.
There remains a CHOOSING of people, which will be done by the Lord. The purpose of the choosing is for the selecting a group of followers whom He can make into what the FIRSTBORNS and the LEVITES of the Old Testament were symbolic of.
ISA 66:1,2 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven [is] my throne, and the earth [is] my footstool: where [is] the house that ye build unto me? and where [is] the place of my rest? For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: BUT TO THIS [MAN] WILL I LOOK, [EVEN] TO [HIM THAT IS] POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND TREMBLETH AT MY WORD.
ISA 66:21 And I will also take of them for priests
[and] for Levites, saith the LORD.
As the Levites administered the Law of Moses, so will the Firstborns (those who have attained to the status of the Firstborn) administer the Spirit of the Kingdom.
We have so much more to look forward to than we have been told about in the standard Christian curriculum. We have been sold short.
HEB 12:18-24 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.
On the night of the first Passover, when the death angel passed over the land of Egypt and killed the firstborn of every creature, the Lord laid claim to the firstborn of every Israelite.
EXO 13:2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of man and of beast: it [is] mine.
I do not claim to know WHY the Lord planned it the way He did. I merely know a little bit of WHAT He did. But, I am sure that if our eyes were able to focus more clearly on what was done, we might be able to know more about why it was planned that way.
The Law of the Firstborn was incorporated into the Ordinances and ceremonies of the Law given by Moses. The Bible informs us that the Law given by Moses was for the purpose of TEACHING us about Jesus Christ and His work in our hearts. If we understand the Law of Moses, we can also understand the work of Jesus in the world.
GAL 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Biologically, there is little reason to believe that the first child is any better than the second or third. But, the Lord, in His plan for the Church, placed a premium on the firstborn of the family.
It is a type of something that has little to do with the natural order of birth. The Lord is trying to teach us something about HIS PLAN that we would otherwise know nothing about.
If we can learn what the Lord is trying to teach us through this, we can know more about what to expect in the future of the Church.
Being the firstborn son in a family entitled a person to the BIRTHRIGHT. This custom was started long before the Law of Moses, the same as the practice of tithing of our income to the Lord. It also carried the blessing of the DOUBLE PORTION of the fathers goods
There were some notable EXCEPTIONS to the rule or custom. Some firstborns LOST their claim to the birthright and double portion, while others who were not the firstborn ATTAINED to those blessings.
GEN 49:3-4 ¶ Reuben, thou [art] my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou [it]: he went up to my couch.
GEN 48:20-22 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.
Joseph, in Egypt indicated that God had a plan in store for the sons of Jacob when he arranged the seating and the portions at the table as he entertained his brothers who had returned with Benjamin.
GEN 43:33,34 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another. And he took [and sent] messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.
We also see here that the racial hatreds we see today are not just a recent thing,
GEN 43:32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that [is] an abomination unto the Egyptians.
A little while after the first Passover, Aaron made a golden calf for the Children of Israel, and they danced around it. Moses came down from the mountain and called to them, "Who is on the Lord's side?" The tribe of Levi came out. There was a fight, and several people were killed. It is not wise to play with the things of God.
When it was time to start the ceremonies of the Tabernacle. God did NOT choose the firstborns to be priests. Rather, He chose the Levites. I suppose that the episode at the golden calf influenced His choice. Only God knows the real reason.
The fact remains that He reserved the firstborns FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE and substituted the Levites to be Priests.
The firstborns were symbolic of something else, and it was NOT TIME for that yet, in the economy of God.
The LEVITES were to portray, IN SYMBOLIC LANGUAGE, what the firstborns were chosen to do IN REALITY at a later time.
And, by the way, REALITY is what the word TRUTH means as it is used concerning the work of Jesus in the Church. TRUTH equates with REALITY, as compared with symbolic activity. "Grace and TRUTH (REALITY) came by Jesus Christ.
JOH 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] GRACE AND TRUTH came by Jesus Christ.
The Law was SYMBOL; Jesus is the REALITY.
The LEVITES were SYMBOLIC; Jesus, the FIRSTBORN is REALITY.
COL 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE:
TRUTH IS NOT A DOCTRINE. There are several true doctrines, but none of them is THE TRUTH.
There remains a CHOOSING of people, which will be done by the Lord. The purpose of the choosing is for the selecting a group of followers whom He can make into what the FIRSTBORNS and the LEVITES of the Old Testament were symbolic of.
ISA 66:1,2 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven [is] my throne, and the earth [is] my footstool: where [is] the house that ye build unto me? and where [is] the place of my rest? For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: BUT TO THIS [MAN] WILL I LOOK, [EVEN] TO [HIM THAT IS] POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND TREMBLETH AT MY WORD.
ISA 66:21 And I will also take of them for priests
[and] for Levites, saith the LORD.
As the Levites administered the Law of Moses, so will the Firstborns (those who have attained to the status of the Firstborn) administer the Spirit of the Kingdom.
We have so much more to look forward to than we have been told about in the standard Christian curriculum. We have been sold short.
HEB 12:18-24 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.
THE DARK AGES
THE DARK AGES--
CAUSE AND EFFECT
Most of us are aware of the fact that the period from the early 300's AD to about the mid 1500's is called the Dark Ages.
However, not so many people know what caused it to happen.
here were, perhaps, several contributing factors, but a few facts stand out among the others as being of primary importance.
After Pentecost, the Church had experienced TEN DISTINCT PERIODS of terrible persecution-- part of it from Jewish leaders, but most from the secular government.
Secular government, by the way is called "THE DAILY" by the Prophet Daniel. The translators added the word "sacrifice", because they had no revelation of what it meant.
John, in the Revelation, had told the church of Smyrna that they would: Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
These "ten days" of persecution extended over about two hundred years. They could not succeed to stamp out Christianity-- indeed, the more they persecuted, the faster it grew.
About 325 AD a Babylonish priest, who ASPIRED TO RULE THE WORLD and was already well on his way, found that one thing was hindering. It was the Church, which BELIEVED IN THE LIVING GOD, AND HAD NO IDOLS NOR MYTHS.
He was smart enough to recognize that he could not persecute them out of existence. So he resorted to the same approach that Balaam had used after God had forbidden him to curse Israel on the plains of Moab.
CORRUPT THEM FROM WITHIN, was the scheme.
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
You know the story of Balaam. When God would not let him curse Israel, he conceived the plan of Baal-peor. It was a plan to invite the children of Israel to a "free open house" of Baal. That is what Baa-peor means.
PROSTITUTION AND ADULTERY were key elements of their pagan worship, and had a strong appeal to the natural senses. The end result was that 24 thousand Israelites committed adultery with the Midianitish people-- and lost their lives for doing it. Read all about it in Numbers 25.
The young Babylonish priest who held the title of Pontifex Max in the religion (Mithras) of his home land, promised the Christians that if they would be favorable to him, he would see to it that all persecution by the State ("daily" [sacrifice]) would cease. The Christians fell for it.
The religion of Mithras had "mother and child", and the festivals of the Spring and Fall equinoxes, as well as those of the Summer and Winter solstices.
"Really, we are not so far apart as we seem to be," was the slogan of the day. Soon, Christian names were affixed to the festivals.
Then, this Pontifex Max (Constantine) maneuvered to REPLACE THE ONE TRUE GOD OF THE CHRISTIANS WITH THE THREE-PARTITE GOD OF MITHRAS. The names of Babel, Arach and Akkad were changed to our modern term for God. Then that pagan religion DISAPPEARED AND CEASED TO BE KNOWN AS SUCH, EXCEPT IN HISTORY. But it continued in the new form, under a different name.
What word should we use-- conquered-- absorbed-- assimilated-- evangelized? Take your pick._
The Church of the Living God was CORRUPTED FROM WITHIN! The corruption didn't all happen over night. It took
maybe a generation or two, but the end result was the same-- the
Church lost its way. The "Truth was cast to the ground".
DNL 8:12 And an host was given [him] against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression, and IT CAST DOWN THE TRUTH TO THE GROUND; and it practised, and prospered.
Constantine was now the Pontifex Max of both the State (daily) and the Church. BUT HE WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN. He was only "favorable to the Christians". He had succeeded to become the supreme leader of the world. The "twain had become one."
The Church had moved into the "Pergamos" age. "Married to Power." An unholy union, by the way.
Ceremonies rapidly replaced reality (Truth). People were held in bondage to the progressively corrupt system by fear of excommunication and reprisals. The feudal system arose out of the combined church-state (Daily) form of government. Human culture deteriorated to a very low condition.
The State (Daily [sacrifice] ) was eventually displaced (absorbed, assimilated) by the corrupted church. This corrupted church then became what is described as "The Little Horn with eyes LIKE the eyes of man (deception), and a mouth speaking great things." It "waxed exceeding great." See Dnl 7:8 8:9
Job had spoken of this sort of condition: Job 12:6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, --
Isaiah had prophesied about it also: Isaiah 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: FOR TRUTH IS FALLEN IN THE STREET, and equity cannot enter.
Daniel saw a vision of the "takeover" of Christianity by the forces of a pagan religion: Daniel 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
He also saw the struggles of those who tried to keep the Truth alive in the midst of the horrible corruption of the Church:
Daniel 11:33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, [many] days.
John, on the Isle of Patmos, wrote of the coming conflict, and the temporary subjugation of the Christians under this Church/State (Daily) union.
Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
But God was NEVER WITHOUT A WITNESS in the earth, throughout the entire 1200 years. Though the Truth was cast to the ground, and lay in the streets, there was ALWAYS A MAN OR GROUP OF MEN who stood for, and kept the Truth alive. They increased in number greatly as the time of awakening drew near.
One such defender of the Truth was a man named Huss. The name meant "a goose". As he was being prepared for his death, he remarked, "You can kill the goose, but in a hundred years there will come a swan, whose song you can not silence."
It was a prophecy of the coming of Martin Luther (Swan), whom God anointed for the specific purpose of introducing small rays of light to pierce the "dark of the ages". The Church-State (Daily) regime could not silence him. Glory to Jesus!
From that point in time, it is very interesting to watch the progress of the restoration of Truth to the Christian community.
That restoration is still in progress today.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if suddenly, Peter, James, and John, along with Paul were returned by some "time machine" operation, to live again among us? I have.
In their search for a Church to attend, they could "identify" with "Justification by Faith" in the Lutheran Church. But soon they would find themselves lost in a maze of things they didn't know anything about. With the Baptists, they could recognize "Baptism by immersion." With the Presbyterians, they would be happy for "Man's responsibility to God." The Methodists, along with others, would make a hit with "Holiness to the Lord." Yet each Church would display a great void in their understanding and practice, compared to that of the Church after the Day of Pentecost, the one which they had known.
But, following the progression of restoration, they would eventually find a good Pentecostal Church-- one where they shout for joy, revel in the goodness of God. In this Church people receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, and talk in tongues and prophesy. Imagine their joy at such a discovery! They might be on the verge of joining the church, but a "glitch" is discovered at a Baptismal service after a Sunday night meeting. "What are they saying to the candidates when they put them under the water," they ask one another. "That isn't the way we did it," said Paul and Peter. "Where did they get that?"
Well, we could follow those four men for several days, and it is doubtful if they could ever find a church just like the one they left behind when they went to be with Jesus.
We still have some of the "grave clothes" of the dark ages clinging to us. It is beyond the ability of mankind to free ourselves of these grave clothes by ourselves.
It takes a revelation from God for us to even SEE them, let alone discard them. Oh! How greatly we need the Lord to take the scales from our eyes.
But God HAS MADE SOME PROMISES to His people, and He WILL PERFORM THEM.
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Rejoice with me!
The Word of the Lord is SURE AND STEADFAST. The Truth, which was cast to the ground, and that lay in the street, shall, according to God's Word, SPRING UP AGAIN, and flourish in the earth.
Psalms 85:9 Surely his salvation [is] nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
Psalms 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other].
Psalms 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
I want, desperately, to see it, and have a part in it!
Don't you?
CAUSE AND EFFECT
Most of us are aware of the fact that the period from the early 300's AD to about the mid 1500's is called the Dark Ages.
However, not so many people know what caused it to happen.
here were, perhaps, several contributing factors, but a few facts stand out among the others as being of primary importance.
After Pentecost, the Church had experienced TEN DISTINCT PERIODS of terrible persecution-- part of it from Jewish leaders, but most from the secular government.
Secular government, by the way is called "THE DAILY" by the Prophet Daniel. The translators added the word "sacrifice", because they had no revelation of what it meant.
John, in the Revelation, had told the church of Smyrna that they would: Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
These "ten days" of persecution extended over about two hundred years. They could not succeed to stamp out Christianity-- indeed, the more they persecuted, the faster it grew.
About 325 AD a Babylonish priest, who ASPIRED TO RULE THE WORLD and was already well on his way, found that one thing was hindering. It was the Church, which BELIEVED IN THE LIVING GOD, AND HAD NO IDOLS NOR MYTHS.
He was smart enough to recognize that he could not persecute them out of existence. So he resorted to the same approach that Balaam had used after God had forbidden him to curse Israel on the plains of Moab.
CORRUPT THEM FROM WITHIN, was the scheme.
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
You know the story of Balaam. When God would not let him curse Israel, he conceived the plan of Baal-peor. It was a plan to invite the children of Israel to a "free open house" of Baal. That is what Baa-peor means.
PROSTITUTION AND ADULTERY were key elements of their pagan worship, and had a strong appeal to the natural senses. The end result was that 24 thousand Israelites committed adultery with the Midianitish people-- and lost their lives for doing it. Read all about it in Numbers 25.
The young Babylonish priest who held the title of Pontifex Max in the religion (Mithras) of his home land, promised the Christians that if they would be favorable to him, he would see to it that all persecution by the State ("daily" [sacrifice]) would cease. The Christians fell for it.
The religion of Mithras had "mother and child", and the festivals of the Spring and Fall equinoxes, as well as those of the Summer and Winter solstices.
"Really, we are not so far apart as we seem to be," was the slogan of the day. Soon, Christian names were affixed to the festivals.
Then, this Pontifex Max (Constantine) maneuvered to REPLACE THE ONE TRUE GOD OF THE CHRISTIANS WITH THE THREE-PARTITE GOD OF MITHRAS. The names of Babel, Arach and Akkad were changed to our modern term for God. Then that pagan religion DISAPPEARED AND CEASED TO BE KNOWN AS SUCH, EXCEPT IN HISTORY. But it continued in the new form, under a different name.
What word should we use-- conquered-- absorbed-- assimilated-- evangelized? Take your pick._
The Church of the Living God was CORRUPTED FROM WITHIN! The corruption didn't all happen over night. It took
maybe a generation or two, but the end result was the same-- the
Church lost its way. The "Truth was cast to the ground".
DNL 8:12 And an host was given [him] against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression, and IT CAST DOWN THE TRUTH TO THE GROUND; and it practised, and prospered.
Constantine was now the Pontifex Max of both the State (daily) and the Church. BUT HE WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN. He was only "favorable to the Christians". He had succeeded to become the supreme leader of the world. The "twain had become one."
The Church had moved into the "Pergamos" age. "Married to Power." An unholy union, by the way.
Ceremonies rapidly replaced reality (Truth). People were held in bondage to the progressively corrupt system by fear of excommunication and reprisals. The feudal system arose out of the combined church-state (Daily) form of government. Human culture deteriorated to a very low condition.
The State (Daily [sacrifice] ) was eventually displaced (absorbed, assimilated) by the corrupted church. This corrupted church then became what is described as "The Little Horn with eyes LIKE the eyes of man (deception), and a mouth speaking great things." It "waxed exceeding great." See Dnl 7:8 8:9
Job had spoken of this sort of condition: Job 12:6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, --
Isaiah had prophesied about it also: Isaiah 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: FOR TRUTH IS FALLEN IN THE STREET, and equity cannot enter.
Daniel saw a vision of the "takeover" of Christianity by the forces of a pagan religion: Daniel 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
He also saw the struggles of those who tried to keep the Truth alive in the midst of the horrible corruption of the Church:
Daniel 11:33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, [many] days.
John, on the Isle of Patmos, wrote of the coming conflict, and the temporary subjugation of the Christians under this Church/State (Daily) union.
Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
But God was NEVER WITHOUT A WITNESS in the earth, throughout the entire 1200 years. Though the Truth was cast to the ground, and lay in the streets, there was ALWAYS A MAN OR GROUP OF MEN who stood for, and kept the Truth alive. They increased in number greatly as the time of awakening drew near.
One such defender of the Truth was a man named Huss. The name meant "a goose". As he was being prepared for his death, he remarked, "You can kill the goose, but in a hundred years there will come a swan, whose song you can not silence."
It was a prophecy of the coming of Martin Luther (Swan), whom God anointed for the specific purpose of introducing small rays of light to pierce the "dark of the ages". The Church-State (Daily) regime could not silence him. Glory to Jesus!
From that point in time, it is very interesting to watch the progress of the restoration of Truth to the Christian community.
That restoration is still in progress today.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if suddenly, Peter, James, and John, along with Paul were returned by some "time machine" operation, to live again among us? I have.
In their search for a Church to attend, they could "identify" with "Justification by Faith" in the Lutheran Church. But soon they would find themselves lost in a maze of things they didn't know anything about. With the Baptists, they could recognize "Baptism by immersion." With the Presbyterians, they would be happy for "Man's responsibility to God." The Methodists, along with others, would make a hit with "Holiness to the Lord." Yet each Church would display a great void in their understanding and practice, compared to that of the Church after the Day of Pentecost, the one which they had known.
But, following the progression of restoration, they would eventually find a good Pentecostal Church-- one where they shout for joy, revel in the goodness of God. In this Church people receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, and talk in tongues and prophesy. Imagine their joy at such a discovery! They might be on the verge of joining the church, but a "glitch" is discovered at a Baptismal service after a Sunday night meeting. "What are they saying to the candidates when they put them under the water," they ask one another. "That isn't the way we did it," said Paul and Peter. "Where did they get that?"
Well, we could follow those four men for several days, and it is doubtful if they could ever find a church just like the one they left behind when they went to be with Jesus.
We still have some of the "grave clothes" of the dark ages clinging to us. It is beyond the ability of mankind to free ourselves of these grave clothes by ourselves.
It takes a revelation from God for us to even SEE them, let alone discard them. Oh! How greatly we need the Lord to take the scales from our eyes.
But God HAS MADE SOME PROMISES to His people, and He WILL PERFORM THEM.
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Rejoice with me!
The Word of the Lord is SURE AND STEADFAST. The Truth, which was cast to the ground, and that lay in the street, shall, according to God's Word, SPRING UP AGAIN, and flourish in the earth.
Psalms 85:9 Surely his salvation [is] nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
Psalms 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other].
Psalms 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
I want, desperately, to see it, and have a part in it!
Don't you?
I WILL
I WILL…
Eze 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
Eze 36:23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Eze 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Eze 36:29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
Eze 36:30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.
Please take note that there are no “If’s” or “Maybe’s” in the above passage I have quoted. There are no conditions or qualifications to be met by the people involved. “It’s gonna happen.”
We have it to “look forward to”.
It will be “All of God, and none of us”.
A similar scripture is found in Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Note again that there seems to be NO REQUIREMENTS laid on the people. God will do it Himself, asking no odds of anybody.
Think about it. Pleasing God will be as natural as breathing. No more struggling with flesh, to bring it into line with the Word of God. No more of the fleshly desires that hinder our progress toward the ways of God.
Why would God do that for fallen humanity?
Isn’t there SOMETHING that humans have to do to help make this possible?
God NEEDS NO HELP from any of us. We have caused nothing but chaos thus far in trying to eliminate the human characteristics from our friends and neighbors. Made messes. Worked havoc.
We have NO CAPABILITIES whatsoever when it comes to implanting the NATURE OF GOD into the lives of other people. ONLY GOD CAN DO THAT!
The best we have been able to do thus far is to lay condemnation on our friends and neighbors for what they/we are NOT DOING. That was the purpose of the Mosaic Covenant. In 1500 years, it taught us that humans are incapable of measuring up to the LAW OF GOD’S NATURE. Ours is a nature of REBELLION TOWARD GOD.
But, REST ASSURED that God has a reason for what He says He WILL DO for humanity.
About 4000 years ago there was a man named Abram who found Grace in the sight of the Lord because he believed and acted upon what God said to him.
God, after 42 years of testing Abram, was satisfied with what he saw (Faith in what God said), and He made a COVENANT OF PROMISE with the man Abram.
IT WAS A UNILATERAL COVENANT OF PROMISE.
Gen 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
Gen 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Gen 22:18 And IN THY SEED shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
The SEED spoken of here is JESUS CHRIST. See Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
When Jesus ministerd on earth, He CONFIRMED THE COVENANT with the Jewish people, but they would have none of it, and opted for the consequences--DESOLATION.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall MAKE IT DESOLATE, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
When Jesus spoke about the PROMISE OF THE FATHER, he was referring to the COVENANT OF ABRAHAM that He was confirming.
God’s COVENANT/PROMISE was to endure for a thousand generations.
Psa 105:6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
Psa 105:7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
Psa 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
Who are the HEIRS OF ABRAHAM? Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the PROMISE.
Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was CONFIRMED BEFORE OF GOD IN CHRIST, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the PROMISE of none effect.
The COVENANT/PROMISE OF ABRAHAM WAS DESTINED TO COVER THE WHOLE WORLD.
Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Bear in mind that this was a UNILATERAL COVENANT we are dealing with. Unilateral, and worldwide.
IT WILL HAPPEN.
Eze 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
Eze 36:23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Eze 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Eze 36:29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
Eze 36:30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.
Please take note that there are no “If’s” or “Maybe’s” in the above passage I have quoted. There are no conditions or qualifications to be met by the people involved. “It’s gonna happen.”
We have it to “look forward to”.
It will be “All of God, and none of us”.
A similar scripture is found in Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Note again that there seems to be NO REQUIREMENTS laid on the people. God will do it Himself, asking no odds of anybody.
Think about it. Pleasing God will be as natural as breathing. No more struggling with flesh, to bring it into line with the Word of God. No more of the fleshly desires that hinder our progress toward the ways of God.
Why would God do that for fallen humanity?
Isn’t there SOMETHING that humans have to do to help make this possible?
God NEEDS NO HELP from any of us. We have caused nothing but chaos thus far in trying to eliminate the human characteristics from our friends and neighbors. Made messes. Worked havoc.
We have NO CAPABILITIES whatsoever when it comes to implanting the NATURE OF GOD into the lives of other people. ONLY GOD CAN DO THAT!
The best we have been able to do thus far is to lay condemnation on our friends and neighbors for what they/we are NOT DOING. That was the purpose of the Mosaic Covenant. In 1500 years, it taught us that humans are incapable of measuring up to the LAW OF GOD’S NATURE. Ours is a nature of REBELLION TOWARD GOD.
But, REST ASSURED that God has a reason for what He says He WILL DO for humanity.
About 4000 years ago there was a man named Abram who found Grace in the sight of the Lord because he believed and acted upon what God said to him.
God, after 42 years of testing Abram, was satisfied with what he saw (Faith in what God said), and He made a COVENANT OF PROMISE with the man Abram.
IT WAS A UNILATERAL COVENANT OF PROMISE.
Gen 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
Gen 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Gen 22:18 And IN THY SEED shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
The SEED spoken of here is JESUS CHRIST. See Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
When Jesus ministerd on earth, He CONFIRMED THE COVENANT with the Jewish people, but they would have none of it, and opted for the consequences--DESOLATION.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall MAKE IT DESOLATE, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
When Jesus spoke about the PROMISE OF THE FATHER, he was referring to the COVENANT OF ABRAHAM that He was confirming.
God’s COVENANT/PROMISE was to endure for a thousand generations.
Psa 105:6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
Psa 105:7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
Psa 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
Who are the HEIRS OF ABRAHAM? Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the PROMISE.
Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was CONFIRMED BEFORE OF GOD IN CHRIST, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the PROMISE of none effect.
The COVENANT/PROMISE OF ABRAHAM WAS DESTINED TO COVER THE WHOLE WORLD.
Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Bear in mind that this was a UNILATERAL COVENANT we are dealing with. Unilateral, and worldwide.
IT WILL HAPPEN.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
TWELVE SENT
TWELVE SENT
Jesus was more than a Prophet. HE WAS GOD IN FLESH.
His manner of prophecy was sometimes different from
the ordinary, but they were prophesies, none the less.
Here is one example of how they were different.
One day, according to Matt 10, He sent His twelve
disciples out to act out a prophecy about the end of
the age. It reads like this: Matthew 10:1 _And when he
_had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave
_them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out,
_and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of
_disease. ú These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded
_them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and
_into [any] city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go
_rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And
_as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at
_hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the
_dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely
_give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in
_your purses,ú Nor scrip for [your] journey, neither two
_coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman
_is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or
_town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and
_there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into
_an house, salute it.
This was not a permanent arrangement, as we can see
from other Scriptures that those same disciples were
not able to do the job placed before them. The power,
or Authority was given to them by Jesus, as proof that
it _could be done,_ and as a _demonstration of what will _
_be done by a few (comparatively) who are close enough _
to receive what will given to ardent followers on the
Day of Atonement, and to reap the benefits from it.
I marvel that the truths of the Day of Atonement
are not being taught more than they are. It seems to
have "slipped through the cracks" of modern Theology.
But it is there, bright and clear, if we care to
examine it.
The biggest problem will be letting go of some of
the "standard" teachings before we can grasp this truth
of future events in God's Calendar.
"Freely ye have received (without limitations or
restraint). Freely give (no limitations on what you
will be able to accomplish)." NOTHING can resist this
God-given authority, as guided by the Spirit Itself.
The Mission? Preach, heal the sick, raise the dead,
cast out devils, and have no worry about living expens-
es nor clothing. It was a prophecy of the days follow-
ing the Day of Atonement. I am hoping to see it, and
participate in it, by the Grace of God.
Jesus was more than a Prophet. HE WAS GOD IN FLESH.
His manner of prophecy was sometimes different from
the ordinary, but they were prophesies, none the less.
Here is one example of how they were different.
One day, according to Matt 10, He sent His twelve
disciples out to act out a prophecy about the end of
the age. It reads like this: Matthew 10:1 _And when he
_had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave
_them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out,
_and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of
_disease. ú These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded
_them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and
_into [any] city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go
_rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And
_as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at
_hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the
_dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely
_give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in
_your purses,ú Nor scrip for [your] journey, neither two
_coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman
_is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or
_town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and
_there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into
_an house, salute it.
This was not a permanent arrangement, as we can see
from other Scriptures that those same disciples were
not able to do the job placed before them. The power,
or Authority was given to them by Jesus, as proof that
it _could be done,_ and as a _demonstration of what will _
_be done by a few (comparatively) who are close enough _
to receive what will given to ardent followers on the
Day of Atonement, and to reap the benefits from it.
I marvel that the truths of the Day of Atonement
are not being taught more than they are. It seems to
have "slipped through the cracks" of modern Theology.
But it is there, bright and clear, if we care to
examine it.
The biggest problem will be letting go of some of
the "standard" teachings before we can grasp this truth
of future events in God's Calendar.
"Freely ye have received (without limitations or
restraint). Freely give (no limitations on what you
will be able to accomplish)." NOTHING can resist this
God-given authority, as guided by the Spirit Itself.
The Mission? Preach, heal the sick, raise the dead,
cast out devils, and have no worry about living expens-
es nor clothing. It was a prophecy of the days follow-
ing the Day of Atonement. I am hoping to see it, and
participate in it, by the Grace of God.
PILLARS IN THE TEMPLE
PILLARS IN THE TEMPLE
In the letters to the Churches, as recorded in Rev.
2 & 3, there is a statement that needs a little further
scrutiny, because it is loaded with import. Let's look
at it.
Rev. 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a
pillar in the temple of My God---."
Now, contrast this with a scripture in Rev. 21:22
where it says, "and I saw no temple therein; for the
Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it."
Is there a mistake in the scriptures? The same
writer has written both scriptures. The same Spirit
has shown the vision to John. Did God change His Mind
somewhere in the process?
I would rather believe that there has not been a
mistake, nor a change of course by the Spirit. The
fault MUST be in our ability to grasp just what is
being said by the Spirit.
First, let me say that Scripture does not support
the belief that there will EVER be a physical temple
again. Much as man desires a physical place of beauty
in which to worship, we will yet learn that "They that
worship Him will worship in Spirit and in Truth.
The Bible, however, DOES SUPPORT THE BUILDING
OF A SPIRITUAL TEMPLE, made up of human beings who have
met the requirements of a Holy God for their lives.
Please note, though, that they have NOT had to work
for their salvation. That is, and must ever be,
a GIFT OF GOD. Working FOR REFINEMENT OF CHARACTER
AFTER WE HAVE THE GIFT OF SALVATION WILL ENHANCE OUR
CHANCES OF BEING CHOSEN OF THE LORD.
1 Pet. 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones are built
up a spiritual house." See also Eph 2:20 "--built upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. In Whom
all the building fitly framed together GROWETH UNTO AN
HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD: In Whom ye also are
builded together for an habitation of God through the
Spirit."
Long before the birth of Jesus, the prophet
Zechariah told of One who was to be called the BRANCH,
and that He would build the Temple--the Temple being,
of course, the one built by the Spirit of God with the
Lively Stones cut out and prepared by the Spirit. Zec.
6:12
It goes without saying, that not ALL CHRISTIANS
will attain to becoming a part of this Spirtual Temple.
Only those who qualify as Overcomers will be eligible.
It is impossible to study the Scriptures, and not
discover the fact that there are distinctions made be-
tween Christians and Christians. Some are sincere,
others are careless and nonchalant. Some are striving
to overcome their flesh, others only revel in what
Jesus has done for them, content with their status quo.
It is, also, difficult for us to comprehend the
full meaning of these things, because of some of our
past teachings.
The process of UN-LEARNING these past teachings is
sometimes very painful.
Violent as the process may be, it will be well
worth our while to put forth the effort, in order to
know the TRUTH when it is brought to light. The TRUTH
will make us free.
In the letters to the Churches, as recorded in Rev.
2 & 3, there is a statement that needs a little further
scrutiny, because it is loaded with import. Let's look
at it.
Rev. 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a
pillar in the temple of My God---."
Now, contrast this with a scripture in Rev. 21:22
where it says, "and I saw no temple therein; for the
Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it."
Is there a mistake in the scriptures? The same
writer has written both scriptures. The same Spirit
has shown the vision to John. Did God change His Mind
somewhere in the process?
I would rather believe that there has not been a
mistake, nor a change of course by the Spirit. The
fault MUST be in our ability to grasp just what is
being said by the Spirit.
First, let me say that Scripture does not support
the belief that there will EVER be a physical temple
again. Much as man desires a physical place of beauty
in which to worship, we will yet learn that "They that
worship Him will worship in Spirit and in Truth.
The Bible, however, DOES SUPPORT THE BUILDING
OF A SPIRITUAL TEMPLE, made up of human beings who have
met the requirements of a Holy God for their lives.
Please note, though, that they have NOT had to work
for their salvation. That is, and must ever be,
a GIFT OF GOD. Working FOR REFINEMENT OF CHARACTER
AFTER WE HAVE THE GIFT OF SALVATION WILL ENHANCE OUR
CHANCES OF BEING CHOSEN OF THE LORD.
1 Pet. 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones are built
up a spiritual house." See also Eph 2:20 "--built upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. In Whom
all the building fitly framed together GROWETH UNTO AN
HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD: In Whom ye also are
builded together for an habitation of God through the
Spirit."
Long before the birth of Jesus, the prophet
Zechariah told of One who was to be called the BRANCH,
and that He would build the Temple--the Temple being,
of course, the one built by the Spirit of God with the
Lively Stones cut out and prepared by the Spirit. Zec.
6:12
It goes without saying, that not ALL CHRISTIANS
will attain to becoming a part of this Spirtual Temple.
Only those who qualify as Overcomers will be eligible.
It is impossible to study the Scriptures, and not
discover the fact that there are distinctions made be-
tween Christians and Christians. Some are sincere,
others are careless and nonchalant. Some are striving
to overcome their flesh, others only revel in what
Jesus has done for them, content with their status quo.
It is, also, difficult for us to comprehend the
full meaning of these things, because of some of our
past teachings.
The process of UN-LEARNING these past teachings is
sometimes very painful.
Violent as the process may be, it will be well
worth our while to put forth the effort, in order to
know the TRUTH when it is brought to light. The TRUTH
will make us free.
WHENCE CAMEST THOU
___WHENCE CAMEST THOU?_
It doesn't require a whole bunch of smarts to be
aware of the fact that the nations are in a world of
hurting. Reading one newspaper, or watching a news
cast will quickly tip you off to that fact.
We have a great tendency to shrug our shoulders
and say there is nothing we can do about it, and we are
partly right about that. But will you listen to me for
a moment?
If I read the signs of the times correctly, there
is a single "fountain head" from which many of our
problems issue. There is something more to be reckoned
with than the mere fact of man's moral decadence.
Consider the strength with which the homosexual
community is demanding attention. To be sure, each
generation since the time of Noah has had its share of
"queers", but they have mostly stayed in the woodwork
and the closets because they knew it was wrong for them
to do what they were doing. Now they are being ushered
right into the limelight, and our children are being
told that it is merely an "alternate life style" rather
than what the Bible says it is--an abomination to God.
Do we know who is doing it? From whence do they get
the "drive" that is hurtling them into the limelight of
public awareness. Are their sheer numbers overwhelming
the "regulars" in our society? You and I both know
differently. Then why are we being required to accept
their actions a an "alternate normal"? Where is the
"unseen hand"? Is there, indeed, an unseen hand?
Consider the power of the demand for sex educa
tion in our schools, and how educational reform has
been forced upon us whether we want it or not. Most of
us are not in favor of either one of them, but we are
having them forced upon us. From whence comes their
momentum, that they should roll over us in spite of our
protests?
Consider how God has been dragged out of the
school rooms across America. Is ALL of America that
badly depraved? Is it the workings of an unseen hand?
Why are we so unable to stop the easy flow of
drugs into our country? Is it because our police force
is so inefficient? Can it be that their hands are tied
behind their backs while an unseen force works havoc in
our land? Can it be that they are forbidden to do what
they know they can do?
Is the break down of the institution of Marriage
a lapse of moral fiber altogether, or is it engineered
by a force we do not see?
I recently read a little booklet written by Don
Hicks of Nampa, Idaho. He offers an explanation which
does not seem to be too far out of line. He believes
he can identify the one fountain head from which most
of these devastating factors come. Each factor is an
expression of hatred for Jesus Christ and all that His
Name stands for.
Other things I have read in times past seem to
confirm what Don says--that there is a single powerful
force behind these things. It is an energetic, secret,
group of individuals with no good motives to their
credit.
The Bible, also, seems to bear out the existence
of such a group, and tells of its demolition by the
Power of God before they can accomplish their
diabolical plot. "When they shall say, 'Peace and
safety', sudden destruction cometh--." "But they know
not the thoughts of the Lord." God still has a "trick"
or two "up His sleeve."
It is going to be interesting to watch what God
does in the not-too-distant future.
We might be wise to carefully scrutinize the
current "prophetic" teachings, and abandon some of
them, in favor of what the Word plainly teaches.
It doesn't require a whole bunch of smarts to be
aware of the fact that the nations are in a world of
hurting. Reading one newspaper, or watching a news
cast will quickly tip you off to that fact.
We have a great tendency to shrug our shoulders
and say there is nothing we can do about it, and we are
partly right about that. But will you listen to me for
a moment?
If I read the signs of the times correctly, there
is a single "fountain head" from which many of our
problems issue. There is something more to be reckoned
with than the mere fact of man's moral decadence.
Consider the strength with which the homosexual
community is demanding attention. To be sure, each
generation since the time of Noah has had its share of
"queers", but they have mostly stayed in the woodwork
and the closets because they knew it was wrong for them
to do what they were doing. Now they are being ushered
right into the limelight, and our children are being
told that it is merely an "alternate life style" rather
than what the Bible says it is--an abomination to God.
Do we know who is doing it? From whence do they get
the "drive" that is hurtling them into the limelight of
public awareness. Are their sheer numbers overwhelming
the "regulars" in our society? You and I both know
differently. Then why are we being required to accept
their actions a an "alternate normal"? Where is the
"unseen hand"? Is there, indeed, an unseen hand?
Consider the power of the demand for sex educa
tion in our schools, and how educational reform has
been forced upon us whether we want it or not. Most of
us are not in favor of either one of them, but we are
having them forced upon us. From whence comes their
momentum, that they should roll over us in spite of our
protests?
Consider how God has been dragged out of the
school rooms across America. Is ALL of America that
badly depraved? Is it the workings of an unseen hand?
Why are we so unable to stop the easy flow of
drugs into our country? Is it because our police force
is so inefficient? Can it be that their hands are tied
behind their backs while an unseen force works havoc in
our land? Can it be that they are forbidden to do what
they know they can do?
Is the break down of the institution of Marriage
a lapse of moral fiber altogether, or is it engineered
by a force we do not see?
I recently read a little booklet written by Don
Hicks of Nampa, Idaho. He offers an explanation which
does not seem to be too far out of line. He believes
he can identify the one fountain head from which most
of these devastating factors come. Each factor is an
expression of hatred for Jesus Christ and all that His
Name stands for.
Other things I have read in times past seem to
confirm what Don says--that there is a single powerful
force behind these things. It is an energetic, secret,
group of individuals with no good motives to their
credit.
The Bible, also, seems to bear out the existence
of such a group, and tells of its demolition by the
Power of God before they can accomplish their
diabolical plot. "When they shall say, 'Peace and
safety', sudden destruction cometh--." "But they know
not the thoughts of the Lord." God still has a "trick"
or two "up His sleeve."
It is going to be interesting to watch what God
does in the not-too-distant future.
We might be wise to carefully scrutinize the
current "prophetic" teachings, and abandon some of
them, in favor of what the Word plainly teaches.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
WHAT GOES AROUND
WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND
A few years ago, a man I was working with made the statement that the law of Karma meant, basically, that "What Goes Around, Comes Around". We had been talking about "Chickens Come Home To Roost" and a few other aspects of the law of Sowing and Reaping.
Today, I was reminded of some scriptures in the Old Testament which could add credence to those wise sayings of yester year.
Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe [and] to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
What the Lord was saying to His People in this passage is: If you "send around" obedience to the principles of the Word of God, as you make choices of conduct and habit in your everyday life as you deal with other men and women, you can expect something to "come around" in response to those actions and motives.
Imagine being OVERTAKEN and RUN OVER by the blessings of the Lord! What a happy "catastrophe" to have befall you. Overtaken by the Blessing of the Lord! Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
I'm sure we would all like to brush some of that kind of "DUST" off of ourselves-- every now and then.
We can look forward to that, if we "send around" a goodly portion of "obedience to God" in our daily course of life.
But the same law of "sowing and reaping" works in the reverse fashion also.
Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
If we take the attitude that it doesn't really matter too much whether we follow Godly principles in our dealings with other people-- if we "fudge" a little here and there for personal advantage or gain, we can expect a return which is fitting for such a pattern of conduct.
Perhaps Abraham Lincoln wasn't so "dumb" after all when he walked that great distance to return the very small amount of money he had, unknowingly, shorted a customer of the store where he was working. How far would we go, to make right a wrong we had done to another human being? Will it make any difference in the long run?
A few years ago, a man I was working with made the statement that the law of Karma meant, basically, that "What Goes Around, Comes Around". We had been talking about "Chickens Come Home To Roost" and a few other aspects of the law of Sowing and Reaping.
Today, I was reminded of some scriptures in the Old Testament which could add credence to those wise sayings of yester year.
Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe [and] to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
What the Lord was saying to His People in this passage is: If you "send around" obedience to the principles of the Word of God, as you make choices of conduct and habit in your everyday life as you deal with other men and women, you can expect something to "come around" in response to those actions and motives.
Imagine being OVERTAKEN and RUN OVER by the blessings of the Lord! What a happy "catastrophe" to have befall you. Overtaken by the Blessing of the Lord! Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
I'm sure we would all like to brush some of that kind of "DUST" off of ourselves-- every now and then.
We can look forward to that, if we "send around" a goodly portion of "obedience to God" in our daily course of life.
But the same law of "sowing and reaping" works in the reverse fashion also.
Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
If we take the attitude that it doesn't really matter too much whether we follow Godly principles in our dealings with other people-- if we "fudge" a little here and there for personal advantage or gain, we can expect a return which is fitting for such a pattern of conduct.
Perhaps Abraham Lincoln wasn't so "dumb" after all when he walked that great distance to return the very small amount of money he had, unknowingly, shorted a customer of the store where he was working. How far would we go, to make right a wrong we had done to another human being? Will it make any difference in the long run?
TREASURE IN A FIELD
TREASURE IN A FIELD
Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
A treasure, to different people means different things.
The Apostle Paul held one thing dear to his heart as he worked for the Lord.
II Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
His "treasure" was the Ministry which God had given him. I Corinthians 2:4 tells us what he considered most important. "And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
He had developed a "Spiritual Sensitivity", in order to do the work which God had called him to do.
Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith--
I still remember the fear which gripped my heart one summer day when I was about 15 years old. Three or four of us were out in the east forty, bunching hay. Three miles to the north, we would watch for the daily passenger train headed east. When we saw it, we knew we had only ten minutes more until noon, and lunch.
I saw the steam of the whistle. One of the other boys said, "He sure blew a wicked one today." For the first time, I realized that other folks were hearing things I was not. Panic seized me, for I knew what that meant.
Serious as my problem has become over the years, there is one thing which far surpasses it in importance in the light of eternal values.
Proverbs 2:2 --incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding;
Philippians 3:13 --but [this] one thing [I do],
Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou...find the knowledge of God..
II Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 3:13 Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding.
Proverbs 3:15 She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
II Timothy 1:6 --stir up the gift of God, which is in thee--.
Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
A treasure, to different people means different things.
The Apostle Paul held one thing dear to his heart as he worked for the Lord.
II Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
His "treasure" was the Ministry which God had given him. I Corinthians 2:4 tells us what he considered most important. "And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
He had developed a "Spiritual Sensitivity", in order to do the work which God had called him to do.
Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith--
I still remember the fear which gripped my heart one summer day when I was about 15 years old. Three or four of us were out in the east forty, bunching hay. Three miles to the north, we would watch for the daily passenger train headed east. When we saw it, we knew we had only ten minutes more until noon, and lunch.
I saw the steam of the whistle. One of the other boys said, "He sure blew a wicked one today." For the first time, I realized that other folks were hearing things I was not. Panic seized me, for I knew what that meant.
Serious as my problem has become over the years, there is one thing which far surpasses it in importance in the light of eternal values.
Proverbs 2:2 --incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding;
Philippians 3:13 --but [this] one thing [I do],
Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou...find the knowledge of God..
II Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 3:13 Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding.
Proverbs 3:15 She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
II Timothy 1:6 --stir up the gift of God, which is in thee--.
WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE
WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE?
I greatly fear that the Christian community is becoming ensnared in a swamp of discouragement, as the result of erroneous teachings we have allowed ourselves to believe.
One such error is the belief that we are gradually losing the battle for right and purity, and righteousness will never prevail over the depravity of the world. Oh, we ALL subscribe to the thought that Jesus will set things right when He returns to the earth. There is no question about that-- it is an established fact.
But, I am convinced that Jesus didn't die in order to establish a Church which would end in defeat, and have to be rescued by a fell swoop at the end, in order to escape anihilation by the forces of evil.
I can't buy that-- in the light of what I believe the scriptures are plainly trying to teach us. There are so many places where we are told of the Glory that is to be revealed in us, and what the Lord is planning to do through the Church.
I shall never forget the transformation which took place in my own life when I asked the Lord to strip away from me all the false ideas about the Gospel, and teach me how to find the real Truth contained therein.
Believe me, it was a real transformation of life and ministry when I finally was willing to relinquish what He began to strip away. He always replaced those things with something better. After a while it became easier to let loose of that He wanted to take away, but at the beginning it had left me somewhat bewildered, and I wondered at times if there would be anything left.
Eventually, a whole new world of light has been shed on the Gospel. And, stangely enough, it makes more sense than the old curriculum ever did.
He began to teach me that HE IS IN CHARGE--- TODAY. And HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING-- RIGHT NOW.
We need not worry. Remind yourself that He let the children of Israel toil in Egypt for at least 80 years while He was preparing Moses to lead them out. Also, He told Abraham eight generations earlier that-- "Genesis 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites [is] not yet full. "
Present conditions are bad-- no doubt about that. But they have been worse-- lots worse--, and the Lord has managed to restore rectitude-- WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT.
There is a definite reason for the lack of power and anointing in the Church today. I have no idea how much longer the Lord intends to allow the condition to continue. But I am sure He know how to deal with it-- IN HIS TIME.
God Bless!
I greatly fear that the Christian community is becoming ensnared in a swamp of discouragement, as the result of erroneous teachings we have allowed ourselves to believe.
One such error is the belief that we are gradually losing the battle for right and purity, and righteousness will never prevail over the depravity of the world. Oh, we ALL subscribe to the thought that Jesus will set things right when He returns to the earth. There is no question about that-- it is an established fact.
But, I am convinced that Jesus didn't die in order to establish a Church which would end in defeat, and have to be rescued by a fell swoop at the end, in order to escape anihilation by the forces of evil.
I can't buy that-- in the light of what I believe the scriptures are plainly trying to teach us. There are so many places where we are told of the Glory that is to be revealed in us, and what the Lord is planning to do through the Church.
I shall never forget the transformation which took place in my own life when I asked the Lord to strip away from me all the false ideas about the Gospel, and teach me how to find the real Truth contained therein.
Believe me, it was a real transformation of life and ministry when I finally was willing to relinquish what He began to strip away. He always replaced those things with something better. After a while it became easier to let loose of that He wanted to take away, but at the beginning it had left me somewhat bewildered, and I wondered at times if there would be anything left.
Eventually, a whole new world of light has been shed on the Gospel. And, stangely enough, it makes more sense than the old curriculum ever did.
He began to teach me that HE IS IN CHARGE--- TODAY. And HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING-- RIGHT NOW.
We need not worry. Remind yourself that He let the children of Israel toil in Egypt for at least 80 years while He was preparing Moses to lead them out. Also, He told Abraham eight generations earlier that-- "Genesis 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites [is] not yet full. "
Present conditions are bad-- no doubt about that. But they have been worse-- lots worse--, and the Lord has managed to restore rectitude-- WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT.
There is a definite reason for the lack of power and anointing in the Church today. I have no idea how much longer the Lord intends to allow the condition to continue. But I am sure He know how to deal with it-- IN HIS TIME.
God Bless!
THE FEET
The following is one chapter from the booklet "DAY OF ATONEMENT" written by Marion Fretwell
902 So 11th Ave Yakima, WA. 98902
THE FEET
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace: that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation: that saith unto Zion, 'Thy God Reigneth'." Isa 52:7
NO study of the End-time Ministry would be complete without mentioning the "Feet". They, being the extremities of the anatomy, are used in prophetic language to portray what Jesus is planning for His faithful followers in the extremity of this dispensation.
LET me give you a few thoughts, as I believe the Lord has given them to me.
IN John 13 you will find the text of what I am referring to. Jesus had taken a towel and a basin of water, and began to wash the feet of His disciples. He came to Peter, who said, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." Jesus replied and said, "What I do thou knowest not now: but thou shalt know hereafter." What was Jesus talking about? What was the hidden meaning of Him washing the feet of His disciples---His close followers? Why didn't He wash the feet of everybody? Were the feet of His disciples extra dirty? Why just His close followers? No, their feet were not extra dirty. He was not giving them a lesson in hygiene. Nothing like that.
JESUS was giving them a prophecy concerning the extremity of the dispensation that He was just about to usher in upon the earth---Grace.
There will come a special cleansing to the close followers of Jesus in the last days, which will make them "beautiful." Just the close followers will receive it.
THE KEY which permits us to use the scripture this way is in Daniel 2, where the King of Babylon had dreamed a dream about a great image made up of different metal ---gold, silver, brass, iron, and iron mixed with clay The image was a chronological preview of the four great Gentile Kingdoms which were to come into being on the earth. The feet and toes were to represent what we have on the earth today in the politics of the world.
RUNNING parallel to the world kingdom is a Kingdom which God is in the process of bringing to perfection. God's kingdom is the stone which was hewn out of the mountain, which smote the image in the feet, and obliterated it. "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed...". Dan 2:44
THE body of Christ, the Church, has been in existence for a long time also, and has gone through various stages, like the image which the King of Babylon saw in his dream. We are now living in the time of the feet.
LISTEN to what John said about what he saw when he beheld it, in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. "And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace." Rev 1:15 This tells us that in the time of the feet, there will be "Refined Judgment" or "Exact Judgment".
"JUDGMENT", here, as in most usages of the word in scripture, means putting things in their proper place, or putting proper value on things--knowing what should be where, and why.
PRESENT day believers, especially those who are walking as closely to the Lord as they know how, constitute the "feet" of the body of Christ in the same sense that the present day governments of the world constitute the "feet" of the Babylonian image.
JESUS allowed a prophecy to be enacted concerning the believer of the last days while in Bethany at a supper in His honor. Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. See Jn 12:3 Why did she anoint the feet? Why not the head? Why not the hands and arms? Because the special anointing was to be poured out upon the saints of the last days. GOD HAS A SPECIAL WORK FOR US TO DO, AND IT WILL TAKE A SPECIAL ANOINTING TO GET THE JOB DONE.
THERE is a work to be completed, Brethren, and we need to fix our gaze in that direction INSTEAD OF SEEKING AN ESCAPE ROUTE, as we have been programmed to do for so many decades. If you can handle it, take a look at the many scriptures that talk about all things being put under His Feet. That includes His enemies.
GOD intends to use His Saints--"My sanctified ones--My mighty ones for Mine anger, even them that rejoice in My Highness." See Isa 13:3 They will be the Weapons of His Indignation". See vs 5.
"But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever---Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High: and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." See Dan 7:22,27
BECAUSE "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds", we cannot expect by any fleshly means to overpower the forces of evil as they are seen in the governmental, financial and religious institutions of the world today.
Legislation will not do it. Armies will not do it. Passing resolutions will not do it. Our only means of attack is the Spirit of Almighty God.
BUT THAT IS SUFFICIENT!
WHEN the Mighty Angel binds Satan, to cast him into the bottomless pit, he will use the Chain of the SPIRIT OF GOD. If you can believe it, the Mighty Angel is the SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, after they have received the Anointing typified by Mary in Bethany, when she anointed the feet of Jesus with the "VERY COSTLY OINTMENT."
IT WILL BE A VERY COSTLY ANOINTING, and few will be willing to pay the cost to be in that company.
WE OFFER NO EASY ESCAPE ROUTE.
NOR DOES THE WORD OF GOD.
The Church world needs to get their eyes off of some of the traditional teachings, and onto what the Word actually SAYS about what IS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
902 So 11th Ave Yakima, WA. 98902
THE FEET
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace: that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation: that saith unto Zion, 'Thy God Reigneth'." Isa 52:7
NO study of the End-time Ministry would be complete without mentioning the "Feet". They, being the extremities of the anatomy, are used in prophetic language to portray what Jesus is planning for His faithful followers in the extremity of this dispensation.
LET me give you a few thoughts, as I believe the Lord has given them to me.
IN John 13 you will find the text of what I am referring to. Jesus had taken a towel and a basin of water, and began to wash the feet of His disciples. He came to Peter, who said, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." Jesus replied and said, "What I do thou knowest not now: but thou shalt know hereafter." What was Jesus talking about? What was the hidden meaning of Him washing the feet of His disciples---His close followers? Why didn't He wash the feet of everybody? Were the feet of His disciples extra dirty? Why just His close followers? No, their feet were not extra dirty. He was not giving them a lesson in hygiene. Nothing like that.
JESUS was giving them a prophecy concerning the extremity of the dispensation that He was just about to usher in upon the earth---Grace.
There will come a special cleansing to the close followers of Jesus in the last days, which will make them "beautiful." Just the close followers will receive it.
THE KEY which permits us to use the scripture this way is in Daniel 2, where the King of Babylon had dreamed a dream about a great image made up of different metal ---gold, silver, brass, iron, and iron mixed with clay The image was a chronological preview of the four great Gentile Kingdoms which were to come into being on the earth. The feet and toes were to represent what we have on the earth today in the politics of the world.
RUNNING parallel to the world kingdom is a Kingdom which God is in the process of bringing to perfection. God's kingdom is the stone which was hewn out of the mountain, which smote the image in the feet, and obliterated it. "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed...". Dan 2:44
THE body of Christ, the Church, has been in existence for a long time also, and has gone through various stages, like the image which the King of Babylon saw in his dream. We are now living in the time of the feet.
LISTEN to what John said about what he saw when he beheld it, in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. "And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace." Rev 1:15 This tells us that in the time of the feet, there will be "Refined Judgment" or "Exact Judgment".
"JUDGMENT", here, as in most usages of the word in scripture, means putting things in their proper place, or putting proper value on things--knowing what should be where, and why.
PRESENT day believers, especially those who are walking as closely to the Lord as they know how, constitute the "feet" of the body of Christ in the same sense that the present day governments of the world constitute the "feet" of the Babylonian image.
JESUS allowed a prophecy to be enacted concerning the believer of the last days while in Bethany at a supper in His honor. Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. See Jn 12:3 Why did she anoint the feet? Why not the head? Why not the hands and arms? Because the special anointing was to be poured out upon the saints of the last days. GOD HAS A SPECIAL WORK FOR US TO DO, AND IT WILL TAKE A SPECIAL ANOINTING TO GET THE JOB DONE.
THERE is a work to be completed, Brethren, and we need to fix our gaze in that direction INSTEAD OF SEEKING AN ESCAPE ROUTE, as we have been programmed to do for so many decades. If you can handle it, take a look at the many scriptures that talk about all things being put under His Feet. That includes His enemies.
GOD intends to use His Saints--"My sanctified ones--My mighty ones for Mine anger, even them that rejoice in My Highness." See Isa 13:3 They will be the Weapons of His Indignation". See vs 5.
"But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever---Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High: and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." See Dan 7:22,27
BECAUSE "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds", we cannot expect by any fleshly means to overpower the forces of evil as they are seen in the governmental, financial and religious institutions of the world today.
Legislation will not do it. Armies will not do it. Passing resolutions will not do it. Our only means of attack is the Spirit of Almighty God.
BUT THAT IS SUFFICIENT!
WHEN the Mighty Angel binds Satan, to cast him into the bottomless pit, he will use the Chain of the SPIRIT OF GOD. If you can believe it, the Mighty Angel is the SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, after they have received the Anointing typified by Mary in Bethany, when she anointed the feet of Jesus with the "VERY COSTLY OINTMENT."
IT WILL BE A VERY COSTLY ANOINTING, and few will be willing to pay the cost to be in that company.
WE OFFER NO EASY ESCAPE ROUTE.
NOR DOES THE WORD OF GOD.
The Church world needs to get their eyes off of some of the traditional teachings, and onto what the Word actually SAYS about what IS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
Monday, June 14, 2010
DOING OR BEING
DOING OR BEING
John, in the book of the Revelation, records the seven letters to the seven churches of Asia. Each letter ends with a promise to "him that overcometh."
We have consistently told you that there are Christians, and then there are Christians-- meaning that not all of us are going to inherit all of the promises that God has made.
Some of those promises are to a people who have "overcome". Overcome what, you might ask, just as I did when the Lord first brought it to my attention nearly fifty years ago.
If I were to tell you that our salvation is somewhat dependent upon what we do after the initial experience of forgiveness, would you believe me? Well, it is, whether we realize it or not.
I do not wish to infer that we are not secure in Jesus from moment one when we are saved. That much will, finally, get us into heaven without any further effort on our part. It is a gift.
But, there is a lot more involved in Salvation than merely making Heaven our home in the sweet by and by.
We are told in Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
The "salvation" Paul is talking about here is what pertains to our WALK WITH THE LORD after the initial experience.
It is here that we are exhorted to (Colossians 3:5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: Overcome them, if you please.
That responsibility rests on our shoulders. There is a REWARD if we do, no REWARD if we don't. The choice is ours. This is different from the GIFT of salvation.
Paul wrote to the Romans and told them how to accomplish this "killing out" of the fleshly desires.
Romans 8:13 --- but if ye THROUGH THE SPIRIT do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
There is no other way to accomplish it. Resolutions are inadequate. Education is a dismal failure. Etiquet training only covers over the festering corruption.
The question is often asked, "How can I get the Spirit to do this nasty job of mortifying the flesh?" "What do I do?"
The best answer I can give you is a "two pronged" attack.
One part is the Word of God. Saturate yourself with as much of the Word as you can get your eyes on. In other words, READ THE BIBLE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. This may cause you to sacrifice time away from the "fishin' hole", the ball park, or other pleasurable activities. HARD CHOICES HAVE TO BE MADE. Nobody has said that it will be easy.
We must determine in our hearts that we will pay the price of CRUCIFIXION OF FLESH. If we have, habitually, indulged a lot of flesh in the past, the price of crucifixion will be proportionately higher. (It's a nasty job, but someone's gotta do it.)
The second part is prayer and consecration to God. I have found that I sometimes had to do some "begging" (supplication) God to help me to overcome some deep seated deficiencies in my make up, which are contrary to the Spirit. This, also, takes TIME AND ENERGY away from things which I ENJOY DOING, and which are NOT SINFUL. AGAIN, HARD CHOICES.
Bible study and prayer are BOTH needed. Either one, by itself, will fall short of the goal.
The veil of flesh (OUR FLESH) separates between us and the Glory of the Lord. That veil of flesh has to be torn apart. The responsibility rests squarely on our own shoulders.
WE must ENLIST THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT to beat down, subdue, and mortify (kill out) those things in our life that keep us from breaking through to the Glory of God.
Hey! I'm not talking about SINFUL things! There is much in every one of us that comes under the category of "NO HARM" in them. But when they consume energy and time which will have to be directed toward God if we are going to see His Glory---.
Some people have a tendency to get real active FOR THE LORD, hoping to be an overcomer by that means. About all they can accomplish is to further spread their carnality. God does not need what we can do FOR Him.
DOING is different than BEING.
Paul said, (II Corinthians 6:1) We then, [as] WORKERS TOGETHER [with him], beseech [you] also....
The essence of "overcoming", then, is just what the word implies. Overcoming our fleshly nature by filling our lives with the Word and the Spirit instead of flesh.
This is the essence of making Jesus the King and Lord of our lives. Nothing short of this will meet the rquirements of becoming an overcomer.
Overcoming constitutes a path of loneliness. There are "few that find it". It is a path of deeper obedience, and will, invariably, bring separation. The multitudes WILL NOT go the full distance with us.
God will make a difference in His Workers (Priests) of the coming Outpouring of Himself on the earth.
In Ezek 44 The qualifications are given to determine who shall minister in THE INNER COURT, and those who are barred from entering into it.
WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW WILL BE A DETERMINING FACTOR.
Ezekiel 44:16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.
Today, each one of us is either ministering to the Lord, in our personal life, or we are catering to our flesh.
We must "come near to Him" before we can be qualified to minister to those who are outside.
THE PROMISES ARE TO THOSE WHO OVERCOME.
John, in the book of the Revelation, records the seven letters to the seven churches of Asia. Each letter ends with a promise to "him that overcometh."
We have consistently told you that there are Christians, and then there are Christians-- meaning that not all of us are going to inherit all of the promises that God has made.
Some of those promises are to a people who have "overcome". Overcome what, you might ask, just as I did when the Lord first brought it to my attention nearly fifty years ago.
If I were to tell you that our salvation is somewhat dependent upon what we do after the initial experience of forgiveness, would you believe me? Well, it is, whether we realize it or not.
I do not wish to infer that we are not secure in Jesus from moment one when we are saved. That much will, finally, get us into heaven without any further effort on our part. It is a gift.
But, there is a lot more involved in Salvation than merely making Heaven our home in the sweet by and by.
We are told in Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
The "salvation" Paul is talking about here is what pertains to our WALK WITH THE LORD after the initial experience.
It is here that we are exhorted to (Colossians 3:5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: Overcome them, if you please.
That responsibility rests on our shoulders. There is a REWARD if we do, no REWARD if we don't. The choice is ours. This is different from the GIFT of salvation.
Paul wrote to the Romans and told them how to accomplish this "killing out" of the fleshly desires.
Romans 8:13 --- but if ye THROUGH THE SPIRIT do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
There is no other way to accomplish it. Resolutions are inadequate. Education is a dismal failure. Etiquet training only covers over the festering corruption.
The question is often asked, "How can I get the Spirit to do this nasty job of mortifying the flesh?" "What do I do?"
The best answer I can give you is a "two pronged" attack.
One part is the Word of God. Saturate yourself with as much of the Word as you can get your eyes on. In other words, READ THE BIBLE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. This may cause you to sacrifice time away from the "fishin' hole", the ball park, or other pleasurable activities. HARD CHOICES HAVE TO BE MADE. Nobody has said that it will be easy.
We must determine in our hearts that we will pay the price of CRUCIFIXION OF FLESH. If we have, habitually, indulged a lot of flesh in the past, the price of crucifixion will be proportionately higher. (It's a nasty job, but someone's gotta do it.)
The second part is prayer and consecration to God. I have found that I sometimes had to do some "begging" (supplication) God to help me to overcome some deep seated deficiencies in my make up, which are contrary to the Spirit. This, also, takes TIME AND ENERGY away from things which I ENJOY DOING, and which are NOT SINFUL. AGAIN, HARD CHOICES.
Bible study and prayer are BOTH needed. Either one, by itself, will fall short of the goal.
The veil of flesh (OUR FLESH) separates between us and the Glory of the Lord. That veil of flesh has to be torn apart. The responsibility rests squarely on our own shoulders.
WE must ENLIST THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT to beat down, subdue, and mortify (kill out) those things in our life that keep us from breaking through to the Glory of God.
Hey! I'm not talking about SINFUL things! There is much in every one of us that comes under the category of "NO HARM" in them. But when they consume energy and time which will have to be directed toward God if we are going to see His Glory---.
Some people have a tendency to get real active FOR THE LORD, hoping to be an overcomer by that means. About all they can accomplish is to further spread their carnality. God does not need what we can do FOR Him.
DOING is different than BEING.
Paul said, (II Corinthians 6:1) We then, [as] WORKERS TOGETHER [with him], beseech [you] also....
The essence of "overcoming", then, is just what the word implies. Overcoming our fleshly nature by filling our lives with the Word and the Spirit instead of flesh.
This is the essence of making Jesus the King and Lord of our lives. Nothing short of this will meet the rquirements of becoming an overcomer.
Overcoming constitutes a path of loneliness. There are "few that find it". It is a path of deeper obedience, and will, invariably, bring separation. The multitudes WILL NOT go the full distance with us.
God will make a difference in His Workers (Priests) of the coming Outpouring of Himself on the earth.
In Ezek 44 The qualifications are given to determine who shall minister in THE INNER COURT, and those who are barred from entering into it.
WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW WILL BE A DETERMINING FACTOR.
Ezekiel 44:16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.
Today, each one of us is either ministering to the Lord, in our personal life, or we are catering to our flesh.
We must "come near to Him" before we can be qualified to minister to those who are outside.
THE PROMISES ARE TO THOSE WHO OVERCOME.
THE LEFT FOOT
THE LEFT FOOT
I wrote earlier about Mama and Papa receiving the left foot of fellowship from the Northern Baptist Convention in Roswell and the surrounding areas after they had embraced the Pentecostal teaching, and received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Perhaps I didn't do the matter justice, by passing over it as lightly as I did.
After Freada's funeral, I was questioned extensively about the legacy which Papa and Mama had left for the Fretwell family. The Nieces and Nephews wanted to know more about the price my parents had paid for the blessings the family had enjoyed.
I never cease to thank God that my parents had the "guts" to walk on with God in the new light He had shed on their pathway.
Papa told me once of the meeting at Roswell Baptist in which the overseer (J. R. Haslam) who lived in Caldwell came down to "set the Church in order". The Pastor of Caldwell Baptist (Bro. Burchard) was also present, and after Bro. Haslam was finished with his business, called on Burchard to dismiss. Bro. Burchard, in his prayer, asked the Lord to forgive Haslam for what he had done. He had summarily dismissed all who would hold to the Pentecostal teaching and practice. Burchard was dismissed from Caldwell also.
Bro Cox, the Pastor of the Baptist Church, would come frequently and talk to Papa about what he had done. He would advise Papa to "stay with the Church, right or wrong". Papa would reply that his conscience wouldn't allow him to do that. Bro. Cox would warn Papa of the terrible effect it would have on his family-- the children would drift out of fellowship with the Lord, and their lives would be wasted. He would warn Papa that some of his precious daughters, who were "talking in tongues" would land in the insane asylum. He had better "straighten up and fly right" to ward off such an attack on his family.
Papa would thank him for his concern, but would firmly tell him that he could not afford to say "No" to what God had shown him.
It was not really hard for Papa to take such a stand, for he had done it before, more than once. His fear of God superceded any other fear he might have had. Some years prior to this test, a family named Gusman who lived in the Jordan Valley area, had tried to convince him that he should become an Adventist and keep the Sabbath. He told me when I was teenager that he had known that if the Gusmans were right, he would have to embrace the doctrine and practices they were espousing. As his custom was, he resorted to the Bible and prayer for guidance. After long poring over the Word, and prayer for an answer from the Lord, the Truth arose in his heart like the sun coming over the eastern hills of the Boise Valley. (Ee-da-how) God had given him His Judgment in the matter. It was closed. His family would not be Adventist. They would not keep the "Sabbath".
Somewhere along the line, Papa also had a brush with the Catholics, but I never did know what that entailed. It would be interesting to know about it, for that skirmish left him with some VERY strong feelings about the "Petticoat Dads" as he called them.
Papa was a preacher of sorts, and his "congregation" was a captive audience around the table three times a day, or whenever Papa had been thinking about that "Left Foot" episode in 1923 or 24. We didn't always appreciate his "sermons", but we tolerated them because of the "loaves and fishes". Perhaps more of it rubbed off onto us than we realized, for he and Mama raised a bunch of God-fearing kids before they had to "lay down the shovel and hoe", and go to meet their Maker.
The "Left Foot" episode polarized the Christian community of Roswell. Truth ALWAYS divides. TRUTH is extremely arbitrary. Jesus, the ULTIMATE TRUTH, said that He had come on the scene to bring division, rather than peace (lack of turmoil).
The Sparks family, along with the Carlisles, the Tunings, the Adams, the Sayres, and other families I can not recall, could not, or would not respond to the new Light of the Word of God. They stayed with the Church, and felt that the Fretwells, the Sullivans, the McCombers, the Stewarts, the Jenkins, the Kerfoots, the Cornwells, and others I can not recall, were doing wrong to hold on to their new religion, and not stay with the Church, be it right or wrong.
The latter group of people rented a lodge hall and started holding Sunday School. Horace Kerfoot was the Superintendent to start out with, and we had three or four different classes. Papa, as he had been accustomed to, was Bible Teacher. I don't remember who taught the class I was assigned to. It doesn't matter, for not much of it soaked in to my juvenile skull.
At least one family was divided right down the middle. Judd Stewart and his daughter Lucille stayed with the Church, while Mrs. Stewart and their son (I want to call him Raymond) came with the Woodman Hall group.
I don't recall anyone ever relating how the episode affected the Church group, for there was not much communication between the two groups. This was especially true of the older folks who had been forced to make a decision in their own lives at the time.
However, the CHILDREN of those family heads later became like most teens tend to be. They preferred a "pack" to being alone, and Church doctrine and practice was secondary, if not completely irrelevant. The result was that the Youth Group of the Church was later to be made up of teens from both camps, and became quite a large group.
God has no grandchildren. Each individual must establish his or her own relationship to God. This was to come later.
Pastors came and went at the Baptist Church as the years wore on. Most of them learned sooner or later, that it was not wise to mention the "Left Foot" episode, and wiser still to not try to do anything about it. It was history, unless you wanted to make something of it. One German man found out the hard way that it was better to "leave sleeping dogs lie." His tenure was quite short, but I don't know how nor by whom the eject lever was pulled.
After about fifteen years of struggling along with a Sunday School and a part time preacher, the folks were growing weary of making so little progress in the Woodman Hall. Paul and Dorothy Yadon had come to Parma and were trying to get a Pentecostal Church going. They had invited David Casper, who was Pastor of a church in Nampa to come hold a revival for them. During that Revival, the Spirit broke upon the congregation, and things started to happen. Mama and Papa started driving the ten miles each night to attend.
Mama phoned me where I was working for my room and $40.00 per month, to see if I would go with them. Not that night, but the next night. That would have been April 1, 1938. It would become a major turning point in my life.
The Lord put a portion of Himself into my body that night. He touched me with His Spirit, and I would never be the same again.
It was some time before the full extent of the change would make itself manifest in my life, for I had plenty of my own plans for my future life that had to be laid down if I was going to walk this new way. Like Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road, I knew I had met my Master, and I would be calling him "Lord" from here on out.
The struggles of Mama and Papa to steer us kids into the right pathways had paid off. The whole family now had the Holy Ghost Baptism. The whole family was serving the Lord, and loving every minute of it. Many of the kids were either already in Ministry or were destined to be ministering in some capacity.
And Bro. Cox? He had died in the insane asylum a few years ago
I wrote earlier about Mama and Papa receiving the left foot of fellowship from the Northern Baptist Convention in Roswell and the surrounding areas after they had embraced the Pentecostal teaching, and received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Perhaps I didn't do the matter justice, by passing over it as lightly as I did.
After Freada's funeral, I was questioned extensively about the legacy which Papa and Mama had left for the Fretwell family. The Nieces and Nephews wanted to know more about the price my parents had paid for the blessings the family had enjoyed.
I never cease to thank God that my parents had the "guts" to walk on with God in the new light He had shed on their pathway.
Papa told me once of the meeting at Roswell Baptist in which the overseer (J. R. Haslam) who lived in Caldwell came down to "set the Church in order". The Pastor of Caldwell Baptist (Bro. Burchard) was also present, and after Bro. Haslam was finished with his business, called on Burchard to dismiss. Bro. Burchard, in his prayer, asked the Lord to forgive Haslam for what he had done. He had summarily dismissed all who would hold to the Pentecostal teaching and practice. Burchard was dismissed from Caldwell also.
Bro Cox, the Pastor of the Baptist Church, would come frequently and talk to Papa about what he had done. He would advise Papa to "stay with the Church, right or wrong". Papa would reply that his conscience wouldn't allow him to do that. Bro. Cox would warn Papa of the terrible effect it would have on his family-- the children would drift out of fellowship with the Lord, and their lives would be wasted. He would warn Papa that some of his precious daughters, who were "talking in tongues" would land in the insane asylum. He had better "straighten up and fly right" to ward off such an attack on his family.
Papa would thank him for his concern, but would firmly tell him that he could not afford to say "No" to what God had shown him.
It was not really hard for Papa to take such a stand, for he had done it before, more than once. His fear of God superceded any other fear he might have had. Some years prior to this test, a family named Gusman who lived in the Jordan Valley area, had tried to convince him that he should become an Adventist and keep the Sabbath. He told me when I was teenager that he had known that if the Gusmans were right, he would have to embrace the doctrine and practices they were espousing. As his custom was, he resorted to the Bible and prayer for guidance. After long poring over the Word, and prayer for an answer from the Lord, the Truth arose in his heart like the sun coming over the eastern hills of the Boise Valley. (Ee-da-how) God had given him His Judgment in the matter. It was closed. His family would not be Adventist. They would not keep the "Sabbath".
Somewhere along the line, Papa also had a brush with the Catholics, but I never did know what that entailed. It would be interesting to know about it, for that skirmish left him with some VERY strong feelings about the "Petticoat Dads" as he called them.
Papa was a preacher of sorts, and his "congregation" was a captive audience around the table three times a day, or whenever Papa had been thinking about that "Left Foot" episode in 1923 or 24. We didn't always appreciate his "sermons", but we tolerated them because of the "loaves and fishes". Perhaps more of it rubbed off onto us than we realized, for he and Mama raised a bunch of God-fearing kids before they had to "lay down the shovel and hoe", and go to meet their Maker.
The "Left Foot" episode polarized the Christian community of Roswell. Truth ALWAYS divides. TRUTH is extremely arbitrary. Jesus, the ULTIMATE TRUTH, said that He had come on the scene to bring division, rather than peace (lack of turmoil).
The Sparks family, along with the Carlisles, the Tunings, the Adams, the Sayres, and other families I can not recall, could not, or would not respond to the new Light of the Word of God. They stayed with the Church, and felt that the Fretwells, the Sullivans, the McCombers, the Stewarts, the Jenkins, the Kerfoots, the Cornwells, and others I can not recall, were doing wrong to hold on to their new religion, and not stay with the Church, be it right or wrong.
The latter group of people rented a lodge hall and started holding Sunday School. Horace Kerfoot was the Superintendent to start out with, and we had three or four different classes. Papa, as he had been accustomed to, was Bible Teacher. I don't remember who taught the class I was assigned to. It doesn't matter, for not much of it soaked in to my juvenile skull.
At least one family was divided right down the middle. Judd Stewart and his daughter Lucille stayed with the Church, while Mrs. Stewart and their son (I want to call him Raymond) came with the Woodman Hall group.
I don't recall anyone ever relating how the episode affected the Church group, for there was not much communication between the two groups. This was especially true of the older folks who had been forced to make a decision in their own lives at the time.
However, the CHILDREN of those family heads later became like most teens tend to be. They preferred a "pack" to being alone, and Church doctrine and practice was secondary, if not completely irrelevant. The result was that the Youth Group of the Church was later to be made up of teens from both camps, and became quite a large group.
God has no grandchildren. Each individual must establish his or her own relationship to God. This was to come later.
Pastors came and went at the Baptist Church as the years wore on. Most of them learned sooner or later, that it was not wise to mention the "Left Foot" episode, and wiser still to not try to do anything about it. It was history, unless you wanted to make something of it. One German man found out the hard way that it was better to "leave sleeping dogs lie." His tenure was quite short, but I don't know how nor by whom the eject lever was pulled.
After about fifteen years of struggling along with a Sunday School and a part time preacher, the folks were growing weary of making so little progress in the Woodman Hall. Paul and Dorothy Yadon had come to Parma and were trying to get a Pentecostal Church going. They had invited David Casper, who was Pastor of a church in Nampa to come hold a revival for them. During that Revival, the Spirit broke upon the congregation, and things started to happen. Mama and Papa started driving the ten miles each night to attend.
Mama phoned me where I was working for my room and $40.00 per month, to see if I would go with them. Not that night, but the next night. That would have been April 1, 1938. It would become a major turning point in my life.
The Lord put a portion of Himself into my body that night. He touched me with His Spirit, and I would never be the same again.
It was some time before the full extent of the change would make itself manifest in my life, for I had plenty of my own plans for my future life that had to be laid down if I was going to walk this new way. Like Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road, I knew I had met my Master, and I would be calling him "Lord" from here on out.
The struggles of Mama and Papa to steer us kids into the right pathways had paid off. The whole family now had the Holy Ghost Baptism. The whole family was serving the Lord, and loving every minute of it. Many of the kids were either already in Ministry or were destined to be ministering in some capacity.
And Bro. Cox? He had died in the insane asylum a few years ago
THE RIVER OF GOD
THE RIVER OF GOD
I know I have written about this before, but it seems to keep coming to me this morning, so I will touch base with it again.
The point which seems to want the limelight right now is found in Ezekiel, chapter 47. It tells about waters issuing out of the House of God-- coming from the right side of the Altar. It grew and grew as it progressed down the hill on its 12 mile journey. Before it was half way to its destination, it had grown to a river which could not be passed over-- "waters to swim in".
Ezekiel 47:5 Afterward he measured a thousand; [and it was] a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
Most scholars agree that this prophecy is talking about an outpouring of the Spirit of God in the end time of this dispensation. We are probably correct. This interpretation is in line with what Jesus said about the believer having a river of living water springing up unto Everlasting Life. See John 7:38 and John 4:14
There are other scriptures which speak about the river of refreshing which is to be expected from the Lord.
Psalms 46:4 [There is] a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy [place] of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psalms 65:9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, [which] is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
A few years ago, I was looking at the river found in Eze 47, and made a remarkable discovery from the Word.
THESE WATERS HAVE A DEFINITE DESTINATION AND A DEFINITE PURPOSE.
Ezekiel 47:8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, AND GO DOWN INTO THE DESERT, AND GO INTO THE SEA: [which being] brought forth into the sea, THE WATERS SHALL BE HEALED.
The first purpose is to bring life to the desert. It will do that.
The second purpose is to heal the waters of the Dead Sea. We all know that nothing lives in the Dead Sea. No plants, no fish, no animals. Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.
What a fitting way for the Lord to portray the "deadness" of humanity. Absolute depravity. Absolute helplessness to produce anything good. All life ceases at its borders. The "Black Hole" of life.
But God! But God has a plan in mind that can and will bring that condition to an end.
According to the Prophet, all of the Dead Sea but a few-- Ezekiel 47:11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.
No, not EVERY ONE will respond to the Spirit of the Lord when it is poured out as a DELUGE upon humanity. But God intends to retrieve a generation or two from the kingdom of death, into the Kingdom of Life-- from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light-- from the kingdom of error to the Kingdom of Truth-- from the kingdom of sin to the Kingdom of Righteousness.
Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
God WILL have the last word.
I know I have written about this before, but it seems to keep coming to me this morning, so I will touch base with it again.
The point which seems to want the limelight right now is found in Ezekiel, chapter 47. It tells about waters issuing out of the House of God-- coming from the right side of the Altar. It grew and grew as it progressed down the hill on its 12 mile journey. Before it was half way to its destination, it had grown to a river which could not be passed over-- "waters to swim in".
Ezekiel 47:5 Afterward he measured a thousand; [and it was] a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
Most scholars agree that this prophecy is talking about an outpouring of the Spirit of God in the end time of this dispensation. We are probably correct. This interpretation is in line with what Jesus said about the believer having a river of living water springing up unto Everlasting Life. See John 7:38 and John 4:14
There are other scriptures which speak about the river of refreshing which is to be expected from the Lord.
Psalms 46:4 [There is] a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy [place] of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psalms 65:9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, [which] is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
A few years ago, I was looking at the river found in Eze 47, and made a remarkable discovery from the Word.
THESE WATERS HAVE A DEFINITE DESTINATION AND A DEFINITE PURPOSE.
Ezekiel 47:8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, AND GO DOWN INTO THE DESERT, AND GO INTO THE SEA: [which being] brought forth into the sea, THE WATERS SHALL BE HEALED.
The first purpose is to bring life to the desert. It will do that.
The second purpose is to heal the waters of the Dead Sea. We all know that nothing lives in the Dead Sea. No plants, no fish, no animals. Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.
What a fitting way for the Lord to portray the "deadness" of humanity. Absolute depravity. Absolute helplessness to produce anything good. All life ceases at its borders. The "Black Hole" of life.
But God! But God has a plan in mind that can and will bring that condition to an end.
According to the Prophet, all of the Dead Sea but a few-- Ezekiel 47:11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.
No, not EVERY ONE will respond to the Spirit of the Lord when it is poured out as a DELUGE upon humanity. But God intends to retrieve a generation or two from the kingdom of death, into the Kingdom of Life-- from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light-- from the kingdom of error to the Kingdom of Truth-- from the kingdom of sin to the Kingdom of Righteousness.
Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
God WILL have the last word.
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.
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. 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. 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. Rhema is the WORD OF FAITH (which we preach). Rhema is the WORD OF CREATION, which we 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 Bible tells us that when the Lord showed His Glory to Israel in the wilderness, it was like a devouring fire. 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.
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.
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. 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. 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. Rhema is the WORD OF FAITH (which we preach). Rhema is the WORD OF CREATION, which we 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 Bible tells us that when the Lord showed His Glory to Israel in the wilderness, it was like a devouring fire. 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.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
WHAT WE LEARNED
This is from my archives. There is one more I can post if desired. ...Marion
WHAT WE LEARNED IN LATTER RAIN
I believe you folks are sincerely interested in knowing what has paved the way for what the world is experiencing today-- a mighty movement of the Spirit of God all over the earth. Most of it can be traced back to the LATTER RAIN movement, which began in the tiny town of North Battleford, Sask. in 1948.
The Canadian brethren did not like the term LATTER RAIN, and rebuked us sharply for using it. To a great extent, they tried to dis-associate themselves from anything that was called LATTER RAIN. It was just as well that they did, for by Spring of 1951, when I attended the FEAST OF PENTECOST gathering up there, they were already showing strong signs of wanting to exercise control over what God was doing. They were beginning to teach "Apostolic Succession" and "Apostolic Authority". This was in direct contradiction to the first expression of purpose in 1948. They had vowed to NEVER try to control what God was doing.
But, when large Centers began springing up for the purpose of helping to spread the news of the Revival, it created an unbearable strain on those first brethren. Detroit had a huge Center, as did Los Angeles, Portland and Vancouver, BC. Others were to follow, but those were the main ones at first.
Christians came together under one Banner-- that of Christian Love and Fellowship. They were willing to lay aside the divisive doctrines of the past, and collectively enjoy the Blessings of the Lord.
Under that canopy, mighty revelations were received, mighty healings took place, and lives were profoundly changed. In fact, under the banner of Love, Bro. Reg Layzell, Pastor of the Vancouver, BC. center received light on the Oneness of God, and Baptism in the Name of Jesus. He, and the whole church (several hundred) were baptized again. A similar thing took place in Everett, WA. So much so, that the Pastor at Everett told me that he doubted that I had ever had the revelation-- I had never mentioned it to him. I assured him that, indeed, I did have it, but had determined to let the Holy Ghost reveal it to whom He would. I was busy trying to digest what the Lord was showing me at the time-- brand new things which would change the course of my life forever, but not increase my popularity in the Fellowship. I was, indeed, "Hearing a different drummer", but didn't know what to do with what I was hearing.
My wife, Pearl, and I began publishing some of those things in 1954, and soon were mailing them across the nation. Later, almost as suddenly as it began, the Lord caused us to cease the publications and we began intensive teaching in the little assembly we were serving at the time. We will never know just why the Lord drove us into obscurity at that time, but we know He had a purpose in doing it. He made it possible in 1992 for us to resume the writings which were interupted for several years.
Reg Layzell was the one responsible for teaching those of us in the Pacific Northwest the inestimable value of copious praise to the Lord in our services. We will always be grateful to him for that. I guess I should also have been grateful to him for disfellowshipping me later because he could not agree with some things I was teaching. Indirectly, it was a great benefit to me, for it made me re-prove to myself that I was, indeed, hearing the voice of the Spirit.
Others brought us the message of "Worship", which has had a much harder time becoming established than the message of "Praise" did. That is due, partly, to the human reluctance to expend what is necessary for us to be exercised in true worship. People still do not grasp the vast difference that exists between the factors of "praise" and "worship". They are BOTH necessary, but they are vastly different, and produce different results in the assembly and in the lives of the individuals. But, that is another topic altogether.
The LATTER RAIN movement served as a springboard for other facets of what has developed through the years. The FGBMFI spearheaded the CHARISMATIC RENEWAL movement which made its way into Notre Dame and othe large universities. It caused the knowledge of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost to be spread far and wide. It is traveling like wildfire in Third World countries-- people receiving the Holy Ghost at approximately one every minute of every day of each week of every year (1997).
"Who hath despised the day of small things? Zec 4:10_
WHAT WE LEARNED IN LATTER RAIN
I believe you folks are sincerely interested in knowing what has paved the way for what the world is experiencing today-- a mighty movement of the Spirit of God all over the earth. Most of it can be traced back to the LATTER RAIN movement, which began in the tiny town of North Battleford, Sask. in 1948.
The Canadian brethren did not like the term LATTER RAIN, and rebuked us sharply for using it. To a great extent, they tried to dis-associate themselves from anything that was called LATTER RAIN. It was just as well that they did, for by Spring of 1951, when I attended the FEAST OF PENTECOST gathering up there, they were already showing strong signs of wanting to exercise control over what God was doing. They were beginning to teach "Apostolic Succession" and "Apostolic Authority". This was in direct contradiction to the first expression of purpose in 1948. They had vowed to NEVER try to control what God was doing.
But, when large Centers began springing up for the purpose of helping to spread the news of the Revival, it created an unbearable strain on those first brethren. Detroit had a huge Center, as did Los Angeles, Portland and Vancouver, BC. Others were to follow, but those were the main ones at first.
Christians came together under one Banner-- that of Christian Love and Fellowship. They were willing to lay aside the divisive doctrines of the past, and collectively enjoy the Blessings of the Lord.
Under that canopy, mighty revelations were received, mighty healings took place, and lives were profoundly changed. In fact, under the banner of Love, Bro. Reg Layzell, Pastor of the Vancouver, BC. center received light on the Oneness of God, and Baptism in the Name of Jesus. He, and the whole church (several hundred) were baptized again. A similar thing took place in Everett, WA. So much so, that the Pastor at Everett told me that he doubted that I had ever had the revelation-- I had never mentioned it to him. I assured him that, indeed, I did have it, but had determined to let the Holy Ghost reveal it to whom He would. I was busy trying to digest what the Lord was showing me at the time-- brand new things which would change the course of my life forever, but not increase my popularity in the Fellowship. I was, indeed, "Hearing a different drummer", but didn't know what to do with what I was hearing.
My wife, Pearl, and I began publishing some of those things in 1954, and soon were mailing them across the nation. Later, almost as suddenly as it began, the Lord caused us to cease the publications and we began intensive teaching in the little assembly we were serving at the time. We will never know just why the Lord drove us into obscurity at that time, but we know He had a purpose in doing it. He made it possible in 1992 for us to resume the writings which were interupted for several years.
Reg Layzell was the one responsible for teaching those of us in the Pacific Northwest the inestimable value of copious praise to the Lord in our services. We will always be grateful to him for that. I guess I should also have been grateful to him for disfellowshipping me later because he could not agree with some things I was teaching. Indirectly, it was a great benefit to me, for it made me re-prove to myself that I was, indeed, hearing the voice of the Spirit.
Others brought us the message of "Worship", which has had a much harder time becoming established than the message of "Praise" did. That is due, partly, to the human reluctance to expend what is necessary for us to be exercised in true worship. People still do not grasp the vast difference that exists between the factors of "praise" and "worship". They are BOTH necessary, but they are vastly different, and produce different results in the assembly and in the lives of the individuals. But, that is another topic altogether.
The LATTER RAIN movement served as a springboard for other facets of what has developed through the years. The FGBMFI spearheaded the CHARISMATIC RENEWAL movement which made its way into Notre Dame and othe large universities. It caused the knowledge of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost to be spread far and wide. It is traveling like wildfire in Third World countries-- people receiving the Holy Ghost at approximately one every minute of every day of each week of every year (1997).
"Who hath despised the day of small things? Zec 4:10_
STRIVE TO ENTER IN
STRIVE TO ENTER IN
There is still too much confusion and faulty interpretation of the Word of God, and it is causing a lot of difficulty for many good Christians. A case in point comes to mind. Listen while I tell you about it:
I was riding with a Real Estate dealer in the early 50’s, looking for a Church building to possibly buy. There was a vacant one available close to where our Church was located. It MAY have been in equal or better repair than the one we had.
It belonged to a group that believed very strongly in the GRACE ALONE message. They had outgrown their old facility, and built a new larger one, where they could also have a school.
The Realtor told me in passing that some of the folks in the congregation had a tendency to be not altogether truthful in their dealings with businesses and other people.
He had questioned some of them about that tendency, and they were right up front with their answers. They believed very strongly in Salvation by The Grace of God, and didn’t feel that their everyday business life had anything to do with their Salvation. In fact, they had the two aspects of life COMPLETELY SEPARATED. They tenaciously guarded, lest anyone try to apply their Salvation to their everyday life, and vice versa.
Well, I had come from a different group of believers, where most folks thought our Salvation greatly DEPENDED on what we did in our dealings with others in everyday life So much so, that we lived in fear of doing something that would completely cancel out our Salvation experience, and send us straight to hell.
We trembled at the Sermon on the Mount, and much of Paul’s writings. We were extremely protective of our reputation and image in the community. Hence, we were ALSO very JUDGMENTAL in our views of other Christians, especially anyone who could not keep pace with our APPEARANCES of HOLINESS.
Inwardly, we KNEW that we were not really “CUTTING THE MUSTARD” that we appeared to be, but WE EXPECTED THE REAL THING FROM THE OTHERS.
Our congregations were turning out full-fledged hypocrites (almost carbon copies of ourselves) as our young folks matured and left the nest.
Well, I began to seek the Lord about the situation, and through the process of time I believe the Lord has answered many of the questions I had. It has been quite slow in developing, because I have had such a struggle re-learning the Plan of Salvation.
Light IS coming, however, and I believe I am getting closer to the “McCoy Version” of the Gospel than I was for so many years.
According to the writers of the Gospels, Jesus SAID VERY LITTLE ABOUT SALVATION. Most of his teaching was about THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Let me cite a few scriptures for you:
Luk 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the KINGDOM OF GOD?
Luk 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Luk 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
Luk 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
LUK 13:24 STRIVE TO ENTER IN AT THE STRAIT GATE: FOR MANY, I SAY UNTO YOU, WILL SEEK TO ENTER IN, AND SHALL NOT BE ABLE.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
1Co 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 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; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keepunder my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Phi 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Phi 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Heb 4:11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
There is still too much confusion and faulty interpretation of the Word of God, and it is causing a lot of difficulty for many good Christians. A case in point comes to mind. Listen while I tell you about it:
I was riding with a Real Estate dealer in the early 50’s, looking for a Church building to possibly buy. There was a vacant one available close to where our Church was located. It MAY have been in equal or better repair than the one we had.
It belonged to a group that believed very strongly in the GRACE ALONE message. They had outgrown their old facility, and built a new larger one, where they could also have a school.
The Realtor told me in passing that some of the folks in the congregation had a tendency to be not altogether truthful in their dealings with businesses and other people.
He had questioned some of them about that tendency, and they were right up front with their answers. They believed very strongly in Salvation by The Grace of God, and didn’t feel that their everyday business life had anything to do with their Salvation. In fact, they had the two aspects of life COMPLETELY SEPARATED. They tenaciously guarded, lest anyone try to apply their Salvation to their everyday life, and vice versa.
Well, I had come from a different group of believers, where most folks thought our Salvation greatly DEPENDED on what we did in our dealings with others in everyday life So much so, that we lived in fear of doing something that would completely cancel out our Salvation experience, and send us straight to hell.
We trembled at the Sermon on the Mount, and much of Paul’s writings. We were extremely protective of our reputation and image in the community. Hence, we were ALSO very JUDGMENTAL in our views of other Christians, especially anyone who could not keep pace with our APPEARANCES of HOLINESS.
Inwardly, we KNEW that we were not really “CUTTING THE MUSTARD” that we appeared to be, but WE EXPECTED THE REAL THING FROM THE OTHERS.
Our congregations were turning out full-fledged hypocrites (almost carbon copies of ourselves) as our young folks matured and left the nest.
Well, I began to seek the Lord about the situation, and through the process of time I believe the Lord has answered many of the questions I had. It has been quite slow in developing, because I have had such a struggle re-learning the Plan of Salvation.
Light IS coming, however, and I believe I am getting closer to the “McCoy Version” of the Gospel than I was for so many years.
According to the writers of the Gospels, Jesus SAID VERY LITTLE ABOUT SALVATION. Most of his teaching was about THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Let me cite a few scriptures for you:
Luk 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the KINGDOM OF GOD?
Luk 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Luk 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
Luk 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
LUK 13:24 STRIVE TO ENTER IN AT THE STRAIT GATE: FOR MANY, I SAY UNTO YOU, WILL SEEK TO ENTER IN, AND SHALL NOT BE ABLE.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
1Co 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 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; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keepunder my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Phi 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Phi 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Heb 4:11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
OVERCOMERS
OVERCOMERS
Our churches are made up of TWO COMPANIES of people-- one within the other. Like an expectant mother, there is a smaller body within the one which is presently carrying it.
This SMALLER group are the OVERCOMERS of the seven churches in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
They are INDIVIDUALS within the corporate body who are meeting God's requirements for their lives in the day they are living. They have made Jesus their LORD. They are more concerned with what His Word requires of them than they are about church buildings, ceremonies, programs and social activities connected with the present set up.
The corporate body is NOT MEETING those requirements-- never has-- never will. It has a huge "machine" running, and it requires so much energy (money, time, maintenance, etc.) to keep it going-- there is very little being accomplished other than fueling and maintaining machinery.
Personal consecration to the Will and Nature of God in the life of the individual has fallen by the wayside. (Whatever happened to prayer meetings where people "consecrated" themselves to the Will of God? That energy is now required to fuel a "machine".) We must now sign petitions, march in a demonstration, and write our congressman, instead of "praying through" to personal victory.
Run-of-the-mill Christianity will never attain to becoming an *Overcomer*, and there are very few promises given to this class of believers. The promises are to the *Overcomers*. *Overcoming* is not as easy as it sounds, and we can certainly not do it in our own strength. We must have the Spirit of God actively working in our lives, guiding, strengthening, energizing us.
*Overcomers* are usually outside the camp of organized religion-- because they simply do not fit into the modus operandi. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God-- "
"And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels--
Our churches are made up of TWO COMPANIES of people-- one within the other. Like an expectant mother, there is a smaller body within the one which is presently carrying it.
This SMALLER group are the OVERCOMERS of the seven churches in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
They are INDIVIDUALS within the corporate body who are meeting God's requirements for their lives in the day they are living. They have made Jesus their LORD. They are more concerned with what His Word requires of them than they are about church buildings, ceremonies, programs and social activities connected with the present set up.
The corporate body is NOT MEETING those requirements-- never has-- never will. It has a huge "machine" running, and it requires so much energy (money, time, maintenance, etc.) to keep it going-- there is very little being accomplished other than fueling and maintaining machinery.
Personal consecration to the Will and Nature of God in the life of the individual has fallen by the wayside. (Whatever happened to prayer meetings where people "consecrated" themselves to the Will of God? That energy is now required to fuel a "machine".) We must now sign petitions, march in a demonstration, and write our congressman, instead of "praying through" to personal victory.
Run-of-the-mill Christianity will never attain to becoming an *Overcomer*, and there are very few promises given to this class of believers. The promises are to the *Overcomers*. *Overcoming* is not as easy as it sounds, and we can certainly not do it in our own strength. We must have the Spirit of God actively working in our lives, guiding, strengthening, energizing us.
*Overcomers* are usually outside the camp of organized religion-- because they simply do not fit into the modus operandi. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God-- "
"And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels--
IN HIM WAS LIFE
IN HIM WAS LIFE
Jn 1:4
Something hit me “like a ton of bricks” a few days ago. I would like to share it with you.
An “in depth” study of the first chapter of John started me down a “rabbit path” of investigation, and I haven’t reached the end of it yet.
My Bible program told me that the word for “life” used here is NOT referring to the PHYSICAL life of humans or other animals, (Psuche), but rather the life of the SPIRIT, (Zoe).
I had known that from previous studies, so it didn’t shake the earth too violently. But a study of the “ZOE” word in the Scriptures led me to something that shook me up quite quite a bit.. I will import it with the Greek numbers included, plus emphases from me.
Joh 5:25 Verily,281 verily,281 I say3004 unto you,5213 The(3754) hour5610 is coming,2064 and2532 now3568 is,2076 when3753 the3588 dead3498 shall hear191 THE3588 VOICE5456 OF THE3588 SON5207 OF GOD:2316 AND2532 THEY THAT HEAR191 SHALL LIVE.2198
Joh 5:26 For1063 as5618 the3588 FATHER3962 HATH2192 LIFE2222 IN1722 HIMSELF;1438 so3779 hath he GIVEN1325 TO(2532) THE3588 SON5207 TO HAVE2192 LIFE2222 IN1722 HIMSELF;1438
Joh 5:27 And2532 HATH GIVEN1325 HIM846 AUTHORITY1849 TO EXECUTE4160 JUDGMENT2920 ALSO,2532 BECAUSE3754 HE IS2076 THE SON5207 OF MAN.444
Joh 5:28 Marvel2296 not3361 at this:5124 for3754 the hour5610 is coming,2064 in1722 the which3739 ALL3956 THAT3588 ARE IN1722 THE3588 GRAVES3419 shall hear191 his846 voice,5456
Joh 5:29 And2532 shall come forth;1607 they that have done4160 good,18 unto1519 the resurrection386 of life;2222 and1161 they that have done4238 evil,5337 unto1519 the resurrection386 of damnation.2920
Verse 25 is, undoubtedly, written about the FIRST RESURRECTION, while verse 28 is very likely referring to the GENERAL RESURRECTION. I had no problem there.
But verse 26 was one of those that “STOOD OUT ON THE PAPER” as the saying goes. I had read it many, many times, but never had I seen what it was trying to tell me this time.
Here is how it happened: The Father hath LIFE (Zoe) in Himself. That means He is “SELF-EXISTENT”. Still no problem, for we have known that all along.
What shook me this time is the statement that “so hath He GIVEN to the SON to have LIFE IN HIMSELF. (to be SELF-EXISTENT) “In Him was LIFE.” Jn 1:4
Now, Some of my friends have believed for a long time that Jesus was “God in the womb, God in the manger, and God in the carpenter shop.”
I don’t. Never have. Never will.
My friends always stop short of saying He was God on the Cross, for that would put their foot into the swamp, but good.
To the best of my understanding, Jesus was born the Son of God. He was the Son of God in the Carpenter shop.
The Son of God went into the waters of Jordan and was baptized by John when it was time for Him to enter into His Messianic Ministry. It was at this time that a mighty event, which many have overlooked, took place.
Luk 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
Luk 3:22 And the HOLY GHOST DESCENDED IN A BODILY SHAPE LIKE A DOVE UPON HIM, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the HEAVENS WERE OPENED UNTO HIM, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
AH! The OPENED HEAVENS! Originally, I thought of this as being a small passage-way for the “dove” to come through. Lately I have come to realize it as something ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. Let me explain.
Jesus was baptized as He became thirty years of age. That was considered the age of accountability or adulthood in those days. It was at that age that a son should be “ADOPTED” by his father, and taken in to full PARTNERSHIP IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS. In this case, it would have been the Carpenter shop.
But, JOSEPH WAS NOT THE FATHER OF JESUS!!!!
JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD!!!
So, in accord with the custom, God stepped up to the plate and LAID CLAIM TO JESUS.
He ANOINTED (COMMISSIONED) JESUS WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED BY JOHN.
It was at that time that God “GAVE” to Jesus THE “SELF-EXISTENT” quality. (Life within Himself”. Jesus was now a FULL PARTNER in the business of REDEEMING mankind from the fall of Adam. Jesus now had full access to what is going on in the HEAVENLY REALM. (The Opened Heavens)
Jesus was STILL the Son of God while doing His Ministry. He was still completely mortal, but he had access to the Heavenly realm in addition to the realm of earth.
Act 10:36 The word (Logos) which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Act 10:37 That word (Rhema), I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Act 10:38 HOW GOD ANOINTED JESUS OF NAZARETH with the Holy Ghost and with power (Dunamis) : who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
That “ANOINTING” consisted of an impartation of a “measureless” amount of the Spirit that spoke the worlds into existence.
Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words (Rhema) of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
As a “SELF-EXISTENT ONE”, Jesus was then able to say things that no other man had ever been able to say.
Joh 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
Joh 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
But the story doesn’t stop here!
Joh 5:27 And2532 HATH GIVEN1325 HIM846 AUTHORITY1849 TO EXECUTE4160 JUDGMENT2920 ALSO,2532 BECAUSE3754 HE IS2076 THE SON5207 OF MAN.
The ANOINTING OF JESUS included the AUTHORITY (Exousia) to execute Judgment.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is ABLE TO SUCCOR them that are tempted.
Heb 4:15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; BUT WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE, yet without sin.
Joh 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: FOR HE KNEW WHAT WAS IN MAN.
We can be glad that Jesus was given authority to sit in judgment of humanity, for it was His humanity that was given that authority. He KNOWS us, better than we know ourselves. He walked among us, and is familiar with our problems. He experienced the problems we face. He can and will be Merciful, Righteous and Just. We can depend on that.
Jn 1:4
Something hit me “like a ton of bricks” a few days ago. I would like to share it with you.
An “in depth” study of the first chapter of John started me down a “rabbit path” of investigation, and I haven’t reached the end of it yet.
My Bible program told me that the word for “life” used here is NOT referring to the PHYSICAL life of humans or other animals, (Psuche), but rather the life of the SPIRIT, (Zoe).
I had known that from previous studies, so it didn’t shake the earth too violently. But a study of the “ZOE” word in the Scriptures led me to something that shook me up quite quite a bit.. I will import it with the Greek numbers included, plus emphases from me.
Joh 5:25 Verily,281 verily,281 I say3004 unto you,5213 The(3754) hour5610 is coming,2064 and2532 now3568 is,2076 when3753 the3588 dead3498 shall hear191 THE3588 VOICE5456 OF THE3588 SON5207 OF GOD:2316 AND2532 THEY THAT HEAR191 SHALL LIVE.2198
Joh 5:26 For1063 as5618 the3588 FATHER3962 HATH2192 LIFE2222 IN1722 HIMSELF;1438 so3779 hath he GIVEN1325 TO(2532) THE3588 SON5207 TO HAVE2192 LIFE2222 IN1722 HIMSELF;1438
Joh 5:27 And2532 HATH GIVEN1325 HIM846 AUTHORITY1849 TO EXECUTE4160 JUDGMENT2920 ALSO,2532 BECAUSE3754 HE IS2076 THE SON5207 OF MAN.444
Joh 5:28 Marvel2296 not3361 at this:5124 for3754 the hour5610 is coming,2064 in1722 the which3739 ALL3956 THAT3588 ARE IN1722 THE3588 GRAVES3419 shall hear191 his846 voice,5456
Joh 5:29 And2532 shall come forth;1607 they that have done4160 good,18 unto1519 the resurrection386 of life;2222 and1161 they that have done4238 evil,5337 unto1519 the resurrection386 of damnation.2920
Verse 25 is, undoubtedly, written about the FIRST RESURRECTION, while verse 28 is very likely referring to the GENERAL RESURRECTION. I had no problem there.
But verse 26 was one of those that “STOOD OUT ON THE PAPER” as the saying goes. I had read it many, many times, but never had I seen what it was trying to tell me this time.
Here is how it happened: The Father hath LIFE (Zoe) in Himself. That means He is “SELF-EXISTENT”. Still no problem, for we have known that all along.
What shook me this time is the statement that “so hath He GIVEN to the SON to have LIFE IN HIMSELF. (to be SELF-EXISTENT) “In Him was LIFE.” Jn 1:4
Now, Some of my friends have believed for a long time that Jesus was “God in the womb, God in the manger, and God in the carpenter shop.”
I don’t. Never have. Never will.
My friends always stop short of saying He was God on the Cross, for that would put their foot into the swamp, but good.
To the best of my understanding, Jesus was born the Son of God. He was the Son of God in the Carpenter shop.
The Son of God went into the waters of Jordan and was baptized by John when it was time for Him to enter into His Messianic Ministry. It was at this time that a mighty event, which many have overlooked, took place.
Luk 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
Luk 3:22 And the HOLY GHOST DESCENDED IN A BODILY SHAPE LIKE A DOVE UPON HIM, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the HEAVENS WERE OPENED UNTO HIM, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
AH! The OPENED HEAVENS! Originally, I thought of this as being a small passage-way for the “dove” to come through. Lately I have come to realize it as something ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. Let me explain.
Jesus was baptized as He became thirty years of age. That was considered the age of accountability or adulthood in those days. It was at that age that a son should be “ADOPTED” by his father, and taken in to full PARTNERSHIP IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS. In this case, it would have been the Carpenter shop.
But, JOSEPH WAS NOT THE FATHER OF JESUS!!!!
JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD!!!
So, in accord with the custom, God stepped up to the plate and LAID CLAIM TO JESUS.
He ANOINTED (COMMISSIONED) JESUS WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED BY JOHN.
It was at that time that God “GAVE” to Jesus THE “SELF-EXISTENT” quality. (Life within Himself”. Jesus was now a FULL PARTNER in the business of REDEEMING mankind from the fall of Adam. Jesus now had full access to what is going on in the HEAVENLY REALM. (The Opened Heavens)
Jesus was STILL the Son of God while doing His Ministry. He was still completely mortal, but he had access to the Heavenly realm in addition to the realm of earth.
Act 10:36 The word (Logos) which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Act 10:37 That word (Rhema), I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Act 10:38 HOW GOD ANOINTED JESUS OF NAZARETH with the Holy Ghost and with power (Dunamis) : who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
That “ANOINTING” consisted of an impartation of a “measureless” amount of the Spirit that spoke the worlds into existence.
Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words (Rhema) of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
As a “SELF-EXISTENT ONE”, Jesus was then able to say things that no other man had ever been able to say.
Joh 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
Joh 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
But the story doesn’t stop here!
Joh 5:27 And2532 HATH GIVEN1325 HIM846 AUTHORITY1849 TO EXECUTE4160 JUDGMENT2920 ALSO,2532 BECAUSE3754 HE IS2076 THE SON5207 OF MAN.
The ANOINTING OF JESUS included the AUTHORITY (Exousia) to execute Judgment.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is ABLE TO SUCCOR them that are tempted.
Heb 4:15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; BUT WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE, yet without sin.
Joh 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: FOR HE KNEW WHAT WAS IN MAN.
We can be glad that Jesus was given authority to sit in judgment of humanity, for it was His humanity that was given that authority. He KNOWS us, better than we know ourselves. He walked among us, and is familiar with our problems. He experienced the problems we face. He can and will be Merciful, Righteous and Just. We can depend on that.
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