FOOTSTOOL

TILL I MAKE….. THY FOOTSTOOL

Last night I was musing about the terrible struggles our early Church fathers endured while trying to formulate Church Doctrine about the relationship Jesus had to His Father.

There were two or three main teachings that were in conflict, and the Emperor Constantine wanted, desperately, to bring about a consensus of doctrine, so the Church could progress in the work of evangelism. The infighting over doctrine was producing nothing but chaos and turmoil. The various Bishops were resorting to physical assaults and property damage on each other when their views of the Godhead were opposed. Character assassinations were more normal than abnormal.

Constantine died before he could solidify Church Doctrine. The infighting seemed to get worse with each effort he made. The Bishops were fighting carnally, trying to solve a Spiritual problem. It didn’t work then—it will not work now. It was only after three or four more emperors had tried and failed, and three to five decades worth of water had gone under the bridge, and a major Church split had occurred, that even a semblance of unified teaching was found. AND IT STILL WAS NOT CORRECT. It had been formulated by the minds of men rather than by the Spirit of God.

Suddenly, “out of the blue”, came a verse of scripture I had not thought of for months:

Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Thee are several places in scripture where David’s writing is reiterated, and it always seems to be pointing to Jesus Christ. I’ll print them out for you here.

Mat 22:44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Mar 12:36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, the LORD said to my LORD, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Luk 20:41 And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?
Luk 20:42 And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Luk 20:43 Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Luk 20:44 David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Before I was finished with my musings, I had digressed from the original subject entirely, and was ready to argue the point of who is going to get the job of evangelization done.

Most Evangelists, and many Pastors, seem to leave us with the impression that “we, the people” will accomplish the task with our tithes and offerings and witnessing to our neighbors and friends. They tell us that our method needs to be “fine tuned”.

There can be no doubt in our minds about whether the world will be turned to Jesus Christ before our earth is “folded up” or replaced by another one. That fact is well established by the scriptures (with due apologies to Hal Lindsey, Ervin Baxter and others). We can fully expect that nearly one whole generation, along with a good share of another generation, will turn to the Lord through Jesus Christ before the final curtain falls on this age.

It is “in the Book” if you will look for it. You will first have to discard some of the former teachings about the future course of events, or you will never be able to clearly see what the Word of God is trying to tell us.

The Bible tells us (James 3:16) “But where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

Church history witnesses to a constant strife between factions endeavoring to promote the doctrinal system which they favored, and also the church political system which seemed more correct in their eyes. It qualifies to be classified in the “Strife” section. There was little or no lasting Good produced during those sessions of turmoil.

It is little wonder that a great abundance of incorrect teaching should evolve from such a condition within the Church when so much confusion, envying and strife prevailed. How could Humanity expect to be receiving Revelations of the Spirit of God when they were indulging their carnal natures to such an extent as they were? Impossible then, impossible now. We need to repent

But “Who, How, and When” must be dealt with before we can get a clear picture of the situation at hand.

First “Who?” must be answered. I think most of us will agree that it is Almighty God who is making the assertion about His right hand, and Jesus Christ’s enemies being made His Footstool.

Does Jesus have enemies? If so, who are they? “Yes, Virginia, Jesus has enemies, and they are getting desperate as we approach the closing of this age.

If Jesus is to be crowned the Victor, what will happen to the “hero” they worship and pay homage to? They know, and they don’t like it… not at all. The fanatical spirit they are following shows them all kinds of ways to cause havoc and terror.

Their “guiding spirit” is in panic mode… fighting for its life.

I think we will all agree that these false religions, all of them, are following, and being driven by, a wicked spirit that HATES our God with a passion

Our God, however, is quietly going about His business of convicting, convincing and saving great hordes of people in different parts of the earth… every minute, every hour and every day.

The Church is growing by leaps and bounds in spite of all they can do to hinder it. Also, in spite of the prevalent teachings that the Church will become so terribly decimated by demonic forces that it will have to be snatched away from planet earth to prevent it from being completely annihilated by evil forces.

The “footstool” is being prepared by the LIVING GOD for HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.
Mankind can only hope to have a part in the process as we lay down our carnal ways of doing things, and learn how to follow the guidelines of His Spirit. The programs and schemes of Man will do nothing more than get in the way of what God is (is) doing, and have to shoved out of the way by the Spirit of God.

Strife produces NOTHING GOOD. Likewise, ENVYING DOES NOTHING that is Spiritually constructive. Confusion and evil works are the ONLY thing produced by our carnally motivated efforts.

The only productive activity on our part is that which stems from, and is in harmony with, the Spirit of God. There are definite guidelines for Spiritual endeavor, and they must be followed if there is to be any hope for success.

“If any man strive for the masteries, yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully.” (2Ti 2:5)

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. (Zec 4:6)

Hab 1:5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: FOR I WILL WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, WHICH YE WILL NOT BELIEVE, THOUGH IT BE TOLD YOU.

Isa 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

Isa 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Isa 44:4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

Zec 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (THE CHURCH)
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Isa 4:4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

God is well able to accomplish whatever will be necessary when the time is ripe for His Plan to be fulfilled.

That plan calls for a world-wide awakening to Jesus Christ, which will affect the greater portions of two generations of humanity. An extremely high ratio of people will hear and respond to the Spirit of God when He calls to them.

The Bible tells us that the Lord will SEND REAPERS TO REAP A HARVEST at the proper time. We can “go to the bank” with that.

Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Rom 15:12 And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Psa 72:11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Hag 2:7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.