CAREFULLY CONTEMPLATE AND ATTENTIVELY THINK OF HIM

CAREFULLY CONTEMPLATE AND ATTENTIVELY THINK OF HIM

 "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;"　Heb 3:1　

Here again in the book of Hebrews we have an appeal based upon what has already been written. Having dealt with the humiliation of the Son, and shown that it had not detracted from His superiority to the angels, but rather enhanced it, in that such 'humiliation' was in order to the doing of His saving, priestly work the writer urged his readers to consider Him: We may link this appeal with the previous. one. The sure way in which to "give earnest heed" to the message of the Son, and to be saved from "drifting," is to CONSIDER HIM. That consideration is to be of Him in two ways, as Apostle and High Priest. Along these lines we are led in what follows. Jesus is "the Apostle ... of our confession." That marks the DIVINE AUTHORITY OF HIS MESSAGE. He is the Sent One of God. His preeminence in this matter is shown by comparing Him with Moses and Joshua. Moses was faithful as a servant in the house, but Jesus as a Son over the house. Moses led the people out, but could not lead them in. Jesus leads out of bondage and into the promised possessions. Joshua led the people in, but could not give them rest. Jesus gives rest. Jesus is also "the High Priest of our confession," and that is very fully developed. The whole emphasis of this verse is upon the necessity for considering Him. The idea is that of CAREFUL CONTEMPLATION, ATTENTIVE THINKING. How sadly we often fail here. The holy exercise demands time, method, diligence, and wherever it is practiced we are saved from drifting.

DON'T GET CAUGHT DRIFTING

DON'T GET CAUGHT DRIFTING 

"For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it."　Heb 2:1　

The "therefore" of these words carries us back to the arguments of the previous chapter, and on to those of this chapter. The Hebrew people maintained, and rightly, that their whole religious and national economy had been ministered by ANGELS. The writer agreed, but proceeded to show the superiority of the SON OF GOD to the ANGELS, and the consequently greater authority of the speech of the Son, to that of the word spoken by ANGELS. That superiority being granted, it follows irresistibly that we should give the more earnest heed to what He has to say. The conclusion is so self-evident that we are almost inclined to wonder that there was any need for so solemn a warning. We shall find an answer to that wonder in the writer's description of the peril, and in the contrast which he makes between the word of ANGELS and the message of the SON. Note this contrast first. The word spoken by ANGELS was STEADFAST, and disobedience brought a just RECOMPENSE. The word of ANGELS was the word of law, stern, inflexible. The message of the SON is that which can be summarized in one word, "Salvation." It is the word of GRACE, compassionate, unfailing. That in itself is one reason why the foolish heart of men may fail to give earnest heed to it. Then again the peril is that of DRIFTING. The figure is that of a boat which, caught by unseen currents, may be carried out of its course. This is so easy a thing to do. But it ought not to be. The message of Salvation, spoken by the SON, should make an even STRONGER APPEAL THAN THAT OF LAW, uttered by ANGELS.

MESSAGES FROM GOD ABOUT GOD

MESSAGES FROM GOD ABOUT GOD

 

"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,"　

Heb 1:1

 

From the introductory sentences of this great writing, we have taken out the principal words. They need, of course, all the qualifying words by which they are surrounded in order to the full understanding of their meaning, but in themselves they reveal the fundamental truths with which the writing deals. The 1st fact is GOD. Without definition, or argument, or apology of any kind, the writer names God. The fact that the writing was for Hebrews shows that he accepted the Hebrew conception of God. All that had been revealed by the names and titles, the Law, the Prophets, and the history, was included. The 2nd fact is that GOD DOES REVEAL HIMSELF. He speaks to men; He makes known His will. These are the foundation truths of our religion. If we are not sure of these, we are sure of nothing. In the process of His dealings with men, He has proved Himself, by REVEALING HIMSELF; and the nature of the revelation has proved it to be of God. Then the statement shows us the INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE PRESENT. He did speak in the past, particularly, progressively, in diverse portions and manners, as men were prepared to receive. He has now SPOKEN FULLY, FINALLY, IN HIS SON; and men will progressively apprehend the meaning of this final speech, but they will never exhaust it. Moreover, the interrelation is part of one whole. Having spoken as He did in the past, it was necessary and possible for Him to speak in His Son. It was necessary, for all that He had said was incom­plete. It was possible, and APART FROM THE FIRST PARTIAL MESSAGES; THE FULL AND FINAL MESSAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN INCOMPREHENSIBLE. Thus we see the wisdom and perfection of the Divine Revelation.

CARING FOR THE FLOCK

CARING FOR THE FLOCK

 

"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."　1 Tim. 5:8

Paul was instructing Timothy as to the duty of the Church in the matter of caring for the poor of the flock, especially in the case of such as were widows. That the Church has such a responsibility he made perfectly clear, but he also showed with care how it ought to be safeguarded. Throughout the whole teaching, it is evident that the Apostle considered that in all such matters responsibility first lay with the family (see verses 4 and 16). In our verse this conception finds central and general expression, and nothing could be clearer or more positive. The statement is characterized by that sane, practical commonsense which is everywhere discoverable in Paul's outlook on life. A man's very first responsibility is that of his own, HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD. No call on him must be allowed to take precedence of that, not even that of the work of the Church, and certainly not that of his own pleasures. To neglect to make such provision is to deny the faith, for the faith is that of the way of LOVE in all its most practical bearings. The believer who does so, is worse than an unbeliever, for common human instincts, apart from the teaching of Christ, will prompt a pagan to care for his own flesh and blood. All this is very commonplace, but it is of the utmost importance; for Christianity is the transfiguration of the commonplace, and in proportion as it enables a man to realize all human obligations on the highest level, he is thereby recommending it to others. In a word like this, there is serious rebuke for some, and there is much of comfort for others. The family is God's FIRST CIRCLE OF SOCIETY, and it is MAN'S FIRST SPHERE OF RESPONDSIBILITY.

CIRCLES OF LIFE

CIRCLES OF LIFE

 

"(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),"　1Ti 3:5　

 

 

How shall he who cannot perform the lesser function, perform the greater and more difficult? These words were used by the Apostle when he was giving Timothy instructions as to the orderly government of the Church; and their first application was to those who were to exercise oversight, that is, to be bishops or overseers, the pastors. They contain a principle which applies to the whole field of Christian service. It may be said tbat every Christian witness is a center around whom concentric circles are drawn in which his or her witness will operate. We may illustrate by saying that in the ordinary life of every Christian believer, the circles are those of home, church, city, nation, race. While the influence of a life may not seem to affect all these, it certainly does so in a measure. Necessarily it is more evident in the first circles. Now the principle involved in this statement is that we are only able to exert the true influence in the wider circles as we do so in the first. The question of the Apostle has a self-evident answer. If a man is not able to regulate the affairs of his own household, if his own children are unruly, he cannot guide and guard the Church of God so as to ensure its orderliness and power. That is so for two reasons.

First, that he lacks the power to rule. If he possessed it, he could rule his house.

Second, that his failure in his own house must negative any attempt he may make in the Church, for men will only obey an authority which is evidenced by results.

We may pass back to the central fact, and say that fitness for the guidance of others, in home or Church, or anywhere, is created by the control of one's own life as it is wholly under the sway of the Lord.

ANOINTED, CONSECRETED, SANCTIFIED

ANOINTED, CONSECRETED, SANCTIFIED

 

"You shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him; and you shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve Me as priests."　Exod. 28:41

These words indicate the method by which the priests were prepared to minister to God and a study of them is full of suggestiveness. There is no tautology here. Each of the three words has its own particular value, and the three in sequence cover the whole ground of preparation. The first, ANOINT, is quite simple, and describes the actual putting of the sacred oil upon the head (Exo_29:7), the symbol of the communication of the Holy Spirit to the one to exercise priestly ministry. The second, CONSECRETE, is the translation of two Hebrew words, meaning the filling of the open hand, and signifies the perfect equipment of the anointed one for the discharge of that ministry. The third, SANTIFY, means literally, to make clean, and refers to the spiritual and moral separation of the priest from all defilement. Thus all priestly ministries are made possible by the ANOINTING (Deu_28:40) of the Holy Spirit. That anointing communicates the power, and ensures the purity, apart from which there can be no priestly ministry before God. Thus we see how the Divinely arranged ritual of the Hebrew economy was intended to convey to these people truths of fundamental importance. This ritual is done away in Christ, because all the things it typifies are realized in and through Him. If we are priests unto God, it is because in Him we have the ANOINTING of the Spirit, and so the power for our ministry, and the CLEANSING, apart from which there can be no exercise thereof. ANOINTED, CONSECRETED, SANCTIFIED souls, may minister before the Lord as priests.

LAW AND LOVE AND GRACE

LAW AND LOVE AND GRACE

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."  Exod 20:2　

These are the words which introduce the Law. They constitute the immediate prelude to the Ten inclusive Words; and have their bearing on all the applications, and elaborations thereof, both with regard to CONDUCT and to WORSHIP. This we should never forget. God's law was for His ransomed people. Every requirement is rooted in this fact of relationship. God did not promulgate a code of laws for the children of Israel, while they were in bondage, telling them that if they would obey it, He would deliver them. He brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and then gave them His law. From all responsibility to the proud despotism of Egypt He liberated them by bringing them under His immediate government; from all the shackles of the house of BONDAGE He set them free, by bringing them into the LIBERTY of His LOVE. Then He gave them the words which revealed His WILL for them. Thus LAW in itself was an expression of LOVE. This is ever God's way. In this special dispensation of His grace it is still true. Now, however, it is perhaps more necessary to remind ourselves that grace does not set aside ethical requirement. He still gives us laws which condition CONDUCT and WORSHIP, and because in Christ Jesus grace has had its most perfect outshining, and its most powerful operation, the TERMS OF LAW have become severer and more exacting. Nevertheless, the thought of strength and comfort for us is ever that every requirement of His LAW is rooted in His LOVE.

ASSURANCE FROM THE RESURRECTION

ASSURANCE FROM THE RESURRECTION

 

"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying."  Matt 28:6　

 

Thus the fact in history vindicated the word He had spoken. It should ever be remembered that our Lord is never recorded as speaking of His coming CROSS without at the same time foretelling His RESURRECTION. This is God's eternal answer to all the might of evil. Herod sought the young Child's life to destroy it. At last they put Him to death. His body they placed in a, tomb, guarded by soldiers. They made it as sure as they could, remembering that He had "said while He was yet alive, After three days I rise again." And this is the issue: "Risen, even as He said"!

That is the secret of our assurance in the darkest day. The forces of evil are mighty, but God is Almighty. The plotting of evil is full of cleverness, but the wisdom of God holds it all in perfect knowledge, and His plans move ever forward to realization with absolute and splendid certainty. But let us make no mistake about it we have no certainty of His almightiness, nor of His absolute wisdom, apart from His RESURRECTION. We have no other sufficient evidence of the one or the other. Herod seeks still to destroy the young Child. Priests and politicians still crucify the Lord, and set guards over His grave, declaring Him to be dead. But by this sign, amid the ages, we know that it is Herod who must and will be destroyed, and that the men who crucify will find salvation by the Cross, or by it will be cast out into the utter darkness.

THE BECOMING ONE

THE BECOMING ONE

"It is He that shall save His people from their sins" Matt. 1:21

 

The whole value of this statement is found by placing the emphasis upon the "HE." The name which the angel commanded Joseph to give to Mary's Child was one that was common at the time. It had a wonderful history. It had been made by Moses for his im­mediate successor, by the weaving to­gether of his name, Hoshea, which meant Salvation, with some of the let­ters of the Divine name Jehovah, so that its full significance was "The Salvation of Jehovah." Thus the Name Jesus, is equivalent to the Jehovah of the Old Testament, combined with the revelation of the ultimate meaning of that name, that of Salvation, in all the completeness of the great fact. As Je­hovah—or Yahweh—meant, "The Be­coming One," or "The One Who becomes,"—that is, THE GOD OF GRACE, WHO BECOMES TO HIS PEOPLE WHATEVER THEY NEED, SO, WHEN IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME, HE, IN HIS SON, "became flesh," the Name given to Him signified the ultimate in this mighty, but condescend­ing Grace. This is indeed then the Name which is above every name. The hope expressed in the Name was about to be fulfilled. Through the One Who Was now to bear it, salvation from sin was to be made possible.

This contrastive value abides. Still there is none other name which stands for that possibility. Infinite are the glories of Him Who received that Name anew when He was exalted to the right hand of God, but among them all, for us who are sinning men and women, this is central and supreme. This we should ever remember for our personal comfort, and in all our service. As we are perpetually engaged in the struggle against sin, it is for us to fight in the assurance that He is able to deliver us, not only from the penalties of wrong­doing, but from the power of evil in every form. That also must ever con­dition our service. However varied the claims of our Lord may be, and how­ever wide the area over which it is our business to insist upon His Lordship, everything begins, continues, and ends, in this glorious fact that He deals with sin, forgiving its penalty, cleansing from its pollution, and destroying its power.

APOKA¬LUPSIS OF JESUS CHRIST

APOKA­LUPSIS OF JESUS CHRIST

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ" Rev. 1:1

Apoka­lupsis of Jesus Christ This is the very key-note of this book. The phrase refers, not only to the opening section, but to the entire treatise. The wonder of the book is proved by the variety of interpretations which it has received. No wise ex­positor will be over-confident that his is the one and only correct interpretation. The possibility is that there are elements of truth in all. Whereas there may be, and almost certainly will be, difficulties in every reading of it, we shall be greatly helped and, guided if we remember that its real value is that it is "the Revelation of Jesus Christ." Quite evidently the arresting word here is the word Revelation, which is a translation of the Greek word Apoka­lupsis, which literally means to take off the covering, that is, to uncover, to un­veil, to disclose. It is a word with which we have become very familiar. It is found only eighteen times in the New Testament.

-Thirteen of these oc­cur in the writings of Paul;
-three in Peter's first letter; one in the Gospel of Luke; and
-one in the writings of John. This is the only place in his writings where it is found.

Thus it stands in all its suggestiveness at the opening of this book, giving us at once the ultimate value of the whole. As we read, we see: The Church and the world; the hosts of witnesses to the living God, and the massed and mighty forces in opposition to His government, and these in conflict; but the utmost matter is that of the disclosure to its of Jesus Christ—

1st in His own glory,

2nd in the grace of His dealing with the Church, and
3^rd then in the wisdom and might of His government, whereby He establishes the Kingdom of God on earth.

MEN LIVING BY HIS LAW AND SUSTAINED BY HIS WORDS

MEN LIVING BY HIS LAW AND SUSTAINED BY HIS WORDS

"Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusa­lem" Micah 4:2

 

Having denounced the false rulers, and revealed the evil principle of their exercise of authority, the prophet de­scribed the true order in a prediction concerning its establishment. His out­look was that of the true Israelite; he recognized the Divine purpose in the national life of his people. Not for themselves did they exist in ISOLA­TION OF PRIVILEGE, but rather as A RALLY­ING CENTER FOR HUMANITY, an order to which the people would flow, A REVELA­TION AND REALIZATION, attracting the na­tions and inspiring them to inquire for the ways of Jehovah, the God of Jacob. In these particular words the chief glory of the national life of Israel is revealed. ZION IS TO BE THE HILL OF JEHOVAH, AND OUT OF IT THE LAW WHICH MEN NEED, SHALL GO FORTH; JERUSALEM WILL BECOME INDEED THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING, AND FROM IT THE WORD OF JEHOVAH WILL BE UTTERED. That is what the world waits for, and failing to find, or Rather Refusing To Receive It Carries On, Under A False Interpretation Of Life, And Cursed By The Oppressions Of False Rul­ers. When life is governed by the law of Jehovah, and sustained by His word, STRIFE WILL END, WAR WILL BE NO MORE; THEN PEACE AND PROSPERITY WILL BE REALIZED. THAT DAY HAS NOT YET COME, BUT THE GLEAMS OF ITS GLORY ARE EVERYWHERE APPEARING. PEACE IS FOUND TODAY IN MEN IN WHOM HE IS WELL PLEASED; AND PROSPERITY IS THE PORTION OF THE MEEK, who already inherit the earth, even though they seem to be excluded from its possession. The Men In Whom He Is Well Pleased Are Those Who Live By His Law; And The Meek Are Such As Are Sustained By His Word. But the Day is yet to be.

PAUL'S BABY LANGUAGE

PAUL'S BABY LANGUAGE

"But we were babes in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherishes her own children" 1 Thess. 2:7

 

I have resolutely adopted the mar­ginal reading of the Revised, substitut­ing the word "babes" for "gentle." Most of the ancient authorities have this word "babes." The word "gentle" has been preferred because it has been thought to suit the context better. Per­sonally I do not think it does. The statement as it stands is very full of beauty. Perhaps no word of Paul any­where more vividly sets forth his tender solicitude for his spiritual children. Observe the latter part of the figure first. It is not that of a mother. It is that of a nurse and mother. The Re­vised helps us here, by the rendering, "a nurse cherishes her own children." THE CONCEPTION IS THAT OF THE MERGING OF TRAINED INTELLIGENT SKILL WITH NATURAL MOTHER-LOVE. That is perfect care. A nurse may, have real skill, and even be scientifically devoted to her charges, but all this leaves something lacking which is found in motherhood. On the other hand, mothers whose love and devotion are undoubted have often wronged their children through igno­rance. Given a nurse with her own children, and the ideal is realized. Paul said that this was his attitude toward his spiritual children, and he gives a beautiful description of it as he writes: "We were babes in the midst of you." Origen interpreted this to mean that Paul had talked to them in BABY LANGUAGE. Immediately the nurse-mother among her children is seen and heard, and there is nothing more to be said. Such was Paul's method with his babes in Christ; and such should ever be the way of those who have the over­sight of the new-born children of God.

MEN DEALING WITH THE TRUE AND FALSE SUPERPOWERS

MEN DEALING WITH THE TRUE AND FALSE SUPERPOWERS

 

Is it because there is no God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron?" 2Ki_1:3

 Ahaziah the son of Ahab had succeeded his father upon the throne of Israel. He was not so strong a personality as was his father, but he gave himself wholly to the most abominable idolatry, in that he served and worshipped Baal. In the midst of difficulties created by the fact that Israel was at war with Moab, he sought counsel from Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron. It was then that Elijah, who had been in seclusion, suddenly appeared, and asked this question. Again it was a question vibrant with satire. BAAL-ZEBUB WAS NO GOD. THE GOD OF ISRAEL WAS GOD, AND BESIDE HIM THERE WAS NONE ELSE. And yet this man Ahaziah, excluded by his wickedness from the true God, sought counsel of one who was no god! How amazing that such wickedness can develop in a man’s heart. And that is ever so. MEN CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT SOME KIND OF TRAFFIC WITH POWERS SUPERNATURAL, and so superior to themselves. When they are out off from direct communication with God, they turn to the under-world, to those dark and sinister forces which are no gods. That is the meaning of all forms of Spiritism. God is ever available to man, but if, man by-sin exclude himself from God, then he turns to false methods of dealing with the supernatural. Such methods are all, and always, destructive. Sooner or later, God breaks in again upon the soul, if not in healing revelation in response to penitence, then in swift judgment.

WORKING WITH HIM

WORKING WITH HIM

"In everything commending our­selves, as ministers of God" 2 Cor. 6:4

In these words the participle "com­mending" has close connection with the participle "working " in the first verse of the chapter. "Working together with God . . . in everything commend­ing ourselves as ministers of God." Here we have the SECRET OF POWER AND THE BURDEN OF RESPONSIBILITY in all Chris­tian service. Whatever we are called upon to be, or do, or suffer, we find the necessary resources in OUR FELLOW­SHIP WITH GOD. Our responsibility is that we commend ourselves (first to God, and also to those among whom we serve), as ministers of God. Some of the things included in this "everything" follow in the Apostle's letter. First, things of trial: patience, afflictions, ne­cessities, distresses, stripes, imprison­ments, tumults, labors, watching’s, fast­ing’s. Then things of grace: pureness, knowledge, longsuffering, kindness, the Holy Spirit, love unfeigned, the word of truth, the power of God. Then things of conflict: the armor of righteousness, glory and dishonor, evil re­port and good report. Then things of experience, the double experience of the servants of God, that of what the world thinks of them, and that of their secret life with God; deceivers, yet true; unknown, yet well known; dying, and living; chastened, not killed; sor­rowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making rich; having nothing, yet pos­sessing all things. In all these things, working with God—that is comfort and strength, in all these things, commend­ing ourselves as ministers of God—that is purpose and responsibility.

JOHN 18 FOCUS

John 18 Focus

THERE IS A PLAN FROM GOD

 

Scripture makes it abundantly clear that there is a plan. A number of evidences could be used for the existence of God’s plan for creation, but the most compelling evidence is that which is recorded in Scripture:

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation (Psa_33:11).

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord, it will stand (Pro_19:21).

"This is the plan devised against the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out against all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?" (Isa_14:26-27).

The statements of the Second Person of the Trinity, our Lord Jesus Christ, are consistent with the words of Scripture concerning God’s plan. The Old Testament prophets laid out God’s plan for Messiah, which included both His suffering and His glory:

Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "Sacrifice and offering Thou hast not desired, but a body Thou hast prepared for Me; in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast taken no pleasure. "Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the roll of the book it is written of Me) to do Thy will, O God.’" After saying the above, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast not desired, nor hast Thou taken pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Thy will." He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb_10:5-10).

At the time of His birth, some of God’s plan for Christ were described (see　Luk_1:26-38,67-79; Luk_2:8-14,25-35). Repeatedly our Lord indicated He was not pursuing His own plan but fulfilling the plan of the Father:

And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You." And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?" And they did not understand the statement which He had made to them (Luk_2:46-50).

The disciples therefore were saying to one another, "No one brought Him　anything　to eat, did he?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work" (Joh_4:33-34).

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt." And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?" (Mat_26:39-40)

RULING AND REIGNING WITH HIM

RULING AND REIGNING WITH HIM

 

HIERARCHY BEING FORMED   Rev_20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. If I pass from this earth having been a faithful follower of Christ I have yet to perform my greatest work for Christ which will be brought about by His Second Coming to earth. The perfection of my make-up will be brought about at that time and the things which caused me to perform at a lower level will be done away with a new body, a new mind, and a perfected heart. Jesus since His first coming is in the process of choosing from the nations as well as Israel a hierarchy to rule and reign with Him on this earth for a thousand years – Rev_20:6. At the Second Coming does our eternal intended work begin. He is not choosing clouds for saints to sit on for eternity and play harps as some seem to think their occupation will be. The disciples knew what Christ was doing and even out of their flesh in Luk_22:24-30 fought over who should be accounted the greatest, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. See also Dan_7:22; Dan_7:18; Isa_49:1. Rev_20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,  Rev_20:3  and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time.  Rev_20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Rev_20:5  The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection.  Rev_20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Rev_20:7  And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,    King of Kings and Lord of Lords I am one of those for I was promised that I would rule and reign with Him in His Kingdom here on earth. Rev_19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS. King of kings and Lord of lords; which will well suit him now when he shall be openly King over all the earth; See Gill on 1Ti_6:15  Rev_17:14. which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,AND LORD OF LORDS. Priests and Kings promised in 1Pe_2:5 , 1Pe_2:9 First promised in Isa_43:21 In Rev_5:10, speaking of the redeemed, it is added "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." In Matt. 24:46 it says concerning Israel "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing."  Mat_24:47  "Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods." Mat_25:21  "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Saints are promised in Jas_2:5  "Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? " In Rev_1:1; Jud_1:14, Jud_1:15 the saints are said to participate and partake of the final triumph and glory of their Savior, and be associated with Him being given power over the nations Thus the same irresistible authoritative action which belongs to Jesus Christ. Jeus is called the first in rank in Rev_1:5, the Ruler of the kings of the earth. See alo Topics: Crowns - Crowns [of life] (Imperishable wreath) Here the saints are crowned as rulers with Him. 1Co_9:25. Also in Jas_1:12; Rev_2:10, also in 1Pe_5:4 Paul said that not only him but others at the appearing of Christ in 2Ti_4:8.   Princes - Princes are promised to be added all through the Psalms. Psa_1:113; Psa_47; Psa_110:3. In Isa_32:1 it says Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.

 

DAYS OF DECISION COMING FOR ALL

DAYS OF DECISION COMING FOR ALL

 

"The day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision" Joel 3:11

Once again we have the same burden, but in its final application. The prophet having interpreted the locust plague and foretold a further activity of God in government, was lifted up, and stomached along far beyond his own immediate times. That movement began in the previous chapter, at vs. 28, with the words, "And it shall come to pass afterward." That afterward carried his vision forward to the age of the Spirit which commenced on the day of Pente­cost. Two verses only deal with that age (vss. 28 and 29). He then told of the signs which would indicate the ending of that age, and the ushering in of an­other which he described as "the great and terrible day of Jehovah," the days of tribulation, the last half spoken of as “great tribulation.” The final movement in his message has to do with that ultimate Day of Jehovah, the day of decision, where there is no setting on the fence in that day. In that day, Jehovah will restore Judah and Jerusalem, find His lost people Israel, deal with the nations through the processes of war, make Zion the center of His earthly Kingdom, and Israel as a complete na­tion the instrument of His government, where they finally become the avenue of blessing for all other nations (Gen. 12:2-3). Thus to Joel was given the plan of the ages. He saw the near, the imminent, and the ultimate; and he saw that the Day of Jehovah was present, persistent, powerful, to the complete realization of Divine purpose. It was a great vision, and our secret of confidence is found in walking in its light. We live in the unmeasured age of the Spirit. It has lasted over two thousand years. We know not when it will end; but we do know that beyond it is "the great and terrible day of Jehovah"; and there­fore we are sure of the ultimate realiza­tion of all His purposes for men, first promised back in the earliest book of Genesis.

TRUE WORSHIPPERS

True Worshippers

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” John 4:23

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.” John 4:23

 

The question should surface – “When does this come to fruition?”

God’s gracious and patient dialogue with the Samaritan woman gives us the answer. It is in “an hour coming.” The KJV gives another answer with the future tense “shall worship.” That is a future tense. This is one of the reasons Christ was sent to earth because the Father is seeking true worshippers. The only place he has found them up to this point is in heaven itself where the angels continuously worship and serve Him. Worship involves service (Rom. 12:1-2) and that service is based upon truth as taught by God. Spirit led is the state of a man who has been saved from a condition where the spirit is said to be dead, inactive, motionless, and in hiding towards God, Eph. 2:5

Prior leadership came from the desires of the flesh. Eph 2:3. Eph. 3:10, or from false teachers. 2 Pet 2:1.. At this point the flesh relinquishes control in order to serve the spirit and its leadership from the Holy Spirit Who now indwells the person forever. John 14:16.
The Samaritan woman had been falsely led into certain doctrines that Truth Himself gave her the correct teaching and that concerning correct worship the father desired to see from believers. They were to base their belief on truth so that their spirit would respond with conduct and service. When she learned that worship could even be done where this lady presided as well as Jerusalem. When she learned she was in the presence of the promised Messiah her conduct responded with service. She gave the gospel to those she knew. Even a Samaritan can display worship based on truth and her spirit responded as it should.

            The dead spirit is quickened by the Holy Spirit Eph. 2:1; Rom. 4:17. The Spirit begins His threefold work of cleansing that we call sanctification. His method is accomplished through the instrumentality of the word using it to reveal, cleanse, as well as transform. Revealing first our sinful condition James 1:23-24; Heb. 4:12-13. It then cleanses us from those sinful ways Eph. 5:26; John 15:3. And then it transforms us into the very image of Christ 2 Cor. 3:18. Virtues grow in the places of vices. Now we are able to live our life like Christ John 5:26; 1 Pet 3:18. We are now made up of the body, soul, quickened spirit as well as the Holy Spirit; a very complex organism at this point.

            At salvation, the spirit now made alive has a limited palette to work with having just been made conscious by the Holy Spirit of sin, righteousness, and judgment John 16:8. Since the spirit was dead this took a supernatural act of God. Immediately, the new convert is instructed to be baptized and that in a certain way Matt 28:19. This brings more information to the palette concerning God and the triune involvement of the whole Godhead in the salvation. Along with baptism the convert is to renew his mind and enrich his spirit by being taught to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded Matt 28:20. This will involve all in the church in order to accomplish this task. No one man separate from Christ can perform this task. Even Christ has chosen to use gifted men of the Spirit to accomplish this 1 Cor. 12. Each Church has been gifted with a variety of gifts as the Spirit wills 1 Cor. 12:11. With the Spirit gifting men all the possible situations that might arise in the local body can be handled not by a board or council but by those that shall judge angels 1 Cor. 6:2-3 as well as the world. The kingdom of men differs greatly from the Kingdom of God especially in the idea concerning leadership Luke 22:24.

            Christ demands worship to be in the spirit and truth. John 4:23-24. Now that is possible and since the convert is a spiritual, pneumatical individual, he becomes a priest of a special order and that forever. 1 Cor. 15:44; Heb. 5:6; 1 Pet. 2:4-10.

            To walk this new way takes a conscious decision to co-operate this way Rom. 6:11-13. Jesus was the example of living His life in the Spirit side. He was anointed for ministry by the Spirit of God. He went down into the wilderness to temptation, driven by the Spirit of God. He came out of the wilderness and went back again to ministry in the power of the Spirit of God. He wrought miracles, as the record declares, by this self-same power of the Spirit. He came to the sublime mystery of His death, and we hear the word again, “through the eternal Spirit He offered Himself without blemish unto God.” He came to the morning of resurrection, and by the power of that Spirit He took life again, and came back into human consciousness and being. He tarried for forty days among His disciples, and, as Luke, the accurate Greek, the cultured scholar, tells us, He instructed His disciples by the Holy Ghost long before the Spirit was poured upon them. I open the Gospel of John, and read: “In Him was life” essential life ”and the life was the light of men.” What is the life of Jesus? Spiritual life, not spiritual life as we too often use the phrase, as though it were something distinct from human life; but spiritual life in the simplest, and broadest, and profoundest sense of the truth that all life is life by the Spirit of God. The life of Jesus is life in the Spirit from beginning to end, and when I read that “in Him was life, and the life was the light of men,” I understand the evangelist to mean that if I want to know what life really is, I must look at Him physically, mentally, and spiritually, and see this truth, that all life is by the Spirit of God. Man’s being, in all its complex wonders, is the creation of the Spirit of God, and the proper use of all the powers of the being is possible only in submission to the Spirit of life.

            So that when we speak of regeneration, or of the filling of the Spirit, or of the anointing of the Spirit, or of spiritual life in the deepest and profoundest sense of the term, we are not asking men to enter a range or realm of life for which they were not made. We are calling them back to normality, to naturalness, to the fulfillment of the deepest and profoundest meaning of their own first creation. A man does not by his new birth become something other than himself. He becomes himself, as he never has been until by that new birth he finds himself.

            The new man walks Eph. 4:1; Col. 2:6 now as Christ walked. Adam walked each day with God in the cool of the day. Gen. 3:8 as well as Enoch who walked with Him Gen. 5:22. Conversation with the Leader Matt 23:10 as well as reading from His book brings enlightenment, direction, and purpose to the spirit each and every day Luke 24:27; John 14:26. Said Jesus, “I am the Light of the world." (John 8:12).  He was born of the Spirit (Matt. 1:20), baptized of the Spirit (Luke 3:22), led of the Spirit into the wilderness (Luke 4:1); He went in the power of the Spirit to proclaim the Kingdom of God (Luke 4:14); He wrought miracles through the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:18); He came to the mystery of His death and offered Himself without blemish through the eternal Spirit unto God (Heb. 9:14); He came to resurrection morning and by the power of the Spirit He came back into human consciousness (1 Peter 3:18); for forty days He then instructed His disciples concerning the Kingdom of God by the Spirit (Acts 1:2-4). Of Him, the meek and lowly, the Galilean peasant according to human measurement, the great central truth may be spoken: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith Jehovah.”

And the new man said He to His own disciples, and through them to the whole Church to the end of the age, “Ye are the light of the world.” They are born of the Spirit (Gal 3:3), baptized by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13), sealed by the Spirit (Eph. 1:13), anointed by the Spirit (1 John 2:20), filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). They speak with tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). They receive gifts which equip them for service in the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:11). They are a spiritual company, and the power which makes them able to shine as lights in the world is the power of the indwelling Spirit of God. “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord.”

            We are light bearers John 8:12 and that is reflected light made bright by the ministry of His Spirit of all the things He has commanded. Matt 28:19. Christ is our lampstand amongst all the churches Rev. 1:12-13 casting light into the darkness. In the end there is no more darkness Rev. 22:5.

            We no longer are able to suffer separation Rev. 1:18; Rom 6:9. At resurrection the spirit is endowed with a new and indissoluble relation to the material body.1 Cor. 15:42 It is raised an imperishable body and now capable of lasting for eternity.

• Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker (Psalm 95:6). Israel’s desire but unattained by them so far.
• You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name (Deuteronomy 6:13).
• And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (Luke 4:8). Peter followed and made promises he would follow and serve Him but actually ended up denying Him 3 times. At this point he was not born of the Spirit.
• All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God (Revelation 7:11). This is one place where the father finds true worship.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-6) The destination given in Deuteronomy of the nation Israel. Again this is a future prospect and is only attained by the nation after great tribulation.

Jesus quoted those words when the lawyer asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36). Three of the gospel books record the various occasions when the Lord Jesus referenced the necessity of a heart and mind and soul and strength that would love the God of heaven and Earth (Matthew 22:36-39; Mark 12:29-31; Luke 10:27). This approach is attested many times elsewhere in Scripture.

• But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but “the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7) and He said “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) therefore in need of redemption.
• For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15). Christ’s residence is in heaven with redeemed people (“absent from the body present with the Lord”) along with the angels and from where He performs His work of redemption using sanctification of the contrite ones like Peter who denied Him 3 times. And when He told His followers He was returning to heaven to begin to finish His 3-fold sanctification process of His followers Peter asked if he might follow Him at that point and He told him “Where I am about to go flesh and blood cannot survive long enough. The flesh has desires it needs to be rid of, for they cause death and where I go is an eternal place.” John 13:33 That is why Jesus said this: "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you." And it is also says in Rev. 21:27 "And there shall in no wise enter into it (the New Heaven and the New Earth) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. John 13:33  John 13:33 That is why Jesus said this: "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you." And it is also says in Rev. 21:27 "And there shall in no wise enter into it (the New Heaven and the New Earth) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.That is why Jesus said this "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you." And it is also says in Rev. 21:27 "And there shall in no wise enter into it (the New Heaven and the New Earth) anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” That is at the point of completed sanctification, not to be left on earth but when He returns to take them with Him to heaven and there they are to serve and worship as the angels.
• Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God (1 Peter 3:3-4), rearrange your focus, while awaiting what happens at the completion of sanctification at His second coming, where your standing will match your state.

·       Nothing in the created universe could be directly compared to the Creator Himself. Any attempt at physical representation strikes at the heart’s core of rebellion, in that a person who does this has “changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things....who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 1:23-25).

·       Furthermore, the third command makes clear that those who would dare to “take the name of the LORD...in vain” (Exodus 20:7) would be considered as attempting to relegate the Creator to the contempt of a “worthless” reference. Finally, the fourth commandment demands that humanity follow the design and process of the creation week. God “worked” six days and rested one (Exodus 20:11) and, therefore, demanded that man honor the “rest day” in a perpetual commemoration of what God had accomplished. Today many in the church use that day as the others, a day of work. Millennia later, the Lord Jesus noted that He had designed the six-day workweek into the fabric of creation itself: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Man awaits the Second Coming of the Lord and then he attains a perfect body, a perfect mind as well as a perfect heart. Then the Sabbath will be used for its original purpose.

God is interested in the integrity of our “inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). True worshipers eventually who “bow down” in their love to the heavenly Father will seek to allow the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in their spirits. Please note that this fruit is all spiritual: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

While God does demand “spiritual sacrifices” (1 Peter 2:5), He also most certainly expects us to “do” truth with our observable behavior (1 John 1:6). Jesus insisted that those who ran from the light of His message were easily spotted because they were “practicing evil” (John 3:20). But in contrast, “he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:21). He will use great tribulation to bring this about.

 

• “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).
• “But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Joshua 22:5).
• “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (John 14:21). He will manifest Himself, at the end of the tribulation to rescue Israel from a  certain end of the place on this earth.
• “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Israel spreads the gospel to the entire earth during the tribulation. (Matt. 24:14)
• “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:2-3).

Perhaps the greatest endowment that the New Testament saint has been given is the “new creation” that God executes in us when we are twice-born. We are given “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16), the Spirit of truth (John 16:13), “the riches of His grace...in all wisdom and prudence” (Ephesians 1:7-8), that is His second part of His sanctification process but not the end when “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:4-5). That part will be won at the Second Coming of Christ. We have been given “all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3), enabling us to become “true worshipers eventually [who] shall worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23).

Discipline yourself to do truth as you “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13) co-operating with the Holy Spirit Who was left to bring to remembrance all the things He left us and spoke to us. With our spiritual worship wholesome and our truthful worship active at last, we should find it “cheerful” to give, knowing that in return “it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). We await your return for the final piece of sanctification that brings meaning to our lives as never before.