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He Must Increase I must decrease: PART 7

2011-02-18T20:25:00.002-06:00

THE BURNING AND SHINING LAMP
He was the burning and shining lamp
[Jn.5:35]

PART 7

Knowing the truth, practicing the truth and bearing witness to the truth are three related, though,
different things. Leaving out any one of the three renders the equation of righteousness imbalanced. It was said
of the prophet John that he bore witness to the truth—Jn.5:33.
This was the commentary of Christ on the life and ministry of the Baptist. In the midst of a crooked and
perverse generation, genuine servants of God devote themselves to the testimony of truth. No true prophets bear
witness of themselves; the declaration of truth is uppermost in their commitment.
The confusion of many gained expression through the lips of Pilate when he disparagingly asked, What is
truth?—Jn.18:38. Multitudes live without the awareness of the existence of truth. To the natural man, truth is
merely the absence of error. While this may be correct in one sense, it remains riddled with imperfections when
we consider truth in the moral and spiritual realms. There, error cannot be determined by one’s own conscience
or opinion as these vary from person to person.
The word of God tells us what truth is. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have
life—Jn.5:11-12. This is the absolute and unchanging reality that John bore witness to [Lk.3:16].
The truth about the Son of God is the uncompromising standard for all people at all times. To be
ignorant of this is to be entrenched in error. The necessity for all to come to the awareness of eternal truth
explains the unbending resolve of God’s genuine representatives.
What about you? Have you come to the knowledge and reality of truth? Only those who come to the
Lord Jesus and receive Him into their lives are in touch with absolute truth. Do not be left out! The overbearing
burdens of religion, the arduous demands of legalism, and the untiring efforts of self-righteousness are nothing
but subtle agents of further bondage. Come to the Lord Jesus! It is only thus that the shackles of iniquity that
have kept you bound will be broken. The truth about Jesus Christ will burst your bonds of sorrow and liberate
you from the fear of death and judgment. An encounter with the Lord Jesus in the knowledge of salvation is an
eternity of peace begun [Jn.17:3]. None who trust in Him will be disappointed. Salvation full and free is found
only in Jesus Christ apart from any organization or denominational code of conduct.
Do not linger in the drama of vain religion. Put not your trust in some church membership. Your
Redeemer alone can save. Jesus saves! Jesus liberates! This has been the unanimous cry of God’s own prophets
throughout the ages.
John is a typical example of genuine prophets. Though he did not bear witness of himself, the Lord bore
witness of him. It is significant that the Lord commended John to the extent that He approvingly linked the man
with the message he proclaimed. Christ spoke about John and said, He was the burning and shining lamp, and
you were willing for a while to rejoice in his light—Jn.5:35
A lamp is a vessel containing the wick and the oil. There can be no shining without burning and
certainly no burning without oil. Oil must saturate the wick, as the Spirit must fill the man. And that man, like
the wick, will be consumed in the sending forth of light.
Oil is used throughout the Scriptures to picture the Holy Spirit. The whole idea of the anointing is
absolutely connected with oil. No king, priest or prophet in the Old Testament was ever anointed without the
oil. It was written of the Lord Jesus, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because the Lord has anointed Me—
Isa.61:1.
John drew his inspiration from the Spirit of God. He burnt and shone to dispel darkness, expose all
stumbling blocks, while emitting rays of guidance to lead the blind. And in the process the man himself becomes
spent like the lamp’s wick.
The source of the light is not from the lamp. It must be derived apart from itself. John himself said, A
man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven—Jn.3:27.
God sent forth the fire in the tabernacle [Lev.9:24], in the temple [2Chr.7:1], on mount Carmel
[1Kgs.18:38] and on the day of Pentecost [Acts.2:3]. No other fire is acceptable except that which comes down
from above if one is to work the works of God. For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to
whom be glory forever. Amen—Rm.11:36.
Fire signals the approval of God and represents a motivation that is fuelled by the Lord Himself. Now the
purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith—
1Tim.1:5. Strange fires correspond to human imitations of that which is divine. Typically they appear genuine to
human perception, but in reality are not of the Lord!
Beloved reader, what is motivating you in ministry? What is the springboard from which your
involvement in Christian service was launched? Are you being fuelled by the oil of God’s Spirit? Is Jehovah’s fire
of approval burning in your life? If the applause of men or gain for self are the factors catalyzing your
participation in ministry, you can be sure that you are animated with strange fire.
It is an abomination to engage yourself in the service of Christ because you are naturally eloquent and
capable of influencing others by your dazzling personality; these are all strange fires. And should you proceed any
further in the battlefield, Satan’s javelin summoned from the abyss will surely bring you down. “Prophets” who
embark on the sacred discharge of ministry with fire from a different source, are calling for the wrath and
judgment of the Lord to descend upon themselves [Lev.10:1-2].
John was wholly other than this. The passion for God flamed with an ever-ascending fervency in his
personal devotion. He was spiritually alive and his communion with God was intimately vibrant.
The Baptist came bearing witness to the truth and uttering burning words of life. The potency with
which the force of truth pealed from his lips caused a stir among the people. They rejoiced in his
pronouncements, thinking to gain deliverance from the rule of imperial Rome.
But what were they really attracted to? Jesus asked, What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A
reed shaken by the wind? A man clothed in soft garments? What did you go out to see?—Mtt.11:7-9.
The Lord exposes the life of John for public scrutiny. So genuine was the Baptist that the Son of God
could display him for cross-examination. Christ’s intent was to draw the attention of the people to what true
prophetic ministry entails while revealing the shallowness of their own interests.
This was to inspire the people to soberly reflect on the stark contrast between their religious overlords
and the lone voice crying in the wilderness. What indeed were they seeking? Was it hoping to meet those who
wear soft clothing [and] are in king’s houses? But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and
more than a prophet—Mtt.11:8-9. But what effect did the message of the Baptist actually have upon the curious
multitudes?
The implications could not be mistaken by any who stood by. If they were expecting to encounter the
soft and luxurious, they were to be sorely disappointed. Ease of life is the antithesis to true prophetic ministry
[Am.6:1]. Every Jew in attendance would unmistakably conclude that the affluent lifestyles of their religious
leaders were incongruous with being sent by God as was John. They would also have their own expectations of
comfort and political deliverance shattered.
Thus the flames of their enthusiasm died down when they discovered him to be the herald of a different
order. This is typical of men. We are quick to rejoice in an outburst of revival, thinking that this will be an
escape route from the problems of daily life. But once our expectations of deliverance from earthly troubles are
dashed, our enthusiasm soon wanes and vanishes.
Beloved, well might you be asked, “What did you go out to see?” You have been in the campgrounds, you
visit the annual conventions, but what did you go out to see? Do you truly encounter prophets in these yearly
retreats? Are you not disappointed that a squadron of well-dressed smooth talking preachers assault your ears
with unfulfilled “prophecies” and promises while doing nothing to meet the deep spiritual longings of your heart?
But shall we really blame such religious imposters found in our generation? Yes! We must, and
justifiably so. But we must search our own hearts as well. Why have you been rallying around the various
conferences and seminars? Is it truly in pursuit of genuine prophetic teachings or is it a covetous longing after the
false breakthroughs promised year after year? The blame falls on fraudulent ministers and their congregations
alike.
None who rejoiced in the light of the prophet at the banks of the Jordan were willing to do so while the
prophet was clapped in the manacles of Herod. This same effervescence was true with respect to the Christ of
God. Multitudes sang His praises as shouts of hosannas interrupted the complacency of Palestine’s religious
dullness. The true test for the people, however, came when the Lord was to be crucified. They who had sang
“Hosanna” now filled the city with cries of “Crucify Him!” “Away with Him!” Herod’s hands were stained “only”
with the blood of the Baptist; theirs with that of the Son of God Himself.
If the multitude’s expectations were spiritual and truly repentant, they would have rejoiced unendingly
and not momentarily. But that was not the case of Jordan’s throng or of Calvary’s hardened and insensitive
spectators.
All genuine prophets will find this to be true. The temptation lies in toning down our message and
telling the people what they want to hear so we can worm our way into their hearts. Neither the Lord Jesus nor
John did so.
Both radiated the glory of the Lord Almighty with consuming brilliance till they were spent. They
valiantly bore witness to the truth, until they had completed their heavenly ordained task.
Let us follow after such examples. Godly wisdom dictates that you desist from enticements to dilute your
sacred message for the despicable shekels of human favor. The acclamations and commendations of men are a
snare that provokes the displeasure of heaven [Lk.6:26, Mtt.6:1].
Oh! How many there are today who once emerged with the seal of God’s approval commissioning their
ministry but since have abandoned their high calling! They burned fervently for the Lord, inspired many unto
sanctification and subdued the camps of wickedness through their fiery words. Many of such bravely evaded the
arrows of greed, lewdness, and fear. They fought valiantly at the inception of their ministries like true soldiers,
until handshakes of human plaudits were proffered. Oh! How are the mighty fallen! How is it that they who
once, lion-like, fought the good fight of faith, now speak with the traitorous tongues of deception!
Dear reader, let these be an example to you! Many who have been able to resist the bold assaults of Satan
are laid prostrate before the subtlety of his “friendly advances.” The enemy who goes about like a roaring lion
knows how to change into his deceptive serpentine posture when it suits his purposes!
John was filled with the Spirit and approved of the Lord, yet he did not establish his ministry in the
urban metropolis of Jerusalem. Apart from city life and without employing the carnal stimulants of modern
methods, he spoke his message and all Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to
him—Mtt.3:5.
Untainted by Jerusalem’s enfeebling comforts, John, the true prophet, lived in desert wilds. Clad in
garments of camel’s hair, unpolished by social standards and in all respects physically crude, he lived as a Spartan.
His life was the practical example of his message. Luxury had no place in his heart. His very appearance rebuked
the delusion of imagining that purity is obtainable by a ceremonial sanctity.
True servants of God are not exempted from the adversities of life that are common to all men. Instead,
in the face of unfavorable conditions, they remain faithful to their calling. John was not a reed blown about by
the ill winds of earthly misfortunes. No stormy tempests of life, irrespective of their assailing vehemence, could
shake the Baptist from his convictions.
John never wavered though his stance and attitude inevitably provoked the anger of the godless. The
light of such testimony persists as an abiding monument of rebuke that stands against the wickedness of men to
all generations. It is written that from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers
violence, and the violent take it by force—Mtt.11:12.
This violence against the kingdom of heaven continues from the days of John throughout the ages of the
church, and up until today. In a maddened rage, men will attempt not only to discredit, but also to eliminate all
who choose to live for the glory of God in order to prevent the spread of God’s kingdom.
Mtt.21:33-40 is an alarming illustration of man’s determined hatred for the King of heaven and His
subjects on earth. There we see that all true servants of God who came before the Lord Jesus were persecuted.
Those who violently seized His inheritance by wicked hands maliciously murdered the Son of God Himself. The
apostle Paul reiterates the continuity of this persistent persecution when he said, As he who was born according
to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now [Gal.4:29].
The Lord Jesus has told us to expect such violence against His true followers [Mtt.24:9]. But He also
encouraged us, that in spite of the outburst of devilish rage against the spread of the kingdom of heaven, the gates
of hell will never prevail against the church that He builds [Mtt.16:18].
Valiant and uncompromising fidelity to the testimony of God’s word is not without its difficulties and
privations. Nevertheless, the fact remains that God’s work done in God’s way will enjoy God’s support. The true
gospel worker will never be left uncared for.
John was sustained with the simplest fare. Without fear or worry, his needs were supernaturally catered
for. The God who sent him ensured his daily provisions. John experienced the sure promise of God’s inspired
word: Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you—Mtt.6:33. The psalmist said,
I have been young and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging
bread—Ps.37:25.
The basic necessities of life will faithfully be supplied. The Lord Jesus re-affirmed this when He said,
Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not
much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What
shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?”—Mtt.6:30-31.
Despite the certainty of heaven’s supply, men in their unbelief have devised means of gain by perverting
the word of truth. Such imposter preachers suppose that godliness is a means of gain—1Tim.6:10. It is beyond
the comprehension of their polluted minds that the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit—Rm.14:17.
With shameless boldness, They will exploit you with deceptive words—2Pt.2:3. For all seek their own,
not the things of Christ Jesus—Phil.2:21. The apostle Paul, lamenting the proliferation of such false ministers,
warned that, Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the
enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their
shame—who set their minds on earthly things—Phil.3:18-19.
Because they run a course contrary to Christ’s, even though doing it in His name, the Bible admonishes
us, For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly
men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness. Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain,
have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are spots in
your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without
water, carried about by winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves
of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness
forever—Jude.4,11-13.
True men of God, like John, are driven by a unique sense of profound purpose. The overwhelming joy
of fulfilling God’s will led the Baptist to subject himself to strict discipline of body in pursuit of spiritual
usefulness. The apostle Paul, for the same reason, did likewise. But I discipline my body and bring it into
subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified—1Cor.9:27.
All genuine believers will follow suit. The service of heaven demands sobriety in its representatives. Their
time, desires and entire lives are to be consecrated into the service of the Lord. No quarter is to be allotted for
self in their aspirations, reflections or motivations.
Such true Christians will join with Paul in declaring, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I
who live but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave Himself for me—Gal.2:20. John himself announced, He must increase but I must decrease—
Jn.3:30.
Such utter abandonment to the glory of the Lord alone, will assuredly elicit contempt from the
devotionless masses. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”—Mtt.11:18.
This should come as no surprise, however. Such denigrating remarks were equally applied to the Lord
Jesus Himself. The Son of God was referred to by them as a glutton and winebibber [Mtt.11:19], a Samaritan
[Jn.8:48], demon [Jn.7:20], deceiver [Jn.7:12], and insane [Mk.3:21].
And if they call the Head of the household Beelzebub, how much more the members? [Mtt.10:25]. Christ
Himself said that the servant is not greater than his Lord; “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”
This is because darkness is always reproved by the Light and so they think it strange that you do not run with
them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you—1Pt.4:4.
The Son of God declares woes on self-appointed servants who presume to speak for heaven while being
the objects of men’s praise [Lk.6:26]. It demonstrates that they are preachers of a different gospel whose smooth
and flattering speech deceives the hearts of the unsuspecting [Rm.16:18].
Our calling is to stand upright in the midst of a world with an upside down mentality without regard for
any of the strange and alluring offers of this age. The years of our life here on earth are to demonstrate that we
love the Lord Jesus and cherish His fullness far above any worldly recognition or mundane concerns.
May it be so with you, dear reader, as you reflect on the testimony of this burning and shining lamp.

He Must Increase I must decrease: PART 6

2011-02-18T20:24:00.003-06:00

DOUBT IN THE DUNGEON
Are you the coming one, or do we look for another?
[Mtt.11:3]

PART 6

Despair is a normal course of spiritual development in true servants of God. It is no sin; but rather it is a
feature of our mortal limitations. People who claim to have smooth sailing through the storms of life from the
outset of their conversion, are practicing a faith which does not have Jesus as its Author and Finisher [Heb.12:2].
Theirs is a vain religion that shuns the suffering of the cross.
As long as we are in this world, afflictions that threaten to overwhelm the soul are inevitable [Ps.34:19].
Catalogued in the Scriptures are examples of true men of God who passed through dark tunnels of
discouragement, wastelands of spiritual droughts, and seeming abandonment from a heaven that appeared to be
brass.
Moses, the prophet who knew God face to face, cried in desperation, I am not able to bear all these
people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—
Num.11:14-15.
Elijah, distinguished servant of the Lord who called down fire from heaven, lost sight of hope and
exclaimed, It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!—1Kgs.19:4.
Gripped by the powers of despondency, Job lamented, May the day perish on which I was born, and the
night in which it was said “A male child is conceived”—Job.3:3. David in sorrow of heart burst forth in his
anguish, Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?—Ps.42:11
Note Jeremiah, that faithful prophet of the Lord, crying unto the Lord in despair of spirit; Will You
surely be to me like an unreliable stream, as waters that fail?—Jer.15:18. Even the outstanding apostle, Paul,
groaned, We despaired even of life—2 Cor.1:8.
The Lord Jesus Himself, beneath a crushing weight of sorrow, earnestly prayed, O My Father, if it is
possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will—Mtt.26:39.
Thus do the Scriptures testify that great men of God had their times of despair, the Son of God inclusive.
The Baptist followed suit. How often we are plunged into the gloom of despondency following times of success
and public approval!
John, having shone brilliantly and performed his God-given task with fidelity, now lay crushed in spirit
within the bowels of Herod’s dungeon. Conflicting thoughts coursed through his distraught mind, each
clamoring for explanation. Surrounded by silence, darkness and hostility, the Baptist was unable to sort through
his confusion.
He who announced the Christ of God [Jn.1:29], and witnessed the testimony of the Father and the Spirit
concerning His blessed Son [Mtt.3:16-17], now sent messengers to that same Christ he had introduced saying, Are
you the coming One or do we look for another?—Mtt.11:3.
Everyone expected that the Christ, when He came, would restore the earthly kingdom to Israel in
triumph over its oppressors. This may well have been in John’s thoughts. That the Savior he heralded could not
come to the dungeon and free him from the grip of Herod, defied John’s reasoning.
Beloved reader, you have scanned through your life and found no fault deserving of punishment. On the
contrary, you have been stalwart and true in your commitment to the Lord. Your life until now has been a
glowing testimony of faithfulness and fervent devotion to Christ. Yet scores of disappointments pursue you
relentlessly. Like a powerful magnet, your life continues to attract filings of sorrow upon sorrow; you are hardly
done with one trouble before another rears its ugly head. Faint not! Your Father loves you. Jesus Christ your
Lord trod this same path and so did all the prophets who were before you. You are on the right track.
The cloud of witnesses is cheering you on. Listen to the assurance of God’s Spirit, “Fear not, for you will
not be ashamed; I will surely help you.” The Lord has spoken. He has committed Himself to you in an
irrevocable covenant of love. No man can undo His mercy towards you; no spirit can revoke His commitment. If
Christ is for you, who can be against you? Oh! Divine comfort! Wonderful promises! Gracious thoughts! O
despairing pilgrim, if only you knew the outcome of your Lord’s appointed course, you would leap into realms of
boundless joy. Though you do not discern His intentions you can safely trust in His heart of love to bring you to
a marvelous end. Will you not then rejoice? Let us be patient and await His salvation, and He will surely subdue
your sorrows to accomplish eternal purposes of mercy.
But that way out may not be what we expect. Christ neither visited nor rescued the Baptist from the cell,
but rather simply sent His word. The truth is, in all of this world’s afflictions, God’s word is the only sufficient
comfort to console the downcast. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen
and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the
poor have the gospel preached to them—Lk.7:22.
John, behind the bars of Herod’s prison, deeply pondered the response of Jesus. He understood the
content of the message and was consoled with God’s will for him. The messengers sent by John observed that as
the multitudes thronged to Christ with various ailments, some were healed, others were not, and the method of
healing differed with each individual. The sovereign design of the Christ of God determined who received
healing and by what means it was conveyed. Thus John understood, that though the Son of God may not visit
him in the bleakness of his imprisonment, He yet would deliver him in His own way and in His own appointed
time. In John’s case, it was through the bestial cruelty of Herod’s sword that the Baptist was released by Christ’s
tender mercies into realms of eternal day.
Friend, we are to rejoice in Christ, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God—
2Cor.1:4. It is only in the word of God that you can find a soothing balm for your aching soul. Friends will
desert you, parents will abandon you, brothers will supplant, neighbors will malign and foes will increase. Despair
not! Feeble shelters of human sympathy and support are a vain refuge to alleviate sorrow’s disillusionment.
Instead, come and consult with David in the Psalms, seek counsel with Job in his trials, glean encouragement
from Jeremiah’s rich field of Lamentations, hearken to Paul scaling the hurdles of life. Your soul will be
encouraged thereby, and when you are refreshed and restored, strengthen your brethren from your wealth of
experience.
Times of despair are actually sent our way from the Lord, and these are to test and strengthen our
character. They afford us the opportunity to act upon our convictions when all things go contrary to our
expectations, and in the process, our faith in God is being established. Do not shrink from such trials, for
seasons of sorrow are actually God’s means of purging our souls unto maturity.
The Lord will never abandon His faithful servants in times of affliction and despair, though it may appear
to us that He has. It seemed that way to apostles toiling alone against the raging of Galilee’s sea. He departed to
the mountain to pray. He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them—Mk.6:46,48.
It was dark, and Jesus was not physically with them. The disciples wearily rowed the boat in desperate
attempts to arrive safely at their desired haven. While the cold hostile winds of the night mercilessly flung
threatening waves against the already exhausted disciples, the Lord was actually watching over them from the
mountain’s height. He saw their feeble efforts; the terror in their eyes did not escape His notice. He observed
their futile endeavors to save their lives. Yet He was in control. No swell of the storm could take the life of any
disciple, while under the watchful gaze of Christ.
Dear reader, is this not the experience of all who truly seek a close walk with the Lord? They who navigate
the creeks and ponds never meet with stormy seas and howling winds. It is an experience wholly reserved for
those who dare to launch forth into the deep. True disciples will meet with such trying experiences as requisites to
complete the syllabus of their spiritual education.
Flee not the storm. Do not be driven from your course by contrary winds. You must sail through; a
passage leading to your sheltering harbor lies through the gloom. Strive on, soldier of Christ! You cannot now
sink, for the whole scenario of your struggles transpires under the watchful supervision of Jesus Christ on high.
The merely curious religious enthusiasts will never traverse this tempestuous route. They crossed
Galilee’s waters seeking after the Lord, but they met no storm, darkness, or opposing winds, neither was Jesus on
the mountain watching over them. Instead they glided easily in the light of day and sailed smoothly on the
calmness of the sea’s placid bosom [Jn.6:22].
They were elated to see the Lord as they excitedly greeted Him, Rabbi, when did You come here?—
Jn.6:25. But the Son of God was not pleased to see them. Instead, He rebuked their carnal desires of pursuing
the food that perishes rather than that eternal life which Christ alone can give [Jn.6:26-27].
Thus we see that hardships and disappointments are granted to those who are true servants of the Lord.
It is unlikely that the multitudes will encounter such trials of faith. The seeking of ease, softness and pleasures of
this life will always prevent them from passing through the deeper experiences of spiritual development.
The Scriptures, however, encourage us to offer our prayers to God and tell Him exactly how we feel in
every situation. The disciples of Christ cried, Master do you not care that we are perishing? [Mk.4:38]. Did He
not care? Of course, He most certainly did. Though He permitted them to struggle with the winds for a season,
He was yet in the boat with them. They suffered under the strain but the Lord did not abandon them to a watery
fate.
The Lord Jesus passed through a similar despairing scene. Even during the agony of the cross the Son of
God Himself cried out, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?—Mtt.27:46. Did God hear Him? It is
inconceivable that He did not. But His suffering was not immediately relieved and it was in the face of that
suffering that the Lord Jesus glorified His Father.
Friend, does your problem yet persist though you have made known your troubles to God? Omniscience
is not unaware of your plight. All things will surely work out for your good. His plans towards you are for peace.
If God had answered Christ by immediately relieving Him from the suffering of the cross, you and I would have
had no other option than to face God’s wrath in hell. But He did not, and Christ endured the shame of the cross
only to be raised in glory for your deliverance and mine.
You too can rest in His loving arms. The molding process may be painful but the Great Potter has a
design in mind for the clay though He molds it ten thousand times over. And when the developmental stages are
complete, you will be awe-stricken with the outcome of infinite wisdom.
This was so with John. Even though he languished in the dungeon of despair, no word of condemnation
was uttered by the Lord against John, but He rather actually commended him before the multitudes. The Lord
said that up until that time, John was the greatest man to be born of women. As undisputed as this declaration
was, the Lord Jesus added this startling statement: Whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than
John [Mt.11:11]. Believers in the Lord Jesus exceed John because we live in the realities of all that Christ came to
proclaim. Through the Spirit of God in us, we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in
Christ Jesus [Eph.1:3]; blessings that John had not enjoyed.
But if in fact we are greater than John, what is the practical evidence of that? Documented in the
Scriptures are John’s fervent devotion, zeal, faithfulness, humility, etc. What will be recorded of you and me?
What will Christ say of you in the times of your despair? Can the Son of God truly commend us before His
Father? We do well if we do not give up, for the Lord is in control of every situation that comes our way. May we
ever seek to glorify God, though trials buffet and threaten to undo us. With all humility let us make our pains
and troubles known to Him, and in due time we shall be exalted [1Pt.5:6].

He Must Increase I must decrease: PART 5

2011-02-18T20:22:00.003-06:00

HANDING OVER THE BATON
He must increase but I must decrease
[Jn.3:30]

PART 5

True prophets of God are committed to discipleship according to the command of the Lord [Mtt.28:11].
The apostle Paul instructed the young Timothy to continue in these ways, saying, The things that you have heard
from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also—2Tim.2:2.
Discipleship involves choosing men of godly inclinations and raising them up in the way of righteousness.
It entails the training of the learners that they might be equipped to faithfully discharge their God-given tasks.
And this cannot be effectively accomplished in mere classroom or in seminar settings [Mk.3:14].
Discipleship is more of an apprenticeship where truth is grasped in its practicality through the
encounters of everyday life. Disciples are chosen for two primary reasons; first, that they might be with their
discipler and, secondly, that they might be sent forth to represent the God whose mind and purposes they have
now come to know.
Such a relationship affords the opportunity to participate with their leader in godly service while
observing his life. Gaining an understanding of God’s ways in His word prevents a breakdown in the
transmission of truth. The period between the selection of disciples and their being sent forth into public service
is designed to build their characters, strengthen inner resolve and to lead them to absolute dependence on the
Lord alone.
Instructions in content and principles of the Scriptures are put to the test in a variety of places, at
different times and in dissimilar modes. This effectively develops the disciples’ progress, exposes their weak
points and refines them for the better which a mere intellectual approach in a seminary or institution cannot
produce. Dear reader, your formal training in theology is inadequate to equip you for the discharge of true
prophetic ministry. Mere academic prowess could see anyone through the rigors of seminary training, though he
may have no clue as to what true spirituality entails.
Discipleship is not to be understood as a mere gathering for some days of Bible study retreat. Rather it is
godly tutorship under the supervision of Christ via the instrumentality of some matured, experienced and proven
servant of God. This is the commendable way of personal and gospel preparation.
True discipleship is quite unlike the currently popular concept of mentoring. The relationship between
disciple and discipler is that which merges the concepts of father and son, apprenticeship, and co-laborers into
one; a loving exchange of mutual esteem that deepens into like-mindedness in the things of God.
John’s disciples observed from their leader’s message and way of life that purification is a matter of
repentance only symbolized by baptism. Having been convincingly persuaded by his message and manner of life,
the contrary doctrine of the Pharisees met with firm resistance from the well-informed disciples. There arose a
dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification—Jn.3:25.
It was no small dissension. John disciples would not be tossed to and fro and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting—Eph.4:14. That which
the disciples had known both by practice and close acquaintance with their leader, remained unshakable before
the sharp contentions of those who merely accumulated knowledge from rabbis.
Genuine servants of God do not seek to keep their knowledge to themselves; neither do they seek to
hinder upcoming brethren in the service of the Lord. Rather, they are concerned for the next generation and
seek to impart knowledge to faithful men who will preserve truth unto posterity.
Because of this, we find that the true prophet never competes to promote himself. He seeks always to
advance the course of heaven without envy, assisting those other vessels that God has chosen to use. He
acknowledges Christ as the Head of His church and will ever seek to proclaim and promote this [Col.1:18].
Beloved, watch out and beware of men who, rather than encouraging younger brethren in the way of
righteousness, feel threatened and even seek to extinguish their flaming fervency and to subdue their progress in
God’s ways. Those ministers who labor to remain as the central focus of their followers at the expense of posterity
are false prophets.
Great men of God always rejoice when they discern a godly capacity rising in the soul of a younger man.
They are delighted to pour out their lives in training such upcoming servants of God and, with sincerity of heart,
they support such men with prayers that the Lord might make better prophets of their disciples than themselves.
And should the Lord choose to do this through the ministry of some other man, they rejoice unendingly, for their
concern is not for themselves but for the movement of the testimony into the next generation.
John was such a man. When reports of Christ’s ministry reached him, he rejoiced and re-affirmed his
own position as nothing more than a messenger [Jn.3:26-28]. He even publicly acknowledged Christ Jesus and
His work as being superior to himself [Jn.3:33]. How the true prophet delights to hear the Bridegroom’s voice
and to see that the Bride is joined to Him! He never seeks to lure her away from her Husband with enticing
speech. His joy is fulfilled when he sees that Christ alone as the true Husband receives the affection of His Bride
[Jn.3:29].
The friend of the Bridegroom derives his satisfaction from his part in bringing the Bride and the Groom
together. This is the highest elation of all true ministers, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children
walk in truth—3Jn.4.
False prophets and apostles do otherwise. With no regard for the true Groom, they entice the Bride away
from Him and excommunicate all who dare to challenge their abominable designs. I wrote to the church, but
Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us—3Jn:9.
Friend, have you observed that the majority of “church founders” are true disciples of the Reverend Dr.
Diotrephes? Shamelessly, they imbibe the praise of God’s people and inhabit their adulations while drawing away
the souls of the disciples after themselves.
This presents a sharp contrast to John, who with gladness of heart declared, He must increase, but I
must decrease—Jn.3:30. True prophets continually relinquish their hold on the Bride as they see her increasingly
devote herself to her Husband. They gladly discourage all dependence of the Bride on themselves while willingly
and graciously fading into the background that Christ might be her all in all.
Dear reader, self is the greatest stumbling block in the life of a believer. It is a bottomless pit that can
never be filled. It is self that seeks to be known, worshipped, and pampered. The Lord Jesus must reign over your
preferences and passions while submitting your will to His. The Son of God insists that self-denial is a
prerequisite to being His disciple [Mtt.16:24].
When temptation to ambition and self-exaltation was as its zenith, John the prophet uttered that
watchword of his life, He must increase but I must decrease. Christianity is diametrically opposed to the outlook of
the world. Death is the way to life, the way up is down, humility leads to exaltation, and leadership must be
derived from servanthood: If you will truly increase, you must first decrease.
Thus Christ must become to us Lord indeed. It is paramount that His will superintend and become
supreme over our own. Our influence on people necessitates glorifying Christ alone. Participation in the many
affairs of life is to be carried out solely to the glory of the Son of God [1Cor.10:31]. Allegiance and, yea, our all
must be for and to the exaltation of the Christ of God.
As subjects of the Lord Jesus, it is mandatory that the sovereignty of self over our lives be resisted and
mercilessly trampled upon. Regardless of its tempting offers, we have no option but to crucify self and its desires.
Only Christ qualifies to guide our decisions; He alone is to direct our lives and be glorified thereby.
All that we are must give way to all that He is. Once we had trusted in our futile understanding
[Prov.3:5], but now Christ is our only wisdom [Col.2:2]. No longer can we exert our will along self-chosen paths
[Mtt.26:39]. The glory of the Lord Jesus must be given full sway in our every consideration. Our desires of
passion, coveting, and pride must be mortified [1Jn.2:15], that we might exclusively devote ourselves to His good
pleasure. The downward pull of family ties, and especially that of our own souls, have to be subdued before Him
who is truly Lord of all [Lk.14:26].
We must recognize that our hearts are wicked and deceitful [Jer.17:9] so that we need to reject its
untrustworthy guidance. Full devotion is rather to be pursued in developing the mind of Christ [Phil.2:5-8]. And
what is our aim? He must increase, but I must decrease. Is it so with you, dear reader?

He Must Increase I must decrease: PART 4

2011-02-18T20:21:00.002-06:00

A CALL TO REPENTANCE
Flee the wrath to come
[Lk.3:7]

PART 4

There is a sacredness about divine revelation that is not to be squandered on the casual.
Insights into God’s word are reserved for those who are wholeheartedly separated unto Him. God’s
message is not conveyed to carnal men though they may mount pulpits of grandeur. The word of the Lord came
to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness [Lk.3:2]. Neither the Pharisees nor the Sadducees, though daily
in the temple, had such a testimony. God never casts pearls of truth before religious swine [Mtt.7:6].
John’s declaration sprang forth because the word of the Lord richly indwelt him; no other reason
motivated him. He did not derive his message from the commentaries of renowned rabbis, neither did seminary
training certify his ministry. His secret was solitary communion with God and thus the message he proclaimed
was not his own.
Truly approved of God as a prophet, the Baptist did not come speaking a vision of his own heart as so
many do. John did not dare to attach the Name of the Lord to utterances which did not proceed from the mouth
of the Lord; this the false prophets do.
The effect of the impartation of God’s word was that John emerged from his wilderness preparation to
proclaim repentance and inevitable judgment on the wicked. This is the essence of true prophetic ministry in
contrast to the smooth but deadly delusions of those who have heard nothing from heaven [Jer.23:16-17,22].
True prophets have no heart for worldly mundane affairs and the alluring comforts of the city. The holy
city of Jerusalem with all its temple fineries of religious ceremony had no appeal to the godly soul of the prophet
John. Rather, he chose to stay in the uninhabited wilds. Yet, Jerusalem, all Judea and all the region around the
Jordan went out to him—Mtt.3:5.
Friend, is this not a contrast with modern ministers who seek to establish their churches in thriving cities
of renown? Aren’t we destitute of discernment when we imagine that God cannot move in the rural areas as we
expect He would in the urban? Yea, it is even more lamentable to think that apart from the stimulants of
technology, we do not know what to do in order to worship God.
Dear reader, do your best to seek the approval of God, bind yourself to Him in intimate communion,
and with the authority of God pronounced upon your life, men will seek you out to hear the word of the Lord
from your mouth. Your location irrespective, men will surely come to you when you have in hand the bread
which their soul desperately hungers for.
At the time of John’s appearance from his desert seclusion, religion had degenerated into the scandalous.
The temple’s priestly custodians indeed continued conducting their ceremonies, but God wasn’t there. The
outward form of life was present, but true spiritual perception had long since vanished.
The religion, which ought to have been blossoming and bearing fruit, had become a desolate maze of
crooked paths. The people did not even know the God they professed. God’s moral laws, in the hands of
unscrupulous scribes, had decayed into a burden of legalistic rules and human traditions.
Sadly, this evil trend continues today. We put up appearances of sanctity and fill our tongues with
Christian terminologies, yet we have not renounced the hidden things of shame. Our church meetings qualify
more as social functions than divine services. A typical religious gathering today is little different from a political
campaign with the gubernatorial aspirant dishing out empty promises from his elevated platform.
In such conditions, the way of the Lord must be prepared before His glory can be revealed among His
people. However, God’s ways can only be prepared by those who have known them. He made known His ways
to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel—Ps.103:7. While the children of Israel were content to rejoice in
God’s external acts, Moses pursued and was ushered into the greater honor of knowing His ways.
Dear reader, what about you? Moses knew the inner workings of God’s heart and so did John. Do not
be like the children of Israel who had no acquaintance with the principles of godliness but were merely content to
experience His works. Christ has thrown open the way into the holiest. Arise, do not linger in the outer courts
any longer, come to the fount of all knowledge and drink to your satisfaction in intimate communion. Christ is
willing to unlock the great storehouses of eternal realities to your soul. If you be willing, and I pray you will be,
lift up your voice and earnestly cry out, Open my eyes that I might behold wondrous things from your law—
Ps.119:18. And you will experience the sure promise of entrance into His secret counsel reserved for the upright
in heart [Prov.3:32]
Like Moses, John was a man who spent years in the wilderness pondering the ways of God. He was no
mere product of some human institution of learning, echoing hollow traditions of men. Disciplined and tutored
by the Lord Himself, the Baptist was outfitted to now herald the ways of the Lord.
Following the illumination of the Spirit to his own soul, John came announcing, Prepare the way of the
Lord; make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the
crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways made smooth—Lk.3:5. Every vivid image employed in
this startling declaration is pregnant with spiritual significance that we do well to carefully consider.
A valley is a place where everything drains to the lowest level. Valleys are always known to impede
progress. They typify the low, debased and profane thoughts that fall short of the majesty of God. Delivered as
they were by a mighty right hand from Egyptian bondage, Israel yet entertained unworthy thoughts about the
Lord. Yes they spoke against God; they said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?”—Ps. 78:18.
Even Zacharias, father of the Baptist and priest of the Lord, showed no higher conception when, after
hearing the word of God, he still said, How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well
advanced in years—Lk.1:18. All such deficient thoughts dishonor the Lord and place Him on the same plane as
man with the weaknesses of mortal limitation. Such inferior thinking becomes even more lamentable when we
discover that even priests in the temple are not exempted from this profanity.
We do well to consider to what level our own estimation has descended. What base thoughts do you
entertain against the Lord? They will only blight your path with thorns. Of what use is your anxious unrest?
[Mtt.6:25-26]. Of whom have you been afraid so that you doubt the power of God [Isa.57:11]? Look away from
your weakness to His Omnipotent storehouse of might! Occupy your mind with things that are noble, pure,
lovely, and true [Phil.4:8]. With God all things are possible. Strengthen yourself in the Lord. To the one who
believes, there shall be a performance of the things spoken of in the word of God [Lk.1:45].
Mountains and hills are places of exaltation, elevation and loftiness. Leaving God in the valley and
brazenly ascending the peaks of pride, man imagines that he is sufficient apart from God. Human wisdom is
counted by him as an adequate substitute for divine revelation. Observe how his ceremonies have replaced that
true spirituality of worshipping in spirit and truth. And in contrast to humble submission, his arrogant and self-
willed independence presumes a sufficiency that he does not possess.
But God alone can properly be referred to as self-sufficient and exalted. As for men, we are neither. 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—Isa.57:15. Should we not then join with the apostle Paul in casting down arguments and
every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God —2Cor.10:5?
Dear reader, there is nothing to be proud about. You have every reason to be humble before the God of
heaven. Prides sets you in battle array against the Lord whom you are resisting. Will you indeed fight God?
What have you that you did not receive? [1Cor.4:7]. Power, beauty, intelligence and eloquence all come from the
Lord. They are reasons to be humble. God hates pride. Before the first dawn of the earliest ages, He made this
clear as He expelled Lucifer from heaven because of it. Rejection and condemnation is the lamentable end of all
who are self-exalted.
Crooked places lead us down lanes that are not forthright and honest. They constitute things that
deceptively direct the feet to wander in unprofitable paths. All such courses must be immediately abandoned for
the straight way, if the glory of the Lord will be made manifest. The Lord warns, Do not enter the path of the
wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on—
Prov.4:14-15.
What have you to do, O believer, in crooked places? The way into God’s presence is straight. Sever your
relations therefore with shady dealings. Renounce the secret things of shame, disengage from questionable
associations, and have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness. These things hamper your progress
and set your feet on a twisted trail that surely shall ensnare your soul.
Rough places cast obstacles of stumbling before us, plunging men to ruin and destruction. Not only do
they imperil us, they may also cause others to stumble if they are allowed to remain. Our relationship with people
should be to edify and inspire them unto good works, not to cause them to stumble.
Friend, you are an influence on others either directly or indirectly. Therefore you ought to be sensitive;
smooth out all rough places in your life. Cut down the appetite for that food which causes your brother to
stumble. Slam the door against the suggestions of unholy friendships. Do not enter into that which will cause
the name of the Lord to be reproached among the Gentiles [Rm.2:24].
Thus according to the message proclaimed by John, it is only as these issues are addressed that true
spiritual awakening can be realized. In the prophet’s own words, apart from these, no flesh shall see the salvation
of God—Lk.3:6.
The forceful witness that resulted from the prophet’s resounding thunder came with a potency that sent
tremors of alarm to the defiled consciences of religious authorities. He had no formal training from any
rabbinical school; neither did he learn religion from what was on ground. He was neither among them nor under
them. John was no product of any sect and represented no institution.
God was doing something apart from established man-made order. The Spirit of the Lord cannot be
made to conform to man’s religious ideas. Though Pharisees abounded in the temple, they were altogether
bypassed by the word that came to the wilderness prophet.
Unlike “prophets” of today, John was not a man to bask in carnal statistics cataloguing the numbers
attending his teachings. Flocking congregations of sinners, hypocrites and the superficially religious, did not
signal successful ministry in the mind of this prophet. Rather than compromisingly diluting his message in order
to attract and maintain a following, he reproved them publicly and condemned the perversity of their rebellious
natures. John had no interest in gaining a favorable reputation in the eyes of men.
His indictments fell on the common man and religious elite alike without exception. Then he said to the
multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to
come?”—Lk.3:7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to
them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” [Mtt.3:2]. The multitudes were as
equally corrupt as their Pharisaic teachers. It was a case of, “like priest, like people;” thereby fulfilling the words of
Christ against those whose “ministries” plunged both minister and followers into everlasting ruin [Mtt.23:15].
People have never had a heart for true prophetic voices as is the case even in our own day. The Lord
Jesus' preaching in synagogues often provoked the Pharisees to fury and violence. This indicates that no message
from the Spirit during this time had sounded forth in their meetings.
In John’s case, the multitudes filing out to meet the Baptist in the wilderness was to mere attend a
religious event that left the prophet under no delusion and even provoked his question, Who warned you to flee?
The true response to that question is, “Nobody.” They weren’t fleeing the wrath it was mere curiosity that drew
the masses out as spectators. But unlike the crowds, the Pharisees were not motivated by curiosity, and certainly
not out of repentance. A religious phenomenon was taking place under their very noses and they would never
allow spiritual movements to transpire apart from their jurisdiction and influence.
Christendom follows suit. The emperors of the various sects and denominations converge to monitor all
who dare to proclaim God’s word apart from their common assent. They frown at preachers who have not been
ordained by their empty hands. With phone calls and Internet facilities, faster moves are made to oppose and
hush the voices of any true servants of God.
But John was not a man to be intimidated. His message had not come from man. He feared no one and
sought no human endorsement or applause while preaching the gospel without fear and apart from courting
favor. He called for a change of heart, way and mind resulting from repentance, while debunking any claims to
descendancy from Abraham as a guarantee of salvation.
Prophets like John are lacking today. Like the children of Israel who dutifully practiced their religion, the
church today chants choruses laying claim that “Abraham’s blessings are mine,” while their lives bear no
semblance to the faith of Abraham. They carnally appeal to grace while they wallow in the mire of sin.
Stones, in the estimation of Christ, have more spirituality than such people. Indeed, it is better to be a
stone and have God as your Father, than to be a man and not acknowledge God in genuine devotion [Lk.3:8].
Oh! How the word “misery” aptly describes our generation! With consciences seared as with a hot iron,
the sober probing of spiritual convictions no longer has an effect on us. Benumbed with willful insensitivity, we
still cling to the vain practices of a lifeless ecclesiastical order.
As a true prophet, John called the people to repentance from the deadness of an empty profession unto a
life of fruitfulness and reality, while not shrinking from proclaiming inevitable judgment on those who chose to
continue in their wicked ways. This is the task before all genuine men of God; preaching repentance, fruitfulness
and judgment.
By calling the people a brood of vipers, the Baptist exposed the serpent’s venomous flow of sin in their
system. The multitudes at least had hears to hear. Vast numbers, now penitent, applied his convicting words to
themselves; “Indeed, we are a brood of vipers and though repentance is possible, God is about to cut us off if we
do not repent.”
While the Pharisees and Sadducees remained hard-hearted, the now remorseful throng pleaded, What
shall we do then? John, unlike today’s “prophets,” did not fill them with false hopes through smooth words,
deluding self-made prophecies, or by binding imaginary spirits of fornication and greed. Rather, he preached
death to self and emphatically stated that their good works must prove their claims to faith.
And thus too we are called, not to revel in false promises, but to die to self, to mortify through the energy
of the Spirit the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Away with the covetous and deceptive
shouts for breakthroughs! Gird yourself like a soldier and engage in conflict against the fleshly lusts that sap away
the vitality of your soul. The flesh, lust and Satan have sworn themselves not to rest until you are rendered
useless for all eternity. Arise, put on the whole armor of God, fight bravely and trust in the Lord Jesus! Thus and
only thus, will you subdue the accursed crew and the unholy trinity of the world, the flesh and the devil.
The conviction that the message of the Baptist brought endeared him to the hearts of the sincere. But
John himself was neither deceived nor distracted by the people’s opinion of who he was. He simply continued his
glorious task of drawing men beyond himself to God. Rather than be referred to as “papa,” “daddy,” or any other
carnal titles that men entertain, John immediately identified himself as the least of slaves. According to his own
words, One mightier than I is coming whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit and with fire—Lk.3:16.
Untying the Master’s sandal was the duty of the lowliest of servants. John says he is unworthy to do so,
that he is even less than the least of slaves. Though John preached a message of repentance and judgment, he did
so with utmost humility. The tendency today of those warning of impending wrath is to be harsh, arrogant and
overly forceful. This John did not do.
John’s humility enabled him to preach a balanced message, presenting Christ as both the Justifier of the
repentant and the Judge of the wicked. Listen to him say of Christ, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
with fire. Baptism in the Spirit is not the same as baptism with fire. The baptism of the Spirit refers to the
believer in Christ as being joined to Christ as members of His body [1 Cor.12:13].
The context of Jesus’ words tells us what baptism by fire is. Luke 3:17 reads thus, His winnowing fan is in
His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the
chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire. The baptism of fire is a terrifying picture of Jesus sealing the
burnings of the wicked who reject God in eternal torments. This, no believer would wish for.
And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them—Lk.3:18.
The good news or gospel is that which every true servant of God is sent to proclaim, that gospel which alone is the
power of God unto salvation [Rm.1:16; 1 Cor.1:17-18]. The message of the Baptist was plain and simple. All he
preached was: If you repent, your sins will be forgiven and you will bear fruit [Lk.3:3], be baptized in the Spirit
[Lk.3:16], God will take you for His own, and you will be gathered into God’s eternal storehouse [Lk.3:17].
John’s words not only proclaimed repentance from coming judgment, but he also offered the people
hope. He preached what he knew to be true. He was no respecter of persons but faithfully and fearlessly declared
the counsel of God to the point of laying down his life for the sake of the gospel. May the Lord raise up in our
generation men like John who will not speak a vision of their own hearts, or merely re-echo the message of men as
if it were God’s.
Lord, let the days of attempting to maintain large congregations by offering false hopes and promises to
the people come to an end! May our hearts once again abound with the fruit of godliness springing forth from
the reception of Your word in truth! And Father, we pray Thee, work in us that humility which is conscious of its
unworthiness to loose the thong of His sandal and thus prove to be Your servants indeed. Amen.

He Must Increase I must decrease: PART 3

2011-02-18T20:20:00.003-06:00

SENT AS A VOICE
The voice of the one crying in the wilderness
[Jn.1:23]

PART 3

John was a man sent from God.
To be sent from God is to have first been prepared and approved to represent His mind and purposes
among men. It is a task that heaven never delegates to half-hearted enthusiasts. Those chosen by the Lord as
divine ambassadors are men who have been tested, disciplined and found faithful.
God tests the heart to reveal if it is wholly devoted to Him; to expose its inner workings and unveil any
double-mindedness. His words first come to His servant to reprove and correct the man’s own life before he is fit
to instruct, admonish, correct and train others. The Lord imparts His word to those who will yield dividends in
return for the treasure entrusted, and not squander it in the soil of slovenly disregard. God’s true servants are
dead to self and will not be found in pursuit of the vanities of the world or entangled in the affairs of everyday
life.
Disdaining the profitless enticements of this present evil age, every genuine prophet has no other concern
than to stand approved in the presence of the Almighty. Yet, can there be discovered one wholehearted soul
among a hundred thousand in this self-centered world? Encountering selfless servants is a rarity and has been the
spiritual plight of successive generations.
Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?—Isa.6:8, was the triune cry of the Godhead in the days of
Isaiah. A futile search was conducted in Ezekiel’s time to discover a man among them who would make a wall,
and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, but I found none—Ezk.22:30. The lament of Christ over
the dearth of such devoted laborers continues up to the present for which earnest prayer is demanded [Mtt.9:38].
Though God’s design is that preparation precedes service, nevertheless many have gone forth without
being sent by God. Hear the sovereign outrage, I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken
to them, yet they prophesied—Jer.23:21. A multiplicity of self-appointed prophets have desecrated the message of
heaven by launching forth in the delusion of their own hearts.
Woe unto us! The dreaded devastation of spiritual famine has come upon us [Am.8:11]! Dead men
parade in the sanctuaries presuming to impart life to spiritually lifeless congregations. Scandals of marital
unfaithfulness, financial embezzlement and vices of the worst sort result from the ministries of religious
scoundrels.
The harps of God hang silent upon willows of carnality while we dance shamelessly to Lucifer’s piping.
Disapproved instrumental noise blares its weak supplement to the spiritual impoverishment of false prophets. But
such musical accompaniment only compounds the abomination of deluded preachers. Take away from Me the
noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments—Am. 5:23. All gatherings
where man-made proclamations reign and are bolstered by religious enthusiasm are loathsome to the Lord. I
hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies—Am.5:21.
Dear reader, is true spirituality your testimony? Do you know what it means to have gained God’s
approval via the numerous tests of everyday life, or are you merely an adherent of a profession that attempts to
substitute an empty show of religion for holiness of life?
Beloved, do not flow with such an assemblage of vain pretenders characterized by religious but unspiritual
men. God is not in the midst of congregations whose “apostles” speak visions of their own hearts. Rather, lament
over the depravity of these gatherings! With no sense of incongruity we have afforded cushioned seats of honor
for the enemy in our midst, while we hold on to the pronouncements of men as if they were inspired Scripture!
And what about you, you who proclaim, “Thus says the Lord,” when you’ve heard nothing from above?
You speak a vision of your own imagination and endorse it with the Name of Christ. Woe unto you who take the
Name of the Lord in vain! You are of all men the most miserable! The Son of God’s unrestrained fury will wipe
out all imposters who claim to represent God but have never known Him!
But John was a man who had been with God. He therefore fabricated no fables to arouse the emotions
of sluggish saints; neither did he proffer empty promises to expectant seekers. Instead, he came uttering burning
words of piercing conviction. He was undistractedly committed to his task of bearing witness to the Light—Jn.1:8
But why a witness? Light bears its own witness. What need is there then for a man to be sent from God?
Revelation coming through agency instills the fearful reality that God is wholly other in a sacred distance from
lowly humanity. Truth communicated indirectly through chosen vessels accentuates the resplendent majesty of
His Person [Lev.18:12, Jn.1:1]. Mediation is inherent in the Godhead, for God speaks in Christ, the Word of the
Father.
The fact that God does not communicate directly informs us that we are unworthy to hear His voice and
to know His mind. If nothing else, this creates a solemn impression on sinful creatures; that revelation when
granted is a fearful matter of the utmost reverence.
It was in this manner that John was sent from God [Jn.1:6]. Quite in contrast to the Baptist were the
priests in their colorful robes who were sent by the Jews [Jn.1:19]. The former represents the God of heaven, the
latter stands for the religious institutions of men. Each proceeded in the assigned duties of their ordination.
The prophet John who received his ministry from the Lord, was accountable to the Lord. The priests
from the city were compelled to report to their commissioning overlords. Oh the gaping gulf that divides those
sent by God and those employed by men! Dear reader, let us soberly reflect upon this solemn consideration,
“Whom do we truly serve?” The word of God explicitly warns, You were bought with a price do not become
slaves of men—1 Cor.7:23. Let us therefore honestly evaluate our lives and ministries that we might stand
approved before the God of heaven and not bow to receive the tinsel crown of men.
The deputation of religious men from Jerusalem confronted the Baptist with the question that every
person must eventually answer, Who are you?—Jn.1:19. Dear reader, the question comes to you as well, “Who
are you?” You lead a group in church, you pastor a congregation, men revere you as religious, but who are you?
Stripped of all ecclesiastical pretense, divested of every religious impression, the question still stands, “Who are
you?” What is found in the depths of your heart? Is sincere love for Christ and the things of God to be
discovered there? The inquiry proposed to John was a demand to know, “By what authority do you do these
things?” Self-appointed prophets and servants of men can only answer, “By self will.” John, as sent from God,
was quite the contrary.
Since commissioned as an ambassador of God, John did not seek popularity for himself. He even refused
to be identified with the names of great men of God, past or present. He laid no claim to Messiahship. He
introduced himself simply as, the voice of one crying in the wilderness—Jn.1:23; A voice to be heard and not to
be seen; chosen only to echo in human language the instruction of the Spirit and appointed to call men back to
the only true Lover of their souls.
But a humble response will never satisfy religious servants of men who must of necessity report to their
masters. Confounded by his reply, the dialogue continued, with the question “Why?” following the question
“Who?” Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?—Jn.1:25. Rather than
engage in carnal disputes forbidden by discretion and the Scriptures [Tit.3:9], John meekly identified himself as
lower than the least of the saints [Jn.1:26-28].
Dear reader, are you truly serving God or are you trying to please men? All things are laid bare before the
penetrating perception of Him who judges righteously [Heb.4:13]. Someday you will be summoned to give an
account of your stewardship before the Lord who has the power to cast into outer darkness. What will you then
say, O you whose service is to satisfy men?
If you have been doing so, you may yet re-dedicate yourself exclusively to the Lord today. Only fools will
continue to follow men at the expense of serving Christ. Devote yourself to Christ alone, shun unnecessary
arguments, and serve the Lord with a pure conscience! The applause of men disdain, their frowns overlook.
Determine in your heart to serve Jesus alone with all your spirit, soul and body. Empty the resources of your
intellect and time into His service. Yes, spend and be spent in the noble task of furthering His kingdom among
men, and in so doing, you will be a true soldier of Christ. And when the roll is called up yonder, you will surely
hear from your loving Master that which every true believer looks forward to—Well done good and faithful
servant.
The Baptist was undivided in his focus upon the Lord Jesus alone. He pointed out Christ as the Lamb of
God [Jn.1:29]. No one present could mistake the implication of the figure he used. Every Jew knew that the
lamb was the animal used for sacrifice to appease the God of heaven and to make peace with Him. The
unmistakable conclusion therefore is that, Jesus Christ is the only acceptable sacrifice for all who
will come to God.
John declared from his own experience that the Christ of God can only be known by the revelation of the
Father to our hearts [Jn.1:33]. This echoes the very words of the Lord Jesus Himself. No one knows the Son
except the Father. Nor does anyone knows the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to
reveal Him—Mtt.11:27.
Neither Christ nor the Father can be known otherwise. Apart from divine illumination, a mere
intellectual claim of knowing the Lord is a self-deluding fallacy. The opinions about the person of Jesus varied
from individual to individual; Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the
prophets—Mtt.16:14.
But these are Jesus’ that do not exist. Many today likewise pursue a phantom Jesus of prosperity,
psychology ease and all sorts of other Jesus’ of their own inventions. The fact remains, these are Jesus’ existing
only in their own imaginations.
By divine enablement Peter knew who Jesus was: Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ
the Son of the living God”—Mtt.16:16. The Lord Jesus, responding to Peter’s declaration, said, Flesh and blood
has not revealed this to you but my Father who is in heaven—Mtt.16:17. John himself said, I did not know
Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending and
remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I have seen and testified that this is the
Son of God —Jn.1:33,34. If you have not seen Christ for who He truly is, you have seen nothing and are thereby
disqualified to testify in His behalf.
This lack of true knowledge about Christ has led us to manufacturing religious substitutes. Our outlined
steps to salvation have tallied countless records of spurious conversions following our altar calls. Neither Christ
nor the apostles ever made such altar calls as we are familiar with today. Penitence cannot be forcefully extracted
from an unrepentant soul, however emotionally remorseful he may appear. Altar calls today are an attempt to
make men into what they are not willing to be, as if we possess the power to reveal the Father to anyone’s heart.
Full of conviction, Peter sunk onto his knees in penitence apart from any altar call [Lk.5:8]. See
Nathaniel acknowledge Christ as Lord without being coerced to do so [Jn.1:49]. Observe how the Lord fished
Paul out of the dark pools of religious wasting apart from any human agency [Acts.9:3-6]. Consider Cornelius
praying in search of the true God without being told to do so [Acts.10:30-32].
The Lord Jesus is willing to make Himself known to any sincere heart apart from established man-made
order. If you will truly breakdown in sorrow for your sins and open your heart with willingness to receive, I’ve got
good news for you. The nail pierced hands of the Son of God are still outstretched in welcome and benediction.
No word of rebuke awaits you if you will come. Christ still awards the robes of righteousness, the sandals of a
fresh walk, the ring of His authority and the feast of gladness to anyone who will come [Lk.15:22-23]. As many as
believe and receive Him, He gives power to become sons of God [Jn.1:12].
The Baptist drew men beyond himself unto God. By his own message, John’s disciples were persuaded to
follow the Christ. The two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus—Jn.1:37. The desire to keep men
under surveillance while dictating the details of their lives is a typical feature of false prophets. Also among
yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after themselves—Acts.20:30.
But this wasn’t the way of John. Because of his deep spiritual contemplation on the walk of Jesus, he
could point Him out as the Lamb of God that his disciples would follow in His steps. Genuine servants of God
are always concerned that their disciples might walk in love, as Christ also has loved us—Eph.5:2. But if we walk
in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanses us from all sin—Jn.1:7.
Though the call is the same to one and all, there are differences among disciples. Some of the Baptist’s
disciples at once followed Christ when John identified Him as the Son of God. Others chose to remain with the
prophet. Some will readily respond to the spoken message and wholeheartedly follow Christ. Others, though
disciples, have but a limited perception, both of their discipler and of the One that he is pointing them to.
Capacities of spiritual comprehension vary among disciples. Some will arrive at a certain threshold and
will be reluctant to go beyond that. Others with deeper apprehension will yet seek to advance. Those who have
not sufficiently matured should not be forced beyond what they are willing to do. If necessity is placed upon
them to do so, they’ll be incapable of coping with the higher demands of further discipleship. Neither will they
be able to do that which God intended for them to do. Such disciples will eventually end up frustrated. Those
who seem to have a higher grasp and capacity should always be kept challenged lest they become bored and
discouraged; some will even think they have arrived and thus become proud.
Though John pointed Jesus to them all, some followed Christ while others remained with the Baptist.
Yet, they were all disciples. This is why an institutional formula to disciple men is destined to fail. Discipleship
training transcends merely convening in a hall for religious lectures. It rather entails that the disciple and the
discipler daily respond to the problems of life together according to the word of the Lord. This furnishes the
disciple the privilege of observing and participating with the one who is discipling. In such an approach, the
liberty and flexibility to develop according to his own capacity is fostered.
Let us thoroughly examine ourselves. Have we seen the Lord for who He is? It is a dangerous thing to
attempt to lead the people of God when our own hearts are yet foreigners to His ways. Presuming to represent
God without first knowing Him is tantamount to taking God’s name in vain. Drawing disciples after ourselves is
even worse; it makes us rivals to Christ who alone is the Head of the Church [Col.1:18].
True men of God are ever seeking to draw men beyond themselves unto the Lord Jesus. People, who
exalt themselves as indispensable heads over the brethren, are actually spiritual adulterers whose end is a
justifiable damnation. Such men are the accursed offspring of Diotrephes.
The Reverend Dr. Diotrephes was a man who not only lured the Bride of Christ astray and promoted
himself as a substitute lord, but also expelled all true friends of the Groom. The aged apostle reports his
experience, I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not
receive us. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren and forbids those who wish to,
putting them out of the church—3Jn.9-10. We shall do well to be on the alert. Diotrephes’ descendants are very
much active in our churches today. May the Lord grant us vigilance and discernment to escape the snares of his
prolific disciples.

He Must Increase I must decrease: PART 2

2011-02-18T20:18:00.002-06:00

SCHOOLED IN THE WILDERNESS
THE CHILD WAS IN THE DESERTS UNTIL THE DAY OF HIS MANIFESTATION [Lk.1:80]

PART 2

Being God’s spokesman is not a matter open to the individual’s choice. It is an appointment wholly
dependent on the sovereign election of the Lord. No man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by
God—Heb.5:4. The prophetic charge constitutes great spiritual entrustment that must not be trifled with. It
entails being totally set apart, not just from sin, but unto the Lord, so that God Himself becomes the prophet’s
unchanging reference point.
Many think themselves to be set apart from the world, but they are not actually devoted to the Lord.
Pharisees imagine themselves to be holy, having isolated themselves from the flagrant immorality and moral
decadence of society. They would never be discovered in brothels or in drunken shame.
But the consecration of the prophet transcends mere avoidance of scandalous behavior. A thousand and
one unconverted souls cry out against obvious social sins, like robbery, adultery, and fornication, though they
have no heart for God. The Pharisee gauges his sanctity by maintaining a respectable distance from the world.
But the true servant and prophet the Lord has the unchanging God of glory as his undeviating pattern.
Dear reader, you may pride yourself in not being a drunkard or an adulterer. You do well, but the
Pharisees did the same! Spirituality and legalism are not synonymous. Even people who lay no claim to
Christianity may likewise frown at vices such as gambling, violence, etc. This, however, is not the standard for the
Christian. Separation unto the Lord alone, so that the fear of God governs our every step and decision, is the
essence of true spirituality.
Separated from the world, set apart unto the Lord and constantly in touch with God, John was called
prophet of the Highest –Lk.1:76. Such qualities constitute the high calling to godly service. Even the
unconverted and naturally intelligent may attain theological degrees and diplomas, but they will not become true
prophets thereby. Mere acquisition of accurate biblical information in a classroom through the same manner that
one would earn a chemistry degree, is not God’s pattern for training His representatives.
John, prophet of the Lord, was devoted to pondering the ways of God. He was not called to a life of
comfort and lethargic inactivity; no true prophet of the Lord is. Rather, he was ordained for a task in which he
would have to spend himself and be consumed in the path of duty. He was chosen to be in constant touch with
the Lord, to seek His face and bring His words in season and out of season to God’s people, and though the
message be one of blessing or of judgment, both were proclaimed without fear or favor.
Do not be deceived. He is no prophet who reclines in pleasure and pours forth prophecies of ease and
breakthroughs week after week. Seminaries may produce such “prophets,” but God will not approve of them. Do
you aspire to represent the Lord? Then begin to ponder the ways of God, give yourself wholly to the study of His
word, maintain a vibrant spiritual intercourse with the Most High and pursue an ever-deepening knowledge of
Christ. Then the Lord can truly entrust to you His sacred message.
So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to
Israel—Lk.1:80.
Such withdrawal from the distractive routines and vain pursuits of life into the great deserts of spiritual
meditation, serves to nourish and discipline the spirit of God’s prophet. By doing so, John avoided an empty
carnal exhibition of self that would have disqualified him from obtaining the approval of heaven.
The wilderness has a reputation for being the most effective place for shaping future gospel workers.
Great things are always fashioned in the wilderness [Jer.2:2]. It affords the establishment of contact with the Most-
High in a way that is impossible amidst the hustle and bustle of city life.
But the wilderness is not to be taken literally, neither should it be mistaken for some church camp or
conference which today are referred to as mountains of spiritual experiences. Such gatherings are not designed to
prepare gospel workers neither can they do so. True preparation takes place in the wilderness.
The wilderness typifies retreat into spiritual meditation. It is a condition of the soul’s allurement and of
God speaking comfort the heart of His servant. Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the
wilderness, and speak comfort to her—Hos.2:14. There God draws His chosen ones into deep and intimate
communion with Himself, while He imparts peace to those grieving over the spiritually desolate religious
landscape.
Joseph entered the wilderness of an Egyptian slavery where the Lord freed him from the pull of natural
affection, both testing and proving his character. Thereby he was trained to deliver multitudes and experience the
sufficiency of God amidst contrary situations apart from human support.
Moses encountered the great I AM in the flaming thorn bush of Midian’s wilds. The divine intention
was that he might be purged of leaning on the broken staff of Egypt’s wisdom, fashioned unto humility with a
shepherd’s heart as the requisite for the work ahead of him. Thus did this desert school bring him to the place of
utter dependence on the invisible Lord alone.
David’s case proved the wilderness to be the fertile soil from which fruitful psalms bloomed. He was
drawn into Adullam’s seclusion that he might discover Jehovah as the only true shelter from life’s storms while
encountering Him as the Great Consoler of the saints. His spiritual education was furthered there with training
for confrontation and conflict against God’s avowed enemies.
Paul withdrew into Arabia’s confinement that he might undistractedly ponder the message unveiled by
revelation to purge him from the vain rabbinic traditions that had characterized his life. Here in the wilderness,
Paul discovered the much-cherished rites of circumcision and law keeping to be bankrupt sanctuaries bereft of
spiritual power to conquer fleshly indulgence. Thus it was in this soul-searching meditation that the inner resolve
to abandon carnal religious concepts was formed. It was in this course of secluded reflection that his entire
previous orientation underwent a complete revision.
Jesus the Christ frequented the wilderness of Nazareth’s carpenter shop that He might be proven fit for
the faithful discharge of His public ministry. The Father’s sovereign design was that through consistent
faithfulness to the menial and mundane chores of the woodworker, Christ might be developed for the necessary
detailed discharge of divinely appointed duty.
The apostle John was imprisoned on Patmos’ isolated island that God’s ultimate purpose might be made
known to him. In these discomforting scenes, he received consolation though afflicted with circumstances that
were physically opposing. Here, the final unveiling of the ascended Christ was revealed to his attentive and
devoted heart.
The Baptist, in the uninhabited regions surrounding the Jordan, had uninterrupted communion with the
Lord and attained great heights of spiritual perception, so that we are told that he grew strong in spirit [Lk.1:80].
There he learned what no rabbi could impart. Far from the distraction of religious ceremony and apart from the
delusion of temple scribes, the voice of the Eternal One was his sole instructor.
Beloved, this wilderness school is still accepting applicants. You can be in the world and not be of it.
Seek time with the Lord. Move in Christ, go about your business in Him, and let the reservoirs of your mind be
richly filled with the word of God. Do not allow the noise of engines and parties to upset the equilibrium of your
fellowship in Christ. Spend quality time in the presence of your Maker. Study to show yourself approved unto
God and your profiting will be evident to all. You must encounter Him in intimate communion. Only then will
you emerge with a Spirit inspired boldness to fearlessly denounce the abominations of corrupt practices and
strange doctrines.
This is the lesson set before all who would aspire to speak as representatives of God. Until this lesson is
learnt, the prophet is not ready to launch forth into service. But once this truth is grasped, the stage is set for
public manifestation.
True prophets like John are first reproved, corrected and instructed in the ways of God during their time
of communion in the wilderness. Only then will they become equipped for every good work, for God always first
fashions His servants before putting them into service. Afterwards, they are then sent to prepare the way of the
Lord as the Baptist was.
But why do the ways of God need be prepared? As religion was not as it ought to have been in the days
of John, so too has it declined in our generation. Ours is a hybrid Christianity. Morality and spirituality have
degenerated into an unholy admixture that draws no distinction between the heavenly and the mundane. We
attempt to weld an abominable alloy of spirituality and profanity in an impossible alliance of flesh and Spirit.
When things have gone that much awry, it becomes imperative that the preaching of a John precede the
proclamation of grace. Via John’s fearless thundering, the towering superstructure of human tradition and self-
invented doctrines must be reduced to ruins. Hear God’s prophet cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a
trumpet; tell My people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins—Isa.58:1.
The intended purpose of such preaching is to bring the people to the point of penitence. It is only as this
is achieved that the gospel of grace can be declared. It then becomes essential for John to expose the inefficacy of
countless ceremonial washings, the insufficiency of animal sacrifices, the fallacy of salvation based on inheritance
and the impotence of strict adherence to mere religious codes.
His unusual and even startling appearance in and of itself negated the claims to a holiness derived from
ceremonial codes. His very demeanor and message demonstrated that salvation is a thing of the heart, through
the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us—Lk.1:78. So we find that
the prophet was not merely commissioned to declare woes on the carnality of a wayward generation; his mission
also included the proclamation of God’s riches, sufficiency and visitation to His people; to give knowledge of
salvation to His people by the remission of their sins [and] light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of
death, to guide our feet in the way of peace—Lk.1: 77, 79.
Friend, superficiality in the church is the abomination of our time. Our unwillingness to withdraw into
spiritual meditation before launching forth into public service accounts for the profanity of our religious
perversion. It is alarmingly reprehensible that they who have no altars of personal communion shout the loudest
on our pulpits. Study Bibles and religious literatures are the ready source of information instead of the Spirit of
God! I do not say that aids to study the Bible are not beneficial, but I dare say that something is disastrously
wrong when their availability cancels our times of personal fellowship with the Almighty.
The proliferation of Bible schools and seminaries have furthered the decay of the church. Their
intellectual approach to spiritual things is a broken cistern that can hold no water. Thus the letter is gained and
the Spirit is lost. Is this not the reason that though we have answers today, we lack solutions? The curse of our
age is that though we are closely acquainted with facts, we are nevertheless bereft of spiritual insight and
principles. Truly we are in a dark period and we have not discerned it.
Oh, that we might see that heaven is grieved as we dramatize rather than live out the essence of true
spirituality! Hope is not to be found in the ecclesiastical orders of the day, neither will languishing and lamenting
in self-pity offer a solution to our plight. Rather, we must return to the Lord and bend our proud necks to the
method of Calvary; Yes, we must begin there in penitence and humility in order to proceed to the place of
communion. Wisdom demands that we wail as we lay prostrate in the dust of self-abasement.
Let us lift our voices unto God and say, “Have mercy on us, oh Lord! We have been no different from
our fathers for we also have dealt treacherously with Thee! We repent, O Lord, we repent of shamelessly
trafficking in divine things while uttering the words of Thy law with ignorant, yes, uncircumcised lips. Ah, Lord
do have mercy on us, for in the greatness of our folly we have concerned ourselves with things too profound for
us. In our depravity we have failed to distinguish between Scriptural truths and earthly maxims. Our error of
attempting to spread Thy kingdom through worldly methods is not hid from Thee.
“Help us Master, help us Jesus! Claim us now for Thyself. Thy glory, not our wisdom, Thy praise not
our fancy, Thy power not our folly is our singular request from henceforth and forever more! O Lord, be pleased
to hearken to our cry from broken and contrite hearts. Amen.”

He Must Increase I must decrease: PART 1

2011-02-18T20:14:00.004-06:00

A NAZARITE PREPARED
He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink
[Lk.1:15]

PART 1

How blessed are those children whose godly parents have brought forth notable servants of God!
Righteous Zacharias and Elizabeth received power to conceive in response to their effectual fervent prayers. The
scenes attending the birth of John call to remembrance those of his prophetic predecessor [1Sam.1:9-16]. There
too a mother travailed in prayer before the groans of labor graced her lips. In both cases, Samuel as well as the
Baptist grew up to be the greatest prophets of their generations.
Had either of those barren couples put asunder what God has joined together, they would have offended
the Lord and violated the most sacred and intimate of all human relations. Beyond that, they would have aborted
the possibility of conceiving two of the most noteworthy men of all time. Barrenness is never a reason to dissolve
a marriage. It is rather a cause to pray and thereby prove the faithfulness of God; and that is precisely what each
did.
Both sets of parents continued in the worship of the Lord though no fruit of the womb blessed their
union. Hannah earnestly poured out her soul in the temple and Zacharias was discovered discharging his priestly
duties in the sanctuary when the message of thrilling expectation arrived [Lk.1:6-17].
Joy and rejoicing burst upon the scene with their glad tidings marshaled by the angelic messenger
[Lk.1:14]. Exultation peals its notes of cheer at the arrival of all such heralds whose beautiful feet bring good
news, who proclaim peace and convey glad tidings of good things [Isa.52:7].
Yet how strange the angelic announcement fell upon their ears, You shall call his name John—Lk.1:13.
Hear Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives object, There is no one among your relatives who is called by this
name—Lk.1:61. Ah, but this was no common conception. This was the divinely ordained forerunner who was to
prepare the way of the Lord. All true prophets will be considered as of a different breed even from their birth,
especially by their own families and relatives.
Imbedded in the prophecy about John is the seed of his genius, He shall be great in the sight of the
Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink—Lk.1:15. Greatness in the sight of the Lord consists of
wholehearted devotion to the calling of the Most High. It has nothing to do with performance of signs and
wonders. Even Pharaoh’s heathen magicians conjured up signs and wonders through their enchantments [Ex.8:7].
And so it continues up till today. Many presumptuously boast of supernatural displays though their lawless
character will consign them to everlasting destruction [Mtt.7:21-23].
Dear reader, are you seeking the miraculous and the spectacular? Do you despair because no wonders
accompany your ministrations? You need not be discouraged, these things do not signal greatness in the sight of
the Lord. Generally our misconceptions of supernatural workings are drawn from a misunderstanding of Mark
16:17-18. And these signs will follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak
with new tongues; they will take up serpents and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them;
they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
The key to understanding this passage is the word those. The word those could mean all or some. Let us
consider the first option, all. If inserted in the text, it makes the verse read, “And these signs will follow all who
believe.” And so we must ask ourselves, “Will these signs indeed follow all who believe?” Of course not! The
Bible itself makes this clear. All do not speak in tongues, all do not work miracles, all do not have gifts of healing.
There are diversities of gifts, variations in activities and differences in ministry. It is the Spirit who distributes
these things to each one individually as He wills [1Cor.12:8-10, 28-30]. If all these signs will follow every single
believer, who then qualifies as a true Christian?
However, if we place the second option some into the verse, its meaning becomes lucid. The verse then
reads, “And these signs will follow some who believe.” Documented in the Scriptures are records of these signs
following some of those who have believed. The 120 in the upper room spoke in tongues, yet the 3000 that were
added to the church that day did not [Acts. 2:4, 37-41]. Some laid hands on the sick and they recovered
[Acts.19:11-12]. Paul took up a serpent and suffered no harm [Acts.28:3-5]. Though the Scriptures contain no
record of any who drank or ate any deadly thing, though we expect that the Lord can and will protect His
children in specific situations.
It is therefore an error to think that every single believer will perform or even experience these wonders.
The call of God is not to the uncertainty of miraculous manifestation, but to the godliness of character that shall
never disappoint.
Despair not, O weary pilgrim! Heed the advice of wisdom: Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called and have
confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses—1Tim.6:10-11.
Commitment to the Lord in spirit and in truth is the yardstick of measuring greatness before the Lord.
Gratifying self is the antithesis of such commitment and is never to be the desire or motivation of the consecrated
[Rm.14:17; 1Cor.6:12]. Of this, John was an eloquent testimony.
That John drank no wine or strong drink testified that he was a Nazarite indeed. Separation unto the
Lord is the hallmark of such consecration [Num.6:2]. God, not the world, was his point of reference. He was not
merely removed from the defilement of this world, but was first and foremost separated unto the Lord.
Three things characterized his devoted vow. He was to refrain from drinking wine or any strong drink
[Num.6:3], not to shave his hair [Num.6:5], and was prohibited from contacting corpses [Num.6:6].
In various places in the Scriptures, wine is that apt symbol of joy springing up from below [Judg.9:13].
Jesus turning water to wine illustrates Christ as the restorer of true joy to a marriage turned sour. In relation to
the Baptist, refraining from wine signifies that his joy is not to be derived from any earthly source. The world has
no joy to offer the true servant of God, but only an intoxicating delusion that confuses the mind. The Lord Jesus
affirms this when He says, These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you and that your joy
may be full—Jn.15:11.
Beloved, Christ alone can cheer your heart with true joy. The world may suggest happiness, but it is
incapable of producing that joy which alone can satisfy the deep longings of your heart. Happiness is both
external and transient. Its feeble flames are soon quenched by the gushing torrents of daily problems. In contrast,
come to Christ, the fountain of true joy, despite your situation’s seeming hopelessness. The joy He offers is a fiery
flame that evaporates the opposing waves of sorrow.
Do not faint, neither be weary! Steady your gaze on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith. Though
life may fire arrows of disappointments, wickedness and sorrow, you can yet be sheltered in the joy of the Lord.
Are you falsely accused? Have you failed an exam? Has your spouse dealt treacherously with you? Perhaps you are
maligned and slandered. Look right beyond these things and see your Lord with His offerings of joy. Rise, come
to Him, cast your cares and burdens unto Him. He cares for you.
Secondly, no razor was to come on the Nazarite's head. His hair was to be allowed to grow freely and
fully though the Bible tells us that, If a man has long hair it is a dishonor to him—1Cor.11:14. But this dishonor
is precisely the point. The genuine servant of God is to bear shame and reproach for the sake of his devotion to
his Lord. The intent of God is never to absolutely shelter His faithful ones from disgrace in this life. On the
contrary, it is His design that when we are reproached, His grace might gain expression and be made manifest
through His suffering servants.
Friend, it is well-pleasing to God if through your suffering Christ is glorified. The Lord is not unaware of
what you are passing through. Rather, by divine favor, you have been nominated to constitute a wonder to
angelic spectators in the heavens and to this dark and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights
through your sufferings.
This was the experience of the apostle Paul. Listen to his glowing testimony in the midst of untold
suffering, But I want you to know brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for
furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my
chains are in Christ—Phil.1:12-13.
What will your own testimony be as you pass through these trying periods? Will you honor the Lord like
Paul, or will you follow after the example of the thief crucified along Christ on the cross, who, in his suffering,
chose to ridicule the Lord? Your reaction to suffering matters to God. He will relieve you in His own time. Only
be diligent to maintain a good testimony in spite of the barrage of undeserved reproaches that assault you. In so
doing, the Lord will testify of you as He did in Job’s case, saying, there is no one like him—Job.1:8.
The third requirement of the Nazarite’s consecration was to avoid defiling contact with dead bodies
[Num.6:6]. Since the Christian saint is joined to the Body of Christ [Col.3:15] and is therefore one with the Lord
[1Cor.6:16], for him to make contact with any spiritually lifeless system is to be opposed to the very essence of the
living God Himself. God is not the God of the dead but of the living—Mtt.22:32. In Him was life and the life
was the light of men—Jn.1:4
All religious systems that do not own the Lord Jesus as Savior in spirit and truth are dead bodies with
spiritually contaminating influences. Christ’s body is joined to Him as the Head [Col.1:18], while all such lifeless
movements are dangerously defiled by contact with their human and carnal presidents and founders. To remain
spotless from the corrupting death of this world requires divine enablement.
John was filled with the Spirit of God. No other power is available to work the works of Christ. So then,
those who are in the flesh cannot please God—Rm.8:8. No earthly wisdom or human effort can proclaim the
mind of God or demonstrate His power. All wisdom and power of this world are at best profitless and, at worst,
demonic [Jm.3:15]. By strength no man shall prevail, and this is particularly so with respect to ministry
[1Sm.2:9]. Every priestly service rendered to God must be by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit if it will meet
with divine approval [Zch.4:6].
John, though endued with the Spirit, retired into a desert seclusion of spiritual devotion until thirty
years had passed. Many, who devoid of the Spirit but armed with theological degrees, have rushed unapproved
into public religious service unto their own ruin and the spiritual demise of multitudes.
Is it not true, dear reader, that many today are “ministers,” not because the Spirit of God indwells them,
but because they passed through some man-made hierarchical stages in their churches? The sobering fact is that
many who are pastors, though eloquent and articulate, have no clue as to what the gospel is. Such “ministers”
have never encountered God as John did. Their pastoral vocation has only been assumed because, after becoming
workers in the church and with misdirected zeal catalyzing their actions, they emerged as “deacons” and
eventually metamorphosed into “pastors!” This is not Christianity at all; it is an abysmal aberration.
Because John was qualified by the standards of heaven, He will turn many of the children of Israel to
the Lord their God—Lk.1:16. This is the singular desire of every true prophet and is the identifying mark of those
who truly represent the Lord. Others may speak a vision of their own hearts and even allure disciples after
themselves, but the genuine servant of God will always provoke conviction in his listeners [Jer.23:22].
The prophet John came in the spirit and power of Elijah, and though he bore semblance to the ancient
prophet in many ways, he was not Elijah reincarnate, as some suppose. John, like Elijah, rebuked wicked political
rulers and both suffered at their hands. Both had their abode in the wilderness, fearlessly proclaiming God’s
word.
But while Elijah’s ministry was graced with spectacular miracles, John evidenced none; not even one
[Jn.10:41]! Yet Christ spoke of the Baptist as the greatest born among women [Mtt.11:11]. Clearly this indicates
that miraculous manifestations are not the evidence of divine approval. Rather, coming in the power of Elijah
means turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make
ready a people prepared for the Lord—Lk.1:17. And even if miracles are performed by the power of God like
those of Elijah, the intention is to lead unto repentance and not for the self-exhibition or exaltation of man.
Even so, miracles have never been known to change the heart of people. It was written of the Lord Jesus,
Although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him—Jn.12:37. Then He began to
rebuke most of the cities in which His mighty works had been done because they did not repent—Mtt.11:20.
The gospel, not miracles, is the power of God to salvation [Rm.1:16; 1Cor.1:17-18]. Believers are sent to
preach the gospel; miracles may follow, but that is not the purpose of proclaiming salvation. [Mk.16:15]. It is for
neglecting the word of God, not signs and wonders, that we shall be judged [Heb.2:1-3].
Christ tells us of a man who, languishing in the smoking fires of hell, cried out; “O that you might send
someone from Your presence to alarm them of the torments of this place!” But even the miraculous will fail to
convince the unbelieving according to the reply of heaven, If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead—Lk.16:27-31.
Things have not changed. The quest for miracles is the unmistakable sign of a perverse and adulterous
generation [Mtt.16:4]. This generation of miracle seekers is a movement which will culminate in that final
deception of the lawless one who will work miracles according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and
lying wonders—2Thess.2:9. Multitudes will follow after such demonic revival and miracle crusades just as they
are doing today.
Miracles, by definition, are not normal occurrences but are unusual supernatural intervention in the
affairs of men. It is a delusion to imagine that God’s miraculous power can be called into existence by the empty
declarations of men whenever they deem fit. It is only those who conjure powers in dark realms who are capable
of doing so.
But lusting after signs and wonders is not the only indicator of spiritual decline. Complacency with
regard to the word of the Lord is equally disastrous. The command of the Lord to the Israelites from of old, was
that they declare the divine revelation to their children [Dt.6:5-7]. This they had willfully neglected. In effect,
there was a breakdown in the transmission of truth, so that each successive generation became further separated
from God.
Judaism, which began with a divinely given set of moral and spiritual principles, had decayed into a
multiplicity of empty man-made codes. It had passed into the fearful and devastating practice of contentedness
with an endless series of external ceremonies with no reference to godly commitment.
Disdaining the moral and spiritual implications of God’s word, the people had degenerated into the
dreaded delusion of supposing that religion was an adequate substitute for true spirituality. Though the outward
form was still quite apparent, true spiritual perception was lacking. Their religious meetings were borne out of a
sense of obligation, not of inward conviction and true spiritual desire.
Tragically, the people were well content with this bankrupt pretence to godliness. The temple, priests,
sacrifices and fasts were readily approved by the carnal populace, but no inward reality of spiritual life
accompanied their vain practices.
Upon this dismal scene the Baptist burst forth with the convicting call of repentance from dead works.
The hearts of the fathers must be turned back to their children! That the fathers had not been teaching the
children, tells us that they themselves do not know the law. Devoid of the knowledge of the Lord, and bereft of
the wisdom of God, each had departed to his own way following his own occupation and interests.
All true servants of the Lord will devote themselves to turning the hearts of the fathers to the children. It
is an error to imagine that the weekly Sunday school lessons in the churches will accomplish this. They may assist
us, but will not absolve us from this sacred obligation. Parental teaching is a natural duty and a spiritual necessity.
No one qualifies to instruct children like the ones who conceived them. This divine mandate of the word of God
should be soberly impressed upon fathers, who must in turn teach their children the way of truth.
Like Judaism, professing Christendom is a cause for lamentation. We are far removed from the moral
excellence for which the early church was well known. Programs have replaced personal commitment, and the
word of God itself has been set aside for denominational constitutions. Though pastors and reverends, Bible
schools and churches are on the increase, holiness of life, purity in heart and godly character is grievously absent.
Complacency in the visible and outward sanctity of our religion is the curse of this generation with its hollow
pretense void of life.
Let me ask you, is your heart turned to the Lord? Are you raising godly children? What testimony of true
spiritual life do you evince at home and before God? These are questions to ponder. If your religion has failed to
produce a godly character in you, you are yet manacled in the bonds of iniquity.
But in spite of this vast wasteland of religious insanity, the Christ of God yet seeks men and women of
godly inclinations. He is looking for those who despair of the empty profession that is characteristic of
Christendom today; He yet seeks Nazarites who will separate themselves unto Him in devotion and truth.
Will you join the ranks of the consecrated or will you turn a deaf ear to His call? May we be prepared and
refined by the Lord to be His vassals, calling men to life and repentance from dead works.
O Lord, we beseech Thee, raise up prophets unto Thyself who will seek to turn the disobedient to the
wisdom of the just, for the advancement of Thy kingdom and for the sake of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Strange Fire on the Altar

2011-02-18T20:11:00.000-06:00

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, From a good conscience, and from sincere faith—1Tim.1:5 Every service rendered to God will be evaluated. The spirit and motives, behind all claims to serving God, will be exposed in the Light of His Divine countenance. [1Cor.3:13]. Disappointments will usher in disasters. Invalid claims will be turned down, while their proponents will be rejected and given over unto destruction [Mtt.7:21-23]. Nadab and Abihu, the unfaithful sons of Aaron, aptly evince this truth. Both men approached the Lord, offered strange fire, and were consumed by the fury of His judgment [Ex.10:1-2]. A superficial reading of this passage will effectively conceal some profound spiritual lessons from the notice of the casual reader. First, it is noteworthy that Jehovah in addressing the priests, which included Nadab and Abihu, had said earlier on, you shall not go outside the door of the tabernacle of meeting for seven days, until the days of your consecration are ended. For seven days He shall consecrate you—Lev.8:33. No one was to depart from the tent of meeting until the days of consecration were over. Worship and devotion, must of necessity, precede service. Nothing else substitutes for adequate preparation with God before a man goes into service. Launching forth into service, before the days of godly instructions are ended, leaves the self- appointed messenger with only as much knowledge as is needed to destroy himself!! The time spent with the Lord in consecration prepares a man by building his character, filling him with God’s word, and sending him after the pattern of God’s own heart. The Lord Jesus, in character, was impeccable [Jn.14:30], in content, He was the Word of God [Jn.1:1], and in methodology, He executed that which was the Father’s delight only [Jn.5:30]. No place is to be found for the glory of the flesh before the Lord [Gal.5:24]. Service borne out of carnal hearts is at best useless and at worst repulsive to God. Men who have been under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit recognize their own weakness. And such men tremble in the presence of the Lord. They do not approach Him in the energy of the flesh, or attempt to do anything for Him, according to their own wisdom [2 Cor.3:5]. Jehovah’s instruction to the priests was, that they should not go outside the tent of meeting… Unfortunately, many today have gone without having been sent. I have not sent these prophets yet they ran. I have not spoken to them yet they prophesied—Jer. 23:21. Such “prophets” lack Divine approval. Nadab, the wicked son of Aaron, whose name means liberal, went out to fill his censer. Sadly, this same spirit of liberality characterizes Christendom today. Men and women who have never been to the Cross, champion the services of the circus-like churches of our day, each laying claim to the “anointing” that comes with the dispensation of grace. Liberality furnishes our generation with a “Christianity” where anything goes. The bloody Cross which produced cries of excruciating pain and agony from the lips of the Savior is being replaced with ornate and amiable crosses, which in the name of grace, entertain and pamper men. Abihu, the reprobate brother of Nadab whose name means God is my Father, is the ancestor of many so-called Christians today. He, in defiance to the command of the Lord, equally went out to fill his censer and offer strange fire to the Lord. Observe, many of God’s professed people are disciples of this profane priest today. “God is my Father and He is love. He accepts me just the way I am. No man is to judge me, for God loves me and cares for me. He is aware of my weaknesses and He accepts me just as I am.” This error has slain many with its arrows of poison. The God who is love is also holy, and He demands that this be seen in the life of His children [1Pt.1:16]. But men will have none of this. Rather, self- acceptance and self-justification in the name of God’s love, has led to perverts taking up spiritual leadership in the modern churches. Neither Nadab nor Abihu had commandment of the Lord to offer fire on His altar [Ex.10:1]. They had no commandment, yet they went into priestly service!! Unlike Moses and Aaron who have been with the Lord, The sons of Aaron had neither seen nor heard anything from God. Yet they rushed into service!! Oh, the disaster!! Many, today have gone into service without being sent! It is impossible that God will overlook the morass of lies and deceit that characterize the lives and lips of such unscrupulous men. Will God indeed stand by and watch while self is glorified right at His altar and before His presence? I tell you nay!! but judgment shall descend in fiery wrath upon false Christian workers. The word of God says, a fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out—Lev.6:13. But it is the prerogative of the Lord to kindle and maintain this fire, however He chooses. The fire must come from Him, and when it does, it culminates in a wide- spread revival that draws out the hearts of men in worship. And the fire came out from before the Lord and…when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces—Lev.9:24. Jesus Christ, echoing the message of this passage, said, I will build My church—Mtt.16:18. It then becomes evident, that it takes the Lord to build His own Church, and this task He has committed to no one. Why then do we have denominations? Is Christ divided? [1Cor1:13]. Do we not compete with Christ and even build our own churches after the designs of our own hearts? Nadab and Abihu did. They strayed from the camp of God’s wisdom, went out and brought in strange fire before the Lord. Profane fire typifies a human imitation of what is Divine. God is not its source. It may have the appearance of spirituality, but in reality is counterfeit and proceeds from demonic wisdom [Jm.3:15]. Such service angers God. He abhors such deceptions and will not tolerate it. He sees through the deceptive cloak of religion that may deceive mortals [Heb.4:13]. The secrets of men are clearly discerned by the penetrating perceptions of the Son of God as He takes swift steps of burning judgment [Rev.1:13-17]. The worship of God and service to Him must be executed on His terms and according to His directions. This is what constitutes a Divine service.[ Rm.11:36 ]. Sadly, church services of our day are anything but Divine. Rather, they are ludicrous and constitute great spiritual scandals. Unfortunately, the profane fires offered by modern ministers are spreading fast across the continents and the people acknowledge them as the work of the Holy Spirit, though judgment looms over their heads. Truly, should the Lord take away His Holy Spirit from the earth, 95% of the churches today will continue unaffected. Nadab and Abihu died instantly under God’s judgment. Ananias and Sapphira, under the fury of God, fell to rise no more. Theirs was loss of life, but ours is even worse; Depravity of soul and death of the conscience describes us well. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind to do those things which are not fitting—Rm.1:28. Handing a man over to his own ways is worse than physical death. It ensures a vain life here on earth and a miserable consignment into a Christless eternity!! [Jm.1:15]. My friend, what motivates your service to God? Are you presuming to serve God while yet walking in the ways of the flesh? The word of God says, It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing—Jn.6:63. The Lord takes note of all you do. When measured on the divine scale, what will you weigh? Be not deceived, God is not mocked; For whatever a man sows that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, But he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. [Gal.6:7-8]

The Gifts of God

2010-08-11T10:01:00.002-05:00

A subtle distinction in types of “gifts” given by God to men as presented in the original language of the New Testament has profound implications. Two separate Greek words, charisma (charisma) and dorea (dorea), are rendered in most English translations of scripture as ‘gift’. Closely related to the ideas represented by those two words is charis (charis), which comes through to the English generally as ‘grace’. To those of us who love and seek after the truth, understanding the similarities and differences of these terms proves quite useful.

To begin, let us understand the meaning of ‘grace’ to be ‘unmerited favor’. To expand this simple definition, within a biblical context, ‘grace’ describes the activity of God in setting persons apart for specific purposes according to His good pleasure; activity that is not at all contingent upon or affected by human merit. Though ultimately for good, grace as God’s favor in election does not necessarily equate to a happy, blissful experience in this life as by grace, Jesus was set apart by God to taste death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9). Consequently, the word charisma means gift, and as it is quite obviously derived from the root word charis (grace), it more specifically describes a gift given by God according to His good pleasure; a gift that is not at all contingent upon or affected by human merit. In essence, a charisma is an unmerited gift. Dorea, on the other hand, though it also means ‘a gift’ is distinct from a charisma in that a dorea is merited. Let us compare and contrast the two as they are used in scripture to see this distinction.

Paul gives not an exhaustive, but the most complete, list of charisma in 1 Corinthians 12. He writes, “There are diversities of charisma, but the same Spirit. There are diversities of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” In the context of this passage, the charisma (examples of which he describes in the following verses as word of knowledge, prophecy, tongues, etc…) are gifts conferred to men by the Holy Spirit that afford them either some spiritual ability or benefit. They are distinguished here from ministries that are conferred by the Lord (understandably Jesus here) and activities or workings that are personally performed or worked by God the Father. There are two types of charisma, them that are abilities (i.e. prophecy) and them that are benefits (i.e. a healing). All charisma are given for the profit of all, not individual gain (12:7). It is useful to note that every example of a gift in the 1 Cor. 12 list is explicitly described as a charisma as Paul goes to painstaking lengths to indicate that charisma are conferred by the Spirit (as opposed to the Son and Father), and that each listed thing is “through the same Spirit”.

To see the usage of dorea in scripture and also to see a description of the ministries conferred by the Lord Jesus as mentioned in 1 Cor. 12, we first turn to Ephesians 4:7-11 which reads, “But to each one of us, charis was given according to the measure of Christ’s dorea. Therefore He says: ‘When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave doma to men.’ (Now this, ‘He ascended’ – what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…” Notice in the passage that charisma is missing, but charis and dorea are present. To first and briefly at this point address the usage of charis here, note that Paul first writes that “charis was given (to us)” and later writes that “He gave some to be apostles…” Paul describes the 5 ministries in verse 11 as charis, rather than charisma. They are not gifts or abilities conferred by the Spirit, but rather they are duties and responsibilities conferred by Jesus Himself to men as He has appointed them to it. As it is typically the case with charis, a person is appointed to a specific purpose by it even before they were born. Paul clearly indicates that this is the case in his own preordination to be an apostle from the womb in Galatians 1:15. An interesting thing to note about the charis given by the ascended Christ is that they are also supplemented with charisma to aid in the fulfillment of their ministry. To make clear, a person who is appointed by the Lord Jesus with the charis of a prophet to minister to His body in that capacity is also equipped by the Spirit with the charisma of prophecy to accomplish this task. A final word now on the function of the 5 graces is that their purpose is to work to equip all of the saints to share the charisma given to each one of them individually. A pastor’s duty is not to be the head of the local church (that is Jesus’ place exclusively) but rather to be a local elder in the faith who demonstrates and teaches other body parts how to share their charisma with one another.

Now, to center in on the use of dorea, bring back to mind that Paul wrote, “But to each one of us, charis was given according to the measure of Christ’s dorea.” What is Christ’s dorea? We turn to Hebrews 5. The writer explains that no man exalts himself to the position of high priest, but rather that to serve in that role, a man is appointed to it. “So also Christ did not glory Himself to become High Priest,” but He was appointed to it. The writer continues to explain that Jesus, though He was appointed to it from the foundation of the world, became the official author of eternal salvation after He was perfected, having “learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” We see then that Christ’s dorea was, in this passage, the High Priesthood in the order of Melchizedek. Though He was appointed to it from eternity past, it was given to Him not before, but after He proved Himself worthy by His obedience. The merit, warranting the distribution of God’s dorea, was and is obedience. To expand upon what is the fullness of Christ’s dorea (the High Priesthood only being a portion), turn to Acts 2:33-35 and then Matthew 28:18. In Acts we read, “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear (specifically the first miracle of speaking in tongues at Pentecost). For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘Jehovah said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’’” And in Matthew 28:18 we read, “And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.’” In light of these passages, we understand that the fullness of Christ’s dorea (the gift He received from the Father for His obedience) is firstly the Holy Spirit which raised Him from the dead followed by the High Priesthood to continually minister on our behalf in the heavenly temple (Heb. 8:1-2) and all authority in heaven and on earth. Understanding this, the portion of Ephesians 4 concerning the ascension of Christ immediately following the mention of His dorea makes a lot of sense and is quite fitting, whereas without such an understanding it seems to be cryptic at best, or worse, a senseless insertion of some random Christology.

To further explain and point out the significance of a particular part of Christ’s dorea mentioned above, recall that the promised Holy Spirit is a part of the merited gift. This is significant because Peter is consistent to refer to the Holy Spirit itself as a dorea at several points in the Acts account including 2:38 which reads, “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the dorea of the Holy Spirit.” and 5:32 which reads, “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Clearly, the Holy Spirit as the distributor of charisma, is itself given as a gift merited by obedience in some regard. As the promised Holy Spirit is our Helper to keep us in Christ according to the necessary means (John 15), it is also the directly responsible party in raising us from the dead as it was the power of God to raise Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11). In that case, our resurrection from the dead to inherit eternal life and the kingdom of God are by association also dorea. Now isn’t that interesting?

standing in the water

2009-01-20T18:58:00.001-06:00

Standing on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, admiring the beauty and serenity of the cool water softly rippling over my feet, thoughts of judgment entered my mind... [continued]

the end, part 5 (the saints)

2008-10-09T22:52:00.004-05:00

Much has been said to this point in previous posts regarding the role of the entire physical nation of Israel, the seed of Abraham by flesh, in what will be the Millennial Kingdom at Christ's return. But what about the saints, spiritual Israel, the seed of Abraham by faith? As briefly mentioned in part 2 of this project, scripture makes clear that they shall reign with Jesus at His coming. Zechariah 14:3-5 make clear that when He comes, Jesus will be coming to deliver Israel from her enemies and He will be bringing with Him all the saints.

Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, for the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the LORD my God will come, and all the saints with You. Zechariah 14:3-5

Describing the same coming, Revelation 20:4-6 tells that the saint will reign with Jesus in His kingdom for 1,000 years.

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20: 4-6

That the saints will reign is also stated by Paul the apostle in his second letter to Timothy.

This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, he also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Jesus gives even more insight as to what this will look like in one of His many parables of the kingdom.

He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
“Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’” Luke 19:12-27

When the king returns, He will give authority to His faithful servants in proportion to their faithfulness in smaller things. In the coming kingdom, there is truly reason to not despise the day of small things (Zechariah 4:10) as it is the case seemingly small things assuredly feed into greater things.

As the Lord makes clear in the Scriptures what is the end of all things for everyone involved, so too does He make clear the means to the end as well. If they should endure to the end, the saints have crowns of righteousness to look forward to.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

The word for "race" that Paul uses in that passage in the Greek is a form of the noun, agon, from which we derive our english word, "agony". The narrow gate by which the saints must enter and the difficult way by which they must travel to life (Matthew 7:13-14) is quite literally, as Paul describes having reached the end of that path, agonizing. It is wrought with trial and tribulation. Peter admonishes:

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9

Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, learned obedience by the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:8) and He plainly states that a servant is not above his master.

Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. John 15:20

This coincides with His statement that anyone who is not willing to take up his cross and follow is not worthy of Him (Matthew 10:38). To take up a cross means not just to die, but to suffer as well. We have as an example of suffering the prophets who came before us.

My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:10-11

Be their example not enough, we also have the example that our Lord Jesus Himself set for us to look unto;

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

“ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:1-11

As painful a process as it is, learning obedience through suffering, the saints have a guarantee that their training will end in one of two ways; it will either end when they have "fallen asleep in Christ", or it will end at His return.

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

To speak a moment about the catching up of the saints that remain, contrary to the popular false pre-trib rapture doctrine, Scripture teaches that this event will happen at the end of the great tribulation. There are a great many things that give indication of this and each will discussed in turn. To begin, Jesus promises that whosoever would come after Him should expect to suffer for His name's sake (John 15:20). Each time we share the Lord's cup at His table we proclaim His death and we enter into His sufferings. When tribulation for the people of God arises, the Lord is consistent in His behavior to carry them through the tribulation rather than remove them from it. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed Nego in the furnace (Daniel 3) and Daniel in the lion's den (Daniel 6) are but two of many examples of this. The saints that remain can expect much the same to be the case during the tribulation. That they will be present throughout the tribulation is also made plain by Jesus.

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:21-22

That Jesus says the days of the great tribulation will be shortened for the elect's sake gives clear indication that the elect (the saints that remain) are present and enduring through those days. The event that shortens the days of the tribulation is the second coming of Jesus at the blowing of the seventh, and final, trumpet.

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying:

“ We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. Revelation 11:15-19

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:50-52

In the above passage, Paul gives a more concise time frame for the same event he described in the 1 Thessalonians passage. The catching up of those that remain (synonymous with the change that occurs in the twinkling of an eye) happens at the last trumpet. With all of that in mind, let me now detail the portrait that Scripture paints for the saints in the days just prior to the return of Jesus is as follows:

The seven trumpets begin to blow (perhaps one per year over the course of 7 years in alignment with the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy) and the great tribulation begins -- Revelation 8-11.

Three and a half years into the trumpets being blown in turn, the beast from the sea -- Revelation 13 -- rises to power and is given authority over every tribe, tongue and nation for 42 months (3.5 years). It is also granted to the beast to make war with the saints and overcome them (13:7). We know that the beast is not able to overcome all of them as there are some that remain, but the fact that it is granted to him to make war with saints is a very clear indication that they have not been raptured away.

Towards the end of the beast's 42 month reign of terror, most likely between trumpet 6 and 7, the 7 bowls of the wrath of God (Revelation 16) are poured out on the earth. We can know that this is the case from scripture because as the bowls are poured out in their order, we see that bowl number 5 is poured out specifically on the beast's kingdom. As the second coming of Jesus is what brings an affective end to the beast's kingdom at the blast of the seventh trumpet, it follows then that any event happening to the beast's kingdom must happen before it ends at the last trumpet. To make this point even more clear, it is the result of bowl 6 that the beast gathers his armies to Har Megiddo for the battle which is to take place at the Lord's coming (16:12-16).

Following the bowls of wrath, the seventh trumpet is blown, Jesus descends to deliver Israel, defeat the armies of the beast, and establish His kingdom. As He descends, the saints that remain meet Him in the air, are changed in the twinkling of an eye and then follow Him in His descent as Zechariah 14:5 reveals.

[start from the beginning] [back to part 4] [continue to part 6]

the end, part 4 (everlasting covenants)

2008-09-25T21:27:00.003-05:00

And so all Israel will be delivered as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins." Romans 11:26-27

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses." Ezekiel 36:22-29

As demonstrated in the previous post from Zechariah 14, the Deliverer in Romans 11:26 is Jesus at His coming. He will both deliver Israel from her enemies and turn ungodliness from her. The details of this turning and the events that follow there after, as well as God's reason for doing it, are expanded in Ezekiel 36-48. The reason God turns back to Jacob is two fold. In Ezekiel 36:22-23 (above) He makes clear that He is not doing it for the sake of the iniquity laden House of Israel, but rather for His holy name's sake which they have profaned in their disobedience and turning away. The second part of the reason for God's return to Jacob is again, not for their own sake, but for the sake of the fathers with whom He made everlasting covenants.

Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your (the gentiles) sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! Romans 11:28-33

Briefly noted here are the everlasting covenants established by God with the fathers:

1. An everlasting inheritance of Himself and land to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:7-8)
2. An everlasting priesthood to Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest (Numbers 25:10-13)
3. An everlasting house and kingdom to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16)

So that's why He returns to them and turns them. Now, what will it look like? As noted above in the passage from Ezekiel, at His return the nation of Israel in the flesh will be gathered from among the nations back to the land of promise. Also at that time He will sprinkle clean water on them which is equated with the pouring out of His Spirit on them, that same Spirit that causes obedience in His present day saints. The giving of that Spirit is also what causes the renewal of stony hearts.

The next question is, what portion of Israel will be included in this renewal, just the seed of Abraham in the flesh at the time of His coming, or is it more? Ezekiel 36:37-38 tells that once ruined, but at that time rebuilt cities will be filled with flocks of men.

‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock. Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

In the context of Ezekiel's immediately following prophecy to the dry bones in chapter 37, we can discern from scripture that the whole house of Israel, including all disobedient Israelites from all time, will comprise the flock that inhabits the cities. From that passage we can also discern that the resurrection of the Israelites at this time is distinct from the resurrection of the dead in Christ (Revelation 20:4-6). This is evident in that the dry bones receive flesh (vs 8) and the Spirit of God (vs 14) so that they can learn obedience at His coming. The dead in Christ resurrected at His coming receive incorruptible bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-53) as opposed to flesh. Also, they have already been trained in obedience as the Spirit of God has already dwelt and reigned in their bodies (Romans 8:11-17).

After the dry bones prophecy, in what remains of chapter 37 God reveals through Ezekiel that at that time all Israel will be united into one kingdom under the authority of one king, His servant David (aka Jesus), forevermore. It is also written that they will dwell in the land that He has given to Jacob from that time to forevermore. At that time also, once He has cleansed them, He proclaims that He will put His sanctuary in their midst and be their God and they His people for evermore. It is here, in Ezekiel's prophecy of the millennial kingdom, we see the beginning of the final fulfillment of the everlasting covenants that God made with the Fathers. Explicitly mentioned in Ezekiel 37:15-28 we see the prophesied fulfillment of God's eternal covenants concerning Himself, the land, and the kingdom to Abraham and David, but what about the promise of the everlasting priesthood to Phinehas?

Ezekiel 38-39, as briefly discussed in the previous post, details the rebellion of Gog and Magog which Revelation 20:7-10 places at the end of the millennial kingdom. The events there in, therefore, describe things even further in the future, even after Israel has been restored to their land and dwelt there safely for the 1,000 years. It is important to note that the rebellion of Gog and Magog in no way interferes with the fulfillment of God's everlasting covenants as even through their rebellion, Israel remains safe in their own land. This is so because God brings an end to the rebellion without a battle and with no harm to Israel by raining down on the rebels pestilence, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone (Ezekiel 38:22-23, Revelation 20:9).

But what about the covenant to Phinehas? Ezekiel 40-48 describes the fulfillment of that covenant, and much more (as previously mentioned). During the millennial kingdom, the Levites resume their roles in the millennial temple described by Ezekiel. Most of the Levites will minister to the people by performing sacrifices for them. Special honor is reserved for some of the Levites, the sons of Zadok who also happen to be in the lineage of Phinehas (1 Chronicles 6:50-53), as they will be the only Levites permitted to stand before and minister to Jesus.

“And the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who strayed away from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity. Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, as gatekeepers of the house and ministers of the house; they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them. Because they ministered to them before their idols and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity, therefore I have raised My hand in an oath against them,” says the Lord GOD, “that they shall bear their iniquity. And they shall not come near Me to minister to Me as priest, nor come near any of My holy things, nor into the Most Holy Place; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed. Nevertheless I will make them keep charge of the temple, for all its work, and for all that has to be done in it. “But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood,” says the Lord GOD. “They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge." Ezekiel 44:10-16

Thus we seen in Ezekiel's prophecy of the millennial temple and the space surrounding the temple including all of the borders of Israel the beginning of the fulfillment of God's everlasting covenants to the fathers. Up to this point, much has been said regarding the details of the nation of Israel's involvement and place in the millennial kingdom. In the next post to come, more will be said with regard to the saints (their roles and the events affecting them) in the time leading up to and during the millennial kingdom.

[start from the beginning] [back to part 3] [continue to part 5]

the end, part 3 (the two kingdoms)

2008-09-18T23:34:00.005-05:00

Evidence of the coming eternal kingdom of God is not difficult to find in Scripture. God promises the eternal kingdom to the seed of David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16

“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.”

He also speaks of the coming eternal government of His Son through the prophet Isaiah.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7

And in Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's vision of the statue that is destroyed by a stone not hewn by the hands of men.

And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure. Daniel 2;44-45

So the presence of the eternal kingdom to come is clearly seen in the Old Testament. But what of the millennial kingdom? Consider what is spoken by the prophet , Zechariah.

1 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming,
And your spoil will be divided in your midst.
2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken,
The houses rifled,
And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity,
But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then the LORD will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.
4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Makinga very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south.
5 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley,
For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal.
Yes, you shall flee
As you fled from the earthquake
In the days of Uzziah king of Judah.

Thus the LORD my God will come,
And all the saints with You.
6 It shall come to pass in that day
That there will be no light;
The lights will diminish.
7 It shall be one day
Which is known to the LORD—
Neither day nor night.
But at evening time it shall happen
That it will be light.
8 And in that day it shall be
That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem,
Half of them toward the eastern sea
And half of them toward the western sea;
In both summer and winter it shall occur.
9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.
In that day it shall be—

“ The LORD is one,”
And His name one.

10 All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Benjamin’s Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses.
11 The people shall dwell in it;
And no longer shall there be utter destruction,
But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. Zechariah 14:1-11

Vividly described in this passage is the second coming of Christ and the events that follow the coming which lead up to the establishment of His kingdom. A piece by piece exposition of this passage shall demonstrate the presence and character of the millennial kingdom. Verse 1 gives us the context of the details to follow, they happen on that great and dreadful Day of the Lord, the second coming of our Lord Jesus the Christ in judgement. Verse 2 tells of the battle in that Day, that the nations will be gathered against Jerusalem. Revelation 16:12-16 gives the location of the nations gathering place, Armageddon (the plains of Har Megiddo).

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

Continuing in Zechariah 14:2, these are the details of battle; the city is taken, houses are plundered, women are ravished, half of the city goes into captivity, but the remnant is not cut off from the city. (More will be said about this remnant later in this post.) Verse 3 tells us that it is at this time that the Deliverer comes out of Zion (Romans 11:26, Isaiah 59:20) and fights against the gathered nations. Verse 4 tells that at His coming, His feet will literally touch the ground and split the Mount of Olives in half, creating a valley extending from east to west to create a route of escape (verse 5) for the remnant that is not to be cut off. Also at His coming He will bring the saints with Him. Prior to His feet hitting the ground, the saints have already been resurrected, caught up, and changed as they met Him in the air.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

Zech. 14:6-7 indicate that on the day of the Lord, there will be neither day nor night but at evening it shall happen that it will be light. This event may perhaps be likened to the day that the sun stood still over Joshua and the armies of Israel (Joshua 10). It is evident from other passages of scripture, namely Isaiah 60:11, which describe the future glory of the millennial Zion that there will still be night and so it is fair to conclude that day spoken of in this portion of Zechariah is an isolated event as opposed to the enduring presence of light and total absence of night that characterize the eternal kingdom in Revelation 21:25. Zechariah 14:8 tells that in that day, living waters shall flow from Jerusalem. Some of those waters are explicitly described in Ezekiel 47. As opposed to the usage of the term, "day" in verse 7 as a literal day when there will be no night, the usage of the term, "day", in verse 8 is more so in the sense of "age" as the flowing of the water occurs over the span of seasons. Verse 9 tells that at that time, Jesus will be the King over all the earth, further emphasizing the point that He will be present on the earth ruling. Still speaking of things to come in that day, verse 10 tells that great geographic changes will occur in the area of Jerusalem, no doubt to accommodate the kingdom on earth. Verse 11 is quite interesting as it makes clear that Jerusalem will be safely inhabited at this time. Let me now pause a moment before continuing the discussion of Zechariah 14 in order to turn attention to the presently blinded nation of Israel and their role in the kingdom.

The role of the saints, the seed of Abraham by faith, in the millennial kingdom is made clear in Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 5:10, and in 2 Timothy 2:12; they shall reign with Him. But what of unfaithful Israel, the seed of Abraham by flesh alone? Zechariah 14:11 gives indication of where they will be found in the kingdom; they shall safely inhabit Jerusalem. They will not be glorified with the rest of the saints who are caught up to be with the Lord as He descends, but they will be rescued from the armies of the beast (Zech. 14:2). It doesn't stop there though. Jerusalem will be safely inhabited by not only the Israelites that are rescued at that time, but all Israel from all time will be found there. Ezekiel's dry bones prophecy gives indication of this.

1 The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’” Ezekiel 37:1-14

Notice a few things from the above passage. After the dry bones have received flesh and breath, God says to Ezekiel that those bones were the WHOLE house of Israel. He also says that He will open their graves, cause them to come up out of them, put His Spirit in them, and bring them into the land of Israel. That this is not yet happened clearly places this event in the future millennial kingdom. This must be the case as it can also be noted from the passage that the bodies they receive are not the immortal, incorruptible bodies that the saints receive at Jesus' coming, but rather they are the same fleshy bodies that they once inhabited. For more evidence regarding the entirety of the house of Israel being brought into the promised land in the millennial kingdom, in the chapter immediately preceding the above selected passage, God says thus:

8 "But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. 9 For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. 10 I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11 I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. 12 Yes, I will cause men to walk on you, My people Israel; they shall take possession of you, and you shall be their inheritance; no more shall you bereave them of children.” Ezekiel 36:8-12

Though much more can and will be said in a later post regarding the nation of Israel's role in the kingdom, I now want to return to and wrap up the discussion of the millennial kingdom as it is presented in Zechariah 14. Skipping over verses 12-15 which describe the plague that will come upon the armies that fought against Jerusalem at the battle of Har Megiddo, we jump ahead to the final section of this chapter wherein the worship of the millennial age is described.

16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 20 In that day “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 14:16-21

Based upon the above passage, the worship described can only be understood in terms of the millennial kingdom on this earth wherein there are still persons dwelling who have not yet been perfected. One strong indicator of this point is that verse 21 makes allusion to the presence of animal sacrifice being carried out. There would be no need for such sacrifice in the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21-22 as in that Jerusalem, there will be no entry of anything that defiles or causes an abomination or a lie (Rev. 21:27). Also, it is made clear in verse 16 that there are yet people that remain from the nations (not to mention the Israelites that have been brought forth from their graves) which came against Jerusalem. As Zechariah describes, all the nations of the earth will be bound to come to Jerusalem each year to worship, and if they don't , they will receive no rain. The new temple where the worship will take place (and the worship itself) is depicted in its fullness in Ezekiel 40-47.

Though a great deal more could be said about the eternal and millennial kingdoms of God from Scripture, I close with this last bit of evidence in Scripture firmly places the millennial kingdom in the divine timeline of the end. Revelation 19:11-20:15 gives us this timeline:

1. Jesus returns from heaven to defeat the armies of the beast.
2. As He is descending, those who sleep in Him are resurrected and those that remain are caught up to Him and all are transformed in the twinkling of an eye.
3. He defeats the beast and his armies. The false prophet and the beast are thrown into the lake of fire; Satan is bound for 1000 years.
4. The saints reign with Christ for the 1000 years. (During this time, as it has already been shown, all of Israel will dwell safely in their land and those that remain from the nations of the earth will come up year by year to Jerusalem to worship.)
5. At the end of the 1000 years, Satan is released to deceive the nations one last time.
6. By the provocation of Satan, Gog and Magog gather together in rebellion against Israel but their attempt is thwarted by fire from heaven and they are all destroyed.
7. At some point after this event (but not immediately as Ezekiel 39 indicates), the Final Judgment happens.

From the rough timeline derived from those passages in Revelation, it is clear that the millennial is preceded by the battle at Har Megiddo and that at the end of the 1,000 years there is threat of another large scale attack on Jerusalem by Gog and Magog. Zechariah 14 goes in to great detail regarding the battle at Har Megiddo. This is undeniably so in that in this account, the Lord Jesus sets foot on the Mount of Olives, rescues just the remnant of Israel at that time from the beast's armies and fights the battle. When the rebellion of Gog and Magog occurs, there is no battle as fire from heaven destroys the armies and that final rebellion occurs only after all of Israel has been gathered back together and is dwelling safely in their land. Much greater detail about Gog and Magog can be found in Ezekiel 38-39. Specifically, Ezekiel 38:8 tells us when the events involving Gog and Magog will happen.

After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.

Ezekiel prophesies that in the latter years Gog and Magog will come into the land of those brought back from the sword (the dry bones and by association every Israelite not living at the time of Jesus' return) and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel (the remnant saved at Jesus' return) who all dwell safely (in the millennial kingdom). If the Revelation account of Har Megiddo and Gog and Magog isn't enough to establish the uprisings as two, separate events, the rest of Scripture should be. And as it is clear that they are two distinct events, it should also go without saying that the span of time separating the two events is (as Revelation clearly states) the millennial kingdom.

[start from the beginning] [back to part 2] [continue to part 4]

the end, part 2 (israel and the kingdom)

2008-09-09T23:06:00.005-05:00

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6

The disciples rightly had the expectation that at Jesus' second coming He would restore the kingdom to Israel. To be sure, the Israel to whom the kingdom would be restored is the true Israel which is the seed of Abraham by faith. The presently blinded nation of Israel (the rebellious seed of Abraham only in terms of the flesh) still has a role to play in the kingdom as well.

At the second coming the true Israel by the seed of faith will receive their new bodies and reign with Jesus in His Kingdom. This is declared and established by Scripture in several places.

This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, he also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: “ You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:8-10

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20: 4-6

That the saints reign after they receive their new bodies is very clearly taught by scripture. The above passages also indicate the nature of that reign, that it will be a literal, physical reign on the earth. The passages also indicate the duration of that reign, 1,000 years. Two more things regarding the kingdom established at this time can also be deduced from the above passages.

(1) As the saints are literally reigning on the earth with Jesus, His reign at that time is also a literal, physical reign on the earth.

Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. Revelation 19:15

(2) The kingdom established at this second coming of Jesus is 1,000 years long as the duration of the saints reign therein is that same length of time. This distinguishes the kingdom established at the second coming from the eternal kingdom as one has an end - 1,000 years - and the other does not. There are therefore two kingdoms of God spoken of in the latter chapters of Revelation. A greater explanation of the presence and character of these two kingdoms in both the Old and New Testaments will be given in a later post.

Let me now pause a moment in this discussion to present a rough timeline of events with consideration to what has thus far been discussed in this and the previous post.

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

In the above passage, Paul gives a rough outline of the present state of Christ's resurrection leading up to the end of time as we know it when the eternal kingdom is ushered in. Greater detail as well as a more concise time element of the events in their order are found in the Revelation of John. The order that Paul gives and John affirms in his Revelation is thus:

(1) Christ is resurrected as the firstfruits.

(2)Afterward, those who are Christ's (true Israel) at His coming. See Revelation 20:4.

Let me interject here that there are two resurrections, one of the just and another of the unjust. It should also be known that they do not happen at the same time.

I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Acts 24:15

The just are resurrected and changed in the twinkling of an eye at Jesus' second coming.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

The unjust are not resurrected and judged until after the first resurrection and the 1000 years are finished.

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. Revelation 20:5

Now, back to Paul's order of events...

(3) Then comes the end, when Jesus delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. See Revelation 20:7-15.

When Paul says that Jesus must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet, John makes clear that this reign lasts 1,000 years. At the second coming that marks the beginning of the 1,000 year kingdom, several things happen. Those that are dead in Christ are resurrected and those that are alive and remain are caught up to Him as He is descending (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and all are changed as their mortal puts on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53). Jesus turns away ungodliness from Jacob (Isaiah 59:20, Romans 11:26) -- more on this in a moment. Jesus, accompanied by the armies in heaven (Revelation 19:14, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10) defeats the armies of the beast at the battle of Har Meggido (Revelation 16:13-16, 19:19-21). At the battle, the beast and the false prophet are captured and cast alive into the lake of fire that burns forever and ever, never to return again (Revelation 19:20) and the dragon, aka the Devil and Satan, is captured and bound for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-3) according to the purpose of God -- more will be discussed regarding that purpose in a later post. After all of this we have come full circle to the 1,000 year reign of Jesus with His now immortal saints. After the 1,000 years, Satan is released from prison to deceive the nations once more and rally them against the camp of the saints. The attempt fails miserably and the rebels are consumed with fire from heaven and Satan finally receives his eternal punishment as he too is now cast into the lake of fire, never to return again (Revelation 20:7-10). Then, and finally then, as Paul writes, comes the end. The old heavens and earth pass away as they are consumed by fire (2 Peter 3:10-13, Revelation 20:9). The rest of the dead who were not included at first resurrection of the just are now resurrected for the Final Judgement (Revelation 20:11-13). And finally, as Paul puts it, the last enemy, Death, is finally destroyed as it is thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15). Then we see ushered in the Eternal Kingdom of God and the new creation (Revelation 21 and 22) wherein Jesus the Son delivers the Kingdom to God the Father that He may be all in all.

With all of that said, before closing this post, there is one loose end that I want to tie up and another that I want to introduce to be discussed in the post to follow. The end to be tied up is that the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord is not a literal day but rather a day that spans the length of 1,000 years. That this is true is supported by Peter to say the least.

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:8-13

It is by no mere coincidence that immediately preceding a description of the Day of the Lord, Peter makes the all-too-easily misconstrued statement that with the Lord a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Peter, in all fairness to the context, with the thousand year statement speaks with regard to both the patience and the promise of God. The promise is the 1,000 year long day of judgement that puts an end to what may very well turn out to be a 7,000 year long week when all is said and done. The patience of God is the nearly 6,000 years of sinful human history from Adam up to the present. The final thing I will say with regard to this is that it is also by no mere coincidence that according to the Jewish calendar, the history of man from Adam to now is very near 6,000 years. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

The final loose end that I want to introduce to end this discussion deals with the blinded nation of Israel in the flesh and their role in the end of times. It also, quite appropriately, deals with the Deliverer who comes out of Zion and His turning away ungodliness from Jacob. The issue is this: If Christ and His saints reign for 1,000 years, who or what will they be reigning over? In the next post, these issues will be discussed in the context of a greater discussion of the millennial and eternal kingdoms.

[start from the beginning] [back to part 1] [continue to part 3]

the end, part 1 (who is Israel)

2008-09-08T23:21:00.005-05:00

To speak of The End, the obvious best place to start is before the beginning. Before time began, and no doubt serving as a cause for time as we know it to begin, an everlasting covenant was made between God the Father and Son (Hebrews 13:20). This covenant involved many things including, but not limited to, the promise of eternal life with regard to the elect. Paul gives a glimpse into eternity past in the introduction to his letter to Titus which reads,

Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; Titus 1:1-3

By process of elimination, it must be to humans and specifically to His elect that God has made this promise of eternal life as He is eternal and has no need for it, and as the eternal fate of the rebel angels bears witness that there is no promise of eternal life for them in the blood of Jesus.

It is a fact that throughout all ages, men have only been able to know God as He has first known then by the election of grace. That this is true is clearly seen in the lives of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob (Israel), through whom the everlasting covenant has been brought into effect. The ancient nation of Israel that came through the seed of Abraham in the flesh comprised a body of God's elect in past times. At this point in history however, in light of the resurrection and the nation of Israel's rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, a pertinent question is, "Where is Israel today?" Paul, an Israelite, writes in Romans 9:1-8,

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.

As it was then, so it persists today, that those who are the children of the flesh, they are not the children of God. Even in days past a man was not an Israelite by blood, but rather by faith. The difference between then and now though, is that now the Gentiles have also become heirs to the promise through Jesus.

Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:14-18

It should be clear from the above passage that though the Gentiles have now been included into the commonwealth of Israel and the covenants of promise, they have by no means become the new true Israel, but rather have been grafted into the tree of God's favor through Jesus and have thus become a part of the true Israel, the children of the promise, the seed of Abraham by faith (Romans 11, which will be quoted and discussed in greater detail below will further confirm this.) But what of the fleshy Israel that rejected their Messiah? Since they utterly rejected God, did God utterly reject them?

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Romans 11:1-7

So the answer to the question I posed is no, God did not utterly reject His people. As it was in the days of Elijah, so it is today that there remains an election according to grace of persons who are the seed of Abraham in the flesh and in faith. It is clear that with regard to individual election, there remains a remnant according to grace of persons (like Paul) who are the seed of Abraham in both the flesh and in faith, but what of the national election of Israel? Has God rejected them as a nation forever and just turned to individuals?

I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“ The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”

Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Romans 11:11-32

The short answer to my question is, no. Paul explains in greater detail God's purpose in casting off the nation of Israel for a while, but not for ever. That he mentions they have not stumbled that they should fall tells us that though they messed up by rejecting Jesus, it doesn't end there. God has blinded the eyes of the nation of Israel as a whole (excluding the remnant of grace by faith) until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Once this fullness has come in, at the end of the age we will see the blindness lifted from all of Jacob, the nation of Israel by flesh, that they might be turned away from their ungodliness as Paul quotes from Isaiah 59:20 and join with the remnant, Israel by flesh and faith, and the Gentiles, partakers of the commonwealth of Israel by faith. To regress for a moment, in the above passage Paul also gives warning to elect Gentiles not to think more of themselves than they ought. He depicts all Gentile believers as wild olive branches grafted into the tree of God's favor (the nation of Israel) and he makes it clear that as a wild olive branch, they will never become natural branches nor will they ever replace all of the natural branches, and furthermore they can be broken off of the tree just as easily as the natural branches that were broken off (blinded Israel by flesh). Turning back now to the discussion of God's rejection of the nation of Israel, we can rest assured that their rejection is not total and that once His purpose is fulfilled in their present blindness (which they earned, as does anyone, by rejecting Jesus as The Way, The Truth, and The Life), He will turn back to them for the sakes of the fathers. As a topic for later study, it is interesting to observe that the list of the 12 tribes comprising ancient Israel is similar to, but notably distinct from the list of the 12 tribes that are sealed in Revelation 7...

[start from the beginning] [continue to part 2]

the end, intro

2008-09-08T23:19:00.002-05:00

Regarding the end of human history with respect to the second coming of Jesus and all that follows, it is said by some that we saints need not concern ourselves with the events leading up to the end as it is impossible for us finite humans to understand. Such a conclusion could not be more false and dangerous. Jesus gave His disciples rather specific answers when they asked Him, "What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3) The rest of the New Testament epistles as well as the Old Testament also cite very specific details regarding the end of the age, the events leading up to it, and those things that characterize it. But even if the presence of the sheer volume of explicit details isn't enough to prove that we saints, by the Spirit who is in us and teaches us all things (1 John 2:27), can and should be careful to know the signs of the times as well as the events and their order, we have this exhortation:

Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. Luke 21:34-36

And,

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

That said, let us continue on to The End.

It should go without saying that an honest discussion of the end must include points of reference from both the Old and New Testaments as found in each are numerous yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecies regarding the latter days. A very clear example of this can be seen in the evident connections between many of Daniel's dreams and visions and the entire Revelation of John. The Old Testament is especially rich with imagery of the coming Day of the Lord and the millennial kingdom that follows. If anything, the Old Testament helps to set the stage for the end and all of the revelation in the New Testament serves to give greater clarity to the final interactions as the last few scenes of this divine drama unfold before our eyes. As a matter of fact, I contend that a proper understanding of the final book of the Bible cannot be had without a Spirit-led understanding of everything that precedes it. Therefore, as all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, throughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17), all scripture, Old and New, will be given. Also, as no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20), I will not offer any private interpretation, but let Scripture interpret itself. It is my intent to make this my rule throughout this project as I have always made effort to do so in all of my posting.

[continue to part 1]

prepare for war

2008-09-01T13:58:00.006-05:00

…For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…2 Corinthians 10:3-5

…For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places...Ephesians 6:12

Last night, having caught a glimpse of the movie 300, I had several thoughts for which the Lord gave me correction. In the depiction of battle scenes and the way of life in times passed, for a brief moment I longed for “the better times” in ages past where life was simpler, where there was more opportunity to be ‘a man’, and I lamented that it was a different world then. The Lord has since shown me that I was foolish for longing for those “better times”...(continued)

to be free

2008-08-26T19:12:00.002-05:00

It is true that freedom comes at a price, but before the cost of freedom can be ascertained, it must first be understood what it is to be free. Freedom, carefully defined in the Biblical sense, is the power or ability to do what is right. The freedom a child of God has in Christ came at a dear price that we did not have to, nor indeed could pay; the price of a perfect life. Paul the apostle makes it clear that Jesus freed His brothers and sisters from two things. Each of these cruel masters will be discussed in turn.

One master that Jesus freed us from is the law. This is stated in Romans 7:1-6.

Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Paul also describes it thus in Galatians 3:10-14,

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." Yet the law is not of faith, but the man who does them shall live by them." Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

And in Colossians 2:13-14,

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

The law, Paul explains in Galatians 3:19-25,

...was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

And again, speaking to the assemblies of the faithful in Colosse, he exhorts

So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance of which is of Christ.

It is clearly the teaching of the apostle that the entire religious law as revealed by God to Moses, including food and festivals, served the purpose of pointing to Jesus, much like a photograph of an unknown person is helpful for identification, but once that person is present and known, the photo is no longer needed. It is worth noting that Paul speaks only of the festivals and laws instituted and sanctified by God (not other man-made ones) that are no longer necessary as their fulfillment has come. He seems to permit the continued practice of them as a matter of Jewish culture (as long as it is clearly understood that there is no righteousness to be found in the practice of such customs). This is evident in that he circumcised Timothy as a matter of convenience to silence the Jews (Acts 16:3), but that he also permitted that Titus not be circumcised as he was not compelled to be by false teachers of the mutilation (Galatians 2:3). This is also evidenced in Romans 14:2-6,

For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

It is again worth noting that with regard the the esteeming of days, Paul no doubt speaks only with regard to those festival and sabbath days instituted by God through Moses. Paul's policy, and ours today, is that the law of love rules supreme and when it comes to doubtful matters of food and festivals, the path that is most edifying is to be taken. That said, it is good to be mindful that there is little glory in remaining weak in the faith and even though concessions may be made for those weaker in their faith, it should not be their aim to remain there.

The other master from which Jesus has freed us is sin. This is stated in Romans 8:1-2.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

That same point is actually first iterated in Romans 6:14 which reads,

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

As we are freed from sin and under grace, and though we have freedom (that is, the ability to do what is right) by the Spirit of grace, the grace given to us is by no means a license to continue indulging our flesh and its deceitful lusts. Romans 6:1-3 makes this clear.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Furthermore, that Spirit of grace is the means by which our minds are renewed and we are able to not be conformed to the pattern of our present age (Romans 12:2). The pattern of this present age includes, but is not limited to, its culture, politics, economics, religion, and much more. We are to separate ourselves from such patterns in favor of the heavenly patterns given to us by God through His Word and Spirit. We are to be holy as He who called us is holy (1 Peter 1:15). We are not, in humanly strength and wisdom, to learn the ways of the nations (Jeremiah 10:2-5) in an attempt to reclaim them as holy things, the likes of which they never were. Rather, we are to be conformed to the image of Christ and our ways redefined by His Spirit as is fitting for His Kingdom, where in there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie...(Revelation 21:27).

As we have been set free by our Lord and Savior from the bondage of sin and from the bondage of the law, so let us daily be renewed, redefined, and conformed to His perfect image which is now above, but is soon coming back to judge and rule the world. By His grace it shall be done. Amen.

God Is My Portion Forever

2008-07-24T11:14:00.005-05:00

Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their necklace; violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance; they have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?" Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I had said, "I will speak thus," behold I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me- until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes, so Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.

Psalm 73

delivery factors

2008-06-24T13:49:00.003-05:00

In conversation with my earth dad yesterday, through one of his questions, the Lord brought to my mind an interesting thought that I believe may be encouraging for those seeking the Lord's will. While discussing the various works that Jesus performed during His earthly ministry, the subject of healing came up. Earth dad asked, "What factors contributed to those healings?" The Lord brought to mind 3.

1) The person needing healing (or an intercessor in some cases) had to believe that He was able.

"And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Matthew 8:2

As was the case in every biblical instance, all those who came to Jesus for healing by necessity believed He was able to do it.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
Hebrews 11:6

2) The person needing healing (or an intercessor in some cases) had to ask Him if He was willing.

"And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Matthew 8:2

The "name it and claim it" practice of prayer is in no ways from God. Though we are exhorted to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16), it should go without saying that we need always to approach with bold humility as is fitting when speaking to the Creator and Sustainer of all things. As the Psalmist says, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?" In a spiritual sense, just like the aforementioned leper, we should approach our Lord by prostrating ourselves before Him.

3) He must be willing.

Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:3

We must ever be mindful that as we keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking in prayer and supplication that our Father in heaven will give us all things (Matthew 7:11) as they are in accord with His will (1 John 5:14). We must not be discouraged however when He gives us a definitive 'no' and if He says 'no', we must not act like spoiled children, carrying on and persisting, but rather we must resolve within ourselves to trust His perfect wisdom and be strengthened by His grace.

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

The response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3:17 is an encouraging example for all of us at all times in all things as well.

"If it is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you , O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

Following the example of our Lord, as it is written in Isaiah 50:7, we know that the Lord God will deliver us in one way or another and that we will not be disgraced; therefore, we set our faces like flint to the god of this world knowing that we will not be ashamed.

Of One Mind

2008-06-15T18:38:00.003-05:00

“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common”
(Acts 2:44)

Why is having all things in common, being of one mind and of one accord mentioned of those following Christ about fourteen times in the New Testament?( Acts w:14, Acts 2:1, Acts 2:22, Acts 2:46, Acts 4:32, Acts 4:24, Acts 5:12, Acts 15:25, Romans 12:16, Romans 15:56, 2 Cor. 13:11, Phil. 1:27, Phil. 2:2, 1 Peter 3:8) You would think to mention it so many times would mean that it is not only possible, but important! And why, in light of this, is it that we see an estimated 38,000 denominations that all teach different doctrine but all say that they are followers of Christ? Is there more than one way to Christ? In Romans 8:29-30 Paul says, “For whom He foreknew, He also preordained to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” So first He preordained us to the image of His son and then He actually calls us to do it, “Moreover whom He preordained, these He also called; “ What does Jesus say of this? Jesus said , “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”(John 14:6) So if Jesus says he is it then, “is Christ divided?”(1 Corinth. 1:23) I say no, “for God is not the author of confusion”(1 Corinth. 14:33) and is not Christ the one head and therefore the one mind of his one true body?(1 Corinth. 11:3) So it is concluded that the true followers of Christ have been preordained since before time began to be conformed to the one image, one way, one truth, one life, one mind, one body and will "have all things in common." In this truth, having about 38, 000 separations "in Christ", one must stop and ask themself if they are truly following Christ.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.(Matt.16:24)

Unseen Idolatry

2008-04-22T12:20:00.007-05:00

Acts 17:24-25, Paul says to the philosophers in the midst of the Areopagus,

"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is he worshiped with men's hands as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things."

So I ask, why does the "church" today build "houses of God" out of brick and stone (and whatever else they can find) to worship God with their elaborate services, complete with state-of-the-art powerpoint presentations, highly sophisticated liturgies, rock-out praise bands (or $10,000 pipe organs for that matter!)?

How does God prescribe worship? Exodus 20:24-26,

"An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you. And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it. Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it."

Why an altar of dirt? And if not that, why uncut stones? What makes the cut stones profane? Perhaps the use of simple dirt is recommended to keep it simple. Perhaps it is to keep the focus off of self, off of fleshy contributions to the worship ceremony. Perhaps the cutting of stones for the altar involves too much of self, too much of the flesh. When we are intent upon doing elaborate things in worship (the beginning of which is cutting stones), we are trying to find significance for ourselves, thus worshiping our selves, benefiting our flesh. Jesus says in John 6:63, "the flesh profits nothing."

When people make big buildings that they call "houses of God", are they not cutting stones, or worse yet, baking bricks for the altar? God says in Isaiah 65:2-5 (emphasis mine),

"I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts; A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face; Who sacrifice in gardens, And burn incense on altars of brick; Who sit among the graves, And spend the night in the tombs; Who eat swine’s flesh, And the broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, Do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day."

Are the "house of God" builders in this age not as bad and worse than these spoken of by God as "smoke in My nostrils," (a very not pleasing aroma to say the least)? Instead of just fashioning idolatrous alters and idols of wood and stone, do they not build idolatrous shrines to the God who said to David in 2 Samuel 7:5-7,12-13 (emphasis mine),

"Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?...When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever."

Instead of just fashioning altars to bow down to, do they not fashion altars to entomb themselves in and worship their flesh under the guise of "worshipping God"? Their God is their bellies and their end is destruction (Romans 16:18, Philippians 3:18-19). Jesus says in John 4:23-24,

"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. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Would the Spirit of God lead His people to do those things which He has previously spoken against throughout the rest of his revealed word? God says this:

"I will set up your seed after you (David), who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." 2 Samuel 7:12-13

Jesus says:

"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18

(Peter, as the leader of the apostles, is taken here to represent the whole of the ministry of apostles.)

Paul says regarding the saints (emphasis mine):

"...the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22

And Paul also speaks regarding the saints and Jesus' assembly:

"According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it...Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:10,16

Therefore, it should be clear that God dwells not in a temple crafted by the hands of men, but rather in a temple crafted from men, a temple crafted by His Son, through the appointed hands as they are led by The Carpenter Himself via His Spirit. The church institution today that makes its residences in buildings crafted by the hands of man and conducts "worship services to God" with its bureaucracies and hierarchies also fashioned by men is not the same as that which is fashioned by the Master Craftsman Himself. No, the church institution is the strange woman with mystery on her head that will ride the beast in the last days. The church institution with all of her elaborate worship services speaking that which is soothing to the itching ears of men (2 Timothy 4:3-4) is the Harlot of Babylon (Revelation 17:5). Dear children and sheep of the Good Shepherd's fold, heed the warning in Isaiah 52:11, "Depart! Depart! Go out from there, Touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, Be clean, You who bear the vessels of the LORD."

Modern Mishaps and Post-Modern Plight

2008-04-19T14:31:00.003-05:00

Modernism is in some sense a philosophical paradigm that guided the thinking of generations from the early 1600's to the recent past. To the best of my understanding, one of Modernism's foundational presuppositions is that there is an Absolute Truth in the universe to be discovered through observation, hypothesis, and experimentation (trial and error). Furthermore, the Modernistic view purports that reliable explanations about the presupposed Absolute Truth and reality can be sought and explained formulaically.

Post-Modernism, then, can be seen also as a philosophical paradigm that is a polarized backlash to Modernism. Again, to the best of my understanding, one of Post-Modernism's foundational presuppositions is that there is no Absolute Truth, that truth is relative to an individual's perception. The Post-Modernistic view purports that there is no singular reliable explanation about truth or reality and certainly there is no sense in trying to ultimately explain anything, and certainly not in terms of formulas.

For disciples of Jesus, neither philosophical system provides a suitable springboard to delve into the lifetime of learning and growing into the image of the Son of God. Though we followers of Christ do affirm that there is an absolute reality defined by the unchanging, eternal God (Malachi 3:6), any seasoned disciple knows that God cannot and will not be shoved into a formulaic box. Thus, Modernistic attempts to discover all there is to discover about God will ultimately leave us short-handed. His ways are too far above our ways (Isaiah 55:9, Romans 11:33) for us to wrap our clever formulas around. Much to the dissatisfaction of any well-meaning Modernist, neither God, His universe, nor the totality of the path to Him can be summed up in tidy formulas achieved through the use of the scientific method. God is the most liberal actor of all, free to do all He wishes, how and when He wishes to do it (Isaiah 46:9-10).

The fact that there is an absolute reality that exists outside the individual perceptions of finite human minds is Biblically demonstrated in the very name of God given in Exodus 3:14. A name, Biblically, reveals in part the character of the person or thing to which it is assigned. In the Exodus passage, when Moses asks God what His name is, God identifies Himself in terms of the existential verb meaning 'to be'. He says to Moses, "tell them that I AM sent you." God defines existence both by who He is and what He does. His eternal person is the very epitome of existence. Furthermore, He speaks into being all that is and was and ever will be (John 1:1-4). He declares the end from the beginning and accomplishes all that He says will come to pass (again, Isaiah 46, 9-10). It can therefore be concluded that there is indeed a definite, absolute reality defined by God, not by man. Under the weight of this Biblical testimony, no follower of Christ can stand behind the Post-Modern claims of relative truth and reality on the basis of the short-sighted perceptions of finite humans. In addition to the Biblical testimony to one reality defined by God alone, we disciples of Christ are being transformed into the one, definite image of the Son (Romans 8:29).

Briefly summed up, below are some of Modernism and Post-Modernism's virtues and vices.

Modernism

virtue - belief in an absolute truth and a single reality to be 'discovered'
virtue - provides a platform for meaningful conversation with a common goal

vice - seeks to discover and explain reality with methods too rigid for their purpose
vice - often limited in the quest for understanding by unidentified preconceived notions/biases

Post-Modernism

virtue - acknowledges the reality of different points of view based upon individual experience

vice - rejection of absolute truth and consequent over-emphasis of a relative nature of reality
vice - unable to provide a real platform for meaningful conversation or a common goal
vice - actually isolates instead of unifies
vice - often limited in the quest for understanding by unidentified preconceived notions/biases

As mentioned earlier, neither philosophical system is able to properly orient any follower of Christ (or any truth-seeker for that matter) on the path to perfection. From my personal experience, as it tends to be the case with most philosophical systems, the best approach lies somewhere in between. A common vice plaguing both Modernism and Post-Modernism is the presence of unidentified preconceived notions. It is difficult to discover the truth when you can't see around the preconceived notion of it that you didn't even realize you had! In other words, you can never find what you are looking for if you believe you already have it, especially if you don't even realize that you believe you have it! This tricky situation need not be the end of our quest for truth though. Employing the virtues from both systems in their proper proportions, we can easily navigate around our preconceived notions to a greater understanding of what lies beyond our limited, individual conceptions of God, the world and the way through the world to God. In order to do this, we need to have an understood common language for communication (not an option with post-modernism), a common goal (not an option with post-modernism), and a reasonable embrace of differing points of view based upon individual experience. Furthermore, a flexible, organic approach is also needed (not an option with modernism) to discover and explain the results of our findings. The imagery of the Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 is the perfect example of all these points.

"For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."

Just as each individual part of the body is limited in the scope of what it can do alone, so also are we as individuals limited in what we can accomplish alone. We overcome our individual limitations by being joined with others who don't share those same limitations. Though they have limitations of their own, we are each uniquely equipped to assist one another in moving together towards a common end and indeed, we can only move as we cooperate and move as one. Thus, there are observable elements in both philosophical systems that are necessary to progress towards that common goal. Neither system is equipped in and of itself to do this and if left alone, each system will inevitably take its adherents to vastly differing conclusions, all of which will no doubt have missed the point.

Food for thought...

la agua

2008-04-17T19:28:00.000-05:00

Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;All Your waves
and billows have gone over me. -- Psalm 42:7

As water that originates in the deep finds itself in the rivers and streams throughout the world, from those various places it flows back to the same source from whence it came. So too does the Spirit of God in His people call and move them back to its source, the Father of us all. In the journey to its source, when bodies of the water meet, the piece of the deep in each of the bodies recognizes itself and the once separate bodies of water join together to transform from trickling streams and bubbling brooks into a roaring river rushing back the sea of its origin. So too does that Living Water in the children of God recognize itself in others and move them to join together to create one Body moving back to its source of life and existence.

Food for thought...

our mother the ekklesia

2007-10-15T09:01:00.000-05:00

“There was a man sent from God whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 1:6-13

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3:3, 5-8

In becoming a child to any parent, not one of us determines the circumstances of his or her birth. A sequence of events is set into motion where in we are brought into existence and are indeed helpless to prevent our conception. Though after being conceived it may be possible to refuse nourishment, the fact remains that we were and will continue to be subject to outside forces. This much is true about physical and spiritual birth and existence. Though we are all creatures with a will to do what we want in many ways, none of us is an island to him/herself and we are all affected (both willingly and unwillingly) by others around us. We have said all of this to bring us to this point, that becoming a child of God is not something we choose for ourselves. Rather, we have been/are chosen and caused by God to become His children. Let us explain.

In the two passages quoted above, John makes mention of being “born of God” and being “born from above”. That these two concepts are synonymous need not be argued. The Greek term that is translated “born” in every instance in the above passages is a form of the verb gennao. When this verb is used in conjunction with a masculine figure (as it is in these passages), it specifically refers to the act of conception as the first step in the birthing process. It is therefore very clear from the context of the above scripture that our being spiritually conceived is an act that is entirely “of God” and “from above”. Spiritual birth has absolutely nothing to do with the will of man at that this point. “The wind blows where it wishes…”

Now to move on to the real topic of discussion in this essay, we all know well that there is more to having a child than just conceiving it. After a child has been conceived, it then must be nurtured in a mother’s womb before it is able to finally be delivered. The birth process can thus be broken down into 3 stages: (1) conception (2) gestation/nurturing (3) delivery. We’ve made mention of the first stage already and will make mention of the third stage in a later essay. That leaves us with our real topic of discussion here, stage 2, nurturing.

According to Romans 8:29, the purpose of God for those whom he has foreknown is that they be conformed to the image of His Son. This process of conforming happens in the context of the ekklesia. The ekklesia is the assembly of the saints of God more commonly known as the body and bride of Christ. Interestingly enough, the noun, ekklesia, is a feminine noun. Not coincidentally, a newly conceived infant is nurtured in a feminine body until it has grown to maturity and is ready to be delivered. Therefore, the ekklesia is a sort of mother figure for those of us being conformed to the image of Christ. In Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul describes gifts given to this body for the express purpose of edifying its members “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of fullness of Christ…”

It is the will of God that we be conformed to the image of His Son in the assembly that Jesus tells Peter He will build (Matthew 16:18). The writer of Hebrews encourages us to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but to exhort one another and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). God the Father starts the process of what is to become our final deliverance by bringing us to life spiritually through the power of His Holy Spirit. Having been conceived, we must seek out the spiritual nourishment that God desires to give us through regular fellowship with other members of the body. It is imperative that we diligently seek “pure milk of the word that we may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2) because though it is true that the good work that God began in us He will complete until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6), it is also true that not everyone who receives the word of the kingdom will persevere to the end, bearing fruit that leads to salvation. Consider the parable of the sower explained in Matthew 13:19-23…

“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received the seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces; some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Those who receive the word of the kingdom but do not receive the proper nourishment do not bear fruit and thus experience a sort of spiritual stillbirth, neither growing to maturity nor being finally delivered into the kingdom of God. The best way to obtain proper nourishment is through union with the ekklesia which is truly modeled in the book of Acts and does not so much resemble the Church system that we all know so well today that evolved out of the Roman-Catholic system of long ago. The children of God led by the Apostles in the first century did not assemble themselves for worship services that look like what we have today. Rather, they lived in what can best be described as spiritual communes, not only sharing meals together regularly, but also their lives. They were truly most able in this communal setting to live in obedience to the command that Jesus gave his disciples in John 15 to love one another. Those of us that have been reborn are called by God to share the gifts He gives us with one another so that we all will be nourished and be able to grow into the fullness of the stature of Christ Jesus. The question that remains is, will we do it?