Exodus 25:17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat…

December 26, 2017

And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

The mercy seat. Kapporeth. (The engish rendering of the Hewbrew word) This is a separate item of the tabernacle that rested upon the ark of the convenant. There really is not a whole lot, once again, explained as to the construction of this mercy seat. Notice that most of the description of it speaks of the two cherubims that are to be placed on it.

And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 25:17-22)

So the mercy seat is this big slab of gold. Some people believe that the thickness, which the law does not give us, was about a hand’s width.

 Aben Ezra observes, that there is no mention made of the thickness of the mercy seat; and the same Jarchi takes notice of, but adds, that, according to their Rabbins, it was an hand’s breadth, and the Targum of Jonathan says,”and its thickness an hand’s breadth.” (John Gill)

My hand is about 3 5/8″ at the palm, not counting the thumb. Let’s round that off to 3 1/2″; nobody likes fractions. That’s a lot of gold. Pure gold. The mercy seat was 2 1/2 cubits by 1 1/2 cubits which by modern standards is approximately 52″ x 31″. Have you ever tried to pick up a solid piece of steel 3 1/2″ thick that is that big? Well you can’t. It would weight 1600 lbs. That’s steel. Gold is much more dense than steel and would weigh 3938 lbs; that just at about 2 tons. So I don’t see that practical. I doubt seriously that the mercy seat was a solid slab a hand’s width.

Some commentaries place the weight of the mercy seat at 750 lbs. That would make it only 11/16″ thick. Even 750 lbs is pretty heavy. A bag of concrete weighs 80 lbs. How far can you walk with a bag of concrete? Not far.

So, I’m inclined to believe that the mercy seat was made of solid gold just as the bible says, of course. But I have a hunch that is it was more than just a flat piece of metal. I think it might have been very similar to how we make countertops at the shop that have no wooden substrate. There has to be some type of lip coming down the side to stiffen it; and also some type of ribs going across the bottom to give the surface some rigidity. It’s got depth, but it’s not solid throughout that depth. It could have been maybe more of a frame-like structure that was cladded with golden panels. So it is very possible that it may have truly been a hand’s breath in thickness; just not solid.

Considering that the details of how these things were to be built are left out of the bible, I’m inclined to think that weight may have been a very serious issue in construction. They could have easily used more men to carry it, but would have been very limited according to the strength of those wooden staves. You can only pick up so much with wood. So I would think that they probably made all this as light as they could.

Besides, they didn’t have much gold to work with. When Moses finally came down from the mount they had already gathered all the gold to make the calf. And that gold was ground up, strewn upon the water, and they had to drink it. So I think most of their gold was gone by the time they started this project.

Besides, the whole design of the tabernacle was one of a collapsible, movable tent-type structure. It was all made to break down and transport easily. There were no roads out there in the wilderness. So I’m really picturing a very light-weight construction of the mercy seat and even of the ark to ease the transport of this cherished work.

So what’s the lesson today? Keep it light! That mercy seat was the place that God had chosen to meet with his people. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony. Think about those men that had to carry the ark and the mercy seat. Why put more on them that is necessary. They should bear the ark with joy and enthusiasm. If that thing weighed 2 tons, nobody was going to be happy when it was time to move.

Keep it light! Same scripture as last week: (Hebrews 12:1) Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. How can we serve God with unnecessary weight upon us? Many times I’ve designed products for customers that I have regretted. They’re functional and they look nice, but they’re just too heavy. We call this an overkill.

Don’t overkill it. Keep it light! At the judgement seat of Christ, there will the wood, hay, stubble be revealed by fire. Be careful in your construction. Paul said (1 Corinthians 3:10) Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. Remember the purpose of the mercy seat: And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat. We only need enough for that. Jesus said (Matthew 11:28-30) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

John 4:53 Himself believed, and his whole house…

December 25, 2017

Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

It’s Christmas Day. It’s somewhat tempting to write on the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was certainly miraculous! But I really wanted to tackle all the miracles that Jesus did in chronological order. One might argue that the virgin birth was the first, but when Jesus turned water to wine the bible explicitly says (John 2:11) This beginning of miracles did Jesus… And this next passage where Jesus heals the son of a certain nobleman is says plainly (John 4:54) This is again the second miracle that Jesus did.. So I’m gonna stick to the plan.

So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee. (John 4:46-54)

This second miracle seems more to be about this certain nobleman that it does his son. We don’t meet the son. Jesus doesn’t meet the son. We know nothing really about the son, other that he was sick and at the point of death; and that he was indeed healed at the seventh hour. I can’t help but thinking about the many loved ones through the years that also were at the point of death. And we besought the Lord that he would heal them. But unlike this that we just read, healing never came, and they never amended and instead of the fever leaving, they ended up leaving.

We’ve seen one after another not get healed. We’ve read over and over about how Jesus cleansed the leper, made the blind to see, made the lame to walk, and raised the dead. It’s possible that maybe we’ve grown somewhat numb to the miracles that Jesus performed. They seem so distant sometimes; something we only read and hear about, yet something we don’t ever really experience.

But don’t lose faith. You are not some second-class Christian; for Jesus said rebukingly Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.  Do we need to see our loved ones raised from their death bed in order for us to believe? I mean is that what we’re waiting for to give God the honor and glory he deserves? Jesus told Thomas (John 20:29) Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Did you hear that? You’re blessed!

Sure! Miracles are great! But remember that (Romans 10:17) Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. We weren’t there 2000 years ago when all these miracles took place; we can only read about them. But Praise the Lord! (Ephesians 1:12,13) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Listen, I’m not saved because I saw some miracle. I’m saved because I saw the miserable sinful wretch that I was, and I begged God that he’d have mercy on me and save me.

What does strike me as also miraculous is that the nobleman and the whole family got saved. Especially because Paul explained (1 Corinthians 1:26) How that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. Yet this certain nobleman having seen nothing, believed it all. He might have heard of the water being turned wine. But Jesus hadn’t healed anybody yet. Nobody had been raised from the dead. No blind had been made to see. No lepers cleansed. No lame to walk.

Yet, he came to Jesus and said Sir, come down ere my child die. And the nobleman needed not to see anything more. Jesus didn’t even have to go see his son, touch his son, or even look upon his son. But the nobleman believed and was satisified on just his word. Jesus said Go thy way; thy son liveth. That’s all it took and the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

The bible says the he himself believed, and his whole house. And there is the miracle of a miracles. His whole family believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now everybody in the house but the father had seen the son healed, so they may have not believed until the father came home and told them what Jesus had said. So daddy, don’t take likely the position that God has saw fit to put you in. God can work miracles through fathers. I remember years ago I heard that old preacher Lester Roloff say, “Get the dad! And you’ll get the whole house!” Don’t wait for miracles daddy to trust and serve God. He wants to save your whole family.

Romans 8:30,31 If God be for us, who can be against us?

December 24, 2017

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

I’ve heard several times these verses preached in a chronological order. Let me eplain. This list that Paul has given us: predestinate, called, justified, and glorified. I’ve heard it preached that this list has an order to it. It’s very difficult to think along these lines for me for this takes things out of the context of Romans 8. I spend an entire message explaining that this predestination has nothing to do with a sinner being saved. So when we put it to this chronological explanation, it really takes away from that and puts us right back into a Calvanist reality.

So, I just can’t go that way with scriptures. Assigning a chronological order to all this, to me, is dangerous. And I say this because Paul does not signify this in any respect other than the plain order in which they’re mentioned. Preachers, and commentaries, say that a sinner is predestinated, and then at some point he’s called, and when he answers the call he is justified, and then one day he will be glorified.

I don’t like this because that is not what the context is dealing with. And to go off on some tangent like this is incredibly short-sighted, in my humble opinion. So how should this text be preached? What are we to take from this list instead? Predestinate? Called? Justified? Glorified? I believe that Paul tells us exactly what we are to take from this in the second verse of this passage. He asks what I presently ask: What shall we then say to these things? And to this he answers: If God be for us, who can be against us? I like it when the bible interprets itself! Amen?

Has anyone heard of the first-mention principle? In bible study, the first-mention principle directs the student to always go back to the first time something is mentioned and learn that first. This is so because if the bible in inerrant then an interpretation should line up with the interpretation of the first time in was mentioned. And that’s some good stuff. You can really learn alot studying like that.

But also, consider the last-mention principle. I invented this princple. Ha! Actually, all I’m saying is that more light can be shed on a text if you just go back a few verses and look at was said about that topic to help you determine what is meant in the text at hand. It’s just contextual examination. There’s a big phrase for you! Stay in the context.

This list of things prove that God is for us. The main point to these things is that God is for us. So to look at these as a chronological lesson is to take away from the quantity and quality of this great truth that God is for us. So I want to look at these not as a sequence but rather pillars that hold up what Paul is trying to emphatically say, that God is for us. That God is on our side. That our welfare, our good, our best interests are always what God is for.

The Pillar of Predestination

Let’s remember that this has nothing to do with being lost folk being predestined to salvation, but rather saved folk being predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. Using the last-mention principle we look back one verse to verse 29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Why does has God predestined us to be conformed to the image of his Son? It’s nice when the bible answers questions right off the bat. The answer is the next line there, That he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

This gets me thinking of Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. I’ve heard or read that Jesus is known as the Second Adam; the Second Adam, I suppose, because everything we lost in Adam, we gained in Christ. (Romans 5:18,19)  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

So when I read That he might be the firstborn among many brethren I think of Adam. He was the first man. And the bible says (Genesis 2:18) And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And the bible goes on to say (Genesis 2:21,22) And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 

So you see Adam and Eve is a type of Christ and his church or Christ and his bride. That deep sleep that God caused to fall upon Adam is a type of that sixth hour when there was a darkness over all the earth (Luke 23:44) and when Jesus cried It is finished (John 19:30). That deep sleep was a picture of Jesus when he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit (Luke 23:46) and thus gave up his Ghost. It’s a picture of the death of Christ.

And then when God took one of those ribs out of side of Adam and made him a wife, that’s a a picture of how God made Christ his church. The bible says (John 19:33,34) But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. It’s the water and the blood. The bible says (1 John 5:5,6) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. Paul said to the Ephesians (5:25,26) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, And then in Revelation, John began his letter saying (1:5) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Amen it’s the water and the blood.

That is how God has sanctified and cleansed Christ’s church, by the water and the blood; seen coming from the side of Christ as they pierced him after he had died; much like God created Eve out of the side of Adam after he fell into that deep sleep. Christ is the second Adam. Now God made Eve for Adam; and Cain and Abel and Seth and Enos and all his family. Now look at the family that God has created for Jesus Christ, the first begotten of the dead? (Ephesians 3:14;15) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

Paul said For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. So this pillar, this foundational truth is one of family. God is for us because of predestination. God is for us because we’re family. Family is this foundation. There is nothing on this earth more concrete and stable as a good family. You look out for family. You stick up for family. You defend family. When someone is sick, it’s family that cares for him or her. When someone dies it’s family that gathers and grieves. You love family. And we are members of God’s family. If you are one of the brethren, then you are part of the family; the family of God. If you got saved, you were born again; born into the family of God.

And I don’t know of anything else more concrete and stable as family. I remember Lester Roloff said one time on the radio, “If you lose your family, you’ve lost everything!” I want to say likewise, here on earth, if you have family, you’ve got much. Your family always loves you. Your family always cares about you. Friends come and go, but family is for the long haul… here on earth. But Jesus said, (Matthew 7:11) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Romans 8:32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

That he might be the firstborn among many brethren. I want to thank God that I’m one of the brethren. I thank God that I’m in the family of God. To be in the family is to be favored. Do you not favor your children? When Christmas rolls around are you buying gifts for everybody else’s children or yours. Do you feed everybody else’s children or yours? Do you buy clothes for everybody else’s children or yours? Why? Because it’s your family. They’re your children. God is our father and we are his children (Romans 8:17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; Because I’m a child, I’m highly favored, I’m loved and cared for. I’m in the family! And God is for his family. God is for us!

I know alot of things we go through don’t make sense. There’s alot of pain and suffering out there. And we wonder if God even cares; if God is truly for us. We got alot of questions. But I think we’re gonna find that alot of it is just part of being in the family, Amen. It’s because of this pillar of predestination. We that are in God’s family, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. God did not save us to enslave us. God did not save us to leave us. And God did not save us to forsake us. No, he saved us to conform us. If you got saved, you were born into the family of God. And God is not going to enslave his family, but make you free. (John 8:36). God is not going to leave his family, but he’ll be with you withersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9) God is not going to forsake his family, but he’ll keep you from falling (Jude 1:24).  God is for you. Though being conformed to the image of his Son might entail sufferings, and trials, and heartaches, remember that God is for you. And if God be for us, who can be against us?

I explained the other day about what it meant to be conformed. Conformed means to be formed together with. He wants you to be formed together with the image of his Son. Have you ever tried to mix two different colors of play-dough. To put those two together you must squeeze them and shape them and tear them apart and put them back together and mush them and mash them. And those colors never really mix. But they are bonded together, inseparable now. And you can shape (or form them) them into whatever you desire. But know this, you cannot move or touch one color without touching the other. Does that make sense? (Hebrews 4:15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities… God might be pushing on you, and squeezing and shaping you, I wish that we could see that he’s not forming us, but conforming us to the image of his Son, to be who He wants you to be. Amen? But why is he doing this to me? Because you’re family.

In the great Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, it says (24,25) By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, He said No, I’m not in Pharaoh’s family, I’m in God’s family. I thank God that I’m in God’s family. There may be affliction, but God is for his family.

The Pillar of Being Called

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: So we have the pillar of predestination which we’ll call the foundation of family. Now we come to the pillar of Being Called. Now remember, I’m using the last-mention principle as a spring-board. For predestination we went back to verse 29. Now for being called we go back to verse 28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Now I mentioned this before. And I’ll go ahead mention it again. All things work together for them who are the called. All things don’t work together for them who are called. They work together for them who are the called.

You say, what’s the difference? Well, Jesus Christ himself said to us (Matthew 22:14) For many are called, but few are chosen. Everybody is called to salvation, but not everybody answers the gospel call. (Matthew 7:14,14) Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. I believe in a whosoever will salvation. The gospel call has gone out to all the ends of the earth. But that doesn’t mean that all have heeded the call. (Romans 5:18)  By the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men… That’s what is it says and that’s who the gospel is for; all men. But the book also says (Revelation 20:15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

So everybody is called, but only few are THE called. So all things work together for good not to them who are called, but to them who are the called. Paul said (Romans 1:6,7) Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. See, Paul is talking to the church in Rome; not to all of Rome, but all the church in Rome. So called is but an adjective, but the called is a title. The is a definite article. And the called are those that have answered the glorious gospel call.

Now the greek word eklesia, or in spanish it is iglesia, in english it is church; it means “the called out assembly!” To be called is to be called out, called out of a lost and dying world that is imprisoned and in bondage to sin and death. Now it used to be, we didn’t have telephones, and iphones, and things like that. Calling someone has taking on a new meaning in these recent years. In the past, though, when you called on someone, that means you visited them. When someone went calling that means they actually showed up. Can I say this? When God called me to salvation, he showed up. He showed up to personally invite me. The Holy Ghost paid me a very special visit; a visit in which I was saved. Praise God!

The church is the called out assembly. And Christ is for the church! He told Peter (Matthew 1618)  I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. So the pillar of predestination speaks of the Foundation of Family and being in the Father’s family. But being called, this pillar of being called speaks to us about the the Foundation of the Church; particularly of Christ’s church.

Now being called means a few things. Being called means someone has called. There is the called and then there is the caller. Do you remember the old hymn. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and for me… Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling; Calling, “O sinner, come home!” Jesus, our beloved, is the caller. (SOS 5:2) I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled… Jesus is the caller and it’s His voice that knocks on our heart’s door. (Revelation 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

Being called means someone has called, and also that he’s calling for a reason. And this reveals to us  the heart of God, the will of God, the desire of God, and the plans of God. It speaks to us of the love of God and the compassion and ardent longing that God has for us. Not that we loved God, but that he loved us first. And how that love was manifested in his Son. He stood up before all Jerusalem and declared, (Matthew 23:37) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings… How often? How often? How often would I have gathered you? How many times has my desire been to bring you close to me? Jesus has a reason to call.

His call to us is his desire. The bride in Song of Solomon, (she represents the church) when she hears her lover’s call, (that is the Lord Jesus Christ) when she hears his call, she says (SOS 5:2) It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled…  The call of God speaks to us and tells us that Christ has intentions for us and desires. We are members of His church because Christ has called us to be and wants us to be in it.

I shared somethings similar to this with you all the other day: If I use my imagination, I can hear the angels asking me, “Why are you here?” and I can respond, “I am not here on my own accord, but I have been called!It was not my desire, but someone else’s desire and someone else’s summons and invitation that he has called me here! I stand here now in Christ’s church because I have been called to be here. Not my will that I be here, but His will be done!” O bless his holy name, that he saw fit to call me out of this old sinful world and into his beloved church. What a glorious peace just to be favored in the mind and heart of God; that it was God’s desire to put me in the church. It was his idea and his calling to me. To be part of the called out assembly, the church, is to be called by someone who wants me and longs for me. God the son, Jesus Christ has written out the invitation in his own blood, even before the foundation of the world. He has sent his Holy Spirit. He has sent forth His angels. He has propagated His Word; his holy bible. He has sent out his evangelists. He’s done so much just to present His invitation; to call me! And to call you. To build his church!

And Christ loves his church! (Ephesians 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, How can we ever think that Christ is not for us? How can we ever think that he doesn’t love us? When he shed his blood for the church? He laid his life down for the church? He loves us and longs to be with us. He said (John 14:2,3) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Wherever I am, I want you to be there too. I’m gonna make a place for you in my Father’s house. And I’m gonna come back. And I’m gonna claim you and take you and bring you back with me. Everybody? No. The church! The called! The called out assembly!

God is for us! God is for his church. He said the gates of hell shall not prevail. If the gates of hell cannot prevail, then nothing shall prevail, not even death. (Romans 8:38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The love of God is in Jesus Christ. The bible says, (Romans 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The love of God is in Jesus Christ, and the only way to have his love and return his love is to answer the call and to become the called of Jesus Christ… beloved of God, called to be saints.

The Pillar of Justification

So we’re working on that foundation. The pillar of predestination is the foundation of family and the love of God. The pillar of being called is the foundation of the church and the love of Christ. And now we come to this pillar of justification. So using the last-mention principle we go back and see what Paul had to say about justification.

I’d like to take you back to Romans 5:9 where he says this Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. I want us to see that this pillar of justification speaks to us about the foundation of Blood and the law God.

Let me say a few things before we move on. God is for us. You say, why do you keep saying that preacher? I really believe that if we can truly get hold of this, it will help us. It’s helped me. It’s that simple song: Jesus loves me, this I know; For the bible tells me so… Or that other song: He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. This I know. He gave himself to die for me because He loves me so… It’s helped me. Everything in the book of Romans is told to us with that in mind to help us. We’ve got so much going for us. So much working for us.

And we’ve only gone through half the book and we’ve got all these things working for us. I’m telling you church that God is for us! Why in the world do we not have the victory? Why in the world do we go around feeling sorry for ourselves? Why in the world are we in the dumps? When God is on our side? He’s not against us! He’s for us! And the Holy Ghost is inside of us saying Go! Go! Go! Why don’t we just get on board? Why don’t we just trust him? Why don’t we just chunk it all and cast ourselves upon him?

And this one more thing, the pillar of justification by the blood of Christ, we have the law of God on our side. We’re not under the law anymore. The law that was once against is now for us. No. I like the way Paul puts in in Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Why do we establish the law? Or how do we establish the law? Because the law requires blood to make atonement for our sins. And through the blood of Christ that atonement is made. (Romans 5:11) We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. You see the bible says (Hebrews 9:22) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

The pillar of justification, the foundation of blood, holds up and declares that God is for us. We saw the blood in the Garden of Eden, when those animals were killed to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. We saw the blood in Egypt struck on the door posts and the lintels, when the angel of death passed over the blood. We saw the blood flowing from the tabernacle as Moses and the Levites performed the law of God. We saw the blood at Jericho when Rahab hung that scarlet cord out the window, when the armies of the Lord passed over her and her family.

Justification is a legal term. It’s an verdict which must be obtained legally. Listen, one of the biggest questions that people ask is this: If God is so good and loving, why doesn’t he just save everybody? Why does he have hell? Why doesn’t he just forgive everybody? The love of God and the mercy of God is not going to override, overshadow or abolish the holiness of God. Neither is the holiness of God going to cancel out the love and mercy of God. Remember this scripture (Romans 12:9) Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. That expression without dissimulation means genuine, sincere, without hypocricy. God loves sinners, but hates sin.

God is good. That means he’s just. If someone murdered all your children and the murderer stood before the judge and the judge said, “You know, I love you, I’m just gonna let you go.” Would you think that the judge was just? God being the righteous judge of all men, should he not be just? If God did not give what was just, he would cease to be holy. If he’s not holy, then he can’t be good. No God is good and God is just. And the justification that I have received was obtained legally and lawfully. The bible says to let everything be done decently and in order.

According to the law, the high priest entered into the holiest place of the tabernacle, the place where the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat was. He came in there with the blood of bulls and goats and offered it to God for the sins of himself and the sins of the people, to make an atonement for their sins. The sacrifices were performed in the tabernacle which God had instructed Moses and the people Israel to make. And then later, the vessels and instruments were brought into the temple made by Solomon. And the sacrifices were carried out in there.

Now when Moses first made the tabernacle, God shewed him what it was going to look like. Here in Exodus 25:8,9 is says And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. And when I read this, I’ve always had the impression that what was made on earth was made after a pattern. It was a copy of the real thing. It other words it wasn’t the genuine article. It was patterned after the genuine article. It was an earthly tabernacle patterned after the heavenly reality.

And I believe this is confirmed in Hebrews where it say (9:11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, Christ was a better high priest than the earthly one. He entered into a better tabernacle than the earthly one. The bible says (9:12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place. He had better blood than the earthly blood. And then the bible goes on to say having obtained eternal redemption for us. He obtained better results than the earthly results. That high priest had to go back in year after year to offer blood. Why because it was temporal and didn’t last. It wasn’t like Christ’s blood, that obtained eternal redemption for us.

I said all this to this (Hebrews 9:14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? We’ve been given so much in Christ Jesus. I’d tried to list some. But above all that, we’ve got the blood of Christ. We’ve been declared justified in presence of angels, before the mercy seat in heaven. We carry no more the weight of our sin or the weight of the law. We are truly washed in the blood of the Lamb. Just like Moses said before the people, Christ, our high priest, has said, (Exodus 24:8) Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you!

My goodness. We have a blood covenant made in the holiest of the heavens on our behalf. Why?  Listen to this again. (Hebrews 9:14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? So we can serve the living God. We’ve been given so much. And now, through the blood, through it’s cleansing power, our conscience is purges so that we can serve the living God. Why in the world don’t we serve him? Why in the world do we not submit ourselves to him? When God is for us!

This pillar of justification. The foundation of the blood; the blood of Christ. Where the law was once against us, by the blood of Christ, it is now for us. (Romans 8:3,4) God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us. (Romans 3:31) Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. God is so for us. 

The Pillar of Glorification

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. So the last on this list is glorification. Now like I said, most preachers preach this in a chronological fashion and this glorification is usually preached as a future event. We’ve got predestination, then called, then justified, and one day soon when we cross this river Jordan, we’ll be glorified, or when Jesus comes and dead in Christ shall rise, we recieve a glorified body. That’s all good and fine. The problem is all this that is written is past tense. It’s doesn’t say that whom he justified, them he shall also glorify. No, it says and whom he justified, them he also glorified. In other words, right now, if you are saved, you are just as must glorified as you are justified.

When something is turned to stone, it’s been petrified. If some has been made beautiful, it’s been beautified. If something has been made to look bigger, it’s been magnified. If someone has been made just, they’ve been justified. So it seems to me that if you’ve been born again, born into the family of God, added to Christ’s church, washed in the blood, then there’s also something different about you that has got something to do with glory!

I want to take you for a moment back to Exodus. Remember the second tables of stone with the commandments. Well, when Moses came out with those tables of stone to speak to the children of Israel, the bible says that (35:30) the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. The bible says that they had to put a vail upon his face. I don’t know where preachers get this, but they call that the shekanah glory of God. Now listen to what Paul said about this in (2 Corinthians 3:7,8) But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

I want to say this: The pillar of glorification speaks to us about the foundation of the Spirit. Ezekiel was brought in a vision to the gate of the temple and the bible says (Ezekiel 43:2) Behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. The bible says (43:5)  The spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. Do you remember the words of Isaiah (6:1) In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. That train is his kingly robe and the glory of it. The bible says that the the whole temple was filled with smoke. We see another picture of this at Pentecost when (Acts 2:2) suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting… (Acts 2:4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.

Let me say again, if you’ve been born again, born into the family of God, added to Christ’s church, washed in the blood, then there’s also something different about you that has got something to do with glory! (2 Corinthians 3:11) For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Amen. In the dispensation of the law, God gave us tables of stone to put inside an earthly tabernacle. In this dispensation of grace, God has given us His Spirit to dwell inside of us. (1 Corinthians 6:19:20) Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. There’s that glory again. I believe the only way possible that we can glorify God is because somehow, we’ve been glorified. When God put the Holy Ghost inside of you, he gloried you.

So let’s look back at the last time glory was mentioned in Romans and it takes us to Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. And I know that the text is really talking about a future event: but I want you to see that he’s not necessarily talking about the redemption of our bodies. It certainly will take place at that time. But what he says is that the glory shall be revealed in us. 

And I’ll say what I’ve told you before:  What is soon to be revealed is now hidden. Paul says it’s the glory which shall be revealed “in us.” I’m saying that whatever it is that God is going to reveal when the time right, is already there. The glory that God will reveal in us is already in us. It just can’t be seen. It’s yet to be revealed. It’s hidden.

Jesus prayed in the garden before he went up to Calvary (John 17:5) And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. And he went on and prayed (17:22) And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them. I have given them. I have given them. He didn’t say I will give them. No. I have given them. I have given it to them. The glory that God will reveal in us is already in us. It just can’t be seen. It’s yet to be revealed. It’s hidden. (Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

When Paul speaks about the sufferings of this present time that are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us he is saying that there’s something inside of me at this present time.  When you think of that word revealed, what do you think of? I always think of a magician. He’s got something behind that napkin that he’s gonna let the audience see. I think of the presentation of a portrait. That white sheet hangs over the painting. Whatever is going to be revealed is already there. It’s just covered up right now. It’s behind the veil. When a bride is presented to her husband, she comes veiled. Sometime before the minister pronounces them man and wife, sometime before the husband kisses the bride, that veil is removed. One day this veil of flesh will be removed and what God has prepared for his Son will be revealed to him and all the universe.

The bible says (1 Corinthians 15:53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. We’re going to disrobe from the corruptible. We’re going to throw off the veil of mortality. And what will be revealed is what we believed all along. The bible says that Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. The bible says, That he might present it to himself a GLORIOUS church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)

I’ve preached some of this to you before, but O if we can ever get a grasp on that. That God has already sanctified and separated and chosen for his Son the bride. Like the Old Testament story of how Eleazar, Abraham’s servant, had gone and found a wife for his son Isaac. You know the story of how he told God, Let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for they servant Isaac… (Genesis 24:14) And how Rebekah came out and met Eleazar and it all came to pass as he had asked God. And she agreed to go with Abraham’s servant.

And along the way back home, the Bible says: And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. (Genesis 24:63-65)

Listen, I said all that to say this: That veil did not change what it concealed. And it did not change the events that would shortly come to pass. The bible says, “Isaac brought her into his mother’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her.” And somewhere in that verse that veil was removed. Don’t forget what is behind this veil of flesh; the beautiful, GLORIOUS bride of Christ! And whom he justified, them he also glorified.

When God put in you the Holy Spirit, he changed you for eternity. He changed your make up. Jesus said, (John 14:16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; God put something glorious inside of you that glorifies your soul and spirit. (Romans 8:9) Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Now if you have the Spirit of Christ, then you are his. Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price:

I know alot of people don’t like this. They don’t want to be God’s. They want to be their own. Their own boss. Their own provider. They want to call the shots. But listen to this (1 Corinthians 3:16,17) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Do you see the divine place of protection that God has placed us because he has given us his Holy Spirit? Because he has glorified us?

Do you see that this is just one more way that God is trying to tell us that he is for us. Instead he is against all our enemies. We’re the temple, and he’s against anyone that is against His temple. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy! Don’t mess with God’s temple. He’s not talking about you. He’s talking about anything or anybody that will stand in the way of God’s holiness for us. God is for us! Amen!

Conclusion

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 

These four pillars. These four foundations hold up steadfastly this great truth: That God is for you. I say to you this Christmas Eve morning. (John 3:16,17) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. God is for you.

(2 Peter 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God is for you.

(John 6:37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. God is for you.

(Luke 2:14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. God is for you.

 

Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand…

December 20, 2017

1) My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2) So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3) Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4) If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

My my my! That’s quite a list. How does one read this and not question whether they have any real godly wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. If attainment is based on our fervency, we’re in trouble. There are a lot of ifs there; and a lot of action needed on our part:

  1. Recieve my words… Hide my commandments…
  2. Incline thine ear unto wisdom… Apply thine heart to understanding…
  3. Criest after knowledge… Liftest up thy voice for understanding
  4. Seekest her as silver… Searchest for her as hid treasures

Most people have never got past the first half of the first verse. Recieve my words can be done just attending church and listening. The second half is hiding my commandments which may be committing scripture to memory. Who does that? And then it just gets more serious. That’s why I say alot of people never get past the first verse. So how much wisdom, knowledge, and understanding do we really have, I wonder?

These first five verses are pretty convicting. It brings to mind a simple question: How bad do you want it!? How bad to you want to get to the fifth verse? Let’s think about this for just a moment. If these first four verses are a progression of ones desire to know God, how far have we progressed? If those are four ladder rungs, then which rung are we on? Can I say this? If you can not sit in the house of God and listen to the man of God preach and receive my words as the scripture says, you have not even begun. Can I go further? If our church attendance is the entire manifestation of our desire to find the knowledge of God, then we have barely begun.

But at the same time, how glorious the thought that there’s more more more about God that must be obtained. If you’re on the first rung and you’re thrilled about Jesus, thrilled about His love, thrilled about His book, can you imagine the wonderous things that God has yet to show you. If we can some how just step it up for God.

Rung 1

This is getting under the preaching of the Word of God, reading your bible, and memorizing the scriptures. You can never get too much of any of this. Do it! Do it! Do it!

Rung 2

This is making a conscience decision that there is something important and beneficial that must be heard. There is something important and beneficial that must be understood. There is application to the scriptures. There are answers to our questions. That means we must have a desire to apply the scriptures. And there must grow within us a dissatisfaction of ignorance. There’s humility in this in admitting that you are lacking. This depicts an internal moving and change of oneself.

Rung 3

Now, it goes with out saying: Pray for wisdom and the knowledge of God. But that’s not what it says. The scripture says to cry and lift up thy voice. I want to say that it’s going to take more than just praying for something, but rather there is gonna have to be something in that prayer. The third verse implies that it’s more than just a desire, but an ardent need. The third verse implies that there is a struggle for what you desire. It demonstrates a pain and remorse to be in want; to lack what you ask for. It demonstrates that one is in agony or in anguish over their need.

Rung 4

This fourth rung is a bit different. The first three are somewhat passive. The first, we receive and hide the word of God. The second, something happens in our heart to desire the knowledge of God. The third, desire turn to desperation. But the fourth, brings forth real work, time, and effort. Break out the search party, the metal detectors, the back-hoes, and the boots. Dig! Dig! Dig! There’s no waiting, no pondering, no asking. It’s Go. It’s Dig. Examine. Take. Dig, Gather, Search! It’s riches! Time is spent. Money is spent. Life is spent. Why? To get that silver. To get that hid treasure. It’s an exciting, mysterious, glorious expedition!

Verse 5

I like the perpetual nature of understanding God. After receiving and hiding, inclining and applying, crying, seeking and searching for wisdom, for knowledge, for understanding, the bible plainly declares what you will finally then understand: the fear of the Lord. And this is most certainly not the end, but just merely the beginning. (Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. 

I seriously doubt that we can ever reach an end to the knowledge and understanding of God. Even at the end of this life’s journey, when we meet him face to face, the ages will roll on and so will our knowledge and understanding of God. If we grow closer in knowledge and understanding of our spouses in this temporal life, how much more will we grow in the knowledge of our beloved, Jesus Christ, in the eternal. We will soar to the greatest heights of wonder and love. And after a million years, we’ll take a deep breath and go on higher and higher. How bad do you want it? How bad do you want to reach verse five? Then shalt that understand…


 

 

Exodus 25:10 And they shall make an ark…

December 19, 2017

And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

I work at a custom metal shop. We’ve made a lot of boxes. Most everything we make is some type of box. So when the bible speaks about the building the Ark of the Covenant, I feel like I can relate somewhat to this process. Our customers, much like God did Moses, come in and give us dimensions, details, materials, and whatever they want regarding this product. So there are a few peculiarities in these directions to build that stand out to me.

Firstly

I’m struck by the vagueness of the construction. There are specific things mentioned like the materials of shittim wood and pure gold, the dimensions, the rings, the staves. But there is not alot of instruction as to how this was to be built. For example, how was the shittim wood to be joined? Was it just boards butted together? Was it a tongue and groove type construction? What about the corners? Were there dowels, biscuits, dove-tails? How thick was all this? And there’s no record in the bible of Bezaleel (Exodus 37:1) going back to Moses for clarification. So this is what comes to mind: (Phillipians 2:12) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 

When it comes to learning and growing, there comes a point that one must take responsibility for oneself. You can’t always have someone standing over you directing your every move. Growing and maturing requires a self-motivation. Some people excel in the classroom, with a personal trainer, an accountability partner, or detailed instructions and patterns. But there comes a time, in many things, one must learn to work alone. It’s not that God is apathetic toward details. It’s that Moses couldn’t micro-manage everything. It was a matter between God and Bezaleel.

Also, consider that if God chose someone else to build that ark, it may have very well come out different. The main instructions would have been followed, but the details may have been very different, and a very different looking ark would have appeared. God doesn’t want cookie-cutter Christians. Everybody’s salvation is going to be worked out differently. There are some things that cannot change and must be so. But there are many details that are unique to you. God wants us to be conformed to the image of his Son. (Romans 8:29) Conformed means to be formed together with. He wants you to be formed together with the image of his Son.

Secondly

I found it curious that God had made a point to declare that the staves were to stay in the rings of the ark. (v15) The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. There were several instructions as what to do. But there was this one particular instruction as what not to do. Many times we’ve had to chain pins to products so that the user doesn’t inadvertently lose the pins. Or we use certain hardware that eliminates loose screws and nuts. I chained a knife to the place where we hang the weed-eater wire so there’s always a knife. We chain pens to the counter so there’s always a pen. These things are done to avoid the inconvenience of not having what’s needed when it is time to get the job done.

Those staves were for the purpose of moving the ark. It seems to me that when God decided to move, he didn’t want anybody looking for the staves. “Have you seen the staves?” “Yeah, they’re over there!” “Over where?” “No, they’re not there!” God did not want excuses or hindrances when it was time to move. Paul said (Hebrews 12:1) Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Don’t let anything hinder you in your walk with God. If it’s a besetting weight or a hindrance, let it go. But like the staves, there are things that are necessary for the journey. Put it on and keep it on if God says so.

In thinking of this Christian journey and those two staves that set there on the rings, it reminded me of Psalm 23:4 I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. The Israelites, they could not touch the ark for they would die. But… They could touch the staves. (Hebrews 4:15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities… God said they shall not be taken from it. Jesus said (John 14:18) I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you.

Conclusion

Everything is ready. The curtains, the posts, the altar, the table… It’s all packed. Everything is ready for the journey. Moses thrust his rod forward and millions begin to move. God’s people move along in their journey. And hands tighten around those staves and lift up that ark above the ground, and they begin to walk. And God’s comforting presence abides with the people of God. When I see those hands reach around those staves I can’t help but think of the words of that great hymn Lord, I would clasp my hand in Thine… Oh yes!

He leadeth me, He leadeth me, by His own hand He leadeth me; His faithful follower I would be, for by His hand He leadeth me.

John 2:11 This beginning of miracles…

December 18, 2017

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

Jesus turned water to wine. There are four witnesses to these miracles to consider: the governor, the bridegroom, the servants, and the disciples. There are four ways in which is glory was manifested and four ways it was received.

The Governor

He did not know what Jesus had done. He had no idea that what was in those waterpots was water. He had no idea that a miracle had even taken place. Oh but such praise from his lips! Thou hast kept the good wine until now! Though his praise was misplaced, it was genuine and honest all the same. Consider the misplaced praise we’ve given through the years. People ought to be praised for their deeds. Sure. But how much God has wrought behind the scenes for us that we knew not; that we gave him no credit for; glory that was manifested yet misplaced? I wonder.

The Bridegroom

Likewise, how much has God wrought behind the scenes that we’ve taken credit for? The bridegroom also had no idea of the miracle that Jesus had done, yet he seems to get all the credit. The bible doesn’t say that the bridegroom corrects the governor. The bible doesn’t say if he goes to the back and asks the servants, “What happened? Where did you get this? How much did it cost?” We really don’t know. But as far as the text is concerned, the bridegroom is silent. So, in his silence, the bridegroom received all the credit for the great wine; glory that was manifested yet stolen. What glory have we stolen from God in our silence?

The Servants

These were apparently the servants of the bridegroom and were busy serving in this feast. But for a few moments, they obeyed another man. Jesus said unto them “Fill the waterpots with water!” And they obeyed and filled them up to the brim. Jesus said unto them, “Draw out now, and bear it!” And they obeyed and bore it. They obeyed Jesus and they got to see water turned to wine before their very eyes. What a picture of our salvation! (Romans 6:17,18) But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Those servants obeyed Jesus who is our righteousness and they got to see the glory of God. And the bible says that the servants which drew the water knew. They had knowledge of whom the glory manifested was due. By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many… (Isaiah 53:11)

The Disciples

The bible says that his disciples believed on him. But wait a sec. I thought they already believed in him. They did. But faith can grow. Jesus said (Matthew 8:26) O ye of little faith. What a beautiful picture of this life in Christ! Turn the page back a little and see Jesus speaking to Nathanael (John 1:50) Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And this was the beginning of the wonderful miracles that Jesus wrought. To be a disciple of Christ is to walk with him and witness his miracles; and to see his glory manifested: to see some misplace his glory, some steal his glory, but also to see some to open their eyes, obey the gospel, and to know his glory. Paul said we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)

We trust him more and more every day, yet we cry (Mark 9:24) Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. God knows our needs. God knows that sometimes our faith grows weak. But then the wind blows, and we hear the sound thereof. We see once again the hand of God working; the miracles and the glory. And our faith is strengthened. Our faith grows. That little mustard seed sprouts some little roots and begins to stretch forth it’s fingers into the good ground of God.

 

 

 

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel…

December 15, 2017

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

So the Old Testament passage to which Paul refers is Genesis 4:3-7

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

By faith Abel… obtained witness that he was righteous. Let me ask you this: Have you ever obtained a witness from God that you were righteous? Has God ever whispered in your ear Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee. (Song of Solomon 4:7) Have you ever obtained a witness? Paul said, The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16)

Now Cain also obtained witness from God. But it was not that he was righteous. But it was a warning to Cain. That sin that lieth at the door carries with it the picture of a preying animal crouching and waiting to pounce, or in this case waiting to enter. And then that expression And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him was first used in the garden of Eden to describe the relationship between man and wife. This was part of God’s curse, but embedded in the curse was the blessing of that relationship: the longing love of a woman’s heart to her husband and the authority of a loving husband over his wife; a beautiful picture of our relationship with Christ, our beloved. Christ shall be my desire, and he shall rule over me!

This the relationship of marriage, a most intimate union. These same words are used to describe the relationship between Cain and sin. If Cain was not to do well, then he was warned that sin was lying in wait at the door of his heart crouching and ready to pounce upon him. And so strong and intimate will be their union if that door is opened. He and sin will be bound as a man is bound to his wife. He will own his sin and be the master of it.

The word imputed comes to mind. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4:8) It’s as if God is warning Cain that the sin that was knocking on his heart’s door would enter and come to fruition if he didn’t turn and do well. And that’s exactly what happened. Cain opened that door. Jesus said Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. (Matthew 5:21,22)

Cain also obtained a witness from God, and from this witness we see what God’s witness to Abel was by seeing what it wasn’t. What are you talking preacher? Sin was not lying at Abel’s door. And the desire of sin was not Abel and Abel was not to rule over sin as was with Cain. Abel was not to be joined in a holy union with sin. No! Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. It was not sin that was to be imputed to Abel, but righteousness. Praise God! By faith Abel… obtained witness that he was righteous. The bible says of Abraham It was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:23) Thank God for the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.

For years I’ve wondered if Abel and Cain truly knew Hebrew 9:22 Without shedding of blood is no remission because the Bible doesn’t explicitly say that they did. Regardless, what they most certainly did know was the witness they obtained of God. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1:6)

What way are you going today? Are you going the way of the faith? The way of the cross? For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Where is your faith? Abel obtained a witness that he was righteous by his. Have you ever obtained a witness from God that you were righteous? Has God ever whispered in your ear Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

 

2 John 1:8 Look to yourselves…

December 14, 2017

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

Why does the word theology turn people off? Perhaps is because they’re sick of school! Theology proper, angelology, christology, ecclesiology, eschatology, harmartiology, pneumotology, soteriology, and so forth! Who wants to read about that?

I’m reminded of one of our teachers back in college and what he called Blue-collar Christianity. He talked about that great basketball player Larry Byrd. There was nothing fancy about him; not alot of hype and style. But he drilled and practiced the fundamentals of basketball; blue-collar basketball. He did a million lay ups, a million foul shots, etc. And when game time came, he got the job done. But it wasn’t anything special or magical, it was blue-collar basketball. Well, this Christian life is not much different. Bible reading, prayer, and going to church may seem mundane to some, but it gets the job done: Blue-collar Christianity, my friend!

We can apply this same concept to bible study, preaching, and the reading of the Word of God. When trying to understand a certain passage in the bible, I’ve found that it’s the basic bible doctrines and teachings that get the job done. I’m all for finding nuggets! But those nuggets are usually formed of the simple, pure truths of God. That’s what makes a nugget a nugget. It’s pure gold. And these pure and simple truths are theology.

I’ve found recently that some of the most moving message I’ve heard from the Word of God are really just blue-collar Theology. I’m talking about the kind of message that changes your life, sets things right in your heart, draws you to God. It’s just simple truths from the Word of God: Who is God? And what are his divine attributes? Theology Proper. What is the church? Eccesiology. What is Jesus preparing for us in glory? Eschatology. What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Ghost? Pneumotology. How does one get saved? Soteriology. Do you want to know more about Jesus! Christology.

Look to yourselves! I believe this is like saying Watch Yourself! This is a warning. The preceding verse says For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. It is important and imperative that we study our bible, the things of God, the doctrines of our faith. These are the things that we must not lose. The bible says (Acts 17:11) They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. What Paul is implying when he says Look to yourselves is this: There is a theologian in every believer.


Proverbs 1:7 Fools despise wisdom…

December 14, 2017

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

People don’t consciously desire and pursue the title of fool. It’s not most people’s aim to be a fool. But like knowledge and wisdom, this an earned degree. You just don’t wake up one morning wise and knowledgeable, nor do you wake up a fool. Wisdom takes time, patience, experience, application. So also does the folly of the fool.

Paul writes, (Romans 1:22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, They were professing something different from reality. They were saying things that were not so. Words are cheap! Does the fool despise wisdom and instruction aloud for all to hear? No, he professes what is not so. It’s not his words but his deeds that proclaim him a fool. James said, (James 1:22) Be ye doers of the word…

To myself and all that will listen: How can you dare hope to procure wisdom, and knowledge, and descretion, and understanding without a determination to have it? Where is the hunger? Where is the yearning and longing for the things of God? Saul said, (1 Samuel 26:21) I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. How little of our time, our desires, our aspirations are given to God? Yet how much we err? But what do we profess by our actions? What deeds do we change? What do we do different? If we don’t desire, then we must despise. If we don’t aspire, then we must abhor. If we don’t love, then we must loathe. (Proverbs 1:22) Fools hate knowledge.

Our kind and merciful, heavenly Father, in the name of your dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, this fool bows before you. How I dread the judgement seat of Christ when all that is hid will be revealed; every second of the day; every thought of the imagination; every expression of our being; every beat of our heart. All will be revealed. He that searcheth the hearts; He that sees the good and the bad; He that knows the thoughts of man and the secrets of the heart: Turn on the lights! Reveal our true desires. Reveal our true way; our true path; our true destination. Amen.

Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary…

December 13, 2017

And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Delivered from the clutches of Pharoah, free from the bondage of Egypt, and the blood upon the altar, God called for Moses and the Israelites to embark on a new thing: the tabernacle. This was the place that God would dwell. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for hundreds of years had not openly revealed himself to anybody. But in the back side of the desert, Moses had that burning bush experience with God Almighty. And he said to Moses, (Exodus3:8) I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey… 

God goes through such great lengths and works great and mighty wonders to deliver them from Egypt. But before they go up to this promised land, God says first,”Let them make me a sanctuary.” God was a legend; a story passed on by word of mouth for hundreds of years; a deity in the heavens. But now, he was to dwell with them, and the people were to build his dwelling place.

Now, in this dispensation of grace, he who was a stranger to us, now must dwell with us. We who were without hope, without God, and were far off are now made nigh to God. But this time, instead of us building a tabernacle or a temple out of wood and stone and having God dwell with us, he now by his marvelous grace has seen fit to dwell in us; to which Jesus promised, (John 14:18) But ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

A thrice holy God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, has not chosen a tabernacle made by man’s hands. Nor has he chosen a temple adorned in gold and precious stones. He has chosen you. (1 Corinthians 3:16)  Ye are the temple of God… (Colossians 1:27) Christ in you… (1 Corinthians 6:19) Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost…

O how manifest is the heart of God! He desired to dwell with his people in the garden of Eden. He desired to dwell with his people in the wilderness. And now he desires to dwell with you. (Song of Solomon 2:10) My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. And up in heaven, that voice still says (Revelation 22:30) Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

O dearest Lord, what a wonder it is to be so moved inside and ravaged by such love. Walk in your garden, Lord. And take all you desire. Sit upon your throne and speak to your servant and set this heart aflame. Fill your temple with all your glory and holiness. Grant it Lord that I might spend more time with you. Amen.