Exodus 26:14 Badgers’ skins…

February 6, 2018

And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.

Trying to get through the entire tabernacle, I’ve grown impatient having to cover half of verse in one week. However, we covered the first half last week and that I feel went well.

Now, there’s seems to be a universal doubt and skepticism regarding term badger which the King James translators rendered from the word tachash. Most commentaries and dictionaries and things like that don’t think that it was an actual badger that was referred. What exactly is a badger?

This little cute guy is a badger. It looks like a cross between a skunk and a chupacabra. Badgers apparently are not commonly thought to be found in bible lands so consequently people have found other meanings for the word tachash. Some think that it comes from the Arab word duchash or tufchash which was likely a dolphin or a seal of some sort. Some think it is the Dugong which is the modern day sea cow. Most of those that disagree that tachash was an actual badger seem to all agree that it was some sort of sea animal.

One dictionary said that it was a color that was denoted and not an animal; and that it was most likely black or (get this!) sky-blue. Are you kidding me? How do you get sky-blue out of the same color as black? One dictionary even admits that, yes, badgers are found in Southern Palestine, but no, the King James must have mistranslated it.

Now I have to admit, when these professors start trying to tear apart the King James Bible, my flags start going off and my alarms start sounding. Do you really think that the bible scholars back in early 1600’s didn’t have to deal with this back then?

Interestingly, the hare that the bible speaks about in Leviticus 11:6 was also known as a coney and they were commonly known as rock badgers. I’m not saying that they decked the tabernacle with rabbit skins. I’m just saying that it is possible that the King James translators knew quite a bit about manners and customs and the Jewish language back then that they saw fit to use the word badger instead of one that denoted a sea animal. I doubt seriously they haphazardly put that word in there.

Something more uncommonly known is the term badger game or badger baiting. This is a method of blackmailing by decoying a person into a compromising situation and extorting money by threats of exposure. Where did that come from? Why badger? Well, nobody really knows now. But somebody knew at some point in time. There may be a behavior associated with this type of animal that was used to characterize this type of blackmailing. Even the verb to badger means something that most likely came from an animal behavior. Badgering is also defined as the practice of buying food in one place and selling them in another for a profit. Go figure.

This is much like the gospel’s description of how the Holy Ghost descended upon Jesus. All four gospels say the descent of the Spirit was like a dove. And they used the word peristeran. There was something about the manner in which the Spirit descended that caused the writers to say PERISTERAN! If you study it out, you’ll find that birds associated with that name peristeran were well known as diving birds. So why would a rabbit be called a rock badger? I don’t know. But I do have a hunch that the King James translators knew what they were doing when they chose the phrase badgers’ skins.

So what is the significance in regard to our studies, being that we are the temple of God, the dwelling place of God. So far all the other items of the tabernacle have helped us to understand the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. How about these badgers’ skins? Not sure. But I will leave you with just a few thoughts.

(Ezekiel 16:10) I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. These are words describing the mercy of God upon Jerusalem. He speaks of how she was forsaken and found polluted in her own blood. But then he washed her from the blood and anointed her with oil. He clothed her and covered her. And the bible says that God shod thee with badgers’ skin. He put shoes on her feet; and apparently good shoes. This brings to mind the prodigal son. When that son came back in humility, the father said (Luke 15:22) Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.  Paul said we should have (Ephesians 6:15) Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Maybe it speaks of the honor and duty to preach the gospel. (Romans 10:15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Badgers’ skins were also used as covering for many of the items of the tabernacle as they were travelling. Maybe this all says one thing to us and that is to go! There is something that the centurion (in Luke 7 that Jesus commended) said that has stuck with me. He was explaining to Jesus that he understood what it meant to be set under authority. He said (Luke 7:8) I say unto one, Go, and he goeth. Jesus said (Matthew 28:19) Go! Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, a home and a resting place for the ark of the covenant and the vessels of the sanctuary. But it didn’t start like that. It was a tabernacle; a tent, a mobile unit. It was made to move; made to go. They took their worship with them. I think badgers’ skins made that possible. It was tough, like leather.

Elijah was a rough man on the move girt in leather! (2 Kings 1:8) And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite. John the Baptist was also a rough man on the move girt in leather. (Matthew 3:4) And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. I’ve got five boys. Unless you get some good leather shoes, they won’t last six months on young rough men on the move. Only leather endures. So here’s the lesson for today: (Matthew 10:22) He that endureth to the end shall be saved. This tabernacle is not of our making. It is made of God. And God has made it to endure to the end of this journey, until it is set up permanently in the New Jerusalem.

 

Luke 7:9 So great faith…

February 5, 2018

When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

So we come to the next of miracles where Jesus heals the servant of a centurion in Capernaum. Recorded below is the account of this found in Luke 7:1-10:

1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

The same miracle can also be found in Matthew 8:5-13. I urge you to read it. It is very different from what you read in Luke. There are no go-betweens in Matthew’s account, and Jesus says much more. I hope that the differences don’t bother you. For some, this is a point of contention and casts doubt upon the authenticity of the scriptures. I hope that is not the case for you. Surely, we can understand that different witnesses will have different accounts, yet still agree.

So great faith…

What an amazing thing to be done with this centurion? Jesus takes him and turns him about to the Jewish elders and all that were looking upon this, and presents him to them in this manner. He tells the Jews that in all Israel he could not find a faith greater than what he found in this centurion. I can’t imagine what the Jewish onlookers must have thought. Were they astonished? Were they insulted? Were they reproved? He wasn’t even a Jew. He was a Roman, and a Roman centurion at that; the conqueror of their land and their people. And Jesus marvelled at him. Just amazing. But you never know where you might find so great faith. What does great faith look like? Jesus saw it in this centurion.

Faith Cares for Others

This centurion had a servant and the bible says he was dear unto him. He was sick and dying. And news of Jesus healing power had spread abroad. And when he heard of Jesus, he besought him to heal the servant whom he loved and cared for. We must understand that this servant was not a hired hand, a butler, or his maid. He was a slave. He had no rights of his own. He belonged to that centurion as any slave belongs to his master. I know when we ponder the master/slave relationship, we rarely fathom one of love and care and some can hardly believe it possible. But so it was with this centurion. He cared for his dying servant. And so it is with Christ and his church, for we also are bond-slaves. But that is another message for another day.

He was a centurion. He commanded a centuria; a hundred men. That’s a lot of men; a lot of trouble; a lot of work; a lot of responsibility. He was highly paid. He had rank. He had influence. But his concern was the well-being of his sickly servant. So great faith… (James 2:17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Faith is not just about what we say we believe. Faith is about when we do what we believe. (1 Corinthians 13:2) And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. Like that centurion, we ought to shew our faith by our works. As Baptists, we’re so adamant that works do not earn salvation, but we work because we’re saved. But do we? Paul said (Galatians 2:20) I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. He said he lives by it. Do we live by it? A faith to live by is a faith to love by. Do we love by it? Yes. Faith cares for others.

Faith Loves God’s People

The Jewish elders testified to Jesus about this centurion. This was the testimony of the Jews. They let their sentiments be known to Jesus. They said For he loveth our nation. They pleaded with Jesus that the centurion was indeed worthy because he loved the Jewish nation. He loved the people of God. So great faith… Faith holds a special place in the heart for the people of God. (1 John 3:14) We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. Loving the brethren is the mark of faith. You cannot love Christ, and not love his church. Impossible.

There are people that don’t like church; that don’t like to be around God’s people. They don’t want to belong to a local church.  Yet, they say they’re saved. They profess that they have faith in Christ. But they think that they can do it on their own. They don’t need the church. They don’t need to assemble with the called-out assembly. (2 Corinthians 13:5) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Love for God’s people is the litmus test of the faith. (1 John 3:14) He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

It’s a serious thing. So great faith? The master that loved the slave. The conqueror that loved the conquered. He sent the Jewish elders to talk to Jesus because he esteemed them higher than himself. He said he wasn’t worthy, but he esteemed the Jewish elders worthy. He held the people of God in such high regard. Paul said (Ephesians 3:8) Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints… He said (1 Corinthians 15:9) For I am the least of the apostles… Faith loves God’s people.

Faith Gives to the House of God

Those elder Jews told Jesus about how this centurion built a synagague for the Jews. I suppose this was in Caperneum, possibly. He didn’t just help build it. The bible says he built it. He gave of his money, his wealth, his substance to the house of God. This is what so great faith looks like. Say what you will. I’m sure I’ll lose some of people on this one; but I got bible and the words of Jesus. So great faith! Simple truth before us. People who have real faith in God (or should I say great faith) will give to their local church. They’ll give of their tithes. They’ll give love offerings. They’ll give to missions. They’ll give give give give!

It is that simple. Yet, there’s such disdain out there for giving like this. They’ll say that tithing is Old Testament. They’ll try to wiggle their way out Malachi’s question: (Malachi 3:8) Will a man rob God? They’ll tell you to ignore Jesus’ admonition on tithing that (Matthew 23:23) These ought ye to have done… They’ll put down the preacher for encouraging others to give to support the church, it’s pastor, it’s missionaries, and it’s ministries. They say they’re against institutionalized religion. When the truth is, they just don’t want to give to the house of God.

But the centurion, Jesus marvelled at him. He gave because of his regard for it; his regard for why it was there, what happened in there, whose name was on it, and who it belonged to. His heart was in the house of God. (Luke 12:34) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Do we love the house of God? Do we have a high regard for God’s house? (Genesis 28:17) How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. Faith gives to the house of God.

…no, not in Israel

These are the words of Jesus himself. This is quite a statement to wrap one’s mind around. This reminds me of the verse  (Psalm 14:2) The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. And we know that the answer this inquiry is, of course, no. The next verse:  (Psalm 14:3) They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. But then we have this centurion in whom Jesus found faith greater than in all Israel. Even of Jesus’ disciples, he said (Matthew 8:26) O ye of little faith? 

He cared for others. He loved the people of God. He gave to the house of God. These three things Jesus saw in the centurion. And that last thing that stood out to me about this centurion was his regard for himself. He said For I also am a man set under authority… He did not say he was a man of authority. He said he was set under authority. I can’t help but marvel too at this fella. God help us to have a faith like this man.

Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me…

January 31, 2018

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

This proverb is the quintessential proverb on wisdom. It foists wisdom above such heights and wonder that who can not desire it above all? Yet brings it so low and attainable that who can miss it? The proverb personifies wisdom that we may understand it and use it. Yet deifies it so that we may honor it and bow to it. This is just an amazing proverb. There is so much here I don’t know where to go. Preacher Allen has always said that if you got five minutes to preach, you better preach what’s on your heart. So that is what we will do.

Finding God’s will for your life is not always easy. (I’m not sure if it’s ever easy) It requires some sort of wisdom. It requires some of what this Proverb is offering; I dare not say much. For if much was required, I’m afraid the will of God should ever evade us. I know we explained earlier in the seventh proverb that being simple was not good; and in the context and meaning of the bible, that stands. But being complex, in today’s context and meaning, can surely be a hindrance. Little is much when God is in it; if you take my meaning. Peter thrust out a little, and that was all Jesus needed to take him to the deep and open his understanding. And we must have our understanding opened to know God’s will.

But understanding God’s will also takes faith. Sometimes it’s not until we’re in God’s will that our understanding is opened. Those two on the road to Emmaus had to walk a little way with Jesus before he turned the lights on. Knowing God’s will for myself, has certainly taken me some time to understand. I’ve had to learn to walk before I could run like any other child of God.

The other Saturday morning, as the boys were dressing for the day’s work at the shop, I strolled outside to drink my coffee. It wasn’t a weekday, so we weren’t in a rush. So I walked down the ditch and surveyed my fifteen acres. It’s not prime land, but it is big and quiet and nice. And I thought about how we’re going to have to sell this property real soon because we’re leaving back to Georgia. I thought about how long I worked to get the property, all the work we did on it, and how I hate to let it go. And I thought to myself, “I love my land.”

And then I heard the words of Jesus, Lovest thou me? And my heart was smote. And I answered as Peter answered (John 21:17) Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. I believe that God was opening my understanding. God has a way of purging and pruning things out of our life for our own good. He’ll take temporal things away and put in it’s place that which was set up from everlasting. (Proverbs 8:27) When he prepared the heavens, I was there:  Yes, real wisdom is not just knowledge and discernment. (1 Corinthians 1:24) But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Christ, the wisdom of God, is the pinnacle of our understanding. (Philippians 3:8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: Christ is my wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:30) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom… So instead of surveying my land, I’ll survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died. My richest gain I count but loss… And here’s the effectual workings of wisdom: And pour contempt on all my pride. 

The proverb goes on to say (Proverbs 8:21) That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. So, follow me here. Those that love me (which love wisdom, which love Christ) would inherit substance. Now what substance? The bible says that (Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance… Faith is the assurance, the confidence, the reality, of things hoped for. Paul says a few verses earlier (Hebrews 10:34) Knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Those that love Christ will inherit substance, wealth and possessions. These possessions, this substance, are not on earth, but in heaven. Paul admonishes us to (Matthew 6:20) Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. 

So, this is my thought: As we love God more, as our faith grows, as we submit ourselves to his will, as our love and affections are transferred from earthly things to heavenly things, so will our treasures. (Matthew 6:21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let me just be plain and honest. I’m not sure when your heart shows up there, whether it’s before or after your treasures. I’m not sure which gains the other. But I’m content knowing that I love Christ; that my heart is his. I’m content, satisfied, and rich beyond all wealth, knowing that the pain in my heart and the sorrow of my soul at the thought that he’d question my love is far greater than any remorse I would feel at the loss of any lands.

I don’t know if any of all this makes sense to anybody. But I’ll leave you with the closing words of that great hymn about the wonderous cross. Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

 

 

Exodus 26:14 Rams’ skins dyed red…

January 30, 2018

And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.

Well.. I guess there’s only one verse concerning these coverings. I’ve always wondered about these coverings, especially the badgers’ skins. Apparently, so has everybody else because there’s nothing out there on this. All the commentaries say about the same thing: to keep out the weather. The rams’ skins dyed red are a type of Christ; the sufferings of Christ; the blood of Christ. Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not belittling it or saying it isn’t so. I’m just looking for something a bit different. Something we can relate to being that we are the temple of God, or the tabernacle of God. So all bets are off! My guess is as good as theirs.

Why did God command that they be dyed red? It’s simple. God likes the color red. Do you know God? Do you know his favorite color? It’s Red. Wouldn’t you decorate your dwelling place in the color that you preferred? God likes red. That is why when you cut yourself, red blood comes out. The blood is important to God and he colored it red. If God’s favorite color was green, you’d probably bleed green. (Leviticus 17:11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Red is also the color that God prefers to work with. (Isaiah 1:18) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Red is God’s universal color for mercy and protection. Rahab the harlot asked the spies that they would show her and her family kindness and deliver their lives from death. And the spies agreed and said (Joshua 2:18) Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee. When the destroyer passed over the land of Egypt, only one thing would stay the hand of death upon the firstborn. That was the crimson blood upon the lintels and the door posts. (Exodus 12:23) For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. Red was the color of the stop sign, to stop the judgement of God from coming.

The water used for purification back in the times of the tabernacle and the temple was made of water and the ashes of a special sacrifice. It was an heifer that was slain outside the camp and wholly burned. Guess what color that heifer was? (Numbers 19:2) This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: That’s right! She was red.

Even David, a man after God’s own heart, the mighty King of Israel, when God chose him, he was red.  (1 Samuel 16:12) And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. That word ruddy means red; and the bible says that ruddy is purdy! Now, God said specifically that (16:7) the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. Be it as it may; but he did choose the red one.

I’m just saying that God likes the color red. And he said that he wanted his tabernacle, his dwelling place, covered with rams’ skins and he wanted them dyed red. So, what’s the lesson in all this, being that (1 Corinthians 6:19) Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you? Here it is: If God said dye it red, then DYE IT RED! It’s his temple, isn’t it? Shouldn’t he have it the color that he wants. The rest of verse says (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) And ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. It’s not your temple. It’s his temple. It ought to be covered and adorned as he sees fit. And to glorify God is to do it the way God wants it. Now I’m not saying you need to paint yourself red or stay in the sun all day. I’m just saying that God is very particular in some things. And some things God wants done a certain way. I suppose that if it didn’t matter, then he would have said so.

The funny thing is that even that covering was covered up. So even though he wanted it a particular color, he was going to cover it up anyway with the badgers’ skins. So what are you saying preacher? It’s not to please everybody else, the church, the world, or whoever. It’s to please God. It’s between you and God. He is (Matthew 6:6) Thy Father which seeth in secret. I’m done.

 

Mark 1:40-45 I will…

January 29, 2018

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

This is the seventh of miracles we’re covering in our studies. Below is the account of the miracle in which Jesus cleansed a leper. You can also find it in Matthew 8:1-4 and Luke 5:12-14. This one here in Matthew is the most robust.

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter. (Mark 1:40-45)

This is what has been in my thoughts as of late. These miracles that we read in the bible, I wonder at our responsibility in understanding them; or interpretting and preaching them. They say that the days of signs and miracles are over. And frankly, I agree. There. I said it. Do people still get healed? Sure. We see it all the time. But are they healed in the same manner that we see in the gospels? The bible says immediately the leprosy departed from him. I’ve never seen any disease immediately depart from anybody.

What of the miracles we’ve covered already? Turning water to wine? No such thing. That never happens. Now, the nobleman whose son the fever left, we could say that we’ve seen that. But at the moment we ask? Possibly. But even then, Jesus rebuked them and said (John 4:48) Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. Peter’s mother-in-law? She just got up! She put her apron on and started making tortillas.

A multitude all getting healed in one evening? There’s Benny Hinn wannabes out there, but I’ve seen no conclusive evidence of that ever happening in these days. How about them fish? We have prosperous harvests, good jobs, blessings and such. Sure. But to the proportion that we see at the lake of Gennesaret? The nets brake and the boats almost sunk! Never heard of it.

I’m not trying to belittle the healing that we do experience or the blessings that we receive by the hand of God. I’m just saying that it’s not the norm for the dead to immediately rise, or the those blind from their birth to immediately start seeing, or lame cripples to immediately start jumping and leaping. I just don’t ever see that happening. What I’m trying to say is that we can’t make a direct physical application of these miracles that we read. We can’t. And they were not written that we should. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:31)

The primary application that we are to make concerning miracles is that of spiritual application. There’s something spiritual that we are to learn regarding the sinner, salvation, and the Savior. We don’t preach the gospel in order that people could be healed of their physical maladies. No! We preach that man might be saved. The greatest miracle that one can experience is to be born again; to pass from death to life; to have your eyes opened to your lost condition and God’s saving power.

I’m sure there some super-spirituals out there that would take issue with what I’m saying. They’ll say, “Well… I saw this and this miracle.” or “God did this for me…” Yeah yeah yeah yeah. You’re not listening to a word I’m saying. I remember when God helped me with diabetes. I professed to other that it was miraculous. I went to the hospital with a sugar of 765. And God did a work in my life where I lost 75 pounds and my sugar was a constant 90 for years. My wife had complications at her first and second childbirth that the doctor said not to have any more children and that she was going to die on the table. She’s had five more children since then. All of that was at the hand of God; I have no doubt in my mind; but all of it while we were lost and on our way to hell.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26) What good is health or a miraculous healing, if you die and go to hell. Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:4) The miracle of God are a demonstration of God’s goodness, and their purpose is spiritual, to lead thee to repentance.

I don’t know if God wants to heal your physical malady; leprosy, diabetes, high-blood pressure, cancer, etc. We’ve prayed for many through the years that they’d be healed; but it wasn’t God’s will. I don’t know God’s will concerning your health. But I do know God’s will concerning your soul. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. (Mark 1:41) It is God’s will that you’d be cleansed from your sin; washed in the blood of the Lamb. The Lord is… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Everybody that came to Jesus for healing was healed. Not a one was turned away. In this day, physically, that is just not so. And this is not a judgment on God or a challenge to your spirituality. It’s just so. In fact, the one that made this so is the same one that made salvation so.  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, (Romans 8:20)

Everybody that came to Jesus for healing was healed. Spiritually speaking however, where it truly counts, that has never changed. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37) Jesus will save any sinner that comes to him. It’s whosoever believeth him! It’s every single one that will come. So you see, the healing and the miracles are to be applied spiritually. (Yet for the record, understood literally)

And the miracle of salvation that Jesus will perform on you is done immediately! That leprosy is a type and picture of our wretched unclean sinful condition; our righteousness is as filthy rags. But God can change that immediately. You will pass from death unto life immediately. Like the old hymn said

And the transaction so quickly was made, when as a sinner I came,
Took of the offer, of grace He did proffer, He saved me, O praise His dear name!

I know we didn’t spend alot of time in this particular miracle, and what we had to say about it particularly was somewhat in general. But nonetheless, I really wanted to deal with the topic of application. I see now the difference in spiritualizing a text and making spiritual application. Our understanding of the text should always be firstly literal. But that does not mean that we are to unequivocally make direct and physical application. People ignorantly call misapplication as this literal interpretation, when it is not. And in the case of healings and miracles, we must make spiritual application. If you want to make direct physical application, you may find yourself disappointed, waiting for signs and wonders. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. (Mark 8:12)

Romans 8:35-39 No Separation…

January 28, 2018

Last time we preached out of verses 32-35; the first verse being (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? And the next three verses, 33, 34, 35, were the three point. Honestly, I really didn’t have the time to develop the message. I got my three points and I praise God for that. I used to think back in elementary that intro/3 points/conclusion was boring and unimaginative. Now I praise the Lord if I can get at least that. And it must have been God’s will because I was able to spend most of the time on the second point, and we covered some great things about the resurrection of the just and the unjust. And we covered some things about the judgment seat of Christ and the white throne judgment. And I got to preach it all over again at my mom and dad’s house. God’s perfect will. I just couldn’t think of a title, but the three point were this.

  1. There will be no charges. (8:33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. There will be no indictment. There will be no charges levied against us. There will be no trial for us to answer accusations. There’ll be no prosecution. We’ll need no defense. As far as our sin is concerned, this things was settled out of court (sort of). Jesus settled this at Calvary. He said it was finished. If we have to appear in court for our sins, then Jesus appeared before the high priest and Sanhedrin for nothing; he appeared before Pontious Pilate for nothing; he appeared before King Herod for nothing; and the sentence handed down and carried out as a result of that trial was in vain. If we have to stand trial then why did Jesus stand trial? (Galatians 2:21) I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. We will not have to go to a court of law to determine our righteousness because we went to Jesus.
  2. There will be no condemnation. (8:33) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Paul said in the beginning of Romans (8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus… If there’s no condemnation now, there will be no condemnation later. Since there is no trial, then no sentence will be given, no decision will be made, no judgement will be handed down, no verdict will be read against us. There will be no condemnation.  (Ephesians 5:25,27) 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, 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. There will be no charges and there will be no condemnation.
  3. There will be no separation. This is where we are today (8:35-39) Romans Chapter 8 Started with no condemnation and it ends with no separation. In a court of law, when a defendant is convicted, when the judge says Guilty as charged! he is no longer a defendant, but a criminal. And as far as I know the sentence begins immediately. If the verdict comes back guilty, he is going to jail. He is going to be separated from his family; separated from his wife; separated from his children. He is to be separated from society; incarcerated as a prisoner for his crimes. Oh, but if you’ve made peace with God… The bible says (Romans 4:8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. If you’ve come to God.. He said (Isaiah 1:18) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you’ve been saved, born again, there will be no separation. And that is what we’ll preach on today.

There Will Be No Separation

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 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. (Romans 8:35-39)

No Separation Implies God Is Now With Us

There will be no separation from the love of Christ. There will be no separation from the love of God in this life. Jesus told those disciples that he was going to have to go. And the disciples were troubled at the news. But he said (14:1) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  He said he was going to pray the Father, and he was going to give them another Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth. He said that (14:17) He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Now, separation is a condition (an uncomfortable condition at that). And I’m getting a good lesson on separation right now because my wife and kids are up in Georgia at Concord waiting for us. We come home and it’s cold, and quiet, and lonely. The boys know what I’m talking about. Even with us four there, it’s still depressing and uncomfortable. That’s called separation. We are separated for the time being. Thank God is just for a season. So separation is a condition and separation cannot happen but for one thing. Those that are separated, must at one point first be together. You cannot separate two things, unless they are first joined together. We are joined with Christ. Jesus prayed in the garden (Jon 17:21) That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us…

Now when were you first joined with the Lord Jesus Christ? It was at Calvary. Paul said (Galatians 2:20) I am crucified with Christ… And then in the tomb, for Paul said (Romans 6:4) Therefore we are buried with him.. And then in his ressurrection, for Paul said (Romans 6:8) We believe that we shall also live with him. Paul said (1 Corinthians 15:3,4) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. That’s the gospel in a nutshell; the death, burial, and ressurection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We were joined with Christ in the gospel. We were crucified with Christ, buried with Christ, and raised with Christ. We were first joined Christ at Calvary. We began this journey at the cross. That’s why we sing: At the cross, At the cross, Where I first saw the light, And the burdens of my heart rolled away! That is where we began this walk with God.

Now the prophet Amos said (3:3) Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Amen? We agreed with God at Calvary. We agreed that we were lost and in sin, and that there was no hope for us, but in his Son, Jesus Christ. We agreed that we deserved hell for our sin. The bible says that all have sinned. We agreed with God. The bible says that there’s none righteous. We agreed with God. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? And ever since we came into agreement with God, we’ve walked together with Him. The first step was Calvary. Now I want to keep this in it’s context. We’re talking about a now Savior, a very present help in time of need. He was with us in the begining. He is with us now.

God told Joshua (Joshua 1:9) Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. God is with us. The bible says (Matthew 1:3) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Amen? God is with us. There’s no reason to be afraid. There’s no reason to be dismayed. And it doesn’t matter where we go as long as God is with us. I don’t know where whithersoever is, but if God is there, that’s where I’m gonna be.

John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and the he said in the bible (Revelation 1:12)  I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man… Jesus was in the midst of the seven candlesticks. And Jesus goes on to say (1:20) and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. God the Son is walking in the midst of the churches today. I’m telling you God is with us.

Jesus, before he ascended in to heaven, he gave the church what we call the great commission. Some people call it the great command. (Matthew 28:19,20) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. He is with us in this great commission. He is with us in the work of God. We are co-witnesses.

(Romans 8) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. (Revelation 22:17) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Jesus said to the disciples in John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. God is with you in this life. God has not left you alone. If you feel alone… If you feel abandoned… If you feel that nobody cares… If you feel that God has forsaken you… I want to say to you this day You cannot go by feelings. Feelings are a very fickle things to chart the course of your life. Put your faith in the Word of God.  Put your faith in the promises of God.

Don’t go by feelings. Now I’m not trying to belittle your feelings, but we have to realize that this is sin. We’re talking breaking the ten commandments. I know that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. But we got to confess them and forsake them. (Hebrews 13:5) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. When we don’t trust that God is with us and that God will see us through, that’s covetousness; and the bible says Thou shalt not covet… Discontentment no matter what it’s of, is covetousness; not trusting God is with you and that he walks with you and guides you. It’s covetousness; wanting and envying for certain things that God has not saw fit that you should have; discontentment. The bible says (1 Timothy 6:6) But godliness with contentment is great gain.

 I was looking at the making of the ark of the covenant; and not on the Discovery Channel. I was reading about it in the bible. In the desert, God was with the Israelites. He dwelt above the mercy seat which was above the ark when they were stationary. He led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. That tabernacle that they set up and carried around and set up again was the dwelling place of God. God said (Exodus 25:8) And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. He said (Exodus 25:22) 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…

So I was looking at the instructions to build that ark. And there’s some very specific things that God tells them to do. It was to made of shittim wood, he gave the dimensions, is was to be overlaid with gold, there was a crown moulding to be place around it, four rings were to be fastened to it. And they were to make staves to go through the rings in order to carry the ark with them. God told them everything they were to do, but then he changed his tune, and tells them one thing of what not to do. He said (25:15) The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. Don’t remove the staves.

And then in Numbers, God orders them to make coverings for the ark and the instruments so that they could be protected on the journey, but most of all so that no one would touch them. (Numbers 4:15) And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. Nobody could touch the ark. Remember the account of Uzza, when he stretched for his hand to ark, God struck him dead. They couldn’t touch the ark, but they could touch the staves. And God said, don’t ever remove the staves. God is holy and full of glory, but (Hebrews 4:15) We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…

Those two staves sitting on those rings, the staves that would never be removed, the staves that they were allowed to grab hold of and carry the dwelling place of God with them, they remind me of Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. God is with us on this journey. And we can lay hold on God.

I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Alway is short for all the way! How much is God with us? He’s with us all the way, even unto the end of the world. How far will God go with you? He’ll go with you all the way, even unto the end of the world. How long will God stay with you? All the way, even unto the end of the world. He told the disciples I am with you alway! To say that there will be no separation is to declare emphatically and with certainty that God is with us.

Separation Implies That God Was Once With Us.

Now I said earlier, separation is a condition, and separation cannot happen but for one thing. Those that are separated, must at one point first be together. You cannot separate two things, unless they are first joined together. Now we were first joined together at Calvary, yes. But I want us to understand something before we go any further. Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye 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 ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:11-13)

So before we got saved, before we were washed in the blood of the lamb, the bible says we were aliens, strangers, and without God. Can I say this: Before we got saved, we were once separated from God. We were enemies of God. The bible says (Romans 8:7) The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So we were at one point separated from God. Now what I said still holds true. Separation is a condition, and separation cannot happen but for one thing. Those that are separated, must at one point first be together. You cannot separate two things, unless they are first joined together.

(Genesis 3:8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day… There was once a time when man knew the voice of God. They were friends; not enemies. God made himself a Garden and he made man and gave man dominion in that garden. Man had the privilege to dress and keep God’s garden. He had liberty to eat out of God’s garden. He was honoured to give a name to all of God’s creation. And God so loved and cared for man that he made a woman and the bible says that he brought her unto the man. He gave him a wife because he loved and cared for his well-being. You see there was fellowship and peace between God and man.

Until that sad day when they disobeyed God. They took of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; the one that God said not to touch. And the bible says (Genesis 3:23) Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden… The bible says (3:24) He drove out the man… And between the man and God’s garden, God put a flaming sword which turned every way. Man was separated from God. Where once he was together with God, now he is separated.

I have a question for you. At the end of all this, in Revelation 20, when the lost are cast in the lake of fire, and death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, the bible says (20:14) This is the second death. Let me ask you this: If that’s the second, then when was the first? That old devil, the Father of lies, told Eve (Genesis 3:4) Ye shall not surely die. But God said, who’s words are true and faithful (2:17) In the day that thou eastest thereof thou shalt surely die. Can God lie? (Hebrews 6:18) It was impossible for God to lie… (Titus 1:2) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. He said In that day. 

I know we all have to go through a physical death. But Adam and Eve did not suffer a physical death on that day. So who’s telling the truth? God or the devil? This what I believe and I don’t know if you’ll hear this anywhere else. The second death is Revelation 20:4 The bible explicitly says so. This is the second death. The first death, you’ll find it in the last half Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, (Here it is) she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. That is the first death. For as in Adam all die.

Why are you telling us this, preacher? Because Paul said (Ephesians 2:1) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; He said (2:5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ… Does anybody remember that movie the Wrath of Kahn. It was a Star Trek movie. The Enterprise was damaged and could not escape. Spock had went into the reactor compartment to repair the engine and he got it fixed and the ship regained power just in time and escaped disaster. And they were all happy until they found out about Spock. The compartment that he was in was flooded with radiation because of what he was doing. And he’s not going to make it, but they can’t go get him because of the radiation. So they left him in there. And when Kirk gets there he sees him still alive, he races to him and tries to open the door to save him, but Scotty and Bones grab him and stop him. And Scotty says, He’s dead already.

Sinner friend, you’re dead already. You are separated from God. You are an enemy of God. But thank God for the cross. (1 Corinthians 1:18) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. The bible says (Romans 5:10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  Now reconciled? When a man and wife reconcile, what does that mean? It means where they were once separated, they are now back together. Back together. That means you have to go back in time and see that they were once together. You can’t divorce someone that you’re not married to. Reconciliation implies that they once were together. It means that there was once a relationship and that relationship was broken.

The bible says (1 Corinithians 15:22) In Adam all die.. In Adam all are separated from God. But I think it would help us to understand that in Adam we were all once with God also. John said (1 John 4:10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:19) We love him, because he first loved us. He first loved us even before the first death. When God formed Adam from the dust of the earth and looked into his eyes, he looked into your eyes. When he beheld the face of Adam, he beheld your face. He first loved us in Adam.

That’s why we can say we were reconciled to God. The bible says that Christ has (Ephesians 2:15) Abolished in his flesh the enmity… That he reconciled us unto God (2:16) by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. (Colossians 1:21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. Reconciliation is when you join together that which is separated. But the beauty and joy and glory in it is that what was separated was once in another time joined together. Reconciliation is restoration.

I know that we’re born into sin. I know Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: I know what David said (Psalm 51:5) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. I know that’s our doctrine. But it didn’t start like that. It didn’t start on this side of that flaming sword. It started in cool of the day in God’s garden, in his presence, with his provisions, under his favor, amidst the sound of his voice. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

In Adam (bless his soul) there was a separation. But in Christ there will never be another separation. (1 Corinthians 15:22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. So again, to say that there will be no separation is to declare emphatically and with certainty that God is with us, that God if for us, that God loves us and cares for us, that God fights our battles. In Christ? What a blessed position to be. And when we were without Christ, alienated and enemies, separated from Christ, it implies that God has was with us at one point, and that God has from the beginning of time been for us, and has loved us and cared for us. God has loved us before the foundation of the world. Paul asked do you despise (Romans 2:4) the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

 No Separation Implies That God Is With Us Forever

So #1, No separation implies God is with us now. And #2, Separation implies that God was once with us then. But #3, No separation implies that God is with us forever. 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. Do you know what that phrase for ever means in the Greek. It’s pronounced eis ton aiōna. You know what that means? It means for ever. Amen! It means that in eternity to come, there will never be separation.

We read this earlier. (Matthew 28:19,20) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Yes, Jesus is going to be us all the way, even unto the end of the world, but I want to say, Jesus is going to be us even after that. Amen? John said he saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. The heaven and the earth passed away, the end of the world came, but guess who’s still there. Even after that he saw the bride. And she was beckoning with the Spirit to saying Come! Come! Come!

It implies that God will be with us forever, and that he wants to be with us forever. And he wants to be with us. He said to his disciples (John 14:2,3)  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. There ye may be also. He wants us there. He wants us to be with him. He’s preparing us a place. He’s getting ready to spend eternity with us. He told his disciples I want to be with you. I’m going to my father to arrange all this. This is what I want. I’m going to prepare. I want us to be together.

(1 Thessalonians 4:16,17) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Right now, he’s with us in Spirit, amen? But one day, (1 Corinithians 15:53) This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 John 3:2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Right now, he’s with us in Spirit, but one day we’ll be with him, face to face. (1 Corinthians 13:12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.. We’ll be with him face to face.

God was with us when we got saved. God is with us now. God is with us alway, even unto the end of the world. And even after the end of the world, after the great white throne judgement, after death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, after the second death, he’ll still be with us. He loved us before the foundation of the world, and he’ll love us after the end of this world. His love is everlasting. A great voice out of heaven told John (Revelation 21:3) 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. God is with us and that will never change. You know what that means? That means that there will be no separation. There is no separation now. There is no separation at the end of the world. And there will be no separation to all eternity. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? To say that there will be no separation is to declare emphatically and with certainty that God is with us forever.

And while the ages roll, I’ll keep on praising him. And my voice will never tire and grow old. And my song shall ever be, Praise the Lamb who died for me. And I’ll sing it while ages shall roll…Our union… And that’s what no separation is, it’s a union. Union is the the opposite of separation. Our union will get better and better; sweeter and sweeter. Isn’t that true in marriage. At least, that’s how it should be. A marriage should get sweeter and sweeter. The relationship should get deeper and deeper. It ought to be better and better and better.

I love my wife more than I did when we first got married. I know her better. It’s leave and cleave. (Genesis 2:24) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: That word cleave means to hold on to. And as the years go on, we ought to hold on a little tighter, and a little stronger. You shouldn’t grow weary of each other; you should grown closer together. Likewise, our union with Christ should get better and better. One day, we’ll be with him face to face.

When I think about the staves on the ark and they remind me how we can touch God. We can lay hold on God and carry him with us. I think of that precious song He Leadeth Me. And that verse: Lord, I would clasp thine hand in mine… We see these truths like this through types and pictures. We have faith in them and believe them. It’s in our heart and mind. But one day, it’s going to get better. With mine own eyes, I will behold his nail-scarred hands. I’ll be able, like Thomas, with my own hands I’ll touch his hands. It’s gonna get better and better and better. There will be no separation and God is going to abide with us forever and ever and ever and ever!

 Separation Implies That God Will Part With Them Forever

NO separation, eternal union, gets better and better. Likewise, separation, disunion, get’s worse and worse as the ages roll.

Jesus spoke of the rich man with no name and of Lazarus the beggar. The rich man was without God in his life. And when he died, it got worse. In his life, he had money; he had land; he had clothes; he had riches; but he didn’t have God. And when he died, it got worse. The bible says the rich man died (Luke 16:23) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments… (16:24) And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me… But Abraham explained to him (16:26) Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. In his life, when he was alive, that rich man could have passed and God could have passed to him, but he wouldn’t have it. Now, it’s too late. Now there’s a gulf that cannot be passed. Separation gets worse and worse and worse.

And in the last day, that same rich man is gonna be delivered up and stand before the white throne judgment. Jesus said he lift up his eyes in hell. And the bible says that (Revelation 20:3) death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged… So death is going to deliver up this rich man to stand before God at the white throne judgment and Jesus is going to say unto him (Matthew 7:23) I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. And separation from God is going to get worse and worse and worse. (20:15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Eternal separation! You’ll never be with God, and never know the love of God and of Christ. Oh but it doesn’t have to be like that. The thief that was crucified with Christ had it right when he said (Luke 23:40-42) Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And with that, his eternal destination and outcome was changed forever; for Jesus said unto him (23:43) Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Right now, we hang on these crosses together, but in a short while, we’ll be together in paradise. Separation gets worst and worst, but union with Christ gets better and better and better.

That song we sing Higher Ground? I like that verse For faith has caught the joyful sound of saints on higher ground. Oh if our faith could just catch that joyful sound! If we would just believe that it gets better and better. Paul said (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. No, it doesn’t get worst. I’m persuaded that it gets better.

 

Proverbs 7:24-27 The way to hell…

January 24, 2018

Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

This whole Proverb is an admonition and warning against, as the bible calls her, (7:5) the strange woman. Previous Proverbs have dealt with her, but not in its entirety like Proverbs 7. I’ll be honest. I’ve managed to stay away from it because there are other things in those Proverbs to cover. But now that we’ve got to Proverbs 7, there is no avoiding it. You say Why do you want to avoid it? It’s such an ugly topic: adultery and fornication. And it is such a sad topic. It’s sad because (7:26) She hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

This writer of this Proverbs tells how the strange woman seduced a man. The writer says these things of the man: (7:7) Beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding.

Simple

The bible asks (Proverbs 1:22) How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? So, being simple in this context is not a good thing. It means to be naive. It’s on the same plain as scorners and fools, for this verse goes on to ask And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? The bible does not excuse naivety. It instead accuses the simple of willful ignorance, for they love their simplicity. They’re proud of it. Simple is not innocent. The strange woman is pretty bad, but all the blame does not go to her. The simple are vulnerable, yes. But they are also culpable. A little fawn that can’t keep up with his mother is vulnerable, and if the poor thing gets caught at the back of the herd by a lion, it’s not his fault; he is not culpable. But the simple love their simplicity.

Nowdays, in most context, simple is considered desirable. Simple is synonymous with user-friendly. But in the Word of God, simple is a bad word. It’s used 22 times in the King James Bible and there isn’t one time that it is used in a positive sense. For example (Psalm 119:130) The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. I had read this before and thought that it must be good to be simple, because you are given understanding. But that’s not how it works. That simple doesn’t mean cute and humble or somehow blessed with understanding. It means you are a dumbo; an ignoramous. When the light turns on, and you are given understanding, you cease to be simple. You don’t want to stay simple.

Young

When I read this, I get the impression that the writer is narrowing things down. So, first he looks at the simple ones, and then among the simple ones there is another category within the simple: The youths! So there’s a hierarchy to these descriptions; kinda like a file directory structure. You got this file called simple. And if you opened up this file, you’ll find another one called youth. In other words the simple may be or may not be young. But the young will always be simple. What are you saying, Preacher? I’ll just say it. Young people are dumb. Now don’t get mad. I love young people. I got seven of them under my roof that I love very much!

Let’s just tell the truth. Between the age of 15 and 25, you think you know just about everything. You have no idea how dumb you are. Grant it. There’s a few wise ones out there. But I wouldn’t put any money on it. The bible says that (Proverbs 22:15) Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. And when do children get corrected? They’re out in school for nine hours, on their cell phones for three, and watching television for three, and asleep the other nine. When does foolishness ever get driven?

(Psalm 51:5) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. I’m no outsider looking in. I once was young. And boy was I dumb; a simpleton indeed. And even now, at the age of 43, as the years pass by, you learn more and more that you know less and less. Without the Word of God and the grace of God, I’d surely be on Proverb 7:27 ground; the way to hell. (1 Corinthians 10:12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. And this one: (Romans 12:3) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Void of Understanding

Now here’s the one thing that will save the youth; understanding. So this is the one thing I understand about understanding. Understanding is not cheap.

It requires time. You don’t just wake up with it. It requires concentration. Everything else cannot have your attention. It requires an earnest interest. That means intense effort. It takes a vested interest. There’s got to be a personal stake. It takes practice. You don’t get it the first time, or the second, or the third. It requires instruction. That means you need a teacher. It requires review. That means you better use it or lose it.

This goes for just about anything. Most all people are very capable of gaining understanding in whatever area they see fit. But most people are not willing to pay the price to get it. Therefore, they are void of it. You look at the first three verses of this Proverb to see the matter in which we should have understanding; My words… My commandments… My law… Men, your susceptibility to the strange woman is inversely proportional to how much time, concentration, interest, practice, instruction, and review is being spent on the Word of God.

These warnings of the strange woman bring to mind (1 Corinthians 10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  According to Proverbs 7, that way is the Word of God. And if we are void of understanding it, what hope do you have? The Proverbs says (7:4) That they (My words… My commandments… My law…) may keep thee from the strange woman… The Word of God will keep you from the strange woman; from the way to hell!

There’s your vested interest right there. This ox wants to stay away from the slaughter. This fool wants to stay out of the stocks. This bird wants to stay out of the snare. (Psalm 119:9) Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. I think that’s some good advice for a middle-age man too; an old man too for that matter.

Final Remarks

That word void means empty. There’s just nothing there. There’s just no understanding in there. This is what comes to mind: I don’t know how exactly the Old Testament Saints gained their understanding back then. I’m often baffled at things sometimes. David delighted in the law of the Lord, was a man after God’s own heart, and the strange woman still tripped him up. Then Paul explains in Romans that he also delights in the law of Lord, but with his flesh he serves the law of sin. Apparently, even the best of God’s people have some voids that need to be filled. Paul said (Romans 8:3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: Praise the Lord for His Son!

And Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit. For he is the void filler indeed. (Ephesians 5:18) Be filled with the Spirit. If it’s understanding that we need, (John 14:26) He shall teach you all things. James gave us a pretty good lead (James 1:5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

The way to hell? We need some real grace in these days. The bible says that the strange woman (7:11) is loud and (7:12) lieth in wait at every corner. Put your faith in God. (Psalm 145:18,19) The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth… He also will hear their cry, and will save them. (Psalm 91:3) Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

Exodus 26:7 Curtains of goats’ hair…

January 23, 2018

And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever thought of the existence of a goat hair curtain. I didn’t know that you can make fabric out of goat’s hair. Why not? Wool is made of sheep’s hair. (Exodus 25:26) And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair. There you go. Just like sheep! So, I’ll share a few things about the goat hair curtains that are interesting.

It’s thought that a goat hair curtain was used to protect the fine linen curtain of angels that was first placed over the tabernacle. The fine linen would not hold up to the weather; and would not have kept out the weather. So something more rugged and durable was needed to go over that. We don’t know if this is reason behind it, but God did see fit to have Israel make this curtain to go on next over the linen one.

The goat’s hair curtain was fabricated in a similar fashion as the linen one, but it was definitely a little bigger. It consisted of 11 curtains instead of 10, and was 30 cubits long instead of 28. So, its boundaries most definitely exceeded the boundaries of the fine linen curtain, thus completely covering it. And you should not have seen the curtain of angels from the outside. You had to go inside.

I want to say this before I get started. I know we associate goats with the world and sheep with God’s people. The judgement of the nations upholds that typology. (Matthew 25:33) And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. I can still hear Lester Roloff preaching You wordly goat! The lamb is the perfect sacrifice. Sure. But let me take you all the way to Exodus; when God was giving instructions for the Passover. A lamb was a youngling from the flock. And that could be a flock of sheep or goats. (Exodus 12:5) Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: So goats are not all that bad. This giant goat hair curtain split in two may very well be a memorial to the covenant that God made with Abraham (Genesis 15:9,10) Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: And we know that God passed between those pieces and made a covenant with Abraham. So the goat doesn’t always represent something bad or second rate.

Let me say this: Look at yourself. You are the temple of God. But you are covered in hair. You are human, man, flesh and blood… and hair. If the articles of the tabernacle, as we’ve seen in previous things like the ark, the candlestick, shewbread, etc., are representative of the reality of our standing as the temple of God, the tabernacle of God, then the goat hair curtain should also tell us of our reality in Christ; perhaps in some manner. For we are the dwelling place of God (Colossians 1:27) which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The bride said (Song of Solomon 1:5) I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Those tents of Kedar were goat hair tents, black and rough and rugged. She was embarrassed of her skin, her covering, her condition; for she goes on to explain (1:6) Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me. But the bridegroom doesn’t seem to notice; for he then calls her (1:8) O thou fairest among women!

He judges not by what is on the outside (Psalm 45:13) The king’s daughter is all glorious within… There’s something different on the inside that he sees instead. (1 Peter 3:4) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. We know that God’s people ought to look different on the outside (from this old world). But we also know that clothes truly don’t make the man. The real difference is the inside.

So other than the clothes, and maybe the hair, God’s people don’t really look much different than lost folk; human and hairy! But God saw fit to make his abode in man. He saw fit to carry out his work here on earth through hairy beasts like us. He saw fit that his people would worship him with these earthly coverings upon us. I know I’ve said this before, but I don’t mind saying it again. That veil of flesh that we wear does not change what God has wrought inside of us. One day, what’s inside, what is covered up to every corner, will soon be revealed. (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. 

(1 Corinthians 6:20) Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. The spirit is the inside, but the body is the outside. And by God’s word, it is possible to glorify God in these bodies. That’s why we established earlier that the goat was not always to be considered a symbol of something bad. Something temporal? Yes. Something corruptible? Yes. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t glorify our God with it. In fact, God meant that we should.

Quit fretting over your hair! When you are young, you are concerned about what your hair looks like. When you get older you lose hair where you want hair and gain hair where you don’t want it. It’s a life long battle that will never end. Though our bodies at time seem to be a curse to us, they can be a blessing to God. Consider Mary (John 12:3) Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

And one last thought. Of course, everything of the tabernacle is a picture of Christ, or the work of Christ, or the character of God. Jesus had hair too. Considering the ruggedness and crudeness of a goat hair curtain compared to the fine linen angel strewn curtain, here’s a good view of Christ in the curtains by John Gill:

…these curtains of goats’ hair denote the outward appearance of Christ in human nature, who, attended with all human infirmities, excepting sin, was in the form of a servant, in great meanness and poverty, covered with reproach, and had in the greatest contempt, and especially at the time of his sufferings and death; though all rich and glorious within, full of grace, and of all the blessings of grace, of righteousness and life, of light, joy, peace, and comfort for his people…

Now that being said, when I picture in my mind the tabernacle going up, the fine linen curtain being slipped over the frame, and this goat hair curtain being thrown over and pinned together like a coat, this is the verse that comes to mind: (Romans 13:14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ… The world did not see what Peter, James, and John saw on the mount of transfiguration, they saw the man Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 53:2) He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Yet as he prayed, he said (John 17:1) That thy Son also may glorify thee..

(1 Corinthians 6:19,20) What? 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.

Luke 5:1-11 I am a sinful man, O Lord…

January 22, 2018

And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Luke said in the beginning of his gospel (Luke 1:3,4) It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. It’s not that the other gospels can’t be trusted, but I always keep these words in mind when reading Luke’s account. He was very attentive to detail. And we see this in his account of this matter especially when we put this up against the other gospels:

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20)

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. (Mark 1:16-18)

So Simon Peter forsook all to follow Jesus. And if we had only read Matthew and Mark, we wouldn’t have known the story behind Peter’s conversion, so to speak. Yes, there was more to the story, and Luke has told it to us here in the text. It took a miracle for Peter to come to Jesus. And it’s going to take a miracle to get any sinner to God. That being said, any sinner that has bowed before God under real Holy Ghost conviction and asked for mercy can relate to when Peter fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. I wonder at the amazing work of Christ to bring a sinner to that place of repentance. Like the old song sings I know not how the Spirit moves, Convincing men of sin, Revealing Jesus through the Word, Creating faith in Him.

What was it about the fish that brought Peter to his knees? It was much more than ohs and ahs. Surely all of us have seen some awesome things happen in nature, things that strike you with a Woe! Giant whales bolting out of the water? The Shamu show at Sea World I remember was pretty exhilarating. But has a sight like that ever brought you to your knees in despair of your sin? He wasn’t just astonished. He was afraid; afraid for his sinful condition. For Jesus said Fear not. 

This is all I can say: It takes a miracle for a lost sinner to see his sinful condition. God came to where Peter was at. He got right in the middle of who Peter was and what Peter did. He moved all of nature in order that Peter might know him. It may seem like a little thing, but God may be trying to get your attention. Jesus first told Peter to thrust out a little. That was the first step. It was just a little. Oh if you’d just respond to God a little. He may be trying to show you something. He may be trying to take you to a place where he can open your understanding.

If you’ll just take that first step, he’ll take you the rest of the way. I remember Preacher Allen saying during an invitation The first step is the hardest step. I remember the night before I got saved, as we drove back from church, as we crossed the railroad tracks, I said to myself I’m lost. The next morning, all of glory came down and I met the lowest sin-sick soul; the chiefest of sinners. It was a miracle I can never explain. And to this day I’m still astonished and fearful of it. Respond to God is all I can say. Be honest with him.

Paul said (Romans 10:10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. It takes both.  It takes a miracle of God to get those two working together. Peter said I am a sinful man, O Lord. The O Lord is just as important as the I am a sinful man.

 

Proverbs 6:10,11 Yet a little sleep…

January 17, 2018

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

So in this sixth Proverbs, there are actually several different topics. So it’s very difficult to cover this as a whole or to find an underlying theme. The underlying message is one of wisdom and knowledge and discretion, but that goes without saying; hence the title Proverbs. So it may be somewhat futile to speak again of wisdom in general. The aim is to get through the Proverbs, so a verse by verse is not desirable. We’ll have to take one topic or passage and expound on that. And Proverbs 6 is really jammed pack! The ant? The sluggard? The seven abominations? Fire in the bosom? Hot coals on the feet? Adultery? Jealousy? We can’t do them all at one time.

One that travelleth…

You know I have read this so fast in times past, I always understood that poverty shall come as one that travaileth. So I always got this picture of poverty coming swiftly and painfully. But it helps to slow down and read carefully. It’s not travaileth; it’s travelleth; one that is travelling. The writer is comparing the coming of poverty to the steps of a traveler. Alot of commentaries speak of how this is likened to how someone on a journey speeds to his destination as they approach it; in which case travaileth actually does make some sense, I guess. But I really don’t see where they get that from. I think the warning is quite the opposite. It’s not suddenly, it’s little by little.

You say Do you have bible for that? Sure. The previous verse. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. It’s little by little that poverty comes. It’s step by step. You get there one step at a time. This reminds me of the Israelites at the edge of the promised land; where they were turned back to wander in the wilderness for forty years. They didn’t just suddenly disobey God. They didn’t just all of a sudden decide to not go God’s way. The bible says (Numbers 14:22,23) Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers… It was ten times, not once. It was little by little.

(Galatians 6:7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Some sow one seed at a time. Some broadcast. But everything that is reaped was sown at some point. An empty pocket book is tough, but the poverty of the soul is far worst. (Matthew 16:26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? A sinner is far from God because he’s walked far from God one step at a time; little by little; step by step.

An armed man…

Want is a noun. It is the lack of something desired; something needed. So it speaks to us not just of a lack. That would be simply poverty, I suppose. But it also speaks to us of desire, defeat, and the destitute; not just the need, but the needy; not the the deficiency, but the deficient. Want is a condition; a felt and suffered malady. And an armed man is strong and unstoppable. Once again, this speaks not of speed. But this speaks to us of strength and power. A great motivator can want be. It can compel a man to steal, to murder, to sell oneself. Want, as an armed man, can consume and overrun you.

Now, that expression armed man throughout the bible is used to describe a shielded man. So we’re talking about something that is not easily moved; not easily thwarted. So the warning is that when want comes, you won’t be able to stop it. I can handle it. I can handle it. No you can’t handle it. Now obviously this sounds like advice in a physical sense. But you have to reconcile all this with the words of Jesus (Matthew 6:25) Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Jesus’ advice is not for the physical, but for the spiritual. For he instead says (Matthew 6:33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God.

So I find it more appropriate to find spiritual application. In other words, don’t be lazy about spiritual things. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep… talks to us about spiritual matters. It’s the little things that will take you away from God. They take you away one step at a time. And then one day you’ll find yourself without; in want, lacking what you now see is most desirable, but you’ll be powerless against it. (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8) But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.