CARVED IN STONE 01

The kingdom of God is formed by faith.  Hebrews chapter eleven tells us so and I fully agree.  Every prophetic pronouncement and prayerful prose comes from and through faith as does the very universe we live in and the eternal salvation we depend upon for our very future beyond the grave.  Scriptures abound to prove this obvious point but the faith of our existence has been carved in stone.  From the precious stones that adorn the throne of God in heaven to the stone which the builders rejected in Jerusalem and even to the stones that dispensed judgment upon God’s people, the humble stone has been the foundation upon which it all stands.

The Temple in Jerusalem was built of stone which had to be perfectly quarried elsewhere and assembled on site lest God hear the sound of man’s imperfect hammer upon the ground He sanctified.  Moses’ first two tablets were cut by God Himself but because of Israel’s sin and Moses’ shame, they had to be recut by man though the writing was of God and God alone.  The High Priests wore a breastplate of gold adorned with twelve stones that bore the names of the twelve tribes of Israel while they also carried two special stones, the Urim and Thummin that somehow revealed God’s will to the priests.  I’d like to take a journey with you to explore a few of these stones and the importance they bore to God’s chosen people Israel and the rest of the world.

MAN MADE STONES

Genesis 11:1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

After the fall, mankind was yet of one language and that language was almost certainly Hebrew.  Rather than fulfill God’s clear commandment and scatter to the four winds to populate the earth, they chose to gather in one place and build a great city and greater tower of brick that would reach clear to heaven and in so doing establish themselves as the sole authority of heaven and earth.  The tower would serve as a focal point and bind all the people together.  From this point on in scripture the only time brick was used was to approach God in His own kingdom through natural spiritually dead means (Genesis 11), make brick as slaves in Egypt for the Egyptians who worshipped death (Exodus 1 & 5), and finally, to make brick altars to burn incense to pagan gods who were not alive (Isaiah 65).

These manmade stones were not made in the fires of creation as are natural stones, but in the kilns of man.  They were a poor substitute for the living rock of earth itself.  Ancient brick was made with dried mud for compressive strength and straw for tensile strength and some sand to keep it from cracking.  It was quite strong unless the rain fell directly upon it and washed away the mud leaving only straw which would rot.  Today in Africa, rural homes are often made with this same mud and straw or other grasses and compressed around a wooden framework.  These homes are strong, attractive and if kept dry…durable.  During the rainy season it takes a good roof with wide overhangs to keep the adobe from washing away.  You can see that brick is no substitute for natural stone. 

God speaks of the man who built his home upon the sand where the winds blew and the rains came and the house fell because it was built upon the sand.  Another man built his house upon the rock and the wind blew, the rains came and the house remained strong because it was built upon the rock (Matthew 7:24-27).  What does that all mean?  It means that even if your building materials (flesh) are somewhat weak, the foundation you build upon will transmit its strength up through the structure.  If that foundation is stone, and in this particular case the stone is Christ, then He lends His strength to the entire structure of our mortal lives (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). 

STONE OF REST

Genesis 28:10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep (Exodus 33:14). 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth (Genesis 13:16, 2 Chronicles 1:9, Genesis 22:17), and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed (Numbers 24:5-9). 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest (Joshua 1:7-9), and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of (Isaiah 55:8-11).

Jacob didn’t leave his parents for Haran simply because he sought a wife; he left because his brother Esau threatened to kill him as soon as his father Isaac died.  Jacob left in haste with few possessions.  When he arrived at the end of his first day’s journey, he was exhausted emotionally and physically.  He needed to rest physically and enter into a rest spiritually.  One of the most important aspects of the stone of God is to give that rest.  It may be a stone of stumbling and rock of offense to those who do not understand its significance (Isaiah 8:14, Romans 9:33, 1 Peter 2:8), but it is a stone that gives rest to those who believe.

Peter explains (1 Peter 2) that they stumble out of disobedience when they disobey the Word of God but that we who obey are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a special gift God has given to Himself.  God has promised that He will never leave or forsake us and that His Holy Spirit, His Comforter, will remain with us forever (John 16:7-11, Hebrews 13:5-6).  When you get to the root of those who break God’s Word and choose to live in sin, you discover their story is both Biblical and that they were warned of their choices.  Jacob may have been running away from His choices but he ran toward God and God’s will.  Because he did he discovered the comfort of a stone of rest which secured and anchored a ladder to Heaven and God’s blessings.

ALTAR OF STONE

Genesis 28:16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

Jacob did not make the stone into an altar to a lifeless pagan god, he made it into an altar to the Living God of Israel.  The place he had chosen to sleep was called Luz (almond tree) for many years.  Jacob renamed it Beth-El (beth=house, El=God) or House of God.  It’s previous name (Luz) can also mean ‘shaken.’  When something hastens or moves quickly it is said to be shaken.  The almond tree bore its flowers in January or February, even before the leaves appeared.  Those flowers looked like snow when they fell off and signified old age and death, and when the leaves appeared it signified rebirth.

God appeared to Jacob in the old age of his understanding and brought a new thing to him.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “…if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  Jacob was leaving his old life of earthly deceits, lies and desires and pressing toward the new life of obedience to God.  He rested on the rock which signified Christ Jesus and now old things (Luz=almond / shaken) were passed away and all things were made new (Beth-El – House of God).  He was passing from death to life in his relationship to God.

In Hebrews 12:26-27 God said:  “Yet once more I shake not only the earth but heaven also.”  Once God has shaken all things only those things which are founded upon the rock / stone Christ Jesus will stand.  If these things do not abide in the strength of God then they cannot stand when God shakes their foundations.  God only allows His foundation to stand.  Jacob changed a shaking tree to the house of God.  That house stands to this day.

STONE OF OFFENSE

Exodus 4:24  And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him.  25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

When Jesus announced in John 6:53 that He was the bread of life and they must eat His body to have eternal life many disciples were offended (v61) and ceased walking with Him (v66).  Jesus looked at his twelve closest disciples and asked if they too would be offended and walk away.  Peter, always the first to speak up (right or wrong) said, “Lord, then who shall we follow.  You alone have the words of eternal life.”  Moses’ wife Zipporah was a Midianite and was deeply offended by the idea of circumcision.  This is what often happens when you marry someone who does not have your faith. 

God sought to kill Moses because he had not circumcised his son in obedience to the given law.  He and his wife had apparently argued over this before because she understood God’s reason for the threat to Moses’ life.  Many times when it appears that God is seeking our life but doing it in a slow and round about way it is because He is giving us a chance to repent and make things right.  In this case Zipporah recognized it was her husband’s life or distasteful obedience and she chose to obey.  Even knowing she made the right decision she was angry with Moses and probably God for a requirement she did not understand and certainly did not approve of.

Circumcision is both painful (though only mildly so in an infant) and bloody.  God’s requirement for it to be done on the eighth day was extremely important.  On that day an infant’s supply of chemicals that stop bleeding was at its highest ever and the child was so young that its ability to experience pain was reduced.  Shed blood was also important since only through blood sacrifice could sins be covered or washed away.  Moses ought to have circumcised his children when they were first born but one can imagine that his Egyptian upbringing and an argument with his pagan wife prevented him. 

There is a reason you never hear of Moses two sons amounting to anything in scripture.  They might have been sanctified by his relationship with God but it is apparent that his wife Zipporah never forgave or forgot this moment.  He left her behind and her father brought her back to him but eventually she left and never returned.  After that Moses married an Ethiopian woman who remained with him.  No matter how much you might think you are in love or need someone in your life, it never pays to marry someone outside of your faith.  It will always be a stumbling stone and rock of offense (Isaiah 8:14, 1 Peter 2:8). 

STONE OF CONTENTION AND BLESSING

Exodus 17:4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. 5 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

The people of Israel were angry about the lack of water and rather than trusting God and crying out to Him they began to curse and threaten Moses.  It is worth mentioning that God chose to bless this grumbling sinful people with water when they were yet in their sins.  Romans 5:6-8 says that while mankind was in their sins without strength to walk according to God’s law Christ died for them.  Moses was to walk up to the rock in Mt. Horeb and strike it with his staff.  It is likely that Moses staff is also made of almond tree wood and this caused God to shake the earth splitting the rock and releasing water for God’s people.  Making sure there was a witness Moses struck the rock and water flowed sufficiently for all Israel to drink.

This rock was a type of the first coming of Christ.  Christ was stricken, smitten and afflicted so we might have life. The rock in Horeb was smitten so Israel might have the water necessary to prolong their lives.  Christ the Water of the Word was stricken so we might have eternal life.  God told Moses to strike the stone with the same rod he used to smite the river in Egypt when God turned the water into blood. 

This was an important lesson. 

Psalm 23:4 says, “Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”  A staff is a tool of direction but a rod is a tool of correction and punishment.  In one case God used the rod punish Egypt by turning the water of the land into polluted blood filled with sin.  In the other, the rod was used to punish the stone (a type of Christ) so His blood might purify and bring forth water and life.  Whenever the rod strikes there is punishment.  When Moses struck the rock, the murmuring and sin of the people was transferred to the rock and the people, now made righteous by the rock’s sacrifice, received life in return.  Moses was angry with the people however and appears to have missed the significance of the lesson which would cause him to stumble later.

STONE OF REST

Exodus 17:12 But Moses 'hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Immediately following God’s example of grace by providing water from the stone, Amalek attacked Israel and Moses ordered Joshua to go out and meet them in battle.  God had decided to punish Amalek for their sins against Israel.  Moses stood upon the hill with his rod in his hand and as long as his hands were raised Israel prevailed in battle.  It wasn’t long before he began to tire and when he lowered his hands to rest Amalek prevailed.  Aaron and Hur found a comfortable stone and placed it under Moses so he could sit and then one held up his right hand and the other his left until the sun set which gave Joshua sufficient time to destroy Amalek.

Amalek was a son of Esau’s firstborn from one of his concubines.  Because Esau hated his brother, they hated all Israel.  When Israel left Egypt they were told to respect Esau’s children because they were family and children of Isaac and Abraham.  When parents raise their children with their own prejudices those prejudices can grow to terrible levels.  The Edomites should have treated Israel with some family respect but they went so far as to celebrate Israel’s enemies, urging them to utterly destroy Israel.  God finally decided He had been longsuffering enough to one of His wayward sons.  He spoke utter destruction to Edom and all his seed (Ezekiel 25:12-14, Jeremiah 49:7-22, Isaiah 34:1-17, Malachi 1:1-4). 

I have often heard the voice of ignorance say that God is mean spirited and vindictive and that He is always attacking good people who simply want to live in peace.  This type of statement is a lie of the highest order.  God is longsuffering toward us to change for the better (2 Peter 3:9) but His grace will not last forever.  The Edomites treated their brethren with disdain and attacked so God gave Israel victory.  In Exodus 17:16 God said that He would fight against Amalek from generation to generation; in other words…forever.  Saul’s only reason for being crowned king was to destroy Amalek from the earth and he failed.  Amalek has become a spirit on the earth of those who stab someone in the back and strike down the weak and helpless.

Consider this, whenever Christians (or anyone else) backbite and gossip they are walking in the spirit of Amalek and have made themselves anathema to God.  He will not take this lightly but will chasten them sharply so they might be saved.  God will not allow those with an Amalek spirit to succeed.  As Moses discovered in the scripture above, it is wearying to continue to fight this Amalek spirit but we can rest in Him until the job is done.  He also discovered that for all his spiritual gifts and powerful relationship with God he needed those around him to lend him strength and help fight the battles.

The Coming Savior

700 Years Before Christ’s Birth

Isaiah 52:13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

In Genesis 15:18 and Joshua 1:4-7, God told Israel (through Abram) that all the land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River, and from Egypt to Lebanon belonged to Him and through Him, to Israel.  We, the semi-united nations on Earth have tried for years to carve this already all too small country into two smaller nations so we can offer land to a made up Palestinian people.  The true borders of God’s promise cannot be disputed; God was quite clear and will have His complete inheritance. 

This week the Prime Minister of Israel, Shimon Peres visited Norway and was shouted down because they believe Israel is the aggressor between the nation God has adopted and a people who were NEVER a people. 

My reason for saying this is not because I have an issue with Norway.  I am half Norwegian.  It’s not because I think these people are less intelligent or a worse group of people than any other nation.  My reason for bringing this up is that there is a war going on right now on Earth and there are only two sides; the side that believes in God and His Holy Word and the side that does not.  Our God is not a halfway God.  Psalm 69:9 and John 2:17 say that the zeal of God’s house has eaten up the heart of Jesus. 

Isaiah 52:13 says, “Behold, my servant (Jesus) shall deal prudently.”  The amplified says He shall prosper but the actual word means he will behave wisely, intelligently, with understanding.  If Jesus took pains to drive the money changers out of the temple with a whip then it is safe to assume that his burden for the word and work of God was not an intellectual or social opinion.  Scripture, the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).  He didn’t simply choose to obey God; He was all on Earth that God is and walked in all of God’s wisdom.

That verse goes on to say that because of His obedience He went on to be exalted (lifted higher and placed on a pedestal) and extoled (praised and honored).  Finally it says that He will be very high which means that He will be exceedingly exalted higher than any other.  Jesus was not merely a teacher, prophet or leader of God’s kingdom:  Jesus was God’s Word wrapped in flesh and honored as the only begotten son of God.  The following verse explains what we did to this mighty man of God.

Isaiah 52:14 As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

We know Jesus paid a terrible price for our sin; but He paid a terrible price for our griefs, sorrows, peace and illness as well.  It wasn’t enough that He lost His life for us.  The word astonished in the verse above means to be stupefied, shocked and stunned at the state of his face and body.  He had a crown of thorns jammed upon his head until His scalp bled profusely (Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2, 5).  They ripped his beard off of His face tearing the flesh and causing even more blood loss (Isaiah 50:6).  His back was rent with a whip (John 19:1) even before he was sent to be crucified.  No living man had ever been tortured so badly in all history. 

Isaiah 52:15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

There was a reason for Jesus’ great pain and torture.  His blood literally sprayed with every stroke of the whip or prick of the crown of thorns.  As the great muscular arms of the Roman soldier swung back for another blow the whip would have sprayed on all those citizens who came to watch this travesty of justice.  You have to wonder if they could feel the cleansing blood upon their faces or did they merely recognize their own sin and guilt.

Because of who He was the blood did not merely stain the ground and cry out for God’s justice like the blood of Abel whom Cain slew.  The blood of Jesus was a triumph of grace and life for all mankind.  Kings and great rulers of the Earth can obtain sudden miraculous revelation of His purpose (Proverbs 25:2).  They have great responsibility for the course of their earthly rule.  Because God will willingly grant them the understanding and revelation of His purpose on the earth, they are equally responsible for any failure on their part to acknowledge Him or harm His people. 

Whether a President or Prime Minister, Dictator or King, God’s promises are sure.  They are freely offered great understanding and vision to know and see the work of God upon the earth.  Because of this great honor, the curse for ignoring God and abusing His people will be equally troublesome.  Whether the President of the United States or of North Korea, God’s GIFT and HONOR or His WARNING of DESTRUCTION for a failure to obey will be given out with equal passion.  The battle of Armageddon will settle this final accounting.  It often seems that our own congress and State rulers have forgotten the responsibility they bear.  The Supreme Court of this nation has declared we are no longer a Christian nation.  The Bible often speaks of unjust judges.  Be not deceived, God is NEVER mocked.  Every one who fails Him will be judged and those who fail Him on purpose will be judged most harshly.

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

Can you imagine Isaiah’s thoughts as he prayed when God’s revelation and wisdom began to flood his soul?  He clearly understood our Lord’s coming visit to the earth.  Whenever scripture speaks of an arm, it is speaking of someone’s strength.  Who is the strength of Yahweh revealed to?  This explores both the great power and subtlety of God.  His power is all around us and is a part of who and what we are.  We are a part of His great creation.

God has made every opportunity for humanity to come to Him.  He has also allowed us to have free will.  Psalm 19:1-2 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.”  Unfortunately the majority of mankind has chosen to believe a lie rather than the truth.  God considers truth to be something we should LOVE. 

Most people have chosen to believe their theories and mental calculations and have further chosen to exclude any evidence that Biblical scripture may be correct, even when scriptural answers are the more sensible ones.  Satan’s original name is Lucifer the angel of light.  He may have become the father of lies but he has always known how to package those lies in a shiny palatable package that makes the natural man rush to it.

God says that these deceived people, believing themselves to be wise, have become fools (Romans 1:22), and measuring their beliefs by their beliefs (2 Corinthians 10:12) they lack wisdom.  Christians are not people who believe a fantasy tale and a lie; we are those who believe the truth no matter how hard the world tries to invent a plausible explanation of what they see.  To deliberately denounce scripture because ‘religion’ must be false is as foolish as believing a religion because its adherents choose violence to propagate a lie.  One denies the truth because truth demands a small amount of faith; and the other demands a lie upon threat of violence.  I suppose misery loves company. 

Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 

This verse is extremely important for Christians to understand.  How many hard hearted and abrasive saints have you known in the church and how many truly tender and gracious saints?  Jesus had to rise through the dry lifeless ground of hatred and intolerance while still maintaining his tender heart.  He wasn’t clothed or raised with wealth and riches.  Of His hometown it was said, “can any good thing come out of this poor dusty town of Nazareth? (John 1:45)”  The answer to this mocking statement was, “Come and see.” 

When Nathaniel arrived in Nazareth, what did he see?  He wasn’t a powerful body builder or good looking model.  There was nothing special about the outward physical appearance of Jesus.  To find the tenderness you had to look at His heart.  Jesus was an ordinary looking man with an extraordinary heart.  His Spirit could create worlds and His heart would give all for lost souls.  It takes a discerning heart to fully know what is inside of another’s.

Jesus was a man who could disappear into the crowd.  He was the one who could be ignored until He opened His heart and drew you in.  It wasn’t His looks or height or weight or manner that caught you and took hold.  It was His words and the grace of them.  Many have claimed the Lord for their own, but only a true follower can summon forth His grace and humility.

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

We will be despised and rejected by men; we will also have many sorrows and be well acquainted with grief.  Many who know us will hide their faces from us and despise us for our cheerful spirit and heartfelt desire to be supportive and loving.  Because we have what they lack, because we do not grumble and rail on others as they do we will be despised and ejected from their counsels.  Many men and women will not value our input or counsel because our position of grace and love in the midst of sorrow and woe marks us as outsiders (2 Timothy 2:11-12, 1 Peter 4:13), but a few will.

One day we will ALL be gone, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (1 Corinthians 15:52).  On that day we and those who passed before us will rise up to meet Him in incorruptible bodies.  We will be with Him forever.  On that day the world will descend into chaos and great turmoil for we will be taken out.  Our calming influence, especially that of the Holy Spirit, will be taken away and the madness barely held in check by God’s grace will embrace the whole earth.  Wars will rage and many will die in their sins.  The kings of the Earth will rise up and if possible, take the battle to God Himself.

They will fail (2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 19:19 and Psalm 2:2 below).

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  “Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first, unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come, and the man of lawlessness and sin is revealed, who is the son of doom, of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, even to his actually taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God.”

Revelation 19:19-21 “Then I saw the beast and the rulers and leaders of the earth with their troops mustered to go into battle and make war against Him Who is mounted on the horse and against His troops.  And the beast was seized and overpowered, and with him the false prophet who in his presence had worked wonders and performed miracles by which he led astray those who had accepted or permitted to be placed upon them the stamp (mark) of the beast and those who paid homage and gave divine honors to his statue. Both of them were hurled alive into the fiery lake that burns and blazes with brimstone.  And the rest were killed with the sword that issues from the mouth of Him Who is mounted on the horse, and all the birds fed ravenously and glutted themselves with their flesh.”

Psalm 2:1-12  “WHY DO the nations assemble with commotion uproar and confusion of voices, and why do the people imagine meditate upon and devise an empty scheme?

 The kings of the earth take their places; the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed One the Messiah, the Christ. They say,

 Let us break Their bands of GODLY restraint asunder and cast Their cords of LOVING control from us.

 He Who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision and in supreme contempt He mocks them.

 He speaks to them in His deep anger and troubles, terrifies and confounds them in His displeasure and fury, saying,

 Yet have I anointed, installed and placed My King firmly on MY holy hill of Zion.

 I will declare the decree of the Lord Jesus: He said to Me, You are My Son; this day I declare I have begotten You.

 Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession.

 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like potters’ ware.

 Now therefore, O you kings, act wisely; be instructed and warned, O you rulers of the earth.

 Serve the Lord with reverent awe and worshipful fear; rejoice and be in high spirits with trembling lest you displease Him.

 Kiss the Son, pay homage to Him in purity, lest He be angry and you perish in the way, for soon shall His wrath be kindled. Blessed, happy, fortunate, and to be envied are all those who seek refuge and put their trust in Him.”

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

This same Son who will one day come in anger and violence to establish His Supreme rule has already come in humility, grace and mercy.  He has borne our griefs and sorrows upon His own body and in like manner we are to help carry the griefs and sorrows of others in ours.  As He appeared to be cursed, abused and struck down by God, many will believe the very same of us.  We will experience His afflictions.  We will know of His pain and sorrow.  Our lot in life is to help the lost and less fortunate, to support widows and orphans and to obey the Word of the Lord.  We must never forget the gift of His suffering.  We must honor Him fully for His sacrifice.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

It wasn’t enough that Christ died for our sins.  He was beaten and bruised, whipped until the skin could no longer cover his bones.  Every lash, every cut and bruise, removed a portion of your grief and your pain.  Christians who lash out and attack their detractors and the sinners among them do not emulate this gracious and giving Lord.  The only time Jesus displayed any righteous indignation was when He judged the priests in the Temple as was His right as the living Word of God. 

All who came to Him humbly, seeking God’s favor were received with grace and Love.  Those who came arrogantly (most of the priesthood), were chastened and warned.  Rather than acknowledge His chastening was deserved, they sought a way to kill Him.  In this same manner, we will be hated and despised of all men.  Don’t allow it to make you angry.  Pray for the lost rather than mocking them.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

Don’t forget this was written 700 years prior to Christ’s coming.  It has been almost two thousand years since He walked on Earth and the cycle of God’s promises and man’s transgressions has continued all this time.  We still do it our way, even when we have significant knowledge of His way.  When saints fail, our iniquity is laid on Him.  When sinners do what is natural for them, their iniquity rests upon their own heads but may be removed by a prayer of faith that touches their hearts.

If we are His flock and the sheep of His pasture, shouldn’t we do it His way?  God is able to strengthen and raise your life circumstances but only if we choose to do it His way.  No matter what some religions say, you can’t buy yourself into heaven.  You can’t live holy enough to make it in.  You certainly can’t kill enough people to give artificial strength to your god.  The only key to salvation is the blood of Christ obtained by faith in His saving work and that faith made apparent by your obedience to His commands.

I met someone the other day who complained that he had been laid off from his job several times and needed help to make it to the next reinstatement.  When I discovered he was a Christian I asked if he is where God wants him to be. His response was that God had called him to ministry but he chose to remain in the back running the sound equipment.  He had been running from obedience for ten years.  And he wonders why he keeps getting laid off from a job that he shouldn’t even be in.

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 

Verse seven is especially alien to Americans.  We believe in our right to free speech.  We believe we have the right to say what we want whether someone agrees with us or not.  Jesus had all rights.  He didn’t have a few of them or even most of them; He had ALL of them.  He is the son of God.  In spite of His lofty position our Lord chose to allow us weak humans to oppress Him, take away His rights and DISOBEYING OUR OWN LAWS, kill Him.  In spite of that he did not speak a single word in His defense. 

Jesus would not break the example He had to be for us.  He never defended Himself no matter how innocent.  He didn’t remind the priests that they were breaking every Jewish law of court to convict Him.  Jesus allowed every indignity to continue until all OUR transgressions and well deserved punishments had been heaped upon Himself.  How much more should we be willing to put up with some rudeness or disrespect for the sake of the gospel?

Isaiah 53:8 AMP By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who among them considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living and stricken to His death for the transgression of this tribe and people, to whom the stroke was due. 

Jesus never broke the law of God.  He was put to death for claiming to be the son of God and equal with God (a death penalty offense if He had lied), but the Chief Priests had decided much earlier that He ought to die for the people (John 11:40-50) immediately after he had raised Lazarus from the dead.  They condemned Him out of pride and a wounded spirit.  Having committed no crime worthy of death (even Pilot said so in John 18:38, 19:4, 19:6).  Had Jesus claimed to be an earthly king Pilate would have condemned Him in the name of Rome.

The truth of it all was that Israel had earned herself a death stroke from God and God heaped that judgment upon His Son Jesus.  His death and His alone would pay the penalty for Israel’s transgressions.  Some have said that Jesus is not the Messiah and King of Israel and yet every one of these scriptures came true and when Jerusalem was destroyed forty years later, not one Christian living in Jerusalem died.  They fled at the prophetic warning of Jesus yet more than a million Jews were killed because they did not believe the Word of the Lord.  They were His tribe and they chose to strike Him down and ignore His admonitions.

Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 

This ought to say, “He went to His grave with the wicked but was buried with the rich after His death.”  Jesus was crucified between two criminals.  Both mocked Him (Matthew 27:44) but one repented and asked for His mercy (Luke 23:39-43).  Following his death, Joseph of Arimathaea, a wealthy disciple, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and buried Him in His own unused tomb (Matthew 27:57-60). 

Remember, this was prophesied 700 years earlier.  What does it say of Jesus?  That He had done no violence and had never lied.  When He turned over the tables of the money changers, it did not constitute violence but honor to God (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18).  He corrected a disrespectful activity inside the sanctuary.  I have always been taught that you do not buy and sell inside the sanctuary, or even in the entry way.  Nehemiah had the same problem on the Sabbath day outside the gate in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 13:20-22).  His complaint was that they tried to buy and sell on the Sabbath day and break the law of God. The Chief Priests received a cut of the commerce in the sanctuary and were lining their pockets by refusing any sacrifice brought by a pilgrim.  People were forced to buy animals from the priests and change Roman coins for Jewish Shekels… at a profit for the priests of course.

There is a proper time and place for commerce, but not in God’s place of worship and preferably not on a day of worship.  If it must be carried out it is better relegated out in the courtyard away from the sanctuary.  Not everyone will agree with me, but it is always better to honor God more than less.  I didn’t agree with everything my apostle did and I’m sure he didn’t agree with all my decisions, but one thing is certain; he always believed in honoring and respecting God whenever possible.  These days people steal toilet paper and other supplies from the church and feed their children beside them in the pews.  You need to ask yourself exactly how much reverence YOU have for Gods house (both you and the building you worship in.) 

Scripture says that to obey is better than sacrifice.  Telling the truth is not a sacrifice, it’s obedience.  Reverencing God’s houses, spiritual and temporal is not a sacrifice, it’s love.  When God sees that love he moves you up to verse ten.  It might seem to be all fun and reward unless your mindset is like Christ’s. 

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 

For you.  That is why we make every effort to honor and respect the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  The Holy Spirit does not advertise Himself.  Jesus endured this bruising for us so HIS soul might be an offering for our sin.  As long as we properly honor and reverence Jesus, it pleases God to have offered Him for our sin.  If we fail to reverence and honor Christ’s sacrifice, God’s wrath abides upon us.  If others fail to love and honor us for our sacrifice in His name, God’s wrath may abide in them.  If our actions cause them to hate us then their blood is on our hands (1 Corinthians 6:19, Jude 21:24).

Because of His Holy sacrifice our Father in Heaven will see His children, the offspring of His Son’s sacrifice.  Our days will be prolonged for ever and the pleasure of God’s purpose for our lives will prosper in HIS hands.  We are more than conquerors.  We cannot fail.  We abide in Him, rule in Him and have great honor in Him and He in us.

Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.  

God stood in heaven surrounded by raised swords held by angels of great power.  His anger and rage over mankind’s great sin smoldered within Him as a living thing and warred with His equally powerful love for our sorry state.  A whisper was heard and echoed within His heart.  It simply said, “I’ll go.”  The eternal God paused, sighed and nodded.  “Yes my Son…you will go.  They will lie about you, wound you, vex you, curse you and ultimately kill you.  You will die as a man, alone and in pain, and the three days of my wrath will seem three millennia to you (2 Peter 3:8).”

Jesus said, “I accept.” 

The Father said, “I am satisfied.” 

Tireless angels sheathed their flaming swords in wonder and awe.

God knows what is in a man and so Jesus knows for He is the living embodiment of God’s Word (John 1:1-14).  Our iniquities were nailed to that cross in Jerusalem.  He has borne the grief of our judgment and carried the sorrows of our fallen nature.  He was stricken and destroyed by His Father to satisfy God’s Holy insistence for perfection.  His sacrifice will not justify all because all will not come.  The doorway to God’s great gift is narrow and few will find it (Matthew 7:14, Luke 13:23) but those who do enter in will find great peace and complete justification in Christ Jesus.  There is NO OTHER WAY to God’s grace but Christ.

Isaiah 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

When the price was paid God wrote, “tetelestai,” which means, “It is finished.  Paid in FULL!”  (John 19:28, 30).  The debt incurred by Adam and Eve is wiped from the books of all who receive the free gift of Christ for their lives.  Notice it says that God will divide him a portion with the great and spoil with the strong.  God has opened the books of the wealth and riches of Heaven itself and poured out a blessing to Jesus and all His disciples who having done all to stand, stand therefore (Ephesians 6:13-17).  We are heirs and joint heirs with Christ.  He has borne our sins and interceded on our behalf for our transgressions. 

Because of His gift we are able to cry out, “Abba (daddy), father,” to God (Romans 8:15-17), and are counted to be joint heirs with Christ Jesus. 

The ending of this eighth chapter of Romans declares, “Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?  Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter.  Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.  For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,  Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We might be killed or endure great afflictions, but we have already WON!  Our future is secure against anything that the enemy might bring against us.  We are more than conquerors because we have crossed the finish line into victory even while we are currently running it.  The purpose of continuing in this race is to amass treasures in heaven to await our transformation after death. 

Are you amassing your heavenly wealth and placing its importance above your natural worldly wealth?  This earthly life is short.  The grief endured by our savior was brutal, violent and deeply offensive…but it was brief for His human side though much longer for His eternal side.  For all our hurts and wounds and sorrows in this life, it is very short in the eternal scale of our Lord.  Do not let these petty sorrows and trials draw your attention away from the greater truth of eternal life in peace and joy.  Press toward the mark of heavenly wealth and lead others down the same path as God gives you opportunities. 

Every one of these promises for the Savior have come to pass.  They were written 700 years before they came to pass.  God’s Word is always sure and true and accurate.  There is no need to lie or wink at God’s Word to make it palatable.  It is perfect.  These few promises listed here are but a small portion of the whole.

Press ahead beloved.

REST ASSURED.

Bishop J

His Spirit / Our Spirit

Can the Living Word Live in YOU?

Psalm 40:6  Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

God has never sought our obedience to His Word for unwavering legalistic reasons.  His purpose for our unwavering obedience has always been for our own RELATIONSHIP with Him so we might obtain His grace and mercy.  It is for salvation that Christ died, but as we see in the next verse, all scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, speaks of and draws attention to our Lord Jesus.  There is never an excuse to say that the gracious gift of God through Christ’s living sacrifice was offered so we can continue in our sins.

Man’s heart is desperately wicked always (Jeremiah 17:9).  There is no limit to how far it might fall if left to its own purpose.  God’s rules and instructions are to help us become as holy as possible so we might feel His touch and understand His instructions and promises.  All the fruit of the flesh drive God’s blessings and wisdom from us:

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious):they are immorality, impurity, indecency, Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The fruit of the Spirit draws us closer, but those fruits require our consecration and dedication to His Word.  That consecration will separate us from the fruits of the flesh.  The fruit of the Spirit is:

Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self- control (self- restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law that can bring a charge.

Notice it says above that there are no scriptures that can bring charges against you if you observe these fruit of the Spirit.  A corollary of this is that if you observe these fruit of the Spirit you will be able to better understand and obey God’s laws.  If you can better understand and obey these fruit, you are MUCH less likely to fall into the sins contained in the fruit of the FLESH.

Psalm 46:7  (Hebrews 10:7)  Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Every scripture points to Jesus.  Before the Holy Spirit could be given to man after Jesus death and resurrection made it possible, Jesus Himself was the incarnation of those scriptures.  Because He was the incarnation of God’s Word, it was His delight to do God’s will which was written in  His heart but it was not incorporated in His flesh.  Our born again flesh is not regenerated yet (we don’t have our glorified bodies…yet), and so we find a warfare within our selves.  Our spirit which is the real man has a great love of God’s Word, but our flesh hates it.

It is our responsibility to press into God’s Word and obey it just as it is our responsibility to crush our flesh and its non-scriptural desires.  Paul himself declared how difficult it is to keep our flesh under subjection and reminds us that there is a constant warfare within us (Romans 7:14-25).  The mere fact that fighting against these sins is difficult is not an excuse to stop fighting.  Jesus Himself fought these sinful passions and remained without sin while He was on Earth (Hebrews 4:15).  God’s scripture is living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12) and able, with the help of our High Priest and Holy Spirit, to allow us to walk in the fruit of the spirit and not the fruit of the flesh.

 Psalm 46:8  I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.

Certain psalms and proverbs, like the one above, are Messianic.  They are prophetic scriptures that describe our Lord and Savior.  Jesus preached righteousness in the great congregation at Jerusalem.  He didn’t refrain from preaching because of fear or discomfort.  When Jesus cast out the money changers from the temple or chastised the scribes and Pharisees, calling them hypocrites, it placed His life in great danger which eventually cost Him His life.  He did not consider His life to be more precious than our need for a savior.  Only His death and His blood could wash our sins instead of merely covering them. 

Proverbs 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 16:25 is one of the most uncomfortable scriptures for those who have a weak faith in God.  God’s Word is perfect (Psalm 19) and yet many of those who profess the saving work of Jesus consider scripture itself to be a collection of suggestions and good advice rather than the uncompromising, authoritative, perfect Word of God Himself.  Because of our crippled belief and understanding of scripture we become like those in Judges 17:6 and 21:25 doing what is right in our own eyes. 

Notice it says, “There is a way that seems right to a man…”  We describe those who believe in abortion of innocent children to be ‘pro-choice.’  Those who are in favor of saving those lives are called intolerant bigots, religious fanatics and anti-woman.  In every circumstance you can invent flowery rhetoric to make your argument SEEM much more reasonable and caring than your opponent.  The problem with this thinking is that since God’s Word is perfect and unchanging, whatever argument you come up with goes against Him.  No matter how unreasonable you might consider some of His instructions and restrictions, they are given for our good and He expects us to obey them in love.

Romans 13:12  The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

There was a time when mankind could look toward heaven and wonder exactly what God wanted.  Only the priests or scribes could read and write and Bibles were non-existent.  Those days are gone.  Today, even the most remote tribes and villages in the various corners of the world have access to television and particularly, to the internet.  Almost every version of scripture as well as the original and its commentaries can be found free of charge on the internet.  We are in the daylight hours of the information age and if you are reading this lesson, you have access to every scripture and Bible help known to man.

In the midst of this light of knowledge however, we are also deep in the depths of spiritual darkness.  The Gnostics believed that knowledge drew you closer to God and that the more understanding and information you had, the more godlike you became.  Sadly, the Gnostics were one of those spoken of in the previous verse.  They had great knowledge of many things and that knowledge prevented them from truly understanding God.  Scripture is filled with special clues to prove the knowledge of God.  His authority cannot be doubted as long as you proceed with a desire to understand.  He has promised that honor to His children, that He will reveal great truths to those who seek Him.  This knowledge will ALWAYS agree with scripture however.

Romans 13:13  Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

I have seen all these things in the church.  A year after leaving Alaska I had to return to meet with some people.  When I arrived I looked up a church group I attended while living there.  Something terrible had happened during the intervening year.  Several of the leaders had changed the godly church fellowship into a church party.  From there it fell even further into drunkenness and sin.  Satan desires to sift us and cast us into the fire God designed for him.  He attacks us because we are the ones who can defeat him.  He has always been enamored of men’s flesh and will draw them away from the truth into his lie. 

Romans 13:14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires

Christians who believe in living holy are frequently mocked and ridiculed.  Sometimes they try to be your friend and do all the things you do.  Lowering your standards is never a good idea.  I remember when I was a very young man before coming to God.  A friend was trying to draw me to church and wanted to spend time with me to encourage me to become a Christian.  He met me at a theater and decided to attend the movie with me.  It was not the type of movie any Christian should watch.  He didn’t know what the movie was about and watched it with me.  After the movie he looked like he was in a daze.  He left me mumbling that he needed to pray. 

Christians are supposed to be a strong tower for others to come to for deliverance.  We can’t allow our basic standards to slip so we might draw closer to the sinner.  God will bring them close if we pray for opportunities.  My friend forgot this and injured his soul trying to help me.  Perhaps it wasn’t a terrible injury, but we must guard our hearts above all else.

In his desire to win a soul (mine) he managed to pollute a soul (his).  There is a place for passion and desire and that place is within a marriage, not trying to create it by watching a perverted movie.  There is a place for many things that we manage to pollute or corrupt.  If we will put on the Lord Jesus Christ, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  He has promised to give us more abundant life, but in spite of our natural arguments, that promise is not through improper relationships or disobedience to His Word. 

God’s promises are sure and His will for us is more abundant life, love and happiness.  Sadly, few will discover this true life because Satan is doing all he can to point us toward a fake.  The darkness of greed and lust has replaced the passion of truth.  Take care beloved.  God is not mocked.  Believe in His Word and you will prosper.  Obey and rejoice in His Word and others will flock to you for what YOU have.

The Word of God…First, Last, Always!

Scholars often break apart texts and historical accounts in order to write scholarly documents for a doctoral thesis.  They will frequently say that changes in someone’s writing style over the years must mean that those later works are not written by the original author.  This is especially true in prophetic books where the writing is about future events that the author has not experienced.  Rather than believe God gave this information to the author it is easier to say a later author added to the book.  Isaiah has been broken up in this way for centuries and yet Jesus Himself quoted this book on numerous occasions and declared the author to be Isaiah.

One problem with this ‘scholar’s view’ of scripture is that scholars tend to discount the ‘God Breathed’ nature of the Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) scriptures.  It has been said that Mark was Peter’s amanuensis or secretary, and yet all Peter’s works are divinely inspired.  Either Peter wrote those works or Mark took dictation word by word.

In the Torah (Pentateuch) when it speaks of a pregnant woman, the value of the Hebrew letters that describe this condition add up to the same number of days that a woman carries a child.  What does this tell us?  It says that God not only told Moses and the other writers what to write word by word, but in the case of Moses and the others, God told them what to write letter by letter.  He broke it down so we would have proof of the divine inspiration of scripture.

A REMEZ is a hint of God’s handiwork shining through.  If two disparate (markedly different) words add up to the same number in Hebrew or Greek (whose letters all have numerical values), it is likely that those two words are somehow linked together.  This is why it is imperative that our study of scripture goes beyond the simple plain text as offered by an interpreter.  We must learn to cherish the original text and through the use of computer translators learn how to break the original down. 

If the Holy Spirit went to the effort of naming a series of workmen or children, it is for more than historical reasons.  It may be that He wants you to look up the meaning of every one of those names and string those meanings together or it might just mean – as in the case of Abraham’s servant Eleazar – that the name means ‘Comforter’ and is an allusion to the Holy Spirit.

Modern scholars tend to believe Isaiah was written by three men.  In this case do not place too much faith on there being three separate authors.  It is enough that Jesus quoted from it and called it Isaiah’s work.  When someone brings into question the different styles of an author, they also bring into question whether the real author is God or man’s imagination. 

Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…  Is it any wonder that rather than call themselves teachers they have chosen the title of ‘professor.’  This chapter goes on to say that this excessive over thinking of life’s processes leads to homosexuality and other life damaging sins.

Why?

Because they do not accept the existence of God and therefore will not accept His rules or instruction.  If some professors do believe in a greater power or heavenly influence over our lives, they will not give Him the honor He is due as our heavenly Father and Lord.  They feel they must keep themselves in control of their own destiny and protect themselves from any ridicule they might suffer.  ‘Professors’ who believe the Word of God is miraculous and flawless are cast down in the court of public educational opinion and tossed out on their ears.

Because scripture is perfect and without error (in the original), God does not allow it to be watered down in any way.  This is obvious in Revelation 22 which says, “19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 20 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

If anyone adds their own opinions to certain doctrines contained in scripture they will be cursed with plagues.  We have seen this happen time and time again.  Most recently in this country, men and women state that God loves and accepts them when their lifestyle goes against scripture.  When someone removes various doctrines they will be removed from the book of life.  This is more difficult to observe, but equally frightening.  If you say God will not judge you or that it ‘doesn’t take all that’ then you simply will not make it in on ‘that day.’

Scripture was closed with the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.  After that moment there could not be any other additions.  Every religion and revelation that goes against this finished work of God is forever cursed.  There are no new scriptures after the time of Christ.  Any new ‘non-scriptural’ revelations such as those contained in Islam, Mormonism or others are sufficient to curse their followers to Hell.  Sadly, scripture says that many will follow these paths to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

Beloved, the 66 books contained in scripture will serve you well in your knowledge of God.  They are miraculous and inspired by God.  Never doubt His promises and you will not be disappointed by life’s trials.

“…and having done all to stand, stand therefore.”

Bishop J

Give Advantage To Win

People are often accused of taking ADVANTAGE of others.  I’ve heard it said that people took advantage of my late Apostle Joseph Sims.  The truth is that Apostle Sims gave every advantage to those he met.  He was always giving opportunities to others no matter if those people responded in kind or not.  To him it was a chance to share some of the revelation and anointing God had given him.  He gave opportunities to preach and opportunities to prophesy, opportunities to be better and opportunities to get up when you failed.  He never took opportunities away because you fell short.  He knew God was still working on you.

You have to ask yourself, can someone can steal what God has given you?  Jesus said, “My Father which giveth them to me is greater than all....” (John 10:29).  God does not need help defending His promises or bringing them to pass.  Scripture also says that whoever follows Christ will have rivers of living waters flowing out of his belly (John 7:38).  A river is not a stagnant body of water that fills up and becomes lifeless.  The river Jordan flows into two bodies of water, the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea.  The Sea of Galilee receives water in and lets it back out.  The Dead Sea takes water in but none flows out.  One is full of life, the other…not.

If you receive God’s blessings, whether spiritual, financial or any other and do not allow those blessings to bless others, you have become stagnant and grasping.  You will become dead and lifeless, your life clogged with stagnant mold, rusty and tattered.  On the other hand, if you receive His blessings and always send a portion back out you will reap the great rewards. 

Proverbs 11:24-25 says, “There are those who generously scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due, but it results only in want. The liberal person shall be enriched, and he who waters shall himself be watered.

I have heard many mistaken people say the church only wants money.  This is incorrect.  The local ministries need finance to function, this is true, but according to Luke 10:3-12 the workman (preacher) is worthy of his wages.  When someone brings us a good word and causes our understanding of scripture to grow, we are to bless that person with our finances, food or help. 

This is apparent in Romans 15:27

27  It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

and in 1 Corinthians 9:11. 

11  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things.

God makes it very plain in Malachi 3:8-12,

8  Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings.

9  You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation.

 10  Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

 11  And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.

 12  And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Many in the early church even went so far as to sell all they owned and to share it with those less fortunate as in Acts 2:45. 

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Why would they do this?  In this world of greed, lies and climbing over one another, why would someone give an advantage to someone else?  It makes no natural sense.  

That is the reason.  It makes perfect spiritual sense, not natural sense.  These people have chosen to live their lives sharing with and pouring into those less fortunate so they might have great treasure in heaven rather than merely on earth. 

Matthew 6:19 makes this quite clear,

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Have you ever wanted some thing more than anything else?  God desires to have this relationship with you.  He is perfectly willing to allow His son Jesus to die for you, suffer for you and bear in His body forever the scars of that death and suffering but he wants you to desire His Son’s sacrifice and be willing to reciprocate in your own life with equal passion.

Matthew 13:44-45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

God wants you to want, even to NEED the kingdom of heaven in your life more than any wealth or gift or even life itself.  He wants you to purchase it with your faith, your life and your obedience, willing to give anything to obtain it.  The time for cute wishy washy lukewarm saints is over and done with.  In this season God wants those who have a strong burden for this life.  How much are you willing to pay for a pearl of great price?  Will you give it your all?  Will you give Him all?

The world is full of those who would steal their own brother or sister’s inheritance rather than sharing.  God is asking you to share your finances, your gifts, your faith and your life to help make those He sends stronger and more faithful. 

God wants you to be a river, not a puddle.  He wants His life and light to flow through you into others.  A portion of that blessing will always remain in you.  You cannot lose; but a portion will always leave you and bring increase to those you love in Christ.  Even if they can never repay you for your kindness and graciousness, God can; and He will.

If life isn’t working for you right now, give.  If holding tight to what you own doesn’t seem to help you, give.  If storing more and more in life’s warehouses doesn’t help, then open the doors and pour all that ability into someone else’s life and see the salvation of the Lord.

Luke 12:13-21 says,

13  And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

God’s word is always true.  He will honor you for your liberal attitude toward others but He will chasten you if you fail to be gracious and giving.  Never fear beloved.  King David reminds us that throughout his life from youth to old age he had never seen the righteous forsaken or God’s seed begging for bread (Psalm 27:35).   

What have you got to lose?

What do you have to win?

Resurrection Blessings

This week as we approach Resurrection Sunday let us keep in mind all the wonderful blessings we enjoy from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Last Sunday in church as I listened to pastor Clyde pouring out his heart about the sacrifice of Christ the Lord gave me a revelation about the three days He suffered in Hell on our behalf. 

It says in 2 Peter 3:8, "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." 

On the one hand, God sees our entire life as a fleeting moment of time, indeed, whole epochs, past or future, can flash by Him with the same clarity that we can consider the day we have just completed.  That explains the second half of the scripture above but what about the first half?  In the first half it says, "a day to OUR LORD is as a thousand years."  In His eternal state He sees things in a certain way, but in His human state He must observe time as we do.  The revelation I received was that God did not endure three days in Hell as we would but rather as He, God, would.  To Him those three days were subjectively three thousand years.  He didn't die to suffer for one man's sin but for all mankind's sins.  That weight of suffering was not anything that you or I could endure and maintain our sanity.  That suffering was something that only God Himself could endure.  Objectively a mere three days separated Him from His Heavenly Father, but in reality as God Man He endured it with all the clarity, understanding and eternity that made Him the only acceptable payment for our sins.  Jesus was in the grave, separated from His Eternal Godhead while still possessing that glorified state of being.  In that glorified state He effectively endured three thousand years of sorrow and grief for our sakes.

Beloved, the next time you read Matthew 26:39, consider that Jesus was not concerned so much with His death as with His extraordinary separation from God, something He had not endured for all eternity past.  The fear and grief Jesus bore was from our standpoint an almost eternal separation from God that effectively lasted for three thousand years. 

If you have ever told yourself, "I could do three days in Hell without God for an eternity of reigning," I submit that even a mere three days would have destroyed you.  Certainly three millennium would.  Rejoice in our Lord and Savior beloved.  His suffering for our sakes is much greater than we will ever know.  Call out to our Lord and rejoice in His sinlessness AND His strength!  Thank you Lord for my salvation!

Rejoice on this Resurrection day beloved.

Bishop J