Printer
Friendly Page
Grateful For Revelation Series
Posted Dec 9, 2008
Hi Mike,
Thank you for the latest installment on the book of Revelation, it was so timely and helpful! I could have never believed or internalized that message not so very long ago!
As you had mentioned in a tape at one time, we are being made to learn to rule as Joseph did, but I can tell you it's so easy to forget the hard journey of this man's life, and only now has God brought me to see more clearly all those who have labored before me in Joseph's robes where I did not labour, and yet have become privileged to share in the wealth of there journey with knowing Christ the hope of glory within! I want to consider not just the one who wears the coat but also the fabric of his life giving coat which was brought about by the resources of his family which we have come to see represents are brothers who are called but not elect, they will understand our separation from them one day was a needful sacrifice for there's and our benefit!
I don't deserve this one bit, and it took the most severe of trials to make me realize I am the chief of sinners and undeserving, not just academically but in my heart of hearts, and just as over time we learn and gain apprehension of the sacrifices of Leviticus and the different grades within the sacrifices, I have come to realize more fully how much God has protected me from harm and evil without and within myself, alas at some point (points), at various miraculous moments, the major dead wood branches of my life were burned, and now I perceive that, God willing, I will be a subject only for future pruning and no more major destruction of the temple, I hope what I'm saying is true!
We are indeed being made into a new temple, and I remember reading somewhere that one of the prophets was told to go back and reassess the foundation of what you perceive has been built to make sure the structure is plum, and that it is Christ and Christ alone who has been constructed and who has done the construction. There was this catch phrase that Mr. Wilding, a minister of the Worldwide Church of God, used to say and it was "Only Christ can be Christ". That has really stuck with me like the other phrase about the bible being "Christ-centric".
While these thing are obvious to a man who has been given eyes to see, it is an ongoing struggle to let only Christ be Christ, which really can only be accomplished by Christ, or as you said once, to continue in His goodness is of Him as well. Amen, Mike!
I'm paying the price for my personal sins which He has revealed in me and thankfully is systematically burning out of me, but what a fire we have to go through before there is absolutely no pride, lust or vanity, I should put pride last in that order seeing that seems to be the latest and most evident thing which has been burnt up in me, and He will keep working in all of us who are the elect that we may die daily so we may be found in Him at death or at His return, whichever should come first, either way God makes the way to life very narrow so no flesh will glory in His sight!
What God has done with our spiritual family has given me the strength to endure the chastening and ongoing trials of this life, and for this common affliction and comfort we go through I will be forever grateful to you and your family and my brothers and sisters in Christ.
It seems so much of my life I have suffered for the sake of foolishness rather than for righteousness, but now I see another way and that way is to be dead at the feet of Christ and walking in newness of life which brings glory to God, if He indeed gives me the strength to no longer be a slave to sin but a servant of righteousness.
Perhaps now as some of these trials subside over time the new creation He is forming will bear some fruit to the benefit of others. God willing I will be blessed and able to endure until the end with my spiritual family. There is a saying that blood is thicker than water, but as we want to know each other no longer after the flesh, we can say that water is actually become thicker than blood if water represents the spirit in this instance.
I thank you for bringing to my attention that when Peter denied Christ, God was working this, and what a blessing to know that afterwords the strength of Christ was given to him to receive another prophecy of His life which Christ brought to his attention,
Joh 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
This really encouraged me to realize that God is working all things after the council of His own will, both our sins and His righteousness in us!
I'm sorry for the somber tone of this email, it's just been a very hard week, but God has been merciful and blessed me so I can still think of others who I know have greater trials than my own.
I just felt a great need to send you this letter, I hope you are well, please say hi to your family, and I look forward to the next study God willing.
Your brother,
T____,
Dead at the feet of Christ
Hi T____,
Thank you for the latest installment on the book of Revelation, it was so timely and helpful! I could have never believed or internalized that message not so very long ago!
As you had mentioned in a tape at one time, we are being made to learn to rule as Joseph did, but I can tell you it's so easy to forget the hard journey of this man's life, and only now has God brought me to see more clearly all those who have labored before me in Joseph's robes where I did not labour, and yet have become privileged to share in the wealth of there journey with knowing Christ the hope of glory within! I want to consider not just the one who wears the coat but also the fabric of his life giving coat which was brought about by the resources of his family which we have come to see represents are brothers who are called but not elect, they will understand our separation from them one day was a needful sacrifice for there's and our benefit!
I don't deserve this one bit, and it took the most severe of trials to make me realize I am the chief of sinners and undeserving, not just academically but in my heart of hearts, and just as over time we learn and gain apprehension of the sacrifices of Leviticus and the different grades within the sacrifices, I have come to realize more fully how much God has protected me from harm and evil without and within myself, alas at some point (points), at various miraculous moments, the major dead wood branches of my life were burned, and now I perceive that, God willing, I will be a subject only for future pruning and no more major destruction of the temple, I hope what I'm saying is true!
We are indeed being made into a new temple, and I remember reading somewhere that one of the prophets was told to go back and reassess the foundation of what you perceive has been built to make sure the structure is plum, and that it is Christ and Christ alone who has been constructed and who has done the construction. There was this catch phrase that Mr. Wilding, a minister of the Worldwide Church of God, used to say and it was "Only Christ can be Christ". That has really stuck with me like the other phrase about the bible being "Christ-centric".
While these thing are obvious to a man who has been given eyes to see, it is an ongoing struggle to let only Christ be Christ, which really can only be accomplished by Christ, or as you said once, to continue in His goodness is of Him as well. Amen, Mike!
I'm paying the price for my personal sins which He has revealed in me and thankfully is systematically burning out of me, but what a fire we have to go through before there is absolutely no pride, lust or vanity, I should put pride last in that order seeing that seems to be the latest and most evident thing which has been burnt up in me, and He will keep working in all of us who are the elect that we may die daily so we may be found in Him at death or at His return, whichever should come first, either way God makes the way to life very narrow so no flesh will glory in His sight!
What God has done with our spiritual family has given me the strength to endure the chastening and ongoing trials of this life, and for this common affliction and comfort we go through I will be forever grateful to you and your family and my brothers and sisters in Christ.
It seems so much of my life I have suffered for the sake of foolishness rather than for righteousness, but now I see another way and that way is to be dead at the feet of Christ and walking in newness of life which brings glory to God, if He indeed gives me the strength to no longer be a slave to sin but a servant of righteousness.
Perhaps now as some of these trials subside over time the new creation He is forming will bear some fruit to the benefit of others. God willing I will be blessed and able to endure until the end with my spiritual family. There is a saying that blood is thicker than water, but as we want to know each other no longer after the flesh, we can say that water is actually become thicker than blood if water represents the spirit in this instance.
I thank you for bringing to my attention that when Peter denied Christ, God was working this, and what a blessing to know that afterwords the strength of Christ was given to him to receive another prophecy of His life which Christ brought to his attention,
Joh 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
This really encouraged me to realize that God is working all things after the council of His own will, both our sins and His righteousness in us!
I'm sorry for the somber tone of this email, it's just been a very hard week, but God has been merciful and blessed me so I can still think of others who I know have greater trials than my own.
I just felt a great need to send you this letter, I hope you are well, please say hi to your family, and I look forward to the next study God willing.
Your brother,
T____,
Dead at the feet of Christ
Thank you for your very encouraging words. It is very satisfying to know that there are those out there who are being given the eyes to see and the ears to hear the sayings of this book.
Yes, it is true, we have not labored as others, and yet we are partakers of their harvest:
Joh 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Joh 4:37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
Joh 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
The only "labor" being done is that of Christ and His Father. Christ has labored, and we have entered into His labor:
Joh 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
When we "enter into Christ's labors" we are really "entering into His rest," because we are ceasing from our own works and are resting in what He is doing in us.
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Here is who is doing all the works:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
I love what you say about "Only Christ can be Christ." That has so very many applications. Who is in us is who comes out of us, and if our old man is still on the throne it will be impossible to hide that fact. If on the other hand, Christ is on His throne, then that too, will be impossible to hide.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
You are exactly right about the trials subsiding as we decrease and as He increases in us. Our trials are for our good, and as we learn our lessons the trials become more bearable, even as they become heavier burdens. King David is our type and shadow of this principle. If we need the rod of God in our lives, it will surely be there for our good. But our growth in Christ eventually brings us to say with Paul:
2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
But it is interesting to note that Paul says this in concert with telling Timothy that "all have forsaken me."
2Ti 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
2Ti 4:9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
2Ti 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
2Ti 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
You will find that the closer you get to God, the more removed you will be from this world and its friends. Christ did not come to send peace but a sword:
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
That is being dead at Christ's feet. A dead man has nothing to lose in this life, because he has already given it all up. And that is how we find life more abundant.
Exo 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
That pattern is Christ, and we must be conformed to His image, just as He is conformed to His Fathers. Again, in the New Testament, we are told that the temple of God is measured:
Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Those who worship God are being measured to be sure they 'measure up,' and all who do, will measure up only "in Christ." It is all, the good and the bad, being done, of God, and through and in Christ.
That is a somber truth, and a truth that few can, at this time, can receive. "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear."
Your brother in The Christ,
Mike