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Awesome Hands – part 89

“Teach them … to continue in my love”

October 14, 2015

“Teach them … to continue in my love”, is a spiritual concept that has been around since Jesus Christ started to contend with the sinful flesh He had been created as .

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

His entire life, even while living as a law abiding Jew, was to do the will of the Father. There are a lot of things that come to my mind as I utter that sentence, but the one thought that desires to dominate my mind is how He could do that and then “well, He was the Son of God so He was able to do that”.

If I were asked today, as if I were somehow important enough for someone to ask me this question, what the meaning of life is, my answer today would be, “the meaning of life is to help another person’s life [be better]”.

In this study today, I hope to be used to show you why I believe this statement about the meaning of life is accurate. However, making a person’s life better is not what it appears to be on the surface.

What race am I running?

We all know the verse where Paul tells us that we must run a race.

1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

I make no claim to fame that the understanding and knowledge I am about to reveal in this study, has not already been stated and has not already been known before I am about to repeat it. However, what I do make a claim on is that it has been made real in my life even if I work daily to perfect it.

What race is Paul speaking about? In the context of 1 Corinthains 9 Paul “spells it out” but I venture to say that there are not many that have been given to truly grasp the healing that is in his Holy Spirit inspired writings.

Before we see what our Father, via Paul, has to say about this race, let us connect it to the scriptures that inspire this study today.

Exo 25:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
Exo 25:3  And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
Exo 25:4  And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
Exo 25:5  And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,
Exo 25:6  Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
Exo 25:7  Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.
Exo 25:8  And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Exo 25:9  According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

In the previous study it was pointed out that the spiritual representatives of the various words mentioned above in verses 3 and 4 are pointing to the spiritual concept that those who have “gold, silver, brass” are those that teach and that “blue, purple and scarlet” represent the process of this fruit [teaching what is the mind of God] being born in the life of the servant of God.

Exo 35:30  And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
Exo 35:31  And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
Exo 35:32  And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
Exo 35:33  And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.
Exo 35:34  And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

How does 1 Corinthians 9 connect to Exo 25 and Exo 35? Well, what race are we running? Here is the context of, “So run, that you may obtain” in 1 Co 9:24.

Remember, Paul had just told these same Corinthians how they were acting, and chapter 9 is a further exposition on how they should be living.

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

We are all “men” i.e. mankind, so it is most natural for as to live as men? However, we as the children of God, should be LIVING as God. How do we do that?

How did Christ Jesus do it?

These words are easy to say but much harder to live, and because it is ME saying this to YOU, can I be considered a reprobate when one examines my life?

1Co 9:3  Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
1Co 9:4  Have we not power to eat and to drink?
1Co 9:5  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
1Co 9:6  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

What Paul is asking the Corinthians is if he and Barnabas have the right to eat and drink as it is offered freely from the brethren, if he has the power and ability to take a wife with him during the work of the ministry just like other Apostles including Peter do, and if they have the right to not work and be provided for by the ministry.

He is asking these questions for a very good reason and we’ll cover that in just a moment after we see Paul further expound why it is he is asking these questions.

1Co 9:7  Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1Co 9:8  Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1Co 9:9  For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Co 9:10  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1Co 9:11  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
1Co 9:12  If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

Everything Paul has just stated here is based on the Truth that Spiritual things are of FAR MORE value than physical and carnal things, and if we HOPE to partake of spiritual it is not a stretch to hope that our physical needs are provided for too.

Furthermore, Paul goes on to say they have not used this power and have suffered so that they did not hinder the gospel. However, it is made obvious that other apostles DID PARTAKE of the power given to them to reap what they had sown in both physically relying on the brethren for their needs as well as spiritually benefitting from being the husbandmen of the gospel to those they taught.

The concept of receiving of our labors comes from Deu 25:4.

Deu 25:4  Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.

The book of Timothy further expounds on this concept in 1 Tim 5.

1Ti 5:16  If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
1Ti 5:17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1Ti 5:18  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

I included 1 Timothy 5:16 concerning widows because it gets to the crux of why my answer to what the meaning of life is, is that it is to help the life of someone else be better.

After 1 Co 9:12 Paul says this:

1Co 9:13  Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

See, the study today isn’t just about “gold, silver and brass, blue, purple and scarlet”. It is about what those things represent.

When we talk about spiritual types and shadows, we are talking about what these things represent in our lives. When we are slaves we represent out masters.

When we are slaves to our masters we do their bidding.

If I am a slave to my carnal mind and flesh, and we ALL ARE initially as brute beasts, then I serve that flesh and my life seems void, empty and pointless.

When I have been FREED by the Lord to be HIS SERVANT, then I am now in bondage to SERVE HIM Faithfully. My life is NOT ABOUT ME, but about HIS WILL.

We collectively, as the body of Christ, as MINISTERS to the temple of God and the Holy Things that are of the temple. Likewise, we all partake of that temple.

I clearly acknowledge that Paul’s references in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy are to the elders that labor in word and doctrine, but just as Deuteronomy referenced ONLY OXEN but was used by Paul to expound on the spiritual meaning behind ox partaking of their labors, I am now expounding on who it is that partakes of the temple.

Partakers of the temple are the priests that minister to it, and we are all being trained up as PRIESTS in the kingdom of God. What is the temple I speak of with “gold, silver, brass, blue, purple and scarlet” holy things in it?

Mat 26:61  And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Mat 27:40  And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

Luk 2:37  And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1Co 3:18  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

I asked everyone earlier what race we are running. Paul references it and so does Hebrews.

1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

When life becomes so burdensome that the weight of the concerns of life slam us to the ground from the sheer heaviness of it all, we are told to SET IT ASIDE with the SIN THAT EASILY BESETS US, and run the race by looking toward JESUS CHRIST as the example of the JOY and REWARD we will receive as a result of WINNING the RACE.

Brethren, this is much harder than it sounds because everything that makes us who we are is not easily set aside.

I get this whole heartedly. I feel it every day I am given to open my eyes. I know the struggle that you all feel because I am weighted down by it too. I often times fail at keeping on track and not stumbling at each step I take in this race I’m racing.

The only reason I am able to continue each day is because I am NOT alone. I have someone who calls me friend and runs beside me, picks me up, cheers me on, and rallies me to never give up. I find it is only when I am silent and still that I can hear this voice speaking to me.

The way we set aside the weight that we feel is to look to the side, back, front and inside to see that we are not alone. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,” we also look toward Christ Jesus as our example of how to achieve winning the race.

Not as one that beateth the air

 

1Co 9:14  Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1Co 9:15  But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
1Co 9:16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
1Co 9:17  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
1Co 9:18  What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

Again Paul tells us that he himself could live off of preaching the gospel and would be justified in doing so. He is referencing physical needs, but I ask you to ALSO think of this as SPIRTIALLY being sustained by preaching the gospel.

He tells us that if he were preaching the gospel willingly, i.e. by free will, he would gain his wage, his reward, but his true emphasis is that He is a PRISONER of

Jesus Christ and it is his DUTY, his dispensation form the foundation of the world to preach the gospel.

His reward is to be a PARTAKER of the GOSPEL by PREACHING and TEACHING it!

Exo 25:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: OF EVERY MAN THAT GIVETH IT WILLINGLY with his heart ye shall take my offering.
Exo 25:3  AND THIS IS THE OFFERING WHICH YE SHALL TAKE THEM; gold, and silver, and brass,
Exo 25:4  And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
Exo 25:5  And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,
Exo 25:6  Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
Exo 25:7  Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.

What did the children of Israel have to willingly offer to God that had not already been given to them by God to offer?

What was in their possession that had not already been freely given to them so that they would have it when the time came so that they could give it as an offering so that the SANCTUARY could be BUILT?

There’s a famous quote supposedly by Mark Twain that I really like. It goes like this, “Good judgment is the result of experience, and experience the result bad judgment”.

Now, we can individually make bad judgments and reap the results of that with one of the results hopefully being that we learn from our mistakes and don’t make them again. Being human, it usually takes most of us a few times or more to really have lessons like that sink in.

However, we can also learn from the experiences of others so that we do not make the same mistakes others have made as well as being able to BENEFIT from the experience of their successes.

Jesus Christ is the perfect example of this for us, as well as all the apostles. We can learn from them because their example TEACHES us if we are as children on the knee of our parent.

With all of that being said, how do we willingly offer to the Lord what He has given to us so that we have an OFFERING ready when it comes time to BUILD the SANCTUARY?

It is important to note that the kingdom of God is within us and within others, and anyone who is in your life be it parents, children, peers, friends, co-workers or enemies are potentially having that sanctuary built for them as you interact with them in your life.

1Co 9:19  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
1Co 9:20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1Co 9:21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1Co 9:22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1Co 9:23  And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

I can’t count how many times in my life I have felt like I was at the bottom of the barrel or at my wits in with this or that weight that has been placed on my shoulders. We all feel this way a lot of our lives.

However, when we are bene made a new creature in Jesus Christ our lives should not be the only focus we have. We have been BAPTISED by the Word and have bene raised to NEWNESS of LIFE.

So, the meaning of “LIFE” is to do the will of the Father, and the will of the Father was shown us by JESUS CHRIST during His entire life.

I have been learning the hard way, by discerning good and evil, that Jesus Christ really meant it when He said, “Why calleth me good? There is only One that is Good and that is the Father.”

Luk 18:18  And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 18:19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

As we know from scripture, eternal life is to know God the Father and Jesus Christ, but in order to do that we must do what Christ said is the method to obtain this life.

Luk 18:22  Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Luk 18:23  And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
Luk 18:24  And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Luk 18:25  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Luk 18:26  And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
Luk 18:27  And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

What riches has the Lord given you that you still hold onto willingly?

Before you think that I am referencing mere money, I am referring to, “gold, silver, brass, blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen, goats hair, rams skins dyed red, badgers skins, shittim wood, oil for light, spices for anointing oil, and various stones of value to be used in the ephod and breastplate worn by the priests.”

All of these items hold much value to the person that “owns” them. Willingly giving them up results in LOSS to that person, but GAIN to the SANCTUARY that they will help build.

If you find that you do not know your “purpose in life”, that you sometimes think God is not working with you, that you do not understand how or why God has chosen you to reveal His mysteries to, yet you have many trials, tribulations and sufferings mentally, physically, financially and spiritually and seem to be BEATING the AIR OVER and OVER experiencing and doing the same things, maybe it is because you are focused on YOU and who “you are” versus who you are becoming.

1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air
1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

We are fighting a fight in which there is a war going on in our heavens between what our carnal mind wants for us and our flesh and what the Spirit of God in us is producing for the kingdom of heaven.

I challenge us all to live our lives as a +Jew to the Jew and as weak to the weak so that we take our focus off of ourselves and look toward the author and finishers of our Faith being built up in us and in others.

That is why Jesus told us this:

Mat 22:36  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

We sell all that we have and distribute to the poor by:

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co 5:19  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.
2Co 5:20  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.
2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.