[Study Aired February 9, 2023]

2Ki 18:13  Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. 
2Ki 18:14  And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 
2Ki 18:15  And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house. 
2Ki 18:16  At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. 
2Ki 18:17  And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field. 
2Ki 18:18  And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

Last week we were introduced to King Hezekiah who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord as David his father had done” who had faith in the Lord, the God of Israel, “so that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah who were before him.“

In this study we are looking at 2 Kings 18:13-18, which is focused on “Sennacherib king of Assyria” who came up against all the fenced cities of Judah and took them, putting Hezekiah in a position where he sought peace with Sennacherib by giving him gold and silver from the temple of God, which actions only emboldened Sennacherib to further want to overtake the nation of Judah in war. Hezekiah turned to the Lord for deliverance with a humble and contrite heart that sought and hoped in the Lord in times of trouble. 

In this section of the study we will also look at how Hezekiah, who as a type of the elect  comes to learn that you cannot make concessions with this world and expect that your trials will somehow be circumvented as a result of those actions.

Hezekiah’s lapse in good judgment regarding giving of the temple’s silver and gold to Sennacherib brought a curse on the nation of Judah and demonstrates for us that regardless of how zealous we are for the LORD, as Hezekiah was, we still make mistakes and fall seven times in this life (Pro 24:16). No matter who we are, we come short of the glory of God until God is glorified in us through the spirit He gives to those who can then obey Him (Rom 3:23, 2Co 3:18, Act 5:32). The obedience is accomplished by Christ, and the giving of the holy spirit from God is what makes it possible for us to fulfill His will (Php 2:12-13).

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him [Rom 5:5]. 

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

God must help us remember that the greatest enemy we have is within ourselves, comprised of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, everything that is found in the world that we are not to love, either in ourselves or in this perverse generation in which we live. We love our neighbor as ourselves, but we don’t love the world that is going to pass and is passing first within the body of Christ (1Co 10:11)  which is being judged now (1Pe 4:17). We are in the world but not of it (Joh 17:15), and while we are in these earthen marred vessels, we are told to do good to all men, especially to them of the household of faith  (1Jn 2:16, Php 2:15, Gal 6:10). 

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world [1Jn 2:16] are come.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Thanks be to God that all these things within us (1Jn 2:16) that make up the ‘wretched man that I am’ (Rom 7:24) can be subdued and overcome through Christ little and by little as we stay in the light as He is in the light and have fellowship with one another (1Jn 1:7, Heb 10:25). The effect of this relationship or communion (1Co 10:16) that we have is that, in time, our ways will please the LORD more and more as we go from glory to glory (2Co 3:18) and he will make those enemies to be at peace within us through the dominion we have over them (Rom 6:14, Pro 16:7, Rom 6:14).

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Christ had outward enemies His whole life (Mat 2:12) and especially at the end of His life (Luk 24:7), so the outward application of having your enemies be at peace with you of Proverb 16:7 is not contradicted by the statement ‘you shall be hated by all men’ (Mat 10:22); it’s just that if our ways please God, He will stay the hand of the enemy to His glory, softening our enemies’ hearts as he did Pharaoh so they are at peace with us, until such a time God allows that hatred of man to be manifested outwardly as was the case with Christ and His body. All events work according to the counsel of His own will, including the strength He gives us to endure the attacks of the adversary. Another example of peace that is no peace at all is the thousand-year reign that ends in worldwide rebellion against the camp of the saints (Act 4:27-28, Rev 20:8).

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Pro 16:7  When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

2Ki 18:13 now in the fourteenth year of king (strengthened by Jehovah)Hezekiah did (the destroyed thorn)Sennacherib king of (plain)Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of (praised)Judah, and took them. [PNBkjv]
2Ki 18:14  Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent a message to the king of Assyria at Lachish. Hezekiah said, “I have done wrong. Leave me {alone}. Then I will pay anything you want. [ERV]

God uses king Sennacherib to teach Hezekiah a deep lesson about how to make war against our enemies, of which Sennacherib is one, and as his name suggests, “the destroyed thorn” he typifies for God’s elect today is a thorn in our flesh who is going to be destroyed to the glory of God through Hezekiah, “strengthened by Jehovah.”

It is in Hezekiah’s fourteenth year of rule that this siege takes place against Judah which was used to bring Hezekiah to see that God is faithful to His elect of whom Hezekiah is a type. Fourteen is a number associated with the generations of Christ (Mat 1:17) as well as the passover (Lev 23:5). and this story typifies for the elect how we come to see that our strength is found in trusting in Christ who is our passover lamb (1Co 5:7). We are of the generation who have no confidence in the flesh, and our strength comes from being buried into Christ’s death (Num 29:13, 15, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32). Hezekiah is a type of the elect who is going to learn this truth of God’s faithfulness in battle beginning in the fourteenth year of his reign.

At this point in the story, Hezekiah is in a weakened position and tries to appease his enemy by giving the king of Assyria “three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.” These actions of Hezekiah remind us that we are not to cast our pearls before swine and hope beyond hope that we can conquer our enemies within us by these physical means of silver and gold that point to a negative example of the process of judgment [300 silver – 30 talents of gold] that will be of no effect on the unbelieving Sennacherib. Hezekiah’s actions were like trying to pay off the school bully in hopes that his heart would change and he would just go away. Of course, the leopard cannot change his spots and king Sennacherib does not go away (Jer 13:23).

Jer 13:23  Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

So not only did Hezekiah waste that silver and gold, but then Sennacherib turns around and tramples on Hezekiah just like the proverb says our enemies will do when we trust in ourselves to figure out how to make war against the beast within us (Mat 7:6, Rev 13:4). Thankfully, and by the grace of God, after these events Hezekiah was brought to his senses and zealously turned to the Lord to overcome his enemies (Rom 8:28-29, 2Co 7:11). 

Mat 7:6 give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 

Rev 13:4 and they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? 

2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

2Ki 18:15  And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house. 
2Ki 18:16  At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

This situation with Hezekiah is akin to our lack of fidelity with the word of God when we first come into the knowledge of the truth, and we are so ready to give “all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house” thinking this will surely appease those who are against us. Eventually and little by little we become more wise and able to know how to walk “in the midst of wolves” being  “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Mat 10:16).

There is a parallel with Peter zealously cutting off the ear of the servant Malchus (Joh 18:10), and this story with Hezekiah who “cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid“, symbolizing how such actions take away access to (‘cutting off’) the door [Christ]. The pillar without the gold is like a pillar of salt that does not have the savour of Christ’s righteousness (gold). Hezekiah was flagrantly using the gold and silver to bribe his enemy instead of trusting that God would deliver him. This proverb comes to mind (Pro 23:23):

Pro 23:23  Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

2Ki 18:17 and the king of (plain)Assyria sent (release the dragon)Tartan and (chief eunuch)Rabsaris and (chief cup bearer)Rabshakeh from (man’s walk)Lachish to king (strengthened by Jehovah)Hezekiah with a great host against (founded in peace)Jerusalem. And they went up and came to (founded in peace)Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field. [PNBkjv]

It is going to be in our most severe trials of life that God will reveal where we have been placing our hope, and this event of the king of Assyria sending “Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem” is typical of what God’s elect must go through (1Co 3:13-15, Heb 12:7). 

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

God uses Satan as His sword (Psa 17:13) to accomplish His purpose, trying our faith, which is what the process of judgment produces in the lives of those who are granted to endure that judgment until the end, resulting in tried faith that is precious to God (1Pe 1:6-7, Php 4:13, Mat 24:11-14, Rev 2:10, Psa 116:15). 

1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 
1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Psa 116:15  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

The three men who the king of Assyria sends up against Hezekiah represent that process of judgment [3] that is upon the body of Christ today (1Pe 4:17) [1-Tartan and 2-Rabsaris and 3-Rabshakeh] and the only way we can endure that judgment until the end is to be “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1Pe 1:5 1Co 10:11)”. 

Tartan as we read earlier means “release the dragon” and is a type of the events that happen to “the whole world” who will be attacked by Satan by way of “three unclean spirits like frogs” (Rev 16:13) that will not overcome the elect who are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in “the last time” (1Pe 1:5).

1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The ‘last time’ for us may be the season we draw our last breath or when we are changed in a moment and the twinkling of an eye in the first resurrection, Lord willing. Having “done all” by the faith of Christ, we will be able to withstand these attacks of the devil (Mat 24:24) prior to being changed into spirit beings in that blessed and holy first resurrection. Verse 15 of  Revelation 16:1-15 and verse 13 of Ephesians 6:13 are saying the same thing to us regarding being made ready of the Lord as the bride of Christ (Rev 19:7-9).

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, [“keepeth his garments“] that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, [“the last time“] and having done all, to stand.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, [“keepeth his garments“] clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 
Rev 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Rabsaris is the second man mentioned, and his name means “chief eunuch” meaning Satan comes up against the church with the chief rulers who have no spiritual seed or truth in them that can produce life [spiritual eunuchs] (Act 4:27-28). 

Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done [Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28].

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:

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The last man mentioned is Rabshakeh, which means “chief cupbearer” symbolizing Mystery Babylon who bears a cup that is full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication of Revelation 17:4:

Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

When these three men come up against Hezekiah, or against Jerusalem, we are told “they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field.“

This location is significant as it symbolizes the place where a narrow escape against the powers and principalities of this world will be granted to the body of Christ, seeing it is connected to the prophecy of the birth of Christ (Isa 7:3-14).  Being as we are as He is in this world (1Jn 4:17), it is also a prophecy of the first resurrection (our birth), that blessed event given to the remnant who will be scarcely saved by His power.

Isa 7:3  Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field;
Isa 7:4  And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.
Isa 7:5  Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,
Isa 7:6  Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:
Isa 7:7  Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.
Isa 7:8  For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.
Isa 7:9  And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. 
Isa 7:10  Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 
Isa 7:11  Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.
Isa 7:12  But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.
Isa 7:13  And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 
Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The physical waters that flow into the beloved city are symbolic of how the man of perdition that sits upon the throne of God on our hearts is destroyed by the brightness of His coming from east to west with living waters (2Th 2:8, Mat 24:27), from Gihon to the west side of the city of David (1Co 10:13, Luk 12:32, 1Pe 4:18, Isa 7:3-15,  2Ch 32:30). 

Easton’s Bible Dictionary: A water-course or channel (Job 38:25). The “conduit of the upper pool” (Isa 7:3) was formed by Hezekiah for the purpose of conveying the waters from the upper pool in the valley of Gihon to the west side of the city of David (2Ki 18:17;  2Ki 20:20; 2Ch 32:30).

Gihon, H1521 = bursting forth
one of the four rivers of the Garden of Eden
a spring near Jerusalem where the anointing and proclaiming of Solomon as king took place

Strong’s: From H1518; stream; Gichon a river of Paradise; also a valley (or pool) near Jerusalem: – Gihon. 

Total KJV Occurrences: 6 
Gihon, 6
Gen_2:13; 1Ki_1:33; 1Ki_1:38; 1Ki_1:45; 2Ch_32:30; 2Ch_33:14

David H1732 = beloved
youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel

Strong’s: From the same as H1730; loving; David the youngest son of Jesse: – David.

Total KJV Occurrences: 1074 

This section of Kings we are studying encourages us to hope in what God has promised He will do in the body of Christ with those living waters He is giving us (Rom 5:5), showing us that we are more than conquerors through Christ, who is our hope of glory within (Col 1:27), and there is no weapon which has been formed that can overtake the elect (Isa 54:16-17), although the devil will be given to try to do so (Mat 24:24), as demonstrated in the type and shadow attacks that took place on Jerusalem in the days of king Hezekiah. This is all written to remind us that we will be more than conquerors through those many diverse temptations and much tribulation the Lord has promised us (Jas 1:2-5, Act 14:22).

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing [2Th 1:4].

2Ki 18:18  And when they had called to the king, there came out to them (god establishes)Eliakim the son of (Jehovah’s portion)Hilkiah, which was over the household, and (grown)Shebna the scribe, and (Jehovah is his brother)Joah the son of (collector)Asaph the recorder.

This last verse we’ll look at speaks to the witness God’s elect will give to this world. When these three men Tartan (release the dragon) and Rabsaris (chief eunuch) and Rabshakeh (chief cupbearer) come up against Jerusalem, they call for king Hezekiah, and three men are sent out to give a report on behalf of the king.

Those three men’s names represent something significant for us as well, in the positive use of the process of judgment: 

When God judges us, “Eliakim–god establishes“, it is for the purpose of perfecting us on the third day and establishing and settling us so that, no matter what storms come our way, we will be able to stand (1Pe 5:10, Mat 7:25).

The second is “Shebna the scribe–grown” reminding us that it is through the process of judgment that we grow as God gives the increase or growth in our life (1Co 3:6). 

The third one is “Joah–Jehovah is his brother“, that reminds us that Christ is our brother and high priest who watches over us through our entire life of judgment of which he is the author and finisher of (Php 1:6).

Next week, Lord willing, will look at the third part of the chapter (2Ki 18:19-37), which is focused on how Sennacherib used Rabshakeh, who was a field commander, to send messages to Hezekiah and his foot soldiers to undermine their confidence in what Hezekiah could do in war against Assyria with the God of Israel as his helper and hope.

The question “In what are you placing your hope” is revealed to God’s elect by reflecting on this story of a king who, through the tribulation of his life, was made strong in battle bringing him to eventually see that the battle is the Lord’s (1Sa 17:47). This story is yet another demonstration of how faithful our Lord is to see us through every trial in this life and every tribulation we must go through (1Co 10:13) in order to inherit the kingdom of God (Act 14:22).

1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, [“we must go through“] that ye may be able to bear it.

Act 14:22  Confirming^G1991 the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

–Confirming^G1991  Episterizo
to establish besides, strengthen more
to render more firm, confirm
– Strong’s: From G1909 and G4741; to support further that is reestablish: – confirm strengthen.

Total KJV Occurrences: 4 
confirmed, 1
 Act_15:32

confirming, 2
Act_14:22; Act_15:41

strengthening, 1
Act_18:23

Jdg 7:1-25: The People are too Many for Me to Give the Midianites into Their Hands

[Study Aired April 12, 2021]

Jdg 7:1  Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 
Jdg 7:2  And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 
Jdg 7:3  Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. 
Jdg 7:4  And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. 
Jdg 7:5  So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. 
Jdg 7:6  And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 
Jdg 7:7  And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place. 
Jdg 7:8  So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley. 
Jdg 7:9  And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. 
Jdg 7:10  But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: 
Jdg 7:11  And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host. 
Jdg 7:12  And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude. 
Jdg 7:13  And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. 
Jdg 7:14  And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
Jdg 7:15  And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian. 
Jdg 7:16  And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. 
Jdg 7:17  And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. 
Jdg 7:18  When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 
Jdg 7:19  So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 
Jdg 7:20  And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 
Jdg 7:21  And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 
Jdg 7:22  And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath. 
Jdg 7:23  And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. 
Jdg 7:24  And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. 
Jdg 7:25  And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan. 

This chapter is divided into three components: the selection of those who were going to war against the Midianites, God’s assurance of victory over the Midianites and the defeat of the Midianites. In order to understand this chapter, we need to understand what the Midianites represent.

In an earlier review, it was shown that the Midianites represent the false doctrines which make us focus on receiving our full reward while living here on earth.  Therefore, we end up fixing our attention on the cares of this life, and so when the word of God is sown in our lives, it is choked and does not bear any fruit.

Mat 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

The Selection of Those to Wage War

Jdg 7:1  Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 

It was at the well of Harod that the Israelites under Gideon gathered in preparation for the battle against the Midianites who were in a nearby valley by the hill of Moreh. ‘Harod’ means ‘fear’, and the well represents the word of God. So it is through the word of God that we learn the fear of the Lord.  The fear of the Lord makes us walk in His ways, causing us to love Him and serve Him with all our heart and soul. As a result, our Lord causes our enemies within and without to fear us, making us victorious in our walk with Him.

Deu 10:12  And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

Deu 11:25  There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.

It is important to note that the Midianites were gathered on the north side of the Israelites. This is to show us that the Midianites were instruments God was using to judge them as out of the north comes judgment. So the false doctrines (the Midianites) we have imbibed in our heavens serve as fuel for God’s judgment in our lives. The result of this judgment is that we learn righteousness or the fear of the Lord.

Jer 1:14  Then the LORD said unto me, out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Jer 10:22  Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Jdg 7:2  And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

This verse is telling us that God does not want any flesh to glory in His presence. That is why God chooses the stupid things of this world to confound the wise who think that their own decisions are responsible for their current status. One of the false doctrines that makes us think our own hands have saved us is the doctrine of man’s free will. God clearly says in His word that it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. Romans 8:21 says that the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly. All these verses of scriptures make it clear that we do not have our own free will to make decisions but that everything is of the Lord.

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Therefore, it is God who chooses who should come to serve him and who is not blessed to serve him in this life. Those who are blessed to be chosen are those who are selected to wage war with the flesh. These are those who get caught in their sins now but those who are not part of the elect are those whose sins do not show up until later.

1Ti 5:24  Some people get caught in their sins right away, even before the time of judgment. But other people’s sins don’t show up until later. (CEV)

This is how God chooses the stupid things of this world:

Jdg 7:3  Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. 

The total number of those who had gathered to battle the Midianites were thirty-two thousand. In the Book of Chronicles, the same number of warriors (32,000) got themselves ready to wage war. So this number symbolized those who are responding to calls to wage war against the old man or the flesh. However, it is one thing to be called to wage war against the flesh, but it is another thing to follow up this call to start engaging the enemy in battle.

1Ch 19:7  Thirty-two thousand troops, as well as the king of Maacah and his army, came and camped near Medeba. The Ammonite troops also left their towns and came to prepare for battle.

One of the ways that separate those who actually engage the enemy in battle from those who are called but never pursue the enemy is the fear factor. In verse 3, those who are fearful and afraid were allowed to return home, and as a result, twenty-two thousand people left. The question is, “what does it mean to be fearful and afraid?” To be afraid or fearful means we regard ourselves as being incapable to drive the enemies (false doctrines, fleshly desires, etc.) from our land as we cannot think of life without them. We therefore try to stone those who are urging us to let these false doctrines, desires, etc. go. That was what happened to Caleb and Joshua as the Israelites almost stoned them.

Num 14:6  And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
Num 14:7  And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
Num 14:8  If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
Num 14:9  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
Num 14:10  But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

The consequence of refusing to start this war is that we end up worshiping the beast saying, “Who is like the beast or can make war with the beast?” We are the fearful and afraid at certain periods of our walk with Christ when we are being called out of Babylon but we do not think we have what it takes to come out of the wilderness of Babylon to confront the giants (our false doctrines, desires and addictions) within us.

Rev 13:4  and they worshiped the dragon who had given its authority to the beast. They also worshiped the beast and said, “No one is like this beast! No one can fight against it.”

Jdg 7:4  And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. 

Verse 4 emphasizes the point once again that it is the word of God (represented by water) that separates the sheep from the goat. It also makes us aware that it is God who chooses who should wage this war in this life and who should not. This is to make us aware that our will does not play a part in God’s salvation.

Jdg 7:5  So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
Jdg 7:6  And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 

Those who scooped up water in their hands and lapped represent those who test the spirit to see if it is from God because false prophets have gone out into the world. They do this by comparing spiritual with spiritual. The number of those who were selected was three hundred. The number 300 = 3x10x10. The number three signifies the process of spiritual completion through judgment, and the number ten stands for the completion of the flesh. Thus, the number three hundred stands for those who are in the process of being judged to become spiritually complete in this life (flesh).

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Those who bow down on their knees to drink water are those who have no discernment and just take in whatever is thrown at them without testing the spirit to see if it is of God. They are the foolish Galatians who have been bewitched so they cannot obey the truth. At a certain stage of our walk with Christ, while we were in Babylon, we were those who bowed down on our knees to drink water of the great swelling words emanating from the traditions of man’s wisdom to pollute our heavens. In this way, we behaved just like the Israelites who were ready to stone those who told them that they could overcome the giants in the land.

Gal 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

Jdg 7:7  And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

As indicated, the three hundred men are those who are in the process of being judged to become spiritually complete in this fleshly life. These are the people that are able to wage war against these false doctrines in our heavens represented by the Midianites and remove them from their land.

Jdg 7:8  So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.

This verse reflects the giving of food and other resources of those sent away to the three hundred men who were going to wage war with the Midianites. Spiritually, this is the same as saying that those sent away were made disobedient so the elect will be shown mercy. In other words, the food and other resources meant for those turned away were given to those going to wage the war. Later on, they will also be given the food and other resources (will be shown mercy) by the three hundred warriors who have received mercy in this life.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,
Rom 11:31  even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.

Assurance of Victory over the Midianites

Jdg 7:9  And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. 
Jdg 7:10  But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: 
Jdg 7:11  And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.

Our Commander in Chief, our Lord Jesus Christ, knows how to motivate us to wage war against the flesh as we engage in this long drawn-out war with the old man or the flesh. Without assurance of victory, we may likely draw back and concede that there is no way we can win this war, just as the whole world think that this war cannot be won. This is because we may be discouraged at some points in our walk due to the intensity of the battle. That is why we are admonished that we should never draw back but walk in faith.

Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Our Lord is always assuring us of this victory throughout the word of God.  For example, when Joshua and the Israelites were getting ready to fight Jericho after crossing the Jordan River, Joshua had an encounter with the Lord who assured him of victory as follows:

Jos 5:13  And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
Jos 5:14  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
Jos 5:15  And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Of course, the captain of the Lord’s host is Jesus our Lord, and if He is for us who can be against us? All that the Lord requires from us based on this encounter with Joshua is that we should loose our shoes from off our feet as we are standing on a holy ground. That means that we should change from our old ways of walking with Him as we get to know Him. Standing on a holy ground means our eyes are seeing and our ears are hearing the word of God.

We have been assured, just like Gideon and Joshua, throughout the word of God that victory is ours. Thus, we are not to retreat or surrender but move forward always even if the situation seems like we are losing the fight!!

As long as we see the Ark of the Covenant being carried by the priests, we are to move on. This was the command Joshua, representing Christ, told the elect (the officers) to tell the Israelites. The Ark of the Covenant represents Christ who is the word of God, and the carrying of this Ark by the priests signifies the elect who speak and walk according to the word of God. So, as long as our eyes are seeing and our ears are hearing the word of God, we must move on irrespective of our failures, which includes the sins which easily beset us, our addictions, etc., and victory will definitely be ours!!

Jos 3:2  And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
Jos 3:3  And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
Jos 3:4  Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

As we follow the Ark, there must be a space of two thousand cubits. This means that as we are understanding the word of God, we must always be conscious of not neglecting the testing of the spirit to see if it is of the Lord by comparing spiritual with spiritual. Two thousand cubits space can be broken down as: 2000 =2x10x10x10. This means that as fleshly beings (number 10), we must always remember to have a witness (signified by number 2) concerning the word of God which is the Ark.

Jdg 7:12  And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude. 

The Midianites, the Amalekites and the children of the East are described here as grasshoppers for multitude because they are without number, and they enter into the land to destroy it. According to Strong, grasshoppers and locusts are the same. From Revelation 9:3, we read that these locusts come out of the smoke from the bottomless pit (our sea of flesh). The smoke that darkens the sun and the air are the false doctrines which keep us from seeing the light of Christ. The locusts therefore are the product of our darkness which further deepens our darkness as they cover the earth bringing the land in darkness. That is, this oppression of the Midianites in our lives sends us into more darkness, blocking us from seeing the light of the glorious gospel of Christ. We all, at a certain period of our lives, have encountered their effects in our lives.

Rev 9:2  And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
Rev 9:3  And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

Exo 10:13  And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
Exo 10:14  And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.
Exo 10:15  For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Jdg 7:13  And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. 
Jdg 7:14  And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
Jdg 7:15  And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian. 

As indicated, our Lord allowed Gideon to hear what the enemies were discussing to assure him of victory as promised by the Lord. The cake of barley bread that tumbled into the host of the Midian and into the tent typifies the fiery word of God which destroys our false doctrines (the Midianites) from our tents which is our hearts and minds. This is confirmed in verse 14 when one of the Midianites said that the cake of barley bread is the sword of Gideon, which is the word of God.

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The Defeat of the Midianites

Jdg 7:16  And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. 

The dividing of the three hundred men into three companies signifies that the defeat of the enemies in our lives is done little by little just as the trials we face in our lives are carried out little by little, less we faint.

Exo 23:29  I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.
Exo 23:30  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

Rev 8:8  And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

Rev 8:10  And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

Rev 9:15  And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

The trumpet in the hands of those selected to fight symbolizes the need for the elect to sound the alarm for us to wage this war against the old man. The empty pitchers with the lamps within the pitchers represent the treasure, which is the lamp (the word of God) in our earthen vessels (pitchers).

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Jdg 7:17  And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.

In this verse, Gideon represents Christ, and as our Chief Commander, we are to look up to Him and follow Him by doing what He did while walking here on earth.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Jdg 7:18  When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

One of the things that our Lord Jesus did while walking here on earth is that He warned us of this impending war with the old man. That is what it means to blow the trumpet as we see Gideon instructing the people with him to blow the trumpet after him. In His dialogue with the disciples, Jesus was always warning them of this war as follows:

Joh 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

To love your life means you are not ready for war.  The process of losing your life is this war we are talking about.

Joh 2:13  And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
Joh 2:14  And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
Joh 2:15  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;

This war is the clearing of our temple of all that offends as Jesus did.

Joh 2:18  Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Again, the destroying of our temple is what this war is about. Our old man representing this temple must be destroyed before the new man comes.

Jdg 7:19  So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
Jdg 7:20  And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

This call to war against the flesh (blowing of trumpets) is about the breaking of pitchers.  To break the pitchers means that the beast within is being taken and destroyed. It is only when it is destroyed that the lamp, which is the word of God or Christ concealed within us, begins to shine forth in our lives. So the breaking of the pitchers signifies the dying of the old man and the simultaneous birth of the new man after the image of Christ.

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

The weapon we need to win this war is the sword of the Lord and of Gideon as proclaimed by the warriors. The sword is the fiery word of God which is a consuming fire and is able to burn into ashes all our false doctrines, additions, fleshly desires and our self-righteousness.

Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

Deu 4:24  For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Jdg 7:21  And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 
Jdg 7:22  And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
Jdg 7:23  And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. 

Although we are called to wage war against the enemies within, we do not do it by our own strength.  The battle is the Lord’s!! Our God fights our battles for us. The scriptures have demonstrated in several places that it is the Lord who fights our battles for us, and all we have to do is to desire His righteousness above all else as we stand still to see the salvation of the Lord. Standing still therefore means having confidence in the Lord that what He has started in us, He is able to finish!! There is also this element of patience as we stand still to see the salvation of the Lord, for without patience we cannot inherit the promises.

Deu 20:4  For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

Exo 14:13  And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever.
Exo 14:14  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Did the Israelites have to do anything to defeat the Egyptians? The answer is absolutely, “No!!” If victory depends on us, then who can be saved? Incidentally, this was the question that the disciples asked Jesus when He told them about the requirement for an overcomer.

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

The rich man here is you and me who trust in our own righteousness.  In other words, he thinks it is within our means to become righteous. This is contrary to those who are poor in spirit, that is, those who come to realize that they are the worse sinners.

Jdg 7:24  And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan.
Jdg 7:25  And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.

Our victory inspires others to also join this fight and win this war of the flesh as demonstrated by the men of Ephraim joining the war when Gideon and his warriors started winning the war. It was through the men of Ephraim that the two princes of Oreb and Zeeb were captured and killed. In a similar vein, the victory of David over Goliath inspired the Israelites to go after the Philistines and victory became theirs.

1Sa 17:50  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
1Sa 17:51  Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
1Sa 17:52  And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

May the Lord help us to win this war and so inspire others to also overcome the flesh!!

Download Discussion

“Confidence in the Lord”

Aired March 28, 2020

by Steven Crook

Sometimes, it can be challenging to stay mentally confident when things around us appear to not be going the way we want them to.

As the children of God, we are told to look to the Lord for all things, but when times get tough and rough, we tend to listen to carnal mind that so easily directs us to do and think about thinks that we know we ought not to do.

This is because the Lord has caused us to have too much faith in our own abilities to deliver ourselves from whatever situation we are currently in.

Pro 25:19  Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Having confidence in ourselves only, will lead us quickly down a steep place to join the swine in the sea of the thoughts and thinking of humanity just as when legion was cast into swine and then sent into the ocean.

Mar 5:6  But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
Mar 5:7  And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
Mar 5:8  For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
Mar 5:9  And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
Mar 5:10  And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
Mar 5:11  Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
Mar 5:12  And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
Mar 5:13  And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
Mar 5:14  And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
Mar 5:15  And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
Mar 5:16  And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
Mar 5:17  And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

A lot of the time, what happens when we gain confidence in the Lord, and we are given Faith in the Lord to trust in Him no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, is that those who witness this happening will spiritually wish us to depart from them.

Sure, we can be like legion who worship Jesus in appearance, but what happens when the going gets tough?

In the story we just read, Jesus was worshipped by legion. However, that worship is immediately followed up by us NOT wanting the deliverance that the Lord can provide to us because we see it as torment.

The truth is we all think we know what country it is we seek, but what happens when we find it?

Mar 5:10  And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Legion did not want to be sent out of the country they were familiar with. They didn’t want to be sent forth out of the country where they could dwell in the mountains and the tombs while cutting themselves with stones.

We all like to claim the name of Jesus while times are good, but what about when times are bad? I am not speaking of the times that others THINK are bad, which very well could be awful for them, but I am speaking of the times when you know the “times” you are personally experiencing are almost too much to bare for you.

Our study today is titled, “Confidence in the Lord”. I chose this topic in order to talk about this topic in a way that can hopefully help us all become more confident in what the Lord is doing with us.

Job is a great example for all of us even today. Let’s examine the “times” that came upon Job.

Job 4:1  Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Job 4:2  If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

Eliphaz is so “concerned” for his friend Job, that he is going to let Job know where Job’s confidence in the Lord has led him.

Job 4:3  Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Job 4:4  Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
Job 4:5  But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
Job 4:6  Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

Look at how Eliphaz, during this horrible time in Job’s life, throws Job’s belief and trust in the Lord right back in Job’s face. “You are just like us Job! You helped people with your preaching and teaching, but now the Lord is visiting YOU!”

Job 4:7  Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
Job 4:8  Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Job 4:9  By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

Seems like a good friend, no? In the defense of Eliphaz, most of us have thought this way in our Christian walks. When we are experiencing something “bad” or trying we immediately think we are being punished by the Lord.

Our friends will be quick to point out to us that we are the ones who are all self-righteous, and if we were “so righteous”, why is the Lord doing what He is doing to us? Therefore, the conclusion is that we are frauds.

If we give in to this mindset, then we will quickly discover that we are still in the place of seeking a heavenly country because our spiritual feet are still firmly planted in the “country” named “self”.

It is in this mindset that we are still focused on what we did or didn’t do that caused the Lord to “turn His back on us”. It is in this mindset that we are easily drawn into the mindsets of the ungodly around us or on internet forums and social media.

It seems a bit harsh to call those around us “ungodly” doesn’t it, at least on the surface of it, because that means we are claiming to know who is godly or ungodly.

Therefore, how do we KNOW who is godly and who is ungodly? This question, and the answers we conclude, will directly affect the confidence we have in the Lord.

I am about to present a long list of verses that will start to help our answering of the question of who is godly versus ungodly. However, I will give a spoiler. It has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with the Lord.

While all of the world experience this “one event” named COVID-19, let us think on how the following verses affect our hearts and minds given the times we live in.

Psa 118:8  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psa 118:9  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
Psa 118:10  All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

Which nations are we talking about? Are we talking about Mexico and Canada if you live in the United States? Are we talking about the physical nations that surround us in whatever country we live in?

Psa 118:11  They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Psa 118:12  They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Psa 118:13  Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
Psa 118:14  The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
Psa 118:15  The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
Psa 118:16  The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
Psa 118:17  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

It behooves us to know what the right hand of the Lord is. It behooves us to declare the WORKS OF THE LORD. Is not everything we experience, including the day and age we live in, the works of the Lord?

Psa 118:18  The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
Psa 118:19  Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
Psa 118:20  This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
Psa 118:21  I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
Psa 118:22  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Psa 118:23  This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
Psa 118:24  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psa 118:25  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

When is it that “prosperity in the Lord” can be sent to us? We must be deficient and in need of prosperity to become the new normal for us. Those that are sick need a doctor, not the healthy.

Psa 118:26  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Psa 118:28  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
Psa 118:29  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

There are several different words used in English that have been translated from various Hebrew and Greek words.

For this study, I am going to look at some of those words in Greek.

The first example I want to use to talk about the word, “godly” can be seen in the example of 2 Corinthians 11:2.

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

This “godly” in used in English the how godly is translated most of the time in the New Testament.

G2316

theos

theh’-os

Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very: – X exceeding, God, god [-ly, -ward].

Total KJV occurrences: 1343

For the sake of time, I am only listing a brief example of it’s usage in the NT.

G2316

theos

Total KJV Occurrences: 1344

god, 1310

Mat_1:23, Mat_3:9, Mat_3:16, Mat_4:3-4 (2), Mat_4:6-7 (2), Mat_4:10, Mat_5:8-9 (2), Mat_6:24, Mat_6:30, Mat_6:33, Mat_8:29, Mat_9:8, Mat_12:4, Mat_12:28 (2), Mat_14:33, Mat_15:3-4 (2), Mat_15:6, Mat_15:31, Mat_16:16, Mat_16:23, Mat_19:6, Mat_19:17, Mat_19:24, Mat_19:26, Mat_21:12, Mat_21:31, Mat_21:43, Mat_22:16, Mat_22:21, Mat_22:29-32 (8), Mat_22:37, Mat_23:22, Mat_26:61, Mat_26:63 (2), Mat_27:40, Mat_27:43 (2), Mat_27:46 (2), Mat_27:54, Mar_1:1, Mar_1:14-15 (2), Mar_1:24, Mar_2:7, Mar_2:12, Mar_2:26, Mar_3:11, Mar_3:35, Mar_4:11, Mar_4:26, Mar_4:30, Mar_7:7-9 (4), Mar_7:13, Mar_8:33, Mar_9:1, Mar_9:47, Mar_10:6, Mar_10:9, Mar_10:14-15 (2), Mar_10:18, Mar_10:23-25 (3), Mar_10:27 (2), Mar_11:22, Mar_12:14, Mar_12:17, Mar_12:24, Mar_12:26-27 (6), Mar_12:29-30 (2),

I think you get the point. It is used the vast majority of the time as “god”.

However, there is another time the English word “godly” is used, and that is a different Greek word.

2Pe 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

In this example, it more closely matches what I am presenting in this study. This “match” in topic is the comparison between godly versus ungodly or just versus unjust.

G2152

eusebēs

Total KJV Occurrences: 4

devout, 3

Act_10:2, Act_10:7, Act_22:12

godly, 1

2Pe_2:9

This version of “godly” means devout, so what is it to be “devout”. The scripture describes it one way, while the world in whole tends to see it another way.

Here is the verse listed above:

Act 10:2  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Act 10:7  And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

Act 22:11  And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
Act 22:12  And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
Act 22:13  Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

Isn’t it interesting that this “devout man according to the law” was used to give brother “Paul” his eyesight after being blinded by the Lord?

What is it Ananias came bringing to Paul when he healed him while being Saul?

Act 22:14  And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
Act 22:15  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
Act 22:16  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

The devout are called to be given sight and to give it. The devout are chosen to know His will, to see Him and to be a witness “of what thou hast seen and heard”.

What then do you think the world views this person as being? Devout?

Here is how Strong’s concordance defines this Greek word, “godly”.

G2152

eusebēs

yoo-seb-ace’

From G2095 and G4576; well reverent, that is, pious: – devout, godly.

Total KJV occurrences: 4

“That is, pious – devout, godly”, but the world sees it differently. I am simply going to use the first thing that comes up on Google when I type the word “pious”.

Pious 

adjective

adjective: pious

devoutly religious.

• making a hypocritical display of virtue.

“there’ll be no pious words said over her”

Similar:

sanctimonious

hypocritical

insincere

self-righteous

holier-than-thou

pietistic

churchy

for form’s sake

to keep up appearances

goody-goody

pi

religiose

Pharisaic

Pharisaical

• ARCHAIC

dutiful or loyal, especially toward one’s parents.

The above definition is from the Oxford dictionary, and the next one is from dictionary.com.

                   adjective

having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations.

characterized by a hypocritical concern with virtue or religious devotion; sanctimonious.

practiced or used in the name of real or pretended religious motives, or for some ostensibly good object; falsely earnest or sincere: a pious deception.

of or relating to religious devotion; sacred rather than secular: pious literature.

having or showing appropriate respect or regard for parents or others.

To the worldly, you are devoutly religious and sanctimonious all at the same time. Devout Christians are, “characterized by a hypocritical concern with virtue or religious devotion; sanctimonious”.

Now, if you have been in the world for any amount of time, and have shared your beliefs with anyone that is not of the same mind, you will know that the above is VERY accurate.

Am I saying that all of the world views devout Christians this way? Of course not! However, “all that is in the world” certainly is NOT of God and DOES view devout Christians this way. It just so happens that “all that is in the world” is in all if mankind and that is the “man” that hates Jesus Christ in you!

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

Luk 21:17  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
Luk 21:18  But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

Did you know that you can show a “love” for all that is in the world when you take on the “world’s mindset”?

What do I mean? Well, we just read in the old and new testament that we need to “call on the name of the Lord to destroy them”, “be hated of all men for my name’s sake”, “Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD”, and “But now they desire a better country”.

At first glance, these phrases may not appear to be related to each other but that are as connected as the body of Christ is to the Head of that body.

We cannot come to seek a better heavenly country if we are only mindful, FULL of THE MIND, of this world which is NOT of GOD.

Let me repeat:

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of  God abideth for ever.

Doing the will of God is one in the same as being devout / pious / godly. Doing the will of God is calling on the name of the Lord. Doing the will of God is being confident in the Lord.

Having confidence in the Lord is not only WORSHIPPING the Lord when He presents Himself, just like legion did, but it is WORSHIPPING Him when He appears AND finishing that worship up with the mindset, “nevertheless, thy will be done”.

Mar 14:35  And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
Mar 14:36  And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Mar 14:37  And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
Mar 14:38  Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Luk 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luk 22:43  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

I could phrase this confidence in the Lord in many ways, but when we are confident to say whatever happens, it is the Lord’s will, it is then that the Lord will strengthen us whether by an angel sent or by us being sent to give others the sight needed to get through what they are going through.

That is our chosen calling.

[Study aired August 1, 2019]

Psa 125:1 A Song of degrees. They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 
Psa 125:2  As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. 
Psa 125:3  For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. 
Psa 125:4  Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. 
Psa 125:5  As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel. 

Trusting in the Lord is a huge subject in God’s word, but it comes down to knowing that our Father has to form that trust in the marred vessels (Jer 18:4) which we are through the fiery trials (2Co 1:9) that bring us to see that He alone can deliver us from that natural spirit in man which wants to lean unto our own understanding (Pro 14:12). We are told in Psalm 118:8 “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man“, but in order to do that, a spiritual circumcision of heart must occur so we can be of the generation who have no confidence in the flesh while we grow toward having absolute confidence in our Lord and Saviour who can and will deliver all those who are blessed to put their confidence in Him.

2Co 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves [1Co 15:31], that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead [Eph 2:6]: 
2Co 1:10  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 

Pro 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh [Rom 6:11].

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 
Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise [Luk 21:19].
Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 

There is a clear correlation being made in these verses below admonishing us to remember that God’s grace is sufficient and needed in our lives (2Co 12:9) or we would “wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived”. Our Lord, in the days of His flesh and His body, learned, and we are learning, obedience by the thing that He/we suffer (Col 1:24). Part of that suffering is the persecution we are promised we must endure as His children (Mat 5:11, 1Jn 4:17, Heb 5:8). If we are blessed to be as Christ was while He was in His flesh, something great and powerful is going to unfold in our heavens regarding the persecution described in all of these verses: (1Jn 4:18, Luk 10:18, Rev 12:10, Mat 20:23).

2Ti 3:10  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 
2Ti 3:11  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me [Php 4:13]. 
2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus [Rom 8:9] shall suffer persecution. 
2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 

Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 
Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven [Rom 8:9]: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment [1Pe 4:17]: because as he is, so are we in this world. 
1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. [We can’t be made perfect without our hope of glory within  [Rom 8:9, Col 1:27].

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

King David tells us of the Lord, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life [Heb 10:25], to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”  

We know that in type and shadow God did answer this prayer and desire of king David who was a type of the elect, but not as our flesh would conceive dwelling in His temple; no it is rather being the temple of God (1Co 2:6) which David symbolized for God’s children today having endured so many persecutions and enemies that all symbolized the lifetime of overcoming to which we are called as God’s children (1Pe 1:12, Act 14:22). 

It was Solomon who actually dwelt in the house of the Lord in the temple that was built to the glory of God, whereas David’s life was full of challenges and extreme circumstances caused by God for our benefit and to remind us that we are more than conquerors through Christ when His power rests upon us, and it does rest upon us when His strength is being perfected through our weakness (Tit 2:12). The training we are going through as His kind of first fruits is critical in order for us to mature and be able to discern good and evil and rightly divide the word of God so we can serve those who will come after us and those who are maturing with us in this age (Heb 5:14, 1Co 6:3)

Tit 2:12  Teaching^G3811 us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

G3811  paideuō  pahee-dyoo’-o   From G3816; to train up a child, that is, educate, or (by implication) discipline (by punishment): – chasten (-ise), instruct, learn, teach.

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil [Isa 45:7].

Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

The verses we will examine in this study are very confirming in revealing God’s workmanship which we are (Eph 2:10), and describes for us how it is “better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man”, knowing that with the obedient spirit to what God tells us to do, we will mature through the trials and be brought to our safe haven after we have suffered for awhile.

Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 

Psa 125:1 A Song of degrees. They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 

The only way to “trust in the Lord”…”as mount Zion” is by being granted in this life that we be dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44) where we can “lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help”(Psa 121:1).  

Christ and His Christ are represented by mount Zion, and Psalm 121 really solidifies the idea that we “cannot be removed, but abideth for ever” when we are blessed to continue in His word and be founded upon our rock, Jesus Christ, who has the words of eternal life.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

Psa 121:1  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 
Psa 121:2  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 
Psa 121:3  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 
Psa 121:4  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 
Psa 121:5  The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 
Psa 121:6  The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 
Psa 121:7  The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 
Psa 121:8  The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. 

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

Psa 125:2  As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. 

Last study we looked at how vulnerable we are in the flesh and discussed how that physical vulnerability is a shadow of our own spirits that could be sifted like wheat, if God allowed (Rom 1:20, Luk 22:31). Our old man will be sifted, so that the new creation can be formed within us, and it is this process of maturing which has God looking at us as the apple of His eye (Zec 2:8). He is bringing us to be convinced that nothing can separate us from His love which is likened to these majestic words “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever“. We know Christ said if we abide or continue in His word we will be disciples indeed, and in this particular verse we see how this can be accomplished: it is because “the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever” [1Ti 6:8].

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 

Zec 2:8  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 

Psa 125:3  For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. 

This is what will happen if we are granted to “in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” and “be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” of Proverb 3:6-7. We can only learn obedience through those things we suffer as we cease from sinning (1Pe 4:1-2, Tit 2:12), falling seven symbolic times in our own walk (Pro 24:16), as we “put forth” our “hands unto iniquity”, believing and being convicted of God at an appointed time of those sins (Rom 2:4). Christ bore those iniquities on the cross so that we could be reconciled to our Father through Christ’s suffering, which includes the suffering that we endure together as the body of Christ (Isa 53:4-5, Gal 6:2, Heb 12:1). Those two concepts cannot be separated. We are his body, and we are suffering as He suffered, and we are overcoming as He overcame this world, and we are reconciled through His suffering and His death, but now “much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” which gives us the power to be dead to sin and alive in Christ (Joh 16:32-33, Rom 8:37, 1Jn 2:16-17, Rom_5:10)

Rom 5:11  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 
Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 
Rom 5:13  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 
Rom 5:14  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 
Rom 5:15  But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead [1st Adam within], much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace [Tit 2:12], which is by one man, Jesus Christ [2nd Adam within (Col 1:27)], hath abounded unto many.

Psa 125:4  Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. 

God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6), and the bible is very clear that God not being a respecter of persons (Act 10:34) does not mean that he has not laid up in store untold riches for those who are judged in this age and blessed to overcome and be found in that blessed and holy first resurrection (1Co 2:9, Mat 19:27-29, Rev 20:6, Mar 10:31). If that were not the case, then all of these words of Christ we’ve studied are in vain and should have never been uttered by Him; but let God be true and every man a liar (Rom 3:4) and believe that you are one of those precious first fruits (Psa 107:2) who were first caused to believe and trust on Him (1Co 15:23, Jas 1:18, Joh 6:28-29, Eph 1:12).

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 

Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 
Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

Psa 107:2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; 

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 

God is righteous and will not forget our labour of love that He has worked within those who were ordained from the foundation of the world to be those in whom He would work both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Eph 2:10, Isa 49:15, Heb 6:10, Php 2:13). It is a gift, and a lofty one at that, that caused all of Joseph’s brothers to hate him because of his visions and the love that his father bestowed upon him.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: [two groups: Jacob whom God loves, and Esau whom I hated (Rom 9:13), and yes Esau is being destroyed in us first as we put off our flesh first by the grace and faith of Christ (Eph 2:8)] therefore the world [Esau] knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be (Eph_1:14): but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 

God did this to Joseph’s brothers (causing them to envy and hate Joseph) to show us what is in our own hearts and how the soul just naturally lusts to envy (Jas 4:5), and unless He burns that spiritual immaturity out of us in this age through the much suffering and fiery trials of this life, there is no way that we could be otherwise (1Co 3:3-9). We know Christ has prayed for us, however, and we pray for each other in the name of the Lord: “do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts” (Luk 22:31). There is none good in the realm of the flesh as Christ said (Mat 19:17), and so we have to conclude that yes, God will “do good…unto good…[and] upright in their hearts” meaning those who are found with His righteousness in them and not their own (Php 3:9).

Jas 4:5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 

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? 
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 
1Co 3:5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 
1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 
1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 
1Co 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 
1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building [1Co 3:16].

Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [the way by which we can believe and “keep the commandments“].

Psa 125:5  As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel. 

When we keep the commandments of God, we receive the peace that passes all understanding as the Israel of God (Psa 119:165, Gal 6:16), but if we do not possess the patience and faith of the saints, then we would naturally “turn aside unto their crooked ways”. Notice who would be the one who would do this: “the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity“.

Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. [we are all born with that mark of the beast but God’s elect are the first to be put into the book of life by overcoming that mark through Christ. We are banished like Cain but God redeems us through Christ’s blood (2Sa 14:14)]

2Sa 14:14  For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. 

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 

Psa 119:165  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. 

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 

This last verse of our study really drives home the point that it is “better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man”, but it also shows that unless the Lord builds the house, our labor is in vain (Psa 127:1). It requires a miracle of faith to believe and a miracle of deception that comes from the Lord which “leads them forth with the workers of iniquity”. They are workers, God says, and they are serving us in their unbelief (Rom 11:20-21). When we examine the fruit of their lives, we are seeing where we would be except for the grace of God that chastens and scourges us (how the house is built Heb 12:6) so that we can be received in this age and understand that it is “better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man”.

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 

Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Fear Not!

We have been called to preach the good news of the kingdom of God, even as we live at a time when there are stories on the news every day about how precarious the entire world economic system is. The national debt of almost 17 trillion dollars [as of this writing] overshadows like a very dark cloud everything that is taking place throughout the entire world. An impending economic collapse seems unavoidable, accompanied by the present economic tensions between east and west. We seem to be on the brink of a nuclear war with North Korea, and at the same time we are threatening to go to war with Iran.

It appears at this time that China is the manufacturing base for every country in the world, and there are many people who resent the fact that so many manufacturing jobs have been shipped to China.

The completely incompatible doctrines of the Islamic religion and the Christian religion and the Jewish religion have added acts of terror to this already strained mix. Add to all this the fact that things are now more polarized than ever within all the western so-called Christian nations over social issues like race, the homosexual lifestyle, guns, abortion and even global warming.

In the news almost daily there are stories of school shootings, drunken drivers killing groups of school children, bombings in various cities and, as I write these notes, another horrific accident at a plant in Texas killing and injuring scores of people.

In the midst of all of this, God has called out a few whom He has told to preach the good news of the kingdom of God, “Fear not” and just stay above the fray, and simply love God and keep His commandments.

Here is what we are told of our calling:

2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

We are even told that we are just “strangers and pilgrims” on this earth and that our citizenship is in the heavens.

Php 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (ASV)

1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

So, all we have to do to be saved is to love God and keep His commandments, and not allow ourselves to become entangled with the affairs of this life, and we are told that His commandments are not grievous. Yet we are also told that, if indeed we have Christ living His life within us and we are granted to obey God, then we are promised “Ye shall be hated of all men, [and if we] endure to the end, [then we] shall be saved”. If Christ is truly within us, we are told He did not come to send peace but a sword, and we are told that Christ came to turn father against son, daughter against mother, etc.

Mat 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

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.
Mat 10:35 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.
Mat 10:38 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.

Being “put to death” and “losing our life” are both daily spiritual experiences as well as literal experiences for some, as it accords with our Lord’s plan. Nevertheless our carnal old man just naturally asks, “Who, in his right mind wants any part of that?” What is ‘not grievous’ about any of that?

If indeed “his commandments are not grievous”, what, pray tell, is ‘not grievous’ about what we are told keeping His commandments produces?
For example:

Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Here is Luke’s account of this same statement:

Luk 6:21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Luk 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
Luk 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Rejoice and be exceeding glad, rejoice and leap for joy, when we are being persecuted, reviled and people are speaking all manner of evil against us just for obeying God and keeping His commandments? Is it even possible to rejoice and be exceeding glad and leap for joy in that day? Is it possible to “fear not” while being hated by our own household and all men?

Purpose For This Study

In today’s study I want to convince you that, if we are Christ’s elect, we really do not have anything to fear even as we are watching society melt down into polarized groups who want to kill each other and us. I want to assure you that even as the whole world hates us because we refuse to take sides in any of “the affairs of this world”, and even as our friends and families hate us and turn against us, we really do not have anything to fear. I hope to convince you that all these things really are, as Christ affirms, signs that you and I are on the right track and that we must be doing something right, and we really should, under these circumstances, rejoice and leap for joy because our redemption really is near.

To begin with, I want to give you just a few very familiar verses of scripture which establish beyond any doubt that God is actually the one Who is working everything that takes place, according to His own plan and purpose. I want us all to consider the significance of this great truth, which by the way, if you really do believe that and teach it and refuse to deny your Lord in doing so, will itself cause you to be “hated of all men”. Then, after we consider the significance of that great truth, I want you to ask yourself, “Why would God reveal this to you and to me” and then tell us “Fear not… rejoice and be exceeding glad…”?

In answering that question I want to share with you the incredible lessons which are to be found in two stories in the scriptures. They are the story of Christ healing a man who was born blind, and the hatred that man encountered simply because he was healed of his blindness and began to see that the established religion was woefully ignorant of who the true God is. After that we will consider one of the Old Testament types of God’s very elect, as it is revealed to us in the harrowing story of the “three Hebrew children” and how their faith in the words of their God served them very well even in very trying circumstances.

What I hope to impress upon us all is that God is revealing to us just how rare the person is who has been granted to hear all of this and say, “Yes, that sounds like a real good deal to me. I will gladly endure being turned upon by my own household and hated of all men, and have the whole world hating me, and telling lies about me. I can do that! After all the suffering of this present age is not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us in the next life. So please, just show me where I can get signed up for all of this!”

This is the person who will be ruling and reigning with Christ in His kingdom. There will not be one single lukewarm person in that “blessed and holy first resurrection”. There will not be one person who is willing to compromise on the doctrines of Christ, to get along with the rulers of the synagogues of this world, in that particular resurrection. Instead it will be this person who will “dwell [comfortably] in the devouring fire and the everlasting burnings”. Many are called to do so, but few are chosen to do so and to “endure to the end”.

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? [The answer is obvious… it is the person who is already doing so.]
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; [Now that is a “fiery trial” (1Pe 4:12)].

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Let’s look at these verses of scripture which inform us that the Lord Himself really and truly is working all things that take place in this world, and which therefore proves beyond any doubt that we really and truly do have nothing in this world to fear:

Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Isa 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
Isa 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Isa 63:17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

Dan 4:16 Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
Dan 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Amo 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

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:

So, we are told in a very straightforward way that God gives us eyes that cannot see; that nothing which occurs happens because of our will, but it is all the work of God. The Lord has done all the evil in the city, and the Lord creates evil, yes, even the wicked for the day of evil. Yet, in the face of all of this, we are at the same time told:

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Later in this same gospel we are told why all of this is needed and why we are told “fear not”. Notice carefully what we are told:

Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

“Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” means that just as you and I are brought to fear God, so will our enemies be brought to fear God when the whole world witnesses the first resurrection:

Rev 11:11  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

We can so easily overlook the connection being made here between the heavenly signs and the distress of nations; also men’s hearts failing for fear of those things which are coming on the earth. The word translated ‘for’ in verse 26 is the Greek word ‘gar‘, and it is most commonly translated as ‘because’.

Here are two verses where it is translated as ‘because’:

Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because [Greek: G1063 gar] their deeds were evil.

Joh 10:26 But ye believe not, because [Greek: G1063 gar] ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

Christ’s sheep believe Him. Those who do not believe Him, do so because they are not of His sheep. Keep that in mind as we are shown who does and who does not believe Christ.

Here is how Strong’s defines this Greek word:

G1063 gamma; alpha; rho;
gar

A primary particle; properly assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles): – and, as, because (that), but, even, for indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.

This word means “properly assigning a reason”. So the reason assigned for “distress of nations… upon the earth… with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; The reason assigned for “the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear…” is that there are “signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars [and] the powers of heaven [are being] shaken“. The message our Lord is giving us here is only understood when we hear it in “the demonstration of the spirit and power” (1Co 2:4). It can be heard in that way only by those who are given ears that hear and eyes that see; and those are very few indeed. It is not many, it is few:

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

How in the world do we ‘demonstrate the spirit’ in our speech? Christ made it abundantly clear that His words all had a spiritual meaning behind them, which were never intended to be understood by the multitudes:

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given..

Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

All of this being true, it is obvious that only when we are given to know that “the temple of God” is located in “the [spiritual] heavens” and that the throne of God is located in His spiritual temple, then we will understand what Christ is telling us in Matthew 24 and in Luke 21. Only when we are granted to understand that “[we] are the temple of God” can we understand that God’s throne is actually in the realm of the spirit, ruling over us within and through our hearts and minds. Only when we are given to understand that inwardly “the earth”, where all this “distress of nations” is taking place, is actually our earthen vessels of clay, our physical bodies, will we understand that what we are being told by our Lord is our own day of judgment commences only after our ‘earth’, our lives in these physical bodies, begins to experience a time of great conflict and great distress, coupled with the heavens of our hearts and minds themselves being shaken to their very foundations. When we understand all of this, then it makes perfect sense for our Lord to conclude:

Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my [spiritual] words shall not pass away.

Here is the spiritual meaning of the ‘earth’ where all of this “distress of nations” is taking place:

Jer 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

The “earth” here is God’s people.

Jer 22:2 And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:

When our heavens are shaken, we begin to discover that everything we ever thought to be true has actually been a lie. That is the very definition of “war in the heavens”. When that war begins to take place, then those lies, all the false doctrines of the dragon and his ‘stars’ by whom we have been taught all those lies, will begin to fall like dominoes from the heavens. Notice how the scriptures connect the lies of these false prophets with the foreboding heavenly signs:

Mar 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Mar 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

What are these “signs and wonders” which would seduce the very elect if it were possible? Let’s let those who are seduced by those signs and wonders answer that question:

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

There it is. Those are the “signs and wonders” which would deceive the very elect if possible.

Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

These signs and wonders are powerful sermons, casting out of devils in Christ’s name and doing many wonderful works”, yet refusing to be faithful to Christ’s doctrine. Just look at the next few verses here in Matthew 7.

Here is what caused Christ to reject those who were not the very elect and who were instead seduced by prophesying in Christ’s name, casting out devils and doing many wonderful works, thinking that is more important than being faithful to His doctrine. Here is how is possible for those who are not faithful to Christ’s doctrines to be seduced:

Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Getting back to Mark 7, we continue to see this same point being made by our Lord:

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Christ is connecting those who have falsely prophesied in His name with the days when the sun is darkened:

Mar 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
Mar 13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
Mar 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

“Those days” of verse 24 are the days when false Christs and false prophets arise to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. That is when the stars fall from the heavens and the powers in the heavens are shaken as this spiritual war is taking place within our hearts and minds.

2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Let’s look at what God tells us is the Truth about this warfare, and where it takes place.

We are told God “dwells in the heavens”:

Psa 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

God sits on His throne in His temple, which is in the heavens:

Isa 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Now for the part of God’s word which the natural mind cannot even comprehend. Here is where that “temple of God…in the heavens” really is:

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.

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Now we can better understand this statement made by our Lord:

Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

What Christ is telling us in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 is that only after we have experienced a time of great trial, and only after all the spirits in our heavens, which are all the doctrines which we have never before taken the time to try against the Word of God, have been tried and found wanting, then, and not until that time, will we begin to experience the great distress of nations in our earth, which is the judgment of our old man.

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Only after we experience the shaking of our heavens, do we begin to “see” [the Truth], which is “the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great glory”. Seeing Christ “in a cloud”, as we have seen so clearly in our studies in Job 37 and 38, is seeing him within and through His elect.

This is what we experience when we do begin to try the spirits of the doctrines of Babylon which we have taken for granted all of our lives.

Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

As long as we think we know the truth, when in reality we haven’t even bothered to “try the spirits or to check out what we have been taught by all “the stars of heaven” against the Word of God, we will remain as blind as a bat, not even able to understand what is meant by “the powers of heaven shall be shaken”.

Let’s read it again:

Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Here is this same pivotal experience as it is described to us in Matthew’s gospel:

Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Peter said that all of this happened to him and those with him during the events surrounding the day of pentecost:

Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Act 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
Act 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

“The sun… shall… be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light” is telling us that we must come to understand how blind and deceived we have been all our lives up until this time. Then, and only then, does the “great and terrible day of the Lord arrive in our life and our judgment begin.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The Healing of the Man Who was Born Blind

Here is a story which demonstrates just how blind we all are by birth, and how the sun is turned into darkness, the stars fall, and the powers of heaven are shaken within all who will come to know and worship the Son of God:

Joh 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Our Lord Himself is telling us that the story of this blind man’s experience makes manifest to us “the works of God”. When we put His words here together with His words to the Adversary, then we know that the story of this blind man’s experience makes manifest the works of God in our own lives:

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man [Greek: anthropos, mankind] shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

So in the story of this event we have a condensed version of how ‘there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth’. Here is a condensed version of how ‘the powers of heaven are shaken’ and how this man saw the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.’

Joh 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Joh 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Joh 9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
Joh 9:7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
Joh 9:8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
Joh 9:9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
Joh 9:10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
Joh 9:11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
Joh 9:12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
Joh 9:13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
Joh 9:14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
Joh 9:15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
Joh 9:16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
Joh 9:17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
Joh 9:18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
Joh 9:19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
Joh 9:20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
Joh 9:21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
Joh 9:22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews [the established religious leaders of that day]: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
Joh 9:23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
Joh 9:24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
Joh 9:25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
Joh 9:26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
Joh 9:27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
Joh 9:28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.
Joh 9:29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
Joh 9:30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
Joh 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
Joh 9:32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
Joh 9:33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
Joh 9:34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins [Psa 51:5] and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
Joh 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
Joh 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
Joh 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
Joh 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

This man, who was born blind, typifies the spiritual blindness into which we are all born. The Pharisees in this story typify the self-righteous leaders of today’s Christian synagogues, who prefer the doctrines of men, and refuse to accept Christ’s words as the final word from God. The clay formed from “the ground” and the spit from the mouth of our Lord typifies the words coming from His mouth, but placed into the clay vessels of those who will later take His word to others who are all born spiritually blind.

Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places [Greek: in the heavens] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

The great honor and respect which, to this very day, is given by today’s religious leaders to the teachings of men like Augustine, Martin Luther and Calvin, above the doctrines of Christ, witnesses against all these daughters of the great harlot, who sit on the peoples of this world; and just like this blind man’s parents, we all first fear the leaders of today’s synagogues more than we fear God.

Joh 9:22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews [the established religious leaders]: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
Joh 9:23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

Augustine was very instrumental in making the blasphemous doctrine of eternal hell fire the doctrine of Catholicism, and that blasphemous doctrine has been retained by Luther and Calvin, both of whom also spat upon Christ’s doctrine of loving our enemies and refusing to resist the evil in this life.

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Those are literally fighting words to most so-called Christian ministers, who encourage those in their charge to go to war for God and country. One such minister is well known for saying on international television, “It may be legal to burn the American flag, but if you do it next to me, I will whip you if I can.” How much respect does this man have for our Lord who tells you and me to ‘resist not evil… turn to him the other cheek’? This minister’s doctrine tells anyone who knows the voice of the true shepherd who the spiritual father of this minister is and of all those ministers who agree with this man and refuse to teach the doctrines of our Lord. They indeed do “many wonderful works” in Christ’s name, but they will still hear these words, “I never knew you, depart from me ye workers of iniquity.”

Augustine’s words concerning eternal torment mean more to the leaders of Christendom than do these words of God:

1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

What orthodox Christian minister today believes that the fire of scripture is an agency of salvation?

Luther and Calvin despised these words of Christ:

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Luther is quoted as saying:

“To kill a peasant is not murder; it is helping to extinguish the conflagration. Let there be no half measures! Crush them! Cut their throats! Transfix them. Leave no stone unturned! To kill a peasant is to destroy a mad dog! If they say that I am very hard and merciless, mercy be damned. Let whoever can stab, strangle, and kill them like mad dogs.” (Erlangen Vol 24, Pg. 29).

It was Calvin who was party to having Michael Servetus burned alive at the stake for denying the false doctrine of the trinity. Here is a quote which to this very day attempts to justify Calvin’s part in this murderous act:

In his essay, John Calvin and Reformed Europe, J. I. Packer wrote:

The anti-Trinitarian campaigner Servetus was burned at Geneva in 1553, and this is often seen as a blot on Calvin’s reputation. But weigh these facts:
1. The belief that denial of the Trinity and/or Incarnation should be viewed as a capital crime in a Christian state was part of Calvin’s and Geneva’s medieval inheritance; Calvin did not invent it.
2. Anti-Trinitarian heretics were burned in other places beside Geneva in Calvin’s time, and indeed later — two in England, for instance, as late as 1612.
3. The Roman Inquisition had already set a price on Servetus’ head.
4. The decision to burn Servetus as a heretic was taken not only by Calvin personally but by Geneva’s Little Council of twenty-five, acting on unanimous advice from the pastors of several neighboring Reformed churches whom they had consulted.
5. Calvin, whose role in Servetus’ trial had been that of expert witness managing the prosecution, wanted Servetus not to die but to recant, and spent hours with him during and after the trial seeking to change his views.
6. When Servetus was sentenced to be burned alive, Calvin asked for beheading as a less painful alternative, but his request was denied.

Yes, indeed, let us “Weigh these facts” and let us “try the[se] spirits to see whether they are of God”.

So since “the denial of the trinity was a capital crime in a Christian state” that is accepted by Dr. J. I. Packer (who, according to Wikipedia “is considered one of the most influential evangelicals in North America”) as reason enough to deny our Lord and accept Calvin’s doctrines over the doctrines of Christ. That is reason enough to consider Calvin to be a great spiritual leader of historical Christianity, as he is to this very day regarded by millions in the Protestant world. The fact that the Roman Catholics had already “set a price on Servetus’ head” is used by this ‘Christian’ writer to justify Calvin’s part in the murder of Michael Servetus. It is this very same spirit which was in the ministers of the Pentecostal churches which I attended as a young man. When I was being drafted, I was counseled by three different ministers that the church leadership of the Pentecostal church, the Pentecostal Church of God, and the Assemblies of God, would “support me either way” – meaning they would support me as a conscientious objector or as a “Christian soldier”. What a spineless denial of our Lord and His doctrines!

The truth is that there is not one single “historical Christian” leader of any orthodox Christian church who does not hold to these false doctrines of men like Augustine, Luther and Calvin over the words of our Lord to this very day. If indeed anyone does so, then he is neither an “historical Christian” nor an orthodox Christian. As A. E. Knoch, one of the founders of the Concordant Publishing Concern, and the main contributor to the publication of the Concordant Version of the Bible, said, “Loving your enemies is at best extremely impractical, and at worst disastrous in today’s world.” That is how little regard he, and all of orthodox Christians, have for our Lord’s commandment to “Love your enemies”. It is completely understandable from a natural point of view, but the mind of the spirit of Christ, is not the natural point of view.

Here, for what it is worth, is Christ’s point of view on this subject. It is 180 degrees the opposite of the doctrine of orthodox Christianity:

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Indeed, it is impossible for any man to obey the words of our Lord of himself. However, if our Lord is living within us, we can be “as His is in this world”:

1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Since we are as He is in this world, if He is living within us, we can love our enemies. In fact, if Christ is within us, we can do and abide by all of his commandments to the extent that sin will no longer dominates our lives.

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

When we are “made to err” from God’s ways, His grace will chasten us to return to a godly life (Tit 2:11-12; Heb 12:6).

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

“The Three Hebrew Children”

Now let’s look at the story of Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego. This is an Old Testament type of the faith of Christ within you and me. These events are nothing more than Old Testament shadows of Christ facing the shame and death of the cross, and of you and me facing the pressures of every day life, dying daily with Him. I am assuming that we are all familiar with the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image which he erected to his own glory and how he commanded everyone to bow down before and worship his god or else be cast into a burning fiery furnace. God’s elect are daily facing this same situation. Will we bend and compromise to fit into this world and avoid persecution by denying our Lord, or will we “lose our life” in order to find it? This is a story of the spiritually refined gold, tried in the fire to which our Lord refers here in Revelation 3:

Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Here is what happened when these three men were brought before Nebuchadnezzar and given the chance to save their own lives. This is the story of the lives of all of God’s elect who will neither bow down to nor compromise with the pressures of this world and deny their Lord:

Dan 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Dan 3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

This is where we are today when we remain faithful to Christ and His doctrine in the midst of a polarized world which demands that we take part and take sides in the affairs of this age. Nebuchadnezzar is a religious leader who is demanding the worship of his citizens. What we do under such pressure shows us who truly dwells within us.

Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Dan 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Dan 3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
Dan 3:20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Dan 3:21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Dan 3:22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Dan 3:23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Dan 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Dan 3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
Dan 3:27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
Dan 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
Dan 3:29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
Dan 3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon. As such he typifies the priests and Pharisees who wanted Christ’s life for His iconic ways and His rejection of the weekly sabbath and for claiming to be the son of God.

Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

These men are the type of God’s true people. They are ‘three’ to signify the process of the trying of their faith. Our faith to this very day is being tried by the very same spirit which challenged the faith of these three men and the faith of our Lord. The trip through that fiery furnace is the Old Testament type of Christ going to His cross and dying for our sins. It is also the Old Testament type of Christ’s death within us on a daily basis.

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

This is not just an historic event. Yes, it did literally happen, but it is also a prophecy of what we must endure if we are indeed “partakers of His sufferings” and of His glory. We are to consider ourselves as being dead to this world and its powers and alive unto Christ:

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

This story is not written as a history lesson, as most people receive it. This story is written for you and me to know what it means to “lose our life [in order to] find it”.

Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Conclusion

As the parents of the man who was born blind, we all first fear men above our fear of God. That man’s blind physical condition at birth was just the type of the spiritual condition of all men at birth. Then, when Christ comes to us and heals us of our naturally blind condition, He also strengthens us to fear God more than men, and we find that we will be cast out of their synagogues and have our heavens shaken until we come to know the true Christ and His voice.

It is obvious that those who will be in the first resurrection and given rule of this world during the thousand years and then judge angels in the lake of fire, will be those whose greatest fear is “the fear of the Lord”. That is who we are to fear:

Luk 12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
Luk 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Israel was afraid of the Egyptians, and Moses realized that he was nothing of himself, but he, too, feared God more than he feared the Pharaoh. Israel by the Red Sea is us in type while we are “carnal… babes in Christ” being led by those who are far more mature, yet even then we are learning not to fear men above the fear of God.

Exo 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Exo 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego were waiting to see what the Lord would do, and while they no doubt were afraid of the fiery furnace, they feared God even more, and God honored their faith in His ability to deliver them out of the fiery trials which God, through evil men, sends to try us for our own good. So we are instructed again:

Psa 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Our Lord Himself feared the death of the cross to the point of “strong crying and tears”.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect [“through death”], he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

He was granted to fear His Father more than the death of the cross, and while it may have appeared to be a couple of days late, our Lord “was heard in that He feared” [His heavenly Father more than men who could] kill the body, and after that have no more they can do.

Paul was on the sea in a storm for many days when we are told this:

Act 27:20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

This is the sun turned into darkness and the great distress on the earth which must precede our Lord’s coming, because He will not come to those who have any hope of saving themselves and condemning their own God. It is at this point, when all hope is lost, that we hear from our Lord, and we know His voice, and we know what He says is true:

Act 27:22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.
Act 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
Act 27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Act 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

We are saved by grace through faith, and that is a gift of God. Either we are given that gift, or we are not given that gift.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

When we are given saving faith, we no longer fear men as much as we fear to disobey or fail to believe these words of our Lord:

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

In closing I want to share an e-mail from a gentleman with you. I think it sums up in a very few words what this whole talk was all about.

He writes:

Just a simple, and I hope correct, observation – no wonder my flesh recoils at the thought.

1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

The gospel is to announce the GOOD news, not carnal good news like; “Jesus will protect me forever, and I will stop suffering the instant I say the ten-second sinner’s prayer.” Rather the GOOD news is the cross of Christ where I am decreasing, dying daily. Like I said, no wonder my flesh recoils!!

Wow, I actually enjoyed this refreshing revelation. Glory be to God!

God Bless you ALL!