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Awesome Hands - part 134 Discussion

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Awesome Hands – Part 134

"Give him a charge in their sight"

May 20, 2018

We are continuing our study in the Awesome Hands series by looking at a few new scenarios that the Israelites are contending with as they their way to the promised land.

With both of these situations, we can learn how we should approach the Lord with questions we have on how to deal with every day things which happen to us.

The first situation is found in Number 27.

Num 27:1  Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.
Num 27:2  And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
Num 27:3  Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.
Num 27:4  Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.

As we just read, these daughters are in a situation which doesn’t have a clear answer or a current path to take for helping them solve their problem according to the law.

They specifically mention that their father was not one of the ones that stood with Korah, and we know this is true because all of those were swallowed up by the earth, but they felt is necessary to point out that he died in his own sin. This is just saying that his sins were not passed on to them as was the case in some of the law of Moses.

Exo 34:6  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Exo 34:7  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

With this scenario, Moses also knew he needed to find the course of action to take, so he petitions the Lord on behalf of these daughters.

Num 27:5  And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
Num 27:6  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 27:7  The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.

Not only was their cause just to bring to the Lord, the Lord uses this occasion to create a new statute of judgment for the people to follow concerning inheritance.

Num 27:8  And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.
Num 27:9  And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.
Num 27:10  And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.
Num 27:11  And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.

When looking at this scenario, we should consider that there was no precedence for what to do in this situation. However, there was an order to things in how the daughters knew they could go to Moses to present their case to have a conclusion reached for them.

This is no different than with Christians today, especially when we know the Lord is working all things after the counsel of His own will and that He gives us guidance via the Word of God.

The example to remember with these daughters is multi-faceted. They believed that the Lord would provide them an inheritance because He said the children of Israel would inherit the promised land.

We are not told that they secretly murmured or became discontent with their situation but instead brought it to Moses.

They also did not let the death of their father, which of necessity had their male line of inheritance right die with him, stop them from inheriting the land promised to their family with all the rest of Israel.

This is the same concept of selling all we have in order to purchase the land which holds the pearl of great price. The reason why these two concepts merge is that they were willing to do what it took to receive their promise.

Mat 13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Mat 13:46  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

The Lord promises us all that He never puts too much temptation on us that we can’t handle and that there is always a way out, but how much do we actually believe this by showing this belief in our ACTIONS?

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, that ye may be able to bear it.

There are many temptations which we face daily which can easily have us questioning why the Lord would do a certain thing to us, or others, without considering that He works it all for our good.

These daughters could have followed different courses of action, but they chose to follow the course of action that led to God being the Head of their decision.

Immediately after dealing with this situation, we see in scripture that Moses is confronted with his own sins.

When you analyze the proximity in scripture of what just happened with these daughters, and their reliance on believing that the Lord truly is faithful, we can easily see that Moses is now being given direct guidance on He Himself coming to the Lord for what to do about a future situation with who will SUCCEED Moses.

Immediately after dealing with these daughters, we see these verses:

Num 27:12  And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.
Num 27:13  And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
Num 27:14  For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

See, these verses seem so out of place next to each other, but they are perfectly unified in this chapter. The group of daughters could have easily rebelled in their hearts and minds that the Lord has not given them an inheritance due to it dying with their father.

Yet they respected the ways in which the Lord did things, and they presented their father's right to inheritance to the Lord.

Now, Moses is being presented with the land that the Israelites will inherit but that he himself will not be allowed to enter. In a lot of ways, this is a test for Moses, and it is certainly an example for us to learn from.

After this reminder to Moses that he will not inherit the promised land, and while also being shown the land itself when he goes up on the mount, Moses replies to the Lord with this:

Num 27:15  And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,
Num 27:16  Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
Num 27:17  Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

Moses knows that when he is gone, the Israelites will need someone to guide them. He also is smart enough to realize that they will need to be specifically told who this is. Otherwise, they would have no one to shepherd them.

They also wouldn’t have anyone they could take their frustrations out on, like they tend to do with Moses all the time, but I digress.

Num 27:18  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;
Num 27:19  And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
Num 27:20  And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
Num 27:21  And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

The Lord has just established the succession of leadership from Moses to Joshua, even though the finality has not yet happened and will not happen until we see it in Deuteronomy.

Deu 34:1  And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,
Deu 34:2  And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,
Deu 34:3  And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
Deu 34:4  And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
Deu 34:5  So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
Deu 34:6  And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
Deu 34:7  And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
Deu 34:8  And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
Deu 34:9  And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Joshua is, from this time on, Moses' minister/servant. We know that this is his status from the start of the book of Joshua.

I mention these things to show that we should always be planning ahead in our lives, even though we do not fully know what the Lord will be doing with us in the future.

The things we do know, which are happening in the present, are the things we can consider and act upon now. In conjunction with that, we can also be planning for various situations that happen in our future.

This is akin to counting the cost in our actions no matter what situations we face and the decisions we make while facing them.

There is no telling what Israel would have done if the Lord had not causes these daughters to come to Moses with their situation of inheritance to then lead Moses to consider who would inherit his role with the people of God. However, we know that we are given these examples so that we know that the Lord would have us to PLAN things OUT ahead of time as much as possible.

Even though these situations are narrow in the scope of this topic of preparation, these concepts that we can see in these stories extend to everything we do in our daily lives.

Of course, we know the Lord is working all things after His own counsel, but that was true in these stories as well. What we can see though, is that these daughters followed the steps needed in order to petition the Lord.

Then Moses, too, petitions the Lord for what he should do.

This should scream out to us that we are to ALWAYS, IN ALL THINGS, petition the Lord for guidance and direction.

It really can’t be said any better than Christ Himself said it:

Luk 14:28 (ESV)  For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
Luk 14:29  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30  saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
Luk 14:31  Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32  And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
Luk 14:33  So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

“Renouncing all that we have,” in the context of our topic today, includes renouncing our own carnal-minded thoughts and reasoning with whatever we are dealing.

We should also petition the Lord in guide us in all things, and take actions that we know have good examples of success scripturally speaking.

In other words, we should not depart from the things we have learned, even as spiritual children, because it is those things which will guide us faithfully.

Pro 22:3  (ESV) The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
Pro 22:4  The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.
Pro 22:5  Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
Pro 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

“Counting on leaders to follow Jesus Christ”

September 3, 2014

It indeed is not a “new thing” to wonder if we place our trust in those who may not be worthy of our trust. After all, we have all experienced those who are respected overseers being deceived in doctrine or outright refuses to follow the doctrines of Christ set forth and established by Jesus Christ and the “sum of thy word”.

Psa 119:160 (ASV) The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

However, that does not mean that the Lord has not placed faithful servants into these positions of oversight.  Leaders placed in the church have always been questioned as to why “they” are qualified to be leaders, so let us go to the sum of the Word, not just SOME of the Word, and see what the Word of God has to say on this topic.

What then is the function of a teacher, preacher or leader in the body of Christ? Paul proclaims and tells us to “be a follower of me as I am a follower of Christ,” so that would instruct us that Paul is a leader of followers of Christ. It is also easy to miss the point the Paul himself calls himself ….. a follower.

In other words, we all fall in line in following Jesus Christ.

“Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen”

In the beginning,  the Lord asked Cain why he was wroth and why his countenance had fallen.

Gen 4:5  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Gen 4:6  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

“If thou doest well …. you’ll be accepted ….. but if thou doest not well ……sin liest at the door.”

Sin is simply missing the mark, and it is the discernment the Lord has given me that tells me that you are missing the mark in doctrine when you believe that the Lord does not have anyone He has placed in the church in the roles of teachers, preachers and elder-ship.

I hope everyone can come together with one mind on this topic, and that one mind can only come from the Holy scriptures. I am hoping to be used to help us look at this from a different angle which will hopefully be used to shed some more light on this topic as the Lord wills it.

G2233

hēgeomai

Thayer Definition:
1) to lead
1a) to go before
1b) to be a leader
1b1) to rule, command
1b2) to have authority over
1b3) a prince, of regal power, governor, viceroy, chief, leading as respects influence, controlling in counsel, overseers or leaders of the churches
1b4) used of any kind of leader, chief, commander
1b5) the leader in speech, chief, spokesman
2) to consider, deem, account, think
Part of Speech: verb

The Greek word “hēgeomai” (sounds like hedge to me) 2233 is used in many different ways and translated into English in a variety of words, but it is used to give a very defined concept of what it is this Greek word means.

We can look at these examples, study them, and then pray the Lord will reveal to us what is being said. I will give you what I believe the Lord has shared with me about what they mean, but I implore you all to consider the matter for yourselves.

It is easy for us all to say “we think” or “I feel” or “I know” but at the end of all of those statements, I personally only want to follow what scripture tells/shows me is true about ANY doctrine.

Here is where G2233 is used in the New Testament.

G2233

hēgeomai

Total KJV Occurrences: 28

count, 7

Phi_3:8 (2), 2Th_3:15, 1Ti_6:1, Jam_1:2, 2Pe_2:13, 2Pe_3:9

chief, 3

Luk_22:26, Act_14:12, Act_15:22

counted, 3

Phi_3:7, 1Ti_1:12, Heb_10:29

rule, 3

Heb_13:7, Heb_13:17, Heb_13:24

esteem, 2

Phi_2:3, 1Th_5:13

governor, 2

Mat_2:6, Act_7:10

think, 2

Act_26:2, 2Pe_1:13

thought, 2

2Co_9:5, Phi_2:6

account, 1

2Pe_3:15

esteeming, 1

Heb_11:26

judged, 1

Heb_11:11

supposed, 1

Phi_2:25

Here then are some of the above verses listed out.

Very early in the gospels, we are told that a Governor will be given to us:

Mat 2:6  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

In English, I know the word “rule” can be quite offensive, but the thought being conveyed by a Governor being given, is that the very definition of “Governor” used here EQUATES to and is the same as “rule” mentioned in other places in scripture.

Then, we are told this Governor will rule “my people Israel”. The word used as rule here has a very specific meaning.

Those who “rule/govern” feed the flock, and those who FEED the flock RULE, but what does that mean according to scripture?

The Father’s Governor will be used to, “poimaino”, to “feed” the flock.

G4165

poimainō

Total KJV Occurrences: 12

feed, 4

Joh_21:16, Act_20:28, 1Pe_5:2, Rev_7:17

rule, 4

Mat_2:6, Rev_2:27, Rev_12:5, Rev_19:15

feeding, 2

Luk_17:7, Jud_1:12

cattle, 1

Luk_17:7

feedeth, 1

1Co_9:7

One who is used to be a governor, a chief, a judge will FEED Israel.

So, in context of this topic, does the Lord place those who are ruler/chiefs / judges / governors to oversee His flock?

Let us see if if we can scripturally determine sound doctrine, with these above scriptures, to answer this question.

We are talking about G2233 (govern/rule/chief/judge) and G4165 (feed).
 

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count (G2233) all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Those that are esteemed as leaders have done what we all must do and have counted the cost. When we get done counting, all that is counted is LOSS. Do the leaders of this fellowship demonstrate that within their example?

So leaders are “counters“.

2Th 3:13  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
2Th 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
2Th 3:15  Yet count (G2233) him NOT as an enemy, but ADMONISH HIM AS A BROTHER.

Those which have been appointed by God to be overseeers of the flock are told to not become weary in well doing, and just what is a HUGE PART of this well doing? –> “If any man OBEY NOT OUR WORD ….”

What then is “our word” if not the Word of God, which we weigh ALL THINGS, the ALL THINGS which have been given to the flock, AGAINST the Word of God?

We are followers of Christ. We are followers of the Way, Truth and Life and we implore all of the SHEEP under our watch, whom have been appointed by the Lord Himself to the membership in this body, to follow the voice of the True Shepherd. Follow us as we follow Christ.

We tell the sheep to COUNT the cost of listening diligently to the Words of the Lord, apply them to your hearts and minds, and be DOERS of the Word.

Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

1Ti 6:1  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count (G2233) their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
1Ti 6:2  And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

Keep counting daily.

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count (G2233)  it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Here then is the negative application of “counting“. My comments are emphasized in ( ).

2Pe 2:11  Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. (against whom are accusations brought against I ask you all?)
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;
2Pe 2:13  And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count (G2233)  it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

The Lord is not slack when suffering such things and those whom He dwells in learn to be the same.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count (G2233) slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Anyone who has been placed to be an overseer within the body is not only placed there by God’s will and manifested to be placed in this role, but is also explained as being counters of all the things mentioned above.

Those who have been “set” into these positions are the first ones to tell you that the role of counting the cost is NOT an EASY one. In Truth, it is an impossible one for any of us without the Lord working miracles in us.

Luk 11:49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:

1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

It is true that we can have certain times that these traits come out in all of us, but as far as “established governments” go, the Lord is not slack in telling us to be diligent in recognizing His will in this process and placements of these overseers for the benefit of the flock.

1Ti 1:12  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Jesus Christ alone gives His gift of Faith, and counts out who He deems is faithful to be set in these gifted positions. Ask yourself, to WHOM does He send these prophets and apostles to?

“Also said the wisdom of God, I will send them…..God hath set some in the church” It is God who predestines it all.

So, when He appoints anyone to MINISTRY, to SERVICE, to be a servant, He does so by giving faith and counting those same folks as FAITHFUL. Do you see this in your leaders?

Here are some other G2233 definitions taken from scripture and defined by the same.

Luk 22:26  But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief (G2233), as he that doth serve.

Act 14:11  And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
Act 14:12  And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief (G2233) speaker.

Act 15:22  Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief (G2233) men among the brethren:

Here then are some of those things which are hard to be understood if we do not weigh them against the “sum of thy Word”.

We must not let words, and how we personally define them, be what drives our thoughts on a doctrine.

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.
Heb 13:7  Remember them which have the rule (G2233) over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; NOT WITH MEATS, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Grace is a gift from God. It is something He gives according to His Will. Who are we to question who He the Lord gives Faith (which is made manifest in someone or not according to the Lord) or grace to, in order to accomplish the work of the ministry?

Heb 13:17  Obey them that have the rule (G2233) over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Heb 13:24  Salute all them that have the rule (G2233) over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

Those that have “the rule over you” have so much more to their role in the body of Christ than what appears on the surface and in the letter.

That is not to say that it is MORE IMPORTANT than another’s appointment, but simply that these verses alone don’t fully reveal the entirety of the conversation on this topic and doctrine.

Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem (G2233) other better than themselves.

1Th 5:12  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1Th 5:13  And to esteem (G2233) them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And BE AT PEACE AMONG YOURSELVES. (they had to deal with this same spirit from the beginning)
1Th 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Paul was a “counter”.

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15  And account (G2233) that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Those who have been appointed as governors/judges/chiefs/counters simply tell all the body of Christ to follow the voice of the True Shepherd.

Heb 11:11  Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged (G2233) him faithful who had promised.

We as leaders judge Him Faithful alone. Just as Moses laid out judges to judge all of Israel, so too has Jesus Christ appointed judges of many different types to do the work of the ministry, but ALL still pointed back to Moses who judges the “great matters.” 

This is what my Awesome Hands study is about in the next study since we’ll be in chapter 18 of Exodus, and this is a great type and shadow of what we are talking about here.

Exo 18:22  And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

Exo 18:25  And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
Exo 18:26  And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

Isn’t is plain to see? RULERS are MEASURING STICKS. Rulers are those that measure out the pattern of what is being said and done, versus what has come before them, as an EXAMPLE laid out by Jesus Christ.

Eze 43:9  Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.
Eze 43:10  Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.
Eze 43:11  And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.

We bring and doctrine, and false doctrine and all spirits to the flock for YOU to measure the pattern. We are asking the flock to do what is so often proclaimed boldly…. being a follower of Jesus Christ the Word of God.

Do not follow a man, but be a follower of Jesus Christ in another member of the body who has been manifested to be set into a position of leadership, teaching, preaching, apostleship, so on and so forth.

Doesn’t the Word of God make it clear that the Lord has set these ministering roles out for those whom He has found faithful?

“Feeders of the flock”

The Father’s Governor, the pattern which must be measured against —– Jesus Christ —— sets out His own governors/rulers (hegeomai) to be used to “poimaino”, to “feed” the flock.

Here it is:

Joh 21:16  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed (G4165) my sheep.

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed (G4165) the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1Pe 5:1  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:1Pe 5:2  Feed (G4165) the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Rev 7:17  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed (G4165) them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

What then has the same Holy Spirit of God inspired ALSO be equated to FEEDING the flock? “Follow me as I follow Christ Jesus”

Mat 2:6  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule (G4165) all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule (G4165) them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Rev 2:24  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have NOT THIS DOCTRINE, and which have not known the depths of Satan, AS THEY SPEAK; I will put upon you none other burden.
Rev 2:25  But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule (G4165)  them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev 2:28  And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

There you have it.

To feed the flock is to rule with a rod of iron. That may not sound flattering. It may sound cold, but as it sounds in your ears and as it is seen by yours eyes, so will YOUR IDOL be used to judge you no matter who you are.

Jud 1:10  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Jud 1:11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Jud 1:12  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, FEEDING THEMSELVES WITHOUT FEAR: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

“Feeding (G4165) themselves WITHOUT FEAR”

Those which attempt to RULE THEMSELVES, taking the gold of the Word of God and turning it into fruit that withereth and which is plucked up by the roots, will reap what is sown, corruption.

“Lord of lords, King of kings”

Lordship, which can easily be intertwined with the English word “rule”, but there is only one who is the Lord of lords, and King of kings.

G2961
kurieuō
Total KJV Occurrences: 8
dominion, 4
Rom_6:9, Rom_6:14, Rom_7:1, 2Co_1:24
exercise, 1
Luk_22:24-25 (2)
lord, 1
Rom_14:9
lords, 1
1Ti_6:15
lordship, 1
Luk_22:25

 

Being a Lord over someone is not ever in the mind of Christ for those who follow Christ. We are commanded to not “Lord” over anyone for any reason. We no more have dominion over another person than death has over Christ.

Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more “dominion” over him.

For us to understand just what this means, all we have to do is learn from our own expereinces.

What has had dominion over you in the past? What currently has dominion over you? That is the “lordship” we are talking about. To have complete control of the subject or servant one has control over is to be their lord.

In the case of something that has dominion over us, it is an absolute power in our lives. It is a power that we ourselves CANNOT overcome without Christ in us doing it via grace, which chastens us.

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

Rom 7:1  Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

2Co 1:24  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

There is no WAY for anyone who has been given the role as a leader, a teacher, a preacher, an apostle and evangelist, so on and so forth, to have dominion over FAITH…. which is freely given by our True Lord.

Luk 22:23  And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
Luk 22:24  And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
Luk 22:25  And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
Luk 22:26  But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

We serve by example by saying, “follow me as I follow Christ” which was the focus of this entire study.

Rom 14:9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Dominion which I am speaking of here is the type of lordship that a slave or servant can never overcome. When a lord says “jump” that servant jumps.

However, the previous sections were all about governors/rulers (measuring sticks of sorts)/judges/chiefs who have been given to be full of Faith given to them and have learned to discern both good and evil …. and are still learning daily.

Their job is to lead others to this same spiritual place, just as Jesus came to show us the Way.

Luk 17:7  But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding (G4165) cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
Luk 17:8  And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
Luk 17:9  Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

1Co 9:7  Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth (G4165) a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

It is the duty of a leader, preacher or teacher to deliver the feeding, the rule of the Lord, to those whom He alone has placed under their care which only ever points to Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Hi Mike,

In view of what you have been telling me, I have been wondering if there is any point in going to Church.

W____

Hi again W____,
You say:

… I have been wondering if there is any point in going to Church?

Christ has promised us that if we are faithful to Him and His doctrine, we would be put out of their synagogues.

Joh 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

Christ Himself was rejected by the priests and Pharisees of His day, and we are to be “as He is… in this world:”

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.

Years ago, as I began to see the doctrine of our Lord and how it so differed from the doctrine of the Pentecostal church I was reared in, I attempted to share what I was seeing with my minister and with others in the church. I learned at an early age that church doctrine will almost always trump the word of God. In less than two years time I was asked not to open my mouth in three separate churches.
I was in effect “put out of the synagogue”, just as my Lord had told me I would be. The scriptures teach that “all things are ours” and that “all things come alike to all”.

1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

So all who follow Christ will stand up for His doctrine and will, in time, be “put out of the synagogue”.

Luk 4:29 And rose up [ the people in the synagogue], and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

Those who do not take a stand with Christ and His doctrine are simply denying their Lord who was put out of the synagogue for His doctrine.

Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Just dare to stand on Christ’s Words, and you will soon come to know the meaning of this verse of scripture:

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.

Our ‘crucifixion’ is not necessarily physical, as our Lord’s was. Our ‘crucifixion’ is spiritual. It is our ‘death’ to the doctrines of what the scriptures call ‘Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the world’. That is how Paul can say “… nevertheless I live”. Our ‘crucifixion’ is our daily dying (1Co 15:31) to all the things of this life to which we just naturally cling, whatever that might be. It is our attachment to the things of this life which keeps us separated from the doctrines of our Lord.

Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
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.
Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

“The woman” throughout scripture always typifies the church. It is, was and always will be the church which will be the first to insist upon the crucifixion of Christ and His Christ.

Isa 1:21 How is the faithful city [ Jerusalem] become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye [ His own church] delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Act 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Act 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

“Where also our Lord was crucified”. What does that mean? It means you and me, when we were in the church and not following Christ. It means the church which killed Christ two thousand years ago, and it means the church which, to this very day, would kill Christ if He were here today teaching us to “Love thine enemies… resist not evil”, etc. You and I ‘kill and deny’ the Prince of Life when we refuse to “come out of” Babylon The Great, and prefer instead to be accepted by the churches and people of this world.

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

What you do at this point is between you and the Lord, but you are in my prayers, and I am praying that the Lord will strengthen you to face the battle which must be waged by all who are granted the privilege to follow our Lord.

Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Act 14:22 Confirming 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.

Christ is our husband, and He will not play ‘second fiddle’ to anything or anyone in our lives. Count the cost, because it requires our life, but if we are granted to follow in His steps and endure the crucifixion of our Lord, the rewards will be well worth it:

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.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28 And I will give him the morning star.
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.
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.

We ‘will be hated of all men’, but our names will be in His ‘book of remembrance’ and His ‘book of life’, and that is worth far more than being well spoken of by all men.

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
Luk 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

But as the law of Moses serves to lead us to Christ, so too, the churches serve the function of introducing us to Christ. It is usually in the orthodox church setting as children we learn such basics as the Lord’s prayer, the ten commandments, God is love and other rudiments that are often the starting point of our Christian walk.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Chris t, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Your brother in prayer,
Mike>