Curses – Is, Was and Will Be – The Unknown Character of Christ and His Word https://www.iswasandwillbe.com Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty Fri, 20 Jan 2023 15:29:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/cropped-headerlogo-32x32.png Curses – Is, Was and Will Be – The Unknown Character of Christ and His Word https://www.iswasandwillbe.com 32 32 Awesome Hands – part 159: “Moses blesses the tribes of Israel” https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/awesome-hands-part-159-moses-blesses-the-tribes-of-israel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=awesome-hands-part-159-moses-blesses-the-tribes-of-israel Thu, 28 Nov 2019 01:20:50 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=19839

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Awesome Hands - part 159: “Moses blesses the tribes of Israel” - Discussion

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Awesome Hands – part 159

“Moses blesses the tribes of Israel”

November 27, 2019

Before Moses’ death, Moses gave a blessing to Israel. This was after he had just given a warning to Israel concerning their sins and actions towards the Lord in the previous chapter.

In this study, we are going to explore the blessings mentioned, as they pertain to the “hands” mentioned within chapter 33.

The chapter starts off with an introduction:

Deu 33:1  And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
Deu 33:2  And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
Deu 33:3  Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.
Deu 33:4  Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

This is an introduction that wants to make clear that the Lord came forth as Light and brought with Him the law. It is mentioned that He came forward with ten thousand saints, so we need to figure out what is being said here.

It also mentions that all His saints are in His hand and that they will sit down at His feet so that everyone shall receive of His words.

I think we can agree that there is certainly a lot of symbolism happening in these verses before the blessing even starts.

The author of this chapter wants to make sure everyone knows who is giving the blessing, but also, how it is the blessing has any power or “weight” behind it.

Hebrew authors speak in the third person, from time to time, similar to when king David speaks about himself in third person in Psalms 21.

As is the focus for the “awesome hands” series, the first verse of this chapter that mentions the word “hand” is found in verse 3. This verse tells us that all the saints are in the hand of the Lord.

As we have studied in the last few studies, “work of the hand(s)” is a topic which informs us of what comes forth from the hand comes forth from the owner of that hand.

In this case, because we are in the hands of the Lord, we are His workmanship, and this shouldn’t come as a surprise since we are told this directly.

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

This verse says a lot and leaves no other conclusion for us than that we are His creation in Jesus Christ which have been ORDAINED to walk in His good works.

Given that we are ordained to walk in His good works, we can also conclude that others are not ordained to do so.

So, Moses continues to expound to Israel how this is all going to play out when he leaves them.

Deu 33:5  And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

Contrary to what I have heard some say about this verse, this is not speaking about Moses being the king of Israel. He is never mentioned as a king, but only as a servant, and this verse (verse 5) hearkens back to the same “he” spoken about in verse 3.

Deu 33:3  Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.
Deu 33:4  Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.
Deu 33:5  And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.
Heb 3:5  And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

Now that it is confirmed who is sending forth the blessing, even as it is spoken via Moses, Moses proceeds to dish out the blessings to the various tribes according to the inspiration he is getting from the Lord.

Deu 33:6  Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.
Deu 33:7  And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.

We know Jesus is a Lion from the tribe of Judah, so we are as He is, so verse 33:7 also is applicable to those who are in Christ and He in them.

We know from our past studies that “our hands” and the work that comes forth from them is something that comes from the Lord. These are the “good works” which glorify God because they are all His works. Moses blessing is type and shadow of the blessing we receive through the work of Jesus Christ in our lives. Notice that Moses prays the Lord to be a help to “him” from his enemies, including the “last” enemy.

Deu 33:8  And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;
Deu 33:9  Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.
Deu 33:10  They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.
Deu 33:11  Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.

Again, we can see in type and shadow just how important the Levites are to the priesthood. They are given the portion to teach the judgments and law to Israel. They are given to create works with their hands which the Lord blesses, and of course they are blessed to fulfill the will that the Lord has caused them to fulfill.

There has been a lot written about this before, but I am going to read from an excerpt on another study that I did on this topic.

“The innermost veil has cherubims embroidered right on the veil itself and this reveals to us the difference in who could enter into the holy of holies. In the room of the “holy place”, which was before the veil blocking the way to the holy of holies, we have the altar of incense, the table of shewbread and the golden candlestick.

I mention this because we are going to see a pattern immerge in the layout of the items that make up what the tabernacle is. There is what the tabernacle consists of and then there are those that SERVE the tabernacle.

What precisely does the tabernacle represent?

Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (G4637) among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Thayers defines this same word as:

So the Greek word for “dwelt”, tells us that Jesus Christ was MADE FLESH and tabernacled among us, was full of grace and truth. Doesn’t that sound just like the bride of Christ?

Joh 14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I WILL COME TO YOU.
Joh 14:19  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

What is the connection to Christ Jesus abiding in His Father and in us with the tabernacle dwelling among us?

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

2Jn 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2Jn 1:8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

And a few verses later:

1Jn 2:25  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
1Jn 2:26  These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

What, then, is eternal life?

Joh 17:1  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Joh 17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Joh 17:4  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

So a part of glorifying God the Father is to DO HIS WORK and WILL!

The question that now begs to be answered is who is it that would at all consider denying Christ and being anti Christ by denying that He came in the flesh? After all, most Christians even celebrate Jesus’ BIRTHDAY as Christmas, therefore they are celebrating Him PHYSICALLY coming to the earth in FLESH. However, is that what denying He has come in the flesh is?

Bringing this back around to the tabernacle we are studying in Exodus 26, why are the veils important?

The veils separate the rooms of the tabernacle and they even separate those that come from outside the tabernacle from those that can approach the mercy seat.

There are three sets of veils. There is the outside veil that is on the walls of the outer court. This veil is hanging on four pillars. The next veil is hanging on five pillars and leads into the holy place. The final veil blocks the way to the ark of the covenant and mercy seat.

These veils show us, in type and shadow, the progression of the obedience of those that do what the Lord says to do versus not doing what the Lord says to do.

That excerpt is relevant to this study because it party shows that Levites and the priesthood are both equally important, but they both have their place in the will of God for the people of Israel.

What is fascinating for me is that we are all these types and shadows, and live them out at some time in our walk with the Lord. We are Levites and priests at our appointed times, among other things.

Sometimes we want to slay our brother, other times we step in and save our brother from our other brothers just as Reuben did with Joseph, etc. etc.

When Moses gives out the curses and blessings, we are all being given these curses and blessings at our appointed time.

There is a lot that can be said about the individual blessings that Moses proclaims for each of the sons of Israel, but the end of this chapter is revealing for the end game of who we are in the Lord.

Deu 33:29  Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

 

]]> Awesome Hands – part 158: “The LORD hath not done all this” https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/awesome-hands-part-158-the-lord-hath-not-done-all-this/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=awesome-hands-part-158-the-lord-hath-not-done-all-this Sun, 10 Nov 2019 00:55:24 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=19769

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Awesome Hands - part 158: “The LORD hath not done all this” - Discussion

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Awesome Hands – part 158

“The LORD hath not done all this”

November 9, 2019

Deu 31:29  For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because  ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

Deu 32:26  I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:
Deu 32:27  Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this.

Our study today finds us with a very revealing set of verses about how seriously the Lord takes His glory and the works He institutes to that end.

It had been revealed to Moses that the Israelites would provoke the Lord to anger through the work of their hands.

The past several studies have shown that the negative “work of the hands” is creating idols which are worshipped as gods. This can come as physical creations, or more covertly, as the works of our hands in the form of the work we do in our own spiritual lives.

We indeed create “gods” to be worshipped with the work of our own “crafty hands”.

Deu 27:15  Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

Though the Israelites did fulfill this set of verses when they were told this “song of Moses”, we will see shortly that Christianity has done the same thing.

Isa 48:5  I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.

We are all gods; therefore, we all create idols of our own hands.

For us personally, we too have fulfilled these verses in our own timing, but that is not the end of the story on this matter.

Deuteronomy 32:27 says, “Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy”, which alone makes it sound like the Lord could possibly “fear the wrath of the enemy”, but we know this is not what is being said simply because the Lord works all things after the counsel of His own will, and causing Himself to fear the wrath of His enemies is not something you can find witnesses to in scripture.

So, what is being said here, and why is it important to understand? Does the Lord fear “the wrath of the enemy”?

Here are the same verses in the ESV translation:

Deu 32:26 (ESV) I would have said, "I will cut them to pieces; I will wipe them from human memory,"
Deu 32:27 had I not feared provocation by the enemy, lest their adversaries should misunderstand, lest they should say, "Our hand is triumphant, it was not the LORD who did all this."'

“It is not the Lord who did all this” is the focus of these verses.

It is very important to the Lord that He has a people who represent Him. In fact, this still holds true today.

When Israel is being told, through the song of Moses, that they will betray the Lord in their actions and hearts, the Lord says He is going to take vengeance (verse 35) on them to avenge His name.

In other words, His “name” is not going to be dragged through the mud without Him having something to say about the matter.

Deu 32:36  For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.
Deu 32:37  And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
Deu 32:38  Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

When all this happens, the Lord is NOT utterly going to destroy His people because this is what will be used by the enemy to claim that the enemy is the one who ultimately has the power to destroy the Lord’s people, and the Lord is NOT having that!

The Lord is not going to permit His glory to be lessened by His enemy, by His enemy saying it has power to lessen the Lord’s glory.

Instead of utterly destroying His people, God will leave a remnant to show His glory through and to, and that is where Christian’s come in today.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Again, lest we think this is only a message meant for the “Jews who are outwardly”, let us examine what the “name of the Lord” is all about and who it is who carries this name with them today.

Anyone who keeps the commandments of the Lord has His name. Therefore, doing, saying, professing, claiming, calling upon or acting in accord with the name of the Lord all means you are keeping His commandments.

“For I am persuaded, that neither death”, tells us that not even the “last enemy” death will have any power of the Lord or His name.

Lam 1:8  Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
Lam 1:9  Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.
Lam 1:10  The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.

1Co 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

When any of us do not “keep His commandments”, we are appointed to death in its various forms.

Though the Lord will no utterly destroy His people, if you are His people, then judgment must happen. For God’s people now, judgment is NOW on the house of God.

Deu 32:37  And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
Deu 32:38  Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.
Deu 32:39  See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
Deu 32:40  For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
Deu 32:41  If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.
Deu 32:42  I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.
Deu 32:43  Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants,   and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to  his people.

This all seems so deadly for the enemies of God, and indeed it is. However, being that we are all the enemies of God because of the flesh that has it’s laws running through it, shouldn’t take our spiritual eyes off of the prize that we have a spiritual race to run to obtain the prize of the high calling.

I know this is a lot of verses, but I am going to read them from the ESV and hopefully this will encourage us all to keep running the race when so many of our enemies (and there are many spiritual enemies to deal with that have nothing to do with the physical) want us to stop running.

Php 3:12 (ESV) Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Php 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
Php 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
Php 3:16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Php 3:17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
Php 3:18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Php 3:19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Php 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Php 3:21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

What is this thing we have just exclaimed to be racing towards and trying to win referred to as the “high calling of Jesus Christ”?

Php 3:7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Php 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Php 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--
Php 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings,becoming like him in his death,
Php 3:11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

The focus of this study is to make sure that the enemies of God do not take the glory of God unto themselves.

The Lord tells the Israelites, through the song of Moses, that He will not allow His enemies to be able to claim, “the Lord has not done this”.

Deu 32:27  Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this.

What is the “all this” that the Lord is claimed by His enemies to have not done?

When we put it in the context of these verses, it is all the things mentioned in this chapter of Deuteronomy.

However, when we out it in the context of this race we are running the entirety of our Christian lives, it is all of the things “made from our hands”, otherwise known as “gods”, which take credit for what the Lord has done.

When combining the last few studies of the awesome hands series with this one, anything that we do of ourselves is the work of our hands. It is our own work. Where we get in spiritual trouble is that we take credit for even that work being created VIA our hands.

For example, many people cannot forgive themselves for some grievous thing that have done in their lives. This is because you only see the “you” being the cause of the “grievous thing”.

How much more clearer can the Lord make it that “you” just aren’t that powerful?

We just read that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ in Romans, yet we somehow think we are powerful enough to do that in SOME WAY? Listen again to the Lord in Deut 30 to see just how powerful the “god” you are is.

Deu 32:39  See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

Simply put, we cannot kill nor make alive ……. our OWN SELVES in and of ourselves. It simply is not given to us to do this and have this power.

The Lord does not share His glory with another in this way.

If we start evaluating the things in our heavens that we struggle with, and place it under this same spiritual microscope, we will discover that the Lord indeed has things under His control.

This should give us great comfort, and when it doesn’t, it is because “we” have somehow injected ourselves into the scenario as somehow not having the power to stop things as they are preceding or to get things going in the “right direction”.

What part of “BE STILL” is hard to understand? Stand in AWE of the Lord. Though “awesome” is not in the scripture, this is the word (AWE) which inspired the title of this series, “Awesome Hands”.

Psa 46:8  Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
Psa 46:9  He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
Psa 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psa 46:11  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Psa 4:1  To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
Psa 4:2  O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
Psa 4:3  But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
Psa 4:4  Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Psa 4:5  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
Psa 4:6  There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Psa 4:7  Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
Psa 4:8  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

What are the “sacrifices of righteousness” we are to offer? I just so happened to highlight it before, but could it be so simple? Yes, indeed it is, because there is simplicity in the Lord.

Php 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes  from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--

The real eye-opener and kicker is that EVEN faith is a GIFT from God, so the righteousness we are to sacrifice is FROM THE LORD! Amen!

Lack faith? Ask for more. We all need more faith, not less! Ever feel like you’ve been cast into the fire or water to be destroyed?

Mar 9:22  And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.
Mar 9:23  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Mar 9:24  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I  believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Lord, I believe, but help me with the rest of my unbelief … my un-faith. Amen, “father of the child”, amen.

I hope this study will bless you to know who fights on your side.

 

]]> Awesome Hands – Part 155: “The work of the hands of the craftsman” https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/awesome-hands-part-155-the-work-of-the-hands-of-the-craftsman/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=awesome-hands-part-155-the-work-of-the-hands-of-the-craftsman Sat, 12 Oct 2019 23:55:04 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=19612

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Awesome Hands - Part 155: "The work of the hands of the craftsman" - Discussion

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Awesome Hands – part 155

“The work of the hands of the craftsman”

October 12, 2019

 

Our study today covers a very broad topic. It is a topic that has many layers, but it is also easy to understand. Our verse of focus today is Deu 27:15.

Deu 27:15  Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the  people shall answer and say, Amen.

On the surface, and just reading this verse, it is hard to understand why the Lord would consider it an abomination for a craftsman to make a carved or cast image of anything. Indeed, it doesn’t even mention worshipping this creation in this verse, but we know that is the implication by knowing other verses.

However, it is the sum of the word that matters especially with verses such as Deu 27:15. In fact, this is the first of twelve curses that the Lord tells Israel about.

Though it isn’t mentioned here, all of the blessings and curses were read together to the people versus this section telling Moses how he is to tell the Levites to read these curses, etc.

Jos 8:33  And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

Jos 8:34  And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

Before we get into the specifics of Deu 27:15, I want to read the other curses to help set the stage on what we are being told in this section of scripture.

Deu 27:16  Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deu 27:17  Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deu 27:18  Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deu 27:19  Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deu 27:20  Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deu 27:21  Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deu 27:22  Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deu 27:23  Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deu 27:24  Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deu 27:25  Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deu 27:26  Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Notice that these are all things that are done in secret or otherwise hard to be found out excluding the last curse which is a curse covering the entirety of the law.

This tells us that without a doubt no one escapes the law because all are guilty of breaking the law of God except Jesus Christ.

Yet, even Jesus took the curse upon Him, being made a curse, and then crucified it on the cross.

Gal 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Gal 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Gal 3:12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Gal 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Today, I do not think many folks are making graven or molten images with their hands and then assigning some deity worship to it. Rather, the majority of all of us worship the work of our own hands and do the worshipping in secret.

Anyone that had done a good days work or who has created something out of their own hard efforts has set back and appreciated and admired the fruit of that hard work.

Likewise, any craftsman can tell you the joy they have in having created something that is useful for what it was created for even if it is only to admire such as a work of art, etc.

For Christians today, Deu 27:15 can teach us a whole lot about the pitfall of self-worship.

While we may not make graven or molten images to worship, we certainly engrave our own hearts and minds with the “works of our own hands”.

If you think that this has no application to you personally, think on these verses and their application to you.

Joh 10:34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Joh 10:37  If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
Joh 10:38  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

See, just like with Jesus Christ of whom we are to be like in this world, the works we do are either of God the Father or they are not.

Jesus connected “ye are gods” with WORKS! The works we do with our hands are works we make with our spiritual hands and SECRETLY worship them where others can not see not perceive of this happening.

In other words, we are making graven images and worshipping them as gods because it is the work itself we are worshipping. That work came from us, so we are indeed worshipping another god!

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come  a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped;  so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

What then are the works of our own hands that we need to be aware of in order to combat them and not succumb to self-worship via our idols of our heart?

How do we identify idols?

Eze 6:5  And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.
Eze 6:6  In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.
Eze 6:7  And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Eze 6:8  Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.
Eze 6:9  And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.
Eze 6:10  And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.
Eze 6:11  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

When we look at what we do, say or act upon in our daily lives, are these things we see being done in Israel?

Remember, for Christians we are looking at “the Jews who say they are Jews” but are not.

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Many Christians, including all of us, believe to be a “Jew inwardly” of the heart and in the spirit. How can we know if we fall into this latter camp or if we are yet in the former camp?

Again, it all goes back to works of the Father versus works of our own hands otherwise known as works of your father the devil.

Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 10:20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Luk 12:28  If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Luk 12:29  And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Luk 12:30  For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Luk 12:31  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Joh 8:37  I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:38  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Joh 8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Joh 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Joh 8:41  Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
Joh 8:42  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

What is it to love Jesus? To love Jesus is to have God the Father as our Father and to not have the devil as our father.

Joh 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth 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 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1Jn 4:9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

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.
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.
1Jn 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us.
1Jn 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1Jn 4:21  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

2Jn 1:5  And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
2Jn 1:6  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
2Jn 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Indeed, there are many deceivers and the antichrist’s in the world. How do we know this? I just used scripture to define the love we must have to say we love Jesus thereby being of God the Father.

While defining love, I also showed that JESUS MUST COME IN THE FLESH and is indeed IN THE FLESH.

Therefore, when did Christ, while in the flesh, say or do anything contrary to the will of God? When did Jesus Christ say, “Yeah, I have a will separate from the Father’s which isn’t touched by the will of God. I can do some things on my own of my own free will?”

If we cannot find even one example of Jesus doing something outside of the will of the Father while reading the stories of when He walked the earth more than 2000 years ago, then we must conclude that something is wrong with the doctrine that WE can somehow do something outside of the causation of the will of God.

Jesus IS come in the flesh, right now. The Truth is that Jesus is walking the earth RIGHT NOW in the flesh. To say otherwise, is a deceiver and antichrist according to scripture.

What flesh is Jesus walking around with and in? Therefore, what part of the will of Jesus, while walking in the flesh, is somehow SEPARATE from the will of God and can “do its own thing,” sometimes?

The work of the hands of the craftsman are works which build something that God Himself has not being given credit for. Good works are only good because they are works which are accredited to God.

Mar 10:17  And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Mar 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Mar 10:19  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

Luk 18:19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

If Jesus says NONE IS GOOD, then I believe Him. Jesus’ will is NOTHING next to the Will of the Father.

Luk 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

]]> Awesome Hands – Part 132: “To bless or curse” https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/awesome-hands-part-132-to-bless-or-curse/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=awesome-hands-part-132-to-bless-or-curse Sun, 15 Apr 2018 00:08:53 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=16075

Awesome Hands – Part 132

To bless or curse

April 14, 2018

Oftentimes we find ourselves questioning the various situations in which the Lord has placed us. These questions come to our minds as easily as air comes to our lungs.

While it may seem negative at first to question why we are in a situation or trial, it doesn’t need to always be viewed this way. In truth, the Lord wants us to realize that we are where we are because He has put us there. Likewise, it is He who will deliver us as time progresses.

This is a theme that will follow us all of our days. The story we are going to cover today will show us how we should respond to the Lord when He puts Himself in our path.

The reality of our lives is that we should ALWAYS see our trials as the Lord’s angel standing in the road to block our way or to give us passage. It is all of the Lord. How we REACT to what the Lord does determines if we will live or die unto the Lord, spiritually speaking.

To bless or curse

Our story today finds us looking at the choices we make in light of our situation. We oftentimes know what to do, but doing it comes much harder than just knowing it.

The Lord always places choices in front of us, but He also already knows what we will choose. It may seem like there is no real choice in this situation, since the Lord knows ahead of time what will happen, but the process of choosing is to show us that WE DO NOT KNOW what we will choose until we choose it.

Choices are to show us where we are with the Lord, not where the Lord is with us. In other words, our choices are a reflection of our obedience to do what the Lord commands or not.

Balaam and Balak show us these differences. Most of the verses in this study are from the ESV unless otherwise noted.

Num 22:1  Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
Num 22:2  And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
Num 22:3  And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.
Num 22:4  And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
Num 22:5  sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me.
Num 22:6  Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Balak’s sole motivation in this story is fear. In his fear he wants to use a man’s power of blessing or cursing, as he perceives it, to curse the Israelites. He sends off for Balaam offering Balaam anything he wants in return for his “powerful cursing ability”.

Num 22:7  So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message.
Num 22:8  And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
Num 22:9  And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
Num 22:10  And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,
Num 22:11  ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.'”
Num 22:12  God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
Num 22:13  So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”
Num 22:14  So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

The will of God is made very clear to all parties involved. Balaam is the mouthpiece of the Lord, and  Balak will not have the curse come from Balaam. Do you think this will sit well with Balak? Of course it won’t. It also doesn’t sit well with Balaam either, and that is revealed in how Balaam petitions the Lord for a second time.

Num 22:15  Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.
Num 22:16  And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
Num 22:17  for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.'”
Num 22:18  But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more.
Num 22:19  So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.”
Num 22:20  And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”
Num 22:21  So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

The Lord surely had His wrath kindled with this request from Balaam. Balaam wanted to see “what more” the Lord would say to him, but the Lord has already made it clear that the Israelites were not going to be cursed.

Balaam is being offered honor and whatever else he asks of Balak. Though he denies these requests with his words, Balaam’s heart is far from the Lord.

This is where we need to constantly be diligent in our own dealings with the Lord. Where is our heart when we know to do right, but do the opposite anyway?

I find that with myself, I often almost always know what the Lord would have me do, but something in my thinking looks for what is excusable with the Lord or with myself. What can I get away with that keeps me on the fence line without “really” disobeying the Lord?

Not all situations happen this way, but many do. I almost always know what I have learned is the right way to deal with what the Lord has placed in my life, but I do not always want to obey that understanding and knowledge of what is right with the Lord. Such is how we find Balaam, who is a servant of the Lord.

You can’t really blame Balak for trying to keep him and his people safe. If he can get this “man” Balaam to do his bidding, all is good. It isn’t the Moabites who worship Yahweh, so they don’t really care that Balaam is saying he must do what the Lord says. Yahweh is not their Lord.

To that point, here Balaam is going with the Moab representatives even though he already said the Lord said he couldn’t place a curse on the people.

The Lord answers Balaam according to the idols of his heart and tells him to go with “the men”, but that will not be the end of it.

Num 22:22  But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.
Num 22:23  And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.
Num 22:24  Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.
Num 22:25  And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again.
Num 22:26  Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.
Num 22:27  When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

The Lord uses the donkey to save the life of Balaam by preventing him from taking the “wrong road” to his destination. The wrong road, of course, would end in death .. i.e the path that Balaam was on.

The Lord certainly is merciful to Balaam, but this wasn’t strictly for Balaam’s sake. Balaam is still going to be used of the Lord to execute His judgment on the Moabites and to let them know what that judgment is going to be.

Num 22:28  Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
Num 22:29  And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”
Num 22:30  And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”

Isn’t it amazing that this dumb animal knew more and saw more than Balaam did? Balaam was blinded by the prospect of divination and honor, but this donkey saw the angel of the Lord!

Isa 1:3  The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”

The donkey was smart enough to avoid danger on behalf of his owner, yet Balaam did not have the wherewithal to know the will of his Master!

Num 22:31  Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.
Num 22:32  And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.
Num 22:33  The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”
Num 22:34  Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”
Num 22:35  And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

I do not have time in this study to read all of the verses that pertain to the entire interaction between Balaam and Balak, but Balaam goes on to have altars erected and offerings/sacrifices made on them.

It should be clear by now that Balaam desired to go and see what Balak had to offer. There simply was no other reason for Balaam to go, seeing as all that Balak wanted was a curse that “could” help him defeat Israel.

Being that Balaam is a type of God’s prophet, and we are all being raised up as the children of God with the prophecy of Jesus Christ in our hearts and minds, we should pause and evaluate if we, too, desire the gains of this life over the life the Lord has promised us.

It is a fair question and one only we can ask ourselves sincerely.

The hands of the Lord work in all things, and while that is intellectually understandable, it is spiritually a hard pill to swallow.

Balaam is ultimately used, via the help Balak provides in creating the altars needed by Balaam, to bless the people of Israel in front of many Moabites.

Num 23:17  And he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the LORD spoken?”
Num 23:18  And Balaam took up his discourse and said, “Rise, Balak, and hear; give ear to me, O son of Zippor:
Num 23:19  God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Num 23:20  Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.

Num 24:1  When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness.
Num 24:2  And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,
Num 24:3  and he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
Num 24:4  the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:
Num 24:5  How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!

The ultimate goal of this study is show that we will all eventually, as the people of God, see what pleases the Lord and what does not.

You might be wondering how we can know what pleases the Lord. Sometimes, we are just told. There is much more that can be said about this topic, but I think these verses help to guide us in to right direction concerning this topic.

(KJV) Col 3:20  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Or

(KJV) Col 1:5  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Col 1:6  Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Col 1:7  As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Col 1:8  Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Col 1:9  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

The Lord presents choices for us every day of our lives as chances to discover where our mindsets and hearts are with the Lord. When we find that we are not in lockstep with being obedient to the Lord, these choices provide an opportunity for us to correct and judge ourselves in the presence of the Lord.

This truly is a wonderful and merciful way for the Lord to love and teach His children.

]]> Job 11:11-20 – “Many Shall Make Suit Unto Thee” https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/job_11_11_20/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=job_11_11_20 Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:34:30 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=3122 Audio Links

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Job 11:11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
Job 11:12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.
Job 11:13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
Job 11:14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
Job 11:15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
Job 11:16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
Job 11:17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
Job 11:18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
Job 11:19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
Job 11:20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost

Introduction

Like Eliphaz and Bildad before him, Zophar is convinced that Job is guilty of some gross, personal, hidden sin to warrant the suffering Job is enduring. This is the logical conclusion of being taught that God blesses those who are righteous and curses those who are not, without being given the understanding that we are all ‘shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin’ (Psa 51:5), and without understanding that we all are ‘given an evil experience by God to humble us’.

Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deu 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.

It seems to Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar that Job is an enemy of God and God’s ways. Job himself feels the same way.

Job 13:24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

The revelations of Psa 51:5 and Ecc 1:13 came many years after either Job or Moses. So Job’s trials are proof to Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar that God is obviously not pleased with Job. It is evident to everyone that Job is being destroyed because of God’s displeasure with him. Being types of us as the self- righteous Pharisees we all come to be while in Babylon, they look down on Job as being more sinful than themselves. It is there while we are in Babylon that we are taught that our ‘free will’ supersedes the effects of the work of Christ on the cross. It is there in Babylon that we are completely unaware that ‘grace chastens us to forsake time in Babylon which is typified by Job and his “miserable comforters”. What neither Job nor his comforters understand at this time in their walk is that Job is simply one step ahead of his friends, and that they too, must be tried, exposed, made to be ‘a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men’ and brought to repentance.

1Co 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it. (CLV)
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.

Christ addresses Job’s and our sufferings directly with these words:

Luk 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
Luk 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luk 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Luk 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Christ has just told us that none of us is any different than those people who were killed by Pilate, or those on whom the tower of Siloam fell. “Ye shall likewise perish” are words which have ‘proceeded out of the mouth of God’, and therefore we are all to live by those words. Christ Himself tells us that only those who ‘lose their life will find it’. As is always the case, that which sounds so catastrophic to the ‘natural… old man’ is but a necessary step toward our salvation when those words are heard by the ears of those who are given “ears to hear” the things of the spirit.

Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Our repentance is the beginning of the death of our “old man”, and the dying of our ‘old man’ is the beginning of ‘finding’ the life of our “new man”.

Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Who of Adam’s seed does not first “sow to his flesh” before he repents, is judged and then begins to “sow to the spirit”?
That is why we are told that “All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked”, and “all things… the world, life, death, things present, and things to come, all are ours”.

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;

That is what Christ meant when he said:

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

When all men are required to live by “Every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”, that means that “all… in Adam” will, in their own time be given life, simply because these words have proceeded out of the mouth of God:

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Just to make sure we get the message of Joh 3:17, here in 1Ti 4:10 we are told that God is the Savior “specially” but not exclusively of those that believe. We are even told that Christ “is the Savior of all men”. And the fact that those who are chosen of God in this age are not the only ones who are being saved is again repeated with emphasis in this verse:

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

It appears that even Job’s miserable comforters knew that God’s judgments upon Job were redemptive and remedial in nature. They are each completely self- righteous, yet they each in their turn, acknowledge that when Job repents, he is destined to be restored to God’s favor. Notice how both Eliphaz and Bildad foresee Job’s restoration to God’s favor.
Here are Eliphaz’s concluding remarks concerning what God is doing with Job:

Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
Job 5:18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
Job 5:19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
Job 5:20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
Job 5:21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
Job 5:22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
Job 5:23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
Job 5:24 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.
Job 5:25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
Job 5:26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
Job 5:27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

There is not one word of an eternal hell, filled with literal fire. Eliphaz speaks of correction and chastening, of binding up and making whole, of deliverance and redemption from death. He speaks of Job being ‘in league with the stones of the field’, his tabernacle being in peace, not sinning, and his ‘offspring as the grass of the earth’.
Bildad does the same. Here are Bildad’s concluding remarks:

Job 8:20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
Job 8:21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
Job 8:22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

Bildad tells Job that God will not cast him away. He speaks of God filling Job’s mouth with laughter and his lips with rejoicing. He tells Job that those who hate him “shall be clothed with shame and… come to nought”.
Like Caiaphas within us, who these men foreshadow, both Eliphaz and Bildad, whether aware of it or not, are blessing the object of their spite and condemnation.

Joh 11:49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
Joh 11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
Joh 11:51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
Joh 11:52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Caiaphas certainly did not think of “the children of God” as including any physically uncircumcised Gentiles. Nevertheless the holy spirit applies his words “not for that nation only…” As we will see, Zophar will do the same, and he will also bless Job, just as Eliphaz and Bildad before him, because these three men are a type of all of us who all first falsely accuse Christ. So he continues to falsely accuse Job who, as of yet is the type of God’s elect before they are revealed as such:

Job 11:11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
Job 11:12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.

“Vain man would be wise…” This is us while we are in Babylon. We all think we have repented of our sins and are now subject to God and His ways, when all the while in reality we have come to hate Christ and His Words to the point of wanting Him and all who are His dead. Here is how this state of mind is spoken of in the New Testament. We are beasts who were created on the sixth day to tell us who we are, Nevertheless we have forgotten that we are mere beasts who would crucify our own savior simply because His Words “have no place in [ us]”. As always we are told exactly what we are by nature:

Ecc 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

They became “A wild ass’s colt … [ who] would be wise”, if he does not first repent, ‘professing himself to be wise he becomes a fool’. But even Zophar is given to tell us that repentance is coming for Job, and that “a wild ass’s colt” is not the final product which God has in mind for Job, who we know is the Biblical type of God’s “firstfruit… elect” harvest.

Job 11:13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
Job 11:14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

These are words which Job and all of us will live. We will prepare our hearts, we will stretch out our hands toward God, and we will “not let wickedness dwell in our tabernacles” because in “the sum” of God’s Word (Psa 119:160 ASV) it is He who is working in us “both to will and to do of His good pleasure”.

Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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 works in us’ through His Son living His life within us. But we all think, like Job, that we are blameless long before we ever become ‘without spot… stedfast and without fear’ in Him.

Job 11:15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
Job 11:16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
 Job 33:9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

When the eons have served their purpose, we will indeed “forget our misery”, along with all the foolish sins we are given to commit.

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.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Here is how Christ explains how we come to be “without spot… stedfast”:

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

Neither Job nor his friends yet ‘love God’, as God makes so clear.

Job 40:6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 40:7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 40:8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

But in time Job will be judged, and he will come to understand what God is doing before His friends are given that knowledge. Job typifies those who do eventually come to love and obey God in this life. But those who obey God in this life, are not exclusionists as they are accused of being by those who would have others to endure God’s judgment while excluding themselves:

Joh 11:52 And not for that nation only [ God’s Israel, His elect], but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad [“All in Adam”, 1Co 15:22].

“The children of God scattered abroad” is in time “the whole world”. Christ’s elect are first, but they are just the beginning of God’s harvest of this earth.

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Those who are “first to trust in Christ” are indeed “blessed and holy.

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
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:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
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.

It is through God’s ‘first fruits’ that He is determined to bring in the harvest “at the end of the year”.

Exo 34:18 The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.

Exo 34:22 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.
Exo 34:23 Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.

So Christ is the Father’s firstfruit at the Spring feast called “the feast of unleavened bread”. This was the first feast of the year. But Christ also has a firstfruit harvest which Isa 50 days after the spring harvest, and is in the summer. This harvest typifies the establishing of His church on the day of Pentecost, which is also called “the feast of weeks of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest”.
So Christ is the first of the firstfruits. Christ is the first to be resurrected to life from among the dead. He is typified by the wave sheaf of the barley harvest which took place 50 days prior to “the feast… of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest”. The third harvest was the harvest at “the feast of ingathering at the year’s end”.

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

“The firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” or “They that are Christ’s at His coming”.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the [ harvest at the] end [ of the year], when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

Here is how those “firstfruits of the wheat harvest” are used of God to ‘gather in the harvest at the year’s end”:

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

So God ‘has mercy upon all… through our mercy’ as His firstfruit harvest. This is the time of the glory of those who are of that “blessed and holy… first resurrection”. Here is how Job will, in his end, typify those of that resurrection.

Job 11:17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
Job 11:18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

Christ has promised His firstfruits, those in that “blessed and holy… first resurrection” that they will “shine forth in [ His] kingdom,” and He has promised them “the morning star”.

Mat 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him
hear.
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 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

What exactly does it mean to be given “the morning star”? What kind of a gift is ‘the morning star’?

Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

There is no greater gift that can be given, and there is no greater honor that can be bestowed on any man. Job is the type of those who are given this gift and this honor, and because this is such a great gift and honor bestowed upon Christ’s firstfruits, and because they are the channel for God’s Fall harvest of all mankind at the end of the year, as the type of the end of the ages, this is what Zophar tells Job is to be Job’s end in type and in shadow:

Job 11:19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

“Many shall make suit unto thee” just as Joseph’s brothers made obeisance to him, according to the dreams Joseph had been given.

Gen 37:1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
Gen 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
Gen 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
Gen 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
Gen 37:6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
Gen 37:7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
Gen 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
Gen 37:9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
Gen 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

Will our fathers and brothers come and bow down before us? The answer is, Yes they will, if they are not ‘in Christ and Christ in them’.

Rev 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

God’s standards are much higher than our standards. Our ‘old man’ cannot survive God’s purifying fiery words. He was created “in sin” (Psa 51:5), a “marred… vessel of clay”, and a “body of… death” to be destroyed.

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

This last verse refers to our dying “old man” who has no understanding or appreciation for a “spiritual body”, and must therefore be relinquished by all who will inherit life eonian.

Job 11:20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost

“The redemption of the purchased possession” is given only after “the giving up of the ghost” or the giving up of the spirit. So we are told:

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

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,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Next week, if the Lord wills, we will hear just how little Job appreciates Zophar’s words. Here is the beginning of Job’s rebuttal, as he foolishly compares himself with his friends.

Job 12:1 And Job answered and said,
Job 12:2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
Job 12:3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
Job 12:4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
Job 12:5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
Job 12:6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
Job 12:7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
Job 12:8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
Job 12:9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
Job 12:10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
Job 12:11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
Job 12:12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
Job 12:13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding

JOB 11:11-20 REVIEW: Notes
 Title of study: Many Shall Make Suit Unto You
 Introduction:

Zophar, the third of Job’s comforters, is completing his first speech to Job. Like his co- comforters, Zophar is convinced that Job’s trials are proof that God is obviously not pleased with Job.

He is sincerely advising Job to repent and to let go of his iniquities. He concludes with the statement that ‘the eyes of the wicked shall fail’. The ‘eyes’ of the carnal mind of the natural man in us fail because they only perceive natural things:

Isa 59:2 (ESV) but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

The righteous, those who put iniquity far away from them, sees beyond these natural limitations of the carnal mind. Spiritual insight causes the righteous to give mercy and healing to many wounded. Those with the mind of Christ can dig [ into] the deep things of God…and ‘rest in safety’.

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.

Verses 11-12
Job 11:11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?Job 11:12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s[ Strong’s # H6501] colt.
 Comparing spiritual with spiritual:
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,
1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
Psa 62:9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Gen 16:11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.Gen 16:12 And he will be a wild [ Strong’s # H6501] man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
Ecc 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
A short summary of the discussion on this section:
 We are all first the rejected seed of Abraham from the bondwoman. In that condition we are the wild ass (a beast) who thinks he is the ‘wise’ who knows God. Remnants ofBabylon is still in us and is coming out (being ‘cast out’) as we die daily to the beast.
 Verses 13-14:
Job 11:13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;Job 11:14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
 Comparing spiritual with spiritual:

Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Act 7:51 O stiff- necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so you do.

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;
Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
 A short summary of the discussion on this section:
 God knows all our ‘works’ because He prepares our hearts both to resist and receive Him and His Word. He shuts and He opens all doors as no man has ‘resisted His will’.
 Verses 15-16:
Job 11:15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:Job 11:16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
Comparing spiritual with spiritual:
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Zec 3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
Rom 3:16-18 Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they[ the wicked, the lawless] not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
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.
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works t o serve the living God?
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
A short summary of the discussion on this section:
 The ‘stony heart’ in the ‘lawless and disobedient’ first man Adam is filled with misery as he is clothed with filthy garments. It is only through the blood of Christ (His spirit/ doctrines) that we can totally forget thismiserableevilexperiencein the flesh as He purges our conscience from dead works.
 Verses 17-18:
Job 11:17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.Job 11:18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
 Comparing spiritual with spiritual:
Gen 21:2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
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:
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph 1:5 having predestined us to the adoption of children [ Strong’s # G5206: uihothesia = the placing as a son; sonship in respect to God] by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
A short summary of the discussion on this section:
 The ‘set time’ to receive sonship ‘by Jesus Christ to himself’ has nothing to do with earthly time (‘old age’), but is the rising (conception and birth) of the spiritual ‘new man’ as predestined’according to the good pleasure of his will’.
 Verse 19:
Job 11:19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
 Comparing spiritual with spiritual:
Job 11:19 (ABP) For you shall be tranquil, and there will not be one waging war against you; and turning, many will beseech[ Strong’s # G1189] you.
Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Luk 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,Luk 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
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;

Rev 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

A short summary of discussion on this section:

Strong’s # G1189 = tobeg, petition, beseech, pray (to), make request (Compare G4441= request).

Because we have received mercy from God, we will be able to show mercy to those who curse, hate, despitefully use and persecute us.

Verse 20:
Job 11:20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.
 Comparing spiritual with spiritual:
Job 11:20 (BBE) But the eyes of the evil- doers will be wasting away; their way of flight is gone, and their only hope is the taking of their last breath.
Lam 1:21 They hear that I sigh; there is none to comfort me. All my enemies have heard my evil; they are glad that You have done it. You will bring the day that You have called, and they shall be like me.Lam 1:22 Let all their wickedness come before You; and do to them as You have done to me for all my transgressions. For my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.

Pro 10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

Pro 11:7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

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.

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.

A short summary of the discussion on this section:
 When we can discern between ‘t he righteous and the wicked’ (in us), we joyfully accept the truth that we must ‘s uffer loss’. We give up ‘the ghost’ on our earthly expectations and serve God in spirit and truth.>

]]> The Promises of God In Him https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/the-promises-of-god-in-him/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-promises-of-god-in-him Wed, 24 Aug 2011 02:19:47 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=4801

Hey Mike,

Can you help me understand all this yes, yes and no, no stuff? I can’t figure out what he is talking about here.

2Co 1:17-20
17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?
18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Thanks for all you do!
J____

Hi J____,
Thanks for your question.
You ask what 2Co 1:17-20 means:

To understand what Paul means, you need to read the verses which precede these verses. It is here that we find what Paul means by “all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen”. Let’s look at what Paul is referring to.

2Co 1:13 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
2Co 1:14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
2Co 1:15 And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
2Co 1:16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

What Paul is referring to is what the Corinthians were already reading and acknowledging in the word of God. He is, in effect, repeating what he had told them in his first epistle:

1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [ of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

The words “of men” are in brackets because they are not in the Greek. Paul wants us all to know that everything he writes about is only those things which are already written, and that the revelations he was given were already right there hidden within the “that which is written” scriptures.
So what “promises of God” are in the scriptures? What is it that is “all yea, and all amen”? Christ makes that very clear and answers this question for us:

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

“Every word” is the same as “all the promises of God”. Here is another way of saying the same thing:

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;

“All things” certainly would include “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”, and Paul is saying that everything he writes to these Corinthians is what they have already acknowledged as the Word of God, and it is all yea and amen, in Christ.
It is not just all the blessing which are ‘Yea and Amen’ but it is everything “you read or acknowledge”.
So all the promises of blessings and rulership are ours, but so are all the promises of curses which are promised to come upon us if we disobey our God.

Deu 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
Deu 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

Yes, these promises are all ours in Christ. The description of these promises of blessing take up the first 15 verses of this 28th chapter of Deuteronomy. But blessings are not the only promises made to Israel. There are 68 verses in this chapter, and all the rest of this chapter is God’s promises to Israel about how He will curse them if they disobey Him. Here is the beginning of this section of scripture:

Deu 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
Deu 28:16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
Deu 28:17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.
Deu 28:18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
Deu 28:19 Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

These things too, are “yea and amen” in Christ. That is what Paul is referring to when He speaks of what the Corinthians “read and acknowledge”, and he is assuring them that when he tells them that he will come to see them that his words are not spoken lightly, but are as sincere in their utterance as God in His promises that “all things are ours… every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”, and not just the good and smooth things.
This is why in both Revelation !3 and in Rev 14 all the curses upon those who worship the beast are twice called “the patience and faith of the saints.

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
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?
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heave n.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Not one person in a thousand has an ear to hear that all of this “is the patience and faith of the saints”, even though this is all reiterated in the very next chapter:

Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
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.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

“All the promises of God in Him are yea and amen” and not just the “smooth things” and the promised blessings for obedience. Who among us is not first a child of disobedience who must first experience the wrath of God being poured out on all his unrighteousness and ungodliness?

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

I hope this all helps you to see what Paul means by “all the promises of God in Christ, are yea and amen”:

2Co 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
2Co 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

]]> Should Christians Fear Curses? https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/should-christians-fear-curses/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=should-christians-fear-curses Sat, 05 May 2007 05:00:01 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=4141

J____ wrote:
Hi again Mike,
If I may be so bold, I’d like a bit more of your wise counsel. It further concerns my friend’s girlfriend’s situation with a family curse. I’ve been approached by my friend to see if there is anything I can do to help his girlfriend’s mother. I’ve in the past in the church been on several deliverances and house cleansings, but I no longer feel they were of any use if the Holy Spirit of God is not there. The curse goes back to 1952 when she lived in Africa. Apparently there was a coven that was doing all sorts of abominations and mutilations and murders. The mother of my friend’s girlfriend was only 3 at that time. Her father was a big- time judge, and he was responsible for sentencing the gang to life in prison. Four of them were tribal witch doctors (Shamen), and she says her grandmother told her that they cursed the judge, her husband and the whole family. Now where that seems to hold some weight is in the amount of calamity that has befallen 3 generations since that day. The Judge died suddenly a short time after; the grandmother re- married and her second husband went bezerk and held the entire family in the house in a seige which ended in him shooting himself dead with a shotgun to his head. The grandmother re- married three more times each one failing. The trauma effected the mother in question very badly. Just recently one of the grand- daughters, my friend’s girlfriend has lost her 18 month old daughter to a mysterious illness in her sleep like a cot death, crashed her car nearly killing herself and then had to be rushed back into hospital for a kidney infection that put her in intensive care for three days. Her two brothers have emotional and psychological problems. There is more actually, but I think you get the picture, Mike. My dilemma is if I can be of help, what should I do. I think they are desperate for some sound spirit- filled advice and action, they’re all at their wits end as you can imagine. I am prepared to walk the extra mile if God wants to use me in this situation. Thanks for listening. Any advice as always is greatly appreciated. NONE THE LESS GOD’S WILL, WILL BE DONE.
J____

Hi J____,
Reading your e- mail it does sound like your friend’s girlfriend’s family is indeed under a curse. But I don’t know what you can do to help. So long as they believe in that curse they are under it. Here is why:

Eze 14:3 (a) Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face:

If that family believes that an evil spirit has cursed them, then “as they think in their heart so are they:”

Pro 23:7  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Ezekiel reaffirms this Proverb in these words:

Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart , and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

In other words, if we believe a lie, then the Lord will answer us according to how we think; “For as he thinketh in his heart so is he.” 
Here is what you are up against:

Eze 14:8  And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I [ am] the LORD.
Eze 14:9  And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

Now on the other side of the coin is this story:

Mat 15:28  Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

So if we believe that we are cursed, then we are cursed. If on the other hand, we believe that God has given Christ all power in heaven and in earth, and if we believe that we are his elect, the apple of His eye, and that He is in us, then there certainly is no room for the spirit of the Adversary, the spirit of fear within us. If Christ is in us, then fear will vanish. If we give up our life, then we have nothing to fear because we have nothing to lose. On the other hand, if we strive to cling to our lives, we are not worthy of Christ, and He is not in us, and we are subject to fear.

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.
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.

I think you are familiar with 1Pe 4:17, “judgment is now on the house of God.”
Now it all boils down to whether we have faith that Christ can cast out this spirit of fear. If we have that faith, it is a gift from God. If we realize that we don’t have that faith then we need to be like the father of the demoniac son:

Mar 9:24  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mar 9:25  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, [ Thou] dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
Mar 9:26  And [ the spirit] cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

This man actually realized that his faith was not his faith; it was all of God.
But there is another very revealing truth in this story: “And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.”
The deliverance from our idols of our hearts “tears us sore” and leaves us “as one dead.” It is an excruciating experience to be delivered from an evil spirit. To give up “all that is in the world; the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life” is to give up on this life entirely and to become “as one dead.”
The Bible specifically denies that there are ‘generational curses.’ It is only nine chapters later in this same book of Ezekiel:

Eze 18:1  The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
Eze 18:2  What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
Eze 18:3  As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
Eze 18:20  The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

“The wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him;” it will not be on his son. Now if the son is also wicked, then his wickedness will be on him, but it will not be because of the sins of his father.
If we continue to have faith in the curses of some helpless evil spirit then Christ will answer us “according to our faith,” or as Ezekiel puts it  “according to the idols of our heart.” Remember, when the unclean spirit is gone out, if the Holy Spirit and its Truth do not replace that spirit, it comes back and brings with it seven even more insidious spirits.

Mat 12:43  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Mat 12:44  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Mat 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Unless and until your friend’s girlfriend’s mother puts her faith in these consoling and truthful words of Christ, she will be under this curse. When she believes these words then she will be delivered:

Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

“I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy.” You see how very impotent is the evil spirit. It is the evil spirit that is really under our curse. He is under our feet, and not the other way around.
You say,
“I think they are desperate for some sound spirit filled advice and action, they are all at their wits end as you can imagine.”
“Spirit filled” is scripture filled:

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

I will pray with you that God will give your friend’s girlfriend’s mother the faith to believe these words of our Lord and defy her belief that she is under a curse. But this will do her no good if she remains in Babylon.  I’m pleased that you are “willing to walk the extra mile,” but don’t confuse your willingness to help with “casting your pearls before swine.” If these brothers and sisters are asking you about God’s Word, that is a good sign. But if they simply want a demon exorcised, then that is a bad sign. Believing in this curse is simply symptomatic of an even deeper spiritual problem. It is a symptom of a spiritual Babylonian foundation which is built upon weak and shifting sand. When she comes out of Babylon then she will also know the truth of these words of our Lord. These “words are a [ new] spirit” which that evil spirit will find when he returns to his old home. He will not “find it empty.”
Mike

]]> Generational Curses https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/generational-curses/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=generational-curses Wed, 20 Oct 2004 19:00:00 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=2610

Greetings again,

I sent this to family members sometime back about the subject of “Generational Curses.” It’s believed that even as a believer you can still be under generational curses if you don’t seek deliverance, not from God, but from a professed preacher who specializes in deliverance, and this is very common in Africa and among other churches here in US.

My question therefore is, if Scriptures say in Rom 8:1-2 that believers are under no condemnation, then what’s the essence of forgiveness of sins after one accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.

I do however believe since the devil continuously attacks God’s people and we are to resist him with the Word of God, a believer still has to be reminded of these things and be alert. But does this still mean one can be under generational curses after being “born again?”

Could you please shed some light on this subject of generational curses if you have time, God willing?

May the Most High God continue to Bless you all for your wonderful teachings and give you divine strength. Your teachings have really opened my spiritual eyes and my understanding of God’s divine purpose in our lives. I am getting there gradually, because scriptures says the truth shall set us free

Peace,

A____

Hi, A____,

I can’t really add anything to Rom 8:1-2. If a minister or brother does not believe that “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” he just may not be where he ought to be “in Christ Jesus.”

As you so aptly put it, “To teach otherwise is to teach false doctrine.” If exposing false doctrine is unchristian, then Christ was not very Christian. But of course Christ is the very definition of Christian. No one exposes false doctrine as much as Christ exposes false doctrine. So exposing false doctrines is actually a very important part of being a true Christian.

But just for the record, even the old covenant prophets dispensed with this doctrine long before Christ came along. Here it is in Ezekiel 18:

Eze 18:1 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
Eze 18:2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
Eze 18:3 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.

So how does God now deal with “the sins of the fathers?”

Eze 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Eze 18:10 If he [ anyone in Israel] beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
Eze 18:11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,
Eze 18:12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
Eze 18:13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
Eze 18:14 Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,
Eze 18:15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour’s wife,
Eze 18:16 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
Ezekiel 18:17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

There! Put that with Rom 8:2, and you have two scriptural witnesses that every man is held accountable for his own sins. God says plainly, ” He shall not die for the iniquity of his father…”

I hope this is of some use to you. I am thankful for your faithfulness, and I am praying that God will strengthen you. Be assured that you “can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.”

Mike

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