“A house divided against itself cannot stand” Part IV (Pro 14:27-35)

(Aired on June 19, 2025)

Pro 14:27  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Pro 14:28  In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
Pro 14:29  He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Pro 14:30  A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Pro 14:31  He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Pro 14:32  The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
Pro 14:33  Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
Pro 14:34  Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Pro 14:35  The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

Recap of first three parts:

God’s proverbs admonish us to keep His wisdom, which is needed in order to protect “the unity of the spirit”, or the “the unity of faith” (Eph 4:3, Eph 4:13), that enables us to keep growing together as a many membered body with the same mind of Christ, with the same spirit, working toward the same goal of being in that blessed and holy first resurrection.

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

There is almost always a negative or dark side to most every proverb, being described to remind God’s elect that light comes out of darkness, and that we are the light of Christ, a city set on a hill that cannot be hid, a peculiar people who are zealous of good works (1Pe 2:9-10) because of the life of Christ within us, that is changing us as we go from glory to glory, the veil being ripped (Joh 8:12, Mat 5:14, Tit 2:14, 2Co 3:18, Mat 27:51). Christ is the one who we are looking to, in order to keep that unity as He leads us in the way of righteousness, which will see the house of God built up by His hands (Psa 127:1)

The outward kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ (Rev 11:15) is the great reset (Mat 13:12-13) that the world has been groaning to see fulfilled (Rom 8:22-23), and when God’s government is established on this earth, then those woes spoken of in (Rev 11:14) will start to be poured out on humanity as they have already been poured out and fulfilled in the life of God’s elect. This is when the world will begin to learn of God’s righteousness (Isa 26:9) which event is likened unto a great earthquake that is going to reshape all the earth as the waters did in the days of Noah’s flood (Rev 11:13-14). The woes that God’s people experience convert our souls whereas the woes that the world will experience during the thousand year reign of the saints is typical of a water baptism that must precede the lake of fire baptism which will come upon all the world in the second resurrection (Joh 3:5-6).

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

In last week’s study we looked at how we can protect that which God has given the elect to preserve in this life. The only way we can become a stronger undivided house is by keeping the commandments of God, doing what he tells us to do (Mat 7:22-27).

Mat 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (Rev 1:3)
Mat 7:25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (Mat 16:18).

This final section of chapter fourteen will focus on the sound heart that is needed to maintain the unity of the body of Christ (1Co 2:16, 2Ti 1:7-9). It is when we judge ourselves and drink waters from our own cistern (Pro 5:15), and learn from those who have the mind of Christ that we become a stronger and more united body of Christ that is no longer judged of any man but at the same time understands the continual need to be taught by a man of God who has the mind of Christ (1Co 2:15-16, 1Jn 2:27, Act 8:31).

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Act 8:31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Pro 14:27  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

“The fear of the LORD”, from the “beginning” to the “conclusion” is where Life is, our “fountain of life”  (Pro 9:10, Ecc 12:13-14, 1Co 3:13-15). In other words, what that fear of God does is preserve our spiritual life in Christ (Rev 21:5-8).

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The fountain of life is Christ, he is the cistern that we, the church, is called to obtain living waters from (Luk 12:5, Luk 11:13, Joh 4:10-14)

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Luk 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Joh 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Joh 4:11  The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Joh 4:12  Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Joh 4:13  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: [physical carnal lineage being held onto [Jacob’s well] that does not know that before Abraham was I am]
Joh 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. [“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death”]

Pro 14:28  In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

The king’s honour is found not just in any multitude, but in the multitude of counsellors who are men of God who fear Him and keep his commandments (Pro 15:22, Pro 20:15, Pro 24:6). It is with those who acknowledge that these things are the commandments of God (1Co 14:37-38) who will be given to see the body of Christ remain unified, honouring God and bringing honour to our king Jesus Christ (Pro 3:5-6 drink waters from your own cistern).

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths [toward the safety found in the body of Christ].

We understand that the church is never going to be a large group, the Lord tells us so (Mat 22:14). We are a little flock (Luk 12:32) who are grateful for whatever increase God himself gives (1Co 3:7), and although the fields are white and ready to harvest (Joh 4:35), and we do pray for labourers (Mat 9:37-38), the fact remains that the remnant of God will always be just that in this life, a small Gideon-like army that is bringing glory and honour unto our Father who is delivering us through Christ (Rom 8:37).

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

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

Joh 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Mat 9:37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Mat 9:38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

He is preparing us as those labourers who will be used to bring in the latter harvest of the rest of humanity (Oba 1:21). Our attitude should always be that we desire that all men will be saved, which they will be, and that all men could prophesy and speak of things that we are blessed to read and hear today (Num 11:29, Mat 13:16-17), however, God gives the increase and has never intended that there be great faith on this earth when He returns.

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

Num 11:29  And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

But, in the end, God will be all in all (1Co 15:28) and the destruction of the prince of this world will see full destruction (Eph 2:2, Joh 12:31), “but in the want[ceasing, end, finality] of people is the destruction of the prince”.

Pro 14:28  Rulers of powerful nations are held in honor; rulers of weak nations are nothing at all. (Contemporary English Version)
Pro 14:28  A large population is a king’s glory.
But a prince without followers is destroyed. (New Int’l Readers Version)
Pro 14:28  In the multitude of a people, is the majesty of the king, but, in the ceasing of population, is the ruin of the prince. (Rotherham Emphasized Bible)

Pro 14:29  He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Being slow to wrath is the fruit of a sound heart that by God’s grace and the faith of Christ we are learning to possess our souls patiently with (Luk 21:19). Clearly it is when we are hearing the word in a good and honest heart that we will bring forth much fruit, and we will gain “great understanding” (Luk 8:15)

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Conversely it is those who are “hasty of spirit [who will] exalteth folly”, and there is no greater folly than to doubt that our Lord is going to return one day (2Pe 3:3-4, Luk 12:45-46).

2Pe 3:3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Luk 12:45  But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; [the bad fruit of those who are hasty of spirit and exalteth folly]
Luk 12:46  The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

Pro 14:30  A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

We are the flesh and bones of Christ (Eph 5:30) and our sound heart is a gift from God (1Co 2:16) that we never want to take for granted as we die daily and stir up God’s spirit within us (Heb 2:3) so that a spirit of envy (1Ti 6:3-4, Tit 3:3,  Jas 4:5-7) should never start to create rottenness in those bones of Christ, “envy the rottenness of the bones”. If we keep God’s commandments demonstrating love toward one another (1Jn 5:2) and esteem each other better, those bones will remain strong and healthy and stay intact and not be spiritually broken, as Christ’s physical bones remained, typifying the body of Christ’s spiritual bones (Psa 34:20).

Jas 4:5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. “A sound heart is the life of the flesh”

Psa 34:20  He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. (Eph 5:30)

Pro 14:31  He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

God has called us to have mercy on the poor of this world as we have opportunity, and on those who are spiritually poor as we all once were in Babylon with no stay of bread or water (Isa 3:1). Not casting our pearls before swine does not exclude us from doing good unto all men, good that is done especially unto the household of faith (Gal 6:10). It is how we love our neighbour as ourselves that prevents us from oppressing the poor, who, when we do oppress we are doing so unto the Lord, “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker”.

Conversely when we love our neighbour as ourselves we are honouring our Father in heaven with those actions, “but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor”(1Pe 2:12-15)

1Pe 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1Pe 2:13  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

Pro 14:32  The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

We have hope in our dying daily process knowing that it is Christ who is working in us as our hope of glory (Col 1:27) who gives us the power to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is in fact Him who is doing that work within us (Php 2:12-13, Heb 5:7). It is that work of faith within the body of Christ that is driving away the wickedness within us (1Jn 4:4). It is that “death” of the saints that is most precious to our Father (Psa 116:15).

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh (1Jn 4:3), when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;(1Jn 4:17)

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.

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

Pro 14:33  Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

We must labour to enter into Christ who is our sabbath rest, and with that rest comes understanding and peace that passes all understanding (Heb 4:8-11). Each holy day was on a sabbath for that reason, to remind us that God’s plan can only be understood and move forward within us by having the life of Christ within us who is our wisdom that we rest in (Mat 12:6-8).

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest (Php 2:12-13), lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Mat 12:6  But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
Mat 12:7  But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Mat 12:8  For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

God is in the process of burning out all the foolishness within the midst of Christ’s body by pouring out the seven last plagues of His wrath upon us, which is the only way our shame can be covered so that we are no longer fools who are made known by our corrupt actions, but sons of God who are standing in the temple of God by the grace and faith of Christ that is teaching us to forsake ungodliness and worldly lust in this life. [“I will have mercy, and not sacrifice = God’s mercy that is expressed in His judgements” (Rev 15:8, Tit 2:12-14)].

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Pro 14:34  Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

God’s people are likened unto a nation whose righteousness is of God that exalts us (1Pe 2:9), and ‘whatever we sow we will reap’ (Gal 6:7-8) is a statement of Christ that reminds us that “sin is a reproach to any people” and God is not mocked.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
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.

Pro 14:35  The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

Again in this study we are looking at how God deals with any corruption in our heart, burning it up so that body of Christ remains unified (Eph 2:8). His favour is toward the elect who are considered ‘wise servants’ who are in the process of trimming our lamps, and understand that in order for those lamps to burn brightly in this life we must experience His wrath against our old man of sin, “him that causeth shame”, which shame will be evident until it is overcome through the trials and much tribulation that God mercifully brings upon us (Heb 12:6). This is the life-long process the body of Christ has been blessed to be called unto, which will result in a unified body that is being “throughly furnished unto all good works”  (Heb 12:6-7, 1Pe 4:12, Rev 3:18, 2Ti 3:17).

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Jer 25:29-38  Evil Shall go Forth From Nation to Nation

[Study Aired December 12, 2021]

Jer 25:29  For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.
Jer 25:30  Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
Jer 25:31  A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.
Jer 25:32  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
Jer 25:33  And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
Jer 25:34  Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.
Jer 25:35  And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.
Jer 25:36  A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.
Jer 25:37  And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
Jer 25:38  He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

All the Lord’s ways are judgment, so we should expect to read about His judgments when we seek to know Him and His ways, as we seek His promised “more abundant… life”:

Deu 32:4  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Psa 37:28  For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psa 89:14  Justice [H6664: ‘tsedek’, justice, righteousness] and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

Psa 97:2  Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness [H6664: ‘tsedek’, justice, righteousness] and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The two English words ‘more abundantly’ are translated from the one Greek word:

G4053
περισσός
perissos
per-is-sos’
From G4012 (in the sense of beyond); superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); by implication excessive; adverb (with G1537) violently; neuter (as noun) preeminence: – exceeding abundantly above, more abundantly, advantage, exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, vehement [-ly].

Life in the spirit realm is far superior to life is this natural realm. However, life in the realm of the spirit comes only through “fiery trials”.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

The very next verse reveals that being given to understand that fact brings great peace and joy to those to whom it is given to understand that principle:

1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

“On their part He is evil spoken of” refers to Christ and His ways and His doctrines. It refers to what the religions of this world will say of us:

Act 24:14  But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they [the religious leaders] call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

Here is how “the way which they call heresy”, ‘the way’ of Christ, is summarized by the holy spirit:

Act 24:25  And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

“Judgment to come… the way they call heresy” is also the subject of our study today, and what a blessing it is to know that “all His ways are judgment” and to know the fruit of His judgments:

Deu 32:4  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

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

I will begin this study by reading the last two verses of our last study:

Jer 25:27  Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.
Jer 25:28  And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

We all just naturally want to avoid being judged, but the Lord’s fiery judgments cannot be avoided by anyone:

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

There is a beginning to the Lord’s judgments, and scripture reveals that the Lord begins His work of judging mankind at His own house:

Jer 25:29  For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

The apostle Peter tells us what we should expect if indeed we are the Lord’s elect:

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

This is not a “milk of the Word” verse. We just naturally want to hear about all the blessings we receive as Christ’s Christ, but we tire of all the admonitions which tell us to expect to be hated of all men and to be persecuted:

Mat 5:10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Joh 15:20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

The next verse of 1^st Peter 4 tells us how we should react towards our persecution and trials:

1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Paul repeats this admonition:

Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

“Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you… but rejoice…”

That is the same admonition Christ gives us in Matthew 5:12… “Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” The admonition to ‘rejoice’ is addressed to those who are being persecuted for righteousness’ sake, but we must never forget that all of us who are persecuted for righteousness sake are the same persons who were persecuting the Lord’s Christ before our eyes and ears were opened to “see… hear… and keep the things written” in the scriptures. We all become puffed up with our own righteousness, and we all must have our own ‘road to Damascus’ humbling, each in our own order:

Pro 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pro 16:19  Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Saul of Tarsus was extremely proud:

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Act 9:3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

That experience was just the beginning of the judgment of ‘Saul of Tarsus’. That was merely the beginning of what Saul had to do. His humbling experience revealed to Saul just how blind he really was in and of himself. His experience on the road to Damascus typifies how each of us hates and murders those who first come to us bringing the words of Truth:

1Jn 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Saul of Tarsus had to be told “by the church” (Eph 3:10) “the things which he must suffer for [Christ’s] sake”:

Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him [Ananias, “the church” (Eph 3:10)], Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Our families and friends in this world do not consider themselves to be ‘murderers’ while they are rejecting and hating the Truth for which we stand. Nevertheless, we, too, have been murderers when we self-righteously rejected those who first introduced us to Christ. We all mean our hatred against Christ and His doctrines for evil (Gen 20:50), but we know God means it for our good.

Gen 50:20  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

We are Joseph’s brothers who sold Him and His doctrines into Egyptian slavery before we were humbled like Saul of Tarsus and dragged and made to see Joseph for whom God had made him to be.

Jer 25:30  Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.

How is it possible for the Lord to “roar His voice from His holy habitation… upon His habitation”? That is easily understood by all who have been and are being judged in this present time. The story of how the Lord used “His holy habitation” (1Co 3:16), Ananias, to tell Saul of Tarsus, His newer habitation, what he must do, demonstrates how “The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation… upon His habitation.”

The Lord could easily have told Paul what He had Ananias to tell him, but the Lord speaks and “utters His voice from His holy habitation… upon His habitation” (Jer 25:30). The Lord using His temple, Ananias, to speak to His temple, ‘Saul of Tarsus’, is a perfect example of how it is possible for the Lord to ‘roar from His holy habitation upon His habitation’.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple [the “habitation”] of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Another way of saying all this is that the Lord uses His church to “utter His voice [and] mightily roar upon His habitation”:

Jer 25:31  A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

The Lord roars from His holy habitation, from His church, the very words of this prophecy of Jeremiah “to the intent that the principalities and powers in the heavens [of every man] might be made known, by the church, the manifold wisdom of God.”

Jeremiah 25:31 tells us that the ‘noise’ of this verse is “the sword [of] the Lord plead[ing] with all nations”, but Isaiah repeats this same message in these words:

Isa 66:6  A voice of noise from the city, a voice  from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.

We must first see clearly that “His enemies” are within us. “Them that are wicked” (Jer 25:31) must die, and since “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”, we all must die to our old man within. When that begins to take place within us, then Christ begins to rule in His own temple “which [we] are” (1Co 3:16-17):

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

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The words of the Lord’s judgments are “His ways”. ‘His ways’ teach us He has ordained our lives in this present time to be “an experience of evil” which will give Him the occasion He is seeking to humble and to destroy our old man, and through that destruction He is transforming us into a “new man… in His image”. This present life is the incomplete six days of the creation process. Mankind was created on the sixth day to tell us that we are not yet the humbled, completed product which must “enter into His rest” to be completed. Our entry into His rest in this age is only in “earnest”. We are not given “the redemption of the purchased possession” until the first resurrection:

Gen 1:27 And creating is the Elohim humanity in His image. In the image of the Elohim He creates it. Male and female He creates them. (CLV)

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.

Demonstrating that the creation of man in the image of God is an ongoing process, here is Genesis 1:27 with the Strong’s numbers and the numbers for the tenses in brackets:

Gen 1:27  So God^H430 created^H1254[H8799] man^H120 in his own image^H6754, in the image^H6754 of God^H430 created^H1254[H8804] he him; male^H2145 and female^H5347 created^{H1254 [H8804]} he them.

This King James Version says “So God created man in His own image…” This translation makes it appear that the creation process lasted only six evenings and mornings, and then it was completed. Notice, however, that every time the Hebrew word ‘bara’, translated as ‘create’, H1254… appears in Genesis 1:27, it is in brackets, and it is always followed by the TVM numbers for the Qal stem which are in brackets. [H8799] is the TVM number for the first use of the Hebrew word ‘bara’, which is assigned Strong’s number H1254, translated as ‘created’. [H8804] is the number in brackets indicating the Hebrew tense for the last two entries for this Hebrew word ‘bara’, H1254.

This demonstrates that the CLV got it right and that the creation process is not yet complete while we are yet in these clay prototypes. That is why the number which signifies ‘that which is incomplete’, the number ‘six’, is assigned to mankind in His present state of “sinful flesh and blood”. These corruptible bodies of “sinful flesh” are “an experience of evil God has given humanity to humble them by it”:

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)

Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has a mind calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is the number of mankind, and its number is six hundred sixty-six.”

The life we are given in “this present time” is but a necessary evil first step in the ultimate goal of “creating … humanity in His image”. The statement “created man in His image” is in the Qal stem in the Hebrew, and the Qal stem is akin to the aorist tense in the Greek. Both convey a fact without regard to any tense, and can and must therefore be understood as something that is taking place, has happened and will continue to happen until the consummation of the ages. That is why in the book of the revelation of Jesus Christ we are told many times, in various ways, that Christ “is… was… and will be”. Here are three of those entries, and these three are all found in the very first chapter of Revelation:

Rev 1:4  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Rev 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last [which is, and which was, and which is to come]: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

The doctrine of ‘preterism’, which puts the Lord’s words in the past, and the doctrine of ‘dispensationalism’ which teaches that the book of Revelation and many other prophecies, are only for the future, both deny the ‘is, was, and will be’ character of the Word of God, and must be rejected and destroyed by The Truth, which always is, always was, and always will be the Truth and “will not pass away”:

Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

The creation of Adam is a perfect example of this ‘is, was, and will be’ character of the Words of God. Adam’s creation on the 6^th day was just a step towards our completion. ‘Seven’ is the Biblical number which signifies ‘completion’. ‘The seven churches’ of Revelation 2-3 signify the complete church. That is why we are told seven times:

Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

No man is completed until he is given to “enter into His rest” on “the seventh day” of the Lord’s work. We are even admonished to ‘fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it’:

Heb 4:1  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Heb 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
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.

Why would we be told to “fear, lest a promise being left us of entering His rest, any of you should seem to come short of [doing so]” if “the first man, Adam” was complete? We are not complete, and that is why we are given that admonition.

This present time is “an experience of evil” (Ecc 1:13) in the creation process. When we are told that the Lord is making mankind into His image, it is in the Qal stem, which tells us the Creation is still in progress. The evil and corruption of these clay vessels are but a first necessary step to bring us through judgment (Isa 26:8-9) to become a new creature in His image. That is why we are assured that:

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

This even applies to the “flesh and blood” of our sinless Savior as we are informed in:

2Co 5:14  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more [“after the flesh”].
2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The Lord making “all things… new” is not ‘plan B’ for God. We know this is true because we are told:

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Therefore “the second… Adam… chosen… in Him before the foundation of the world” is the very meaning of “creating is the Elohim humanity in His image”:

Gen 1:27 And creating is the Elohim humanity in His image. In the image of the Elohim He creates it. Male and female He creates them. (CLV)

“Creating [and] creates” are both in the Qal stem, indicating that the creation of man in His image is a process that is still taking place through the fiery trials of this life.

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

‘Choosing us in Christ and trying every man’s works by fire’ was ‘plan A’ “before the world began”. We are all “called… in Christ Jesus… before the world began”:

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Tit 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

It is the words “in Christ” which are so revealing. If the promise of eternal life “in Christ Jesus” was given to us “before the world began”, that means God knew “before the world began”, before Adam and Eve were created, they would disobey His commandments and would need a Savior.

Being God, He had already determined that we would be brought to acknowledge our need for a Savior “by grace through faith”:

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

Contrary to the doctrines of the harlot and her daughters, your faith is “not of yourself”. “It is the gift of God.”

What exactly is this gift of “grace… through faith”? The answer, to put it bluntly, is that if indeed we are granted this gift of “grace… through faith” then we must expect to be put on trial and be ‘proven and tempered’ and “chastened” in this present time.

Exo 16:4  Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, [show them] whether they will walk in my law, or no.

Deu 13:3  Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know [to show us] whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

The word ‘grace’ as a noun is defined with these words:

G5485
χάρις
charis
khar’-ece
From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): – acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).
Total KJV occurrences: 156

Here are those 156 entries and the various translations of this Greek word ‘charis’:

G5485
χάρις
charis
Total KJV Occurrences: 156
grace, 130
Luk_2:40, Joh_1:14, Joh_1:16-17 (3), Act_4:33, Act_11:23, Act_13:43, Act_14:3, Act_14:26, Act_15:11, Act_15:40,
Act_18:27, Act_20:24, Act_20:32, Rom_1:5, Rom_1:7, Rom_3:24, Rom_4:4,
Rom_4:16, Rom_5:2, Rom_5:15 (2), Rom_5:17, Rom_5:20-21 (2), Rom_6:1, Rom_6:14-15 (2), Rom_11:5-6 (5), Rom_12:3, Rom_12:6, Rom_15:15, Rom_16:20, Rom_16:24, 1Co_1:3-4 (2), 1Co_3:10, 1Co_10:30, 1Co_15:10 (3), 1Co_16:23, 2Co_1:2, 2Co_1:12, 2Co_4:15,
2Co_8:1 (2), 2Co_8:6-7 (2), 2Co_8:9, 2Co_8:19,  2Co_9:8, 2Co_9:14, 2Co_12:9, 2Co_13:14, Gal_1:3, Gal_1:6,
Gal_1:15, Gal_2:9, Gal_2:21, Gal_5:4, Gal_6:18, Eph_1:2, Eph_1:6-7 (2), Eph_2:5, Eph_2:7-8 (2), Eph_3:2, Eph_3:7-8 (2), Eph_4:7, Eph_4:29, Eph_6:24,
Phi_1:2, Phi_1:7, Phi_4:23, Col_1:2, Col_1:6, Col_3:16, Col_4:6, Col_4:18, 1Th_1:1,
1Th_5:28, 2Th_1:2, 2Th_1:12, 2Th_2:16, 2Th_3:18, 1Ti_1:2, 1Ti_1:14,
1Ti_6:21, 2Ti_1:2, 2Ti_1:9, 2Ti_2:1, 2Ti_4:22, Tit_1:4, Tit_2:11,
Tit_3:7, Tit_3:15, Phm_1:3, Phm_1:25, Heb_2:9, Heb_4:16 (2),
Heb_10:29, Heb_12:15, Heb_12:28, Heb_13:9, Heb_13:25, Jam_4:6 (2), 1Pe_1:2,
1Pe_1:10, 1Pe_1:13, 1Pe_3:7, 1Pe_4:10, 1Pe_5:5, 1Pe_5:10,
1Pe_5:12, 2Pe_1:2, 2Pe_3:18, 2Jo_1:3, Rev_1:4 (2), Rev_22:21
favour, 6
Luk_1:30, Luk_2:52, Act_2:47, Act_7:10, Act_7:46, Act_25:3
thank, 6
Luk_6:32-34 (3), Luk_17:9, 1Ti_1:12, 2Ti_1:3
thanks, 4
1Co_15:57, 2Co_2:14, 2Co_8:16, 2Co_9:15
pleasure, 2

Act_24:27, Act_25:9
acceptable, 1
1Pe_2:20
benefit, 1
2Co_1:15
gift, 1
2Co_8:4
gracious, 1
Luk_4:22
joy, 1
Phm_1:7
liberality, 1
1Co_16:3
thanked, 1
Rom_6:17
thankworthy, 1
1Pe_2:19

The English word ‘grace’ is by far the most common translation of the Greek word ‘charis’. There is no fault, in this particular case, in using 13 different English words to translate this one Greek word. In Greek this word has a very broad application, and Greeks have no problem understanding by the context whether ‘grace’, translated from the Greek word ‘charis’, means ‘thanks’ or ‘favor’, the next most common translations in the KJV.

Here is an example of each of those two next most common translations for this Greek word, ‘charis’:

1Co 15:57  But thanks [Greek: ‘charis’] be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luk 1:30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour [Greek: ‘charis’] with God.

None of these thirteen different translations of this word ‘charis’ tells us what ‘grace’ does in our lives. Titus 2 and Hebrew 12 do tell us what God’s favor, His ‘grace’, His ‘charis’ does to those He favors and to those He loves:

Tit 2:11  For the grace [G5485: ‘charis’, favor] of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching [G3811: ‘paideuo’, chastening], us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

The Lord ‘favors’ those He loves, and this is what His grace, His favor and His love accomplish within us:

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth [G3811: ‘paideuo’, same Greek word translated as ‘teaching’ in Titus 2:12], and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Knowing now that the Lord ‘chastens’ those He loves, gives us a much deeper understanding of this oft abused verse of scripture:

Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Knowing that the Lord’s grace “chastens and scourges” us in time stops the tendency of our natural man and even many ministers to “turn the grace of God into lasciviousness”, which is exactly what has been being done by so many from Christ’s time here on earth until this very day:

Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation [G2917: ‘krima’, judgment] ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now we understand much more deeply the meaning of the verse which tells us that “where sin abounds, grace does much more abound”. Now we can understand that it simply means that God’s chastening will always overcome our self-righteous stubbornness and eventually bring us all to repent of our sins and make us cry out to Him for mercy from His chastening judgments in our lives.

Let no one convince you that the work of grace was completed for you on the cross, or that Christ’s death substituted for our death, and that He received stripes, so we need not be afflicted. Nothing is further from the Truth because we are clearly told:

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

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

Then there is this incredible statement from the apostle Paul:

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

As we have just read, “The time is come, that judgment must begin at the house of God” (1Pe 4:17), which, as we pointed out, is based upon these words:

Jer 25:29  For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.
Jer 25:30  Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.

Notice that while the Lord is “beginning to bring evil on the city which is called by [His] name”, and is ‘beginning His judgment of mankind at His own house’ (1Pe 4:17), He is at the same time ‘calling for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth”, who are not yet being judged in this present time:

Jer 25:31  A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.
Jer 25:32  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

You can apply those words outwardly and say they apply to the worldwide fear of Covid, but more deeply than that these words apply to the Truths that are Christ’s doctrines destroying all the lies of Babylon within us:

Jer 25:33  And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

We learned in chapter 22 that we are the ‘earth’ with whom the Lord is pleading to give up our false doctrines for His Truth:

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

We have all believed many false doctrines, and the apostle Paul had also learned that all the doctrines he once believed were nothing more than “dung” upon the ground:

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Our old man is doomed, and he is being judged in “this present time”. We were all false prophets while we were in the false churches and religions of mankind. In that sense these words are “for our admonition” (1Co 10:11):

Jer 25:34  Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.
Jer 25:35  And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.

When the Truth, the words of Christ, confronts the liar, there is no place to hide, and the liars are all destroyed by the Truth:

Jer 25:36  A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture. [Their ability to deceive]
Jer 25:37  And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

The shepherds of Babylon within us have “their rock”, and they have their “peaceable habitations”.

Deu 32:31  For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
Deu 32:32  For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:

However, the day comes when that “peace” is taken from them, and while the Lord “begins at His own house” to judge His own, He is simultaneously “calling for a sword upon the whole earth”:

Jer 25:29  For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

This verse is explained for us in:

Rom 8:21  Because the creature [“all the inhabitants of the earth”] 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 [“the inhabitants of the whole earth”], 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.

We are blessed above all men if the Lord comes against our old man and His self-righteous rebellion in “this present time” (Rom 8:18). When He does so, He comes from all sides. He causes our own wickedness to judge us, and He pours out His judgments and His wrath upon us all at the same time:

Jer 25:38  He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

It all works together to produce the best day of our lives. That is the day when we begin to be given spiritual vision. Spiritual ears to hear and spiritual eyes to see the things of the spirit.

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

That is our study, and here are the verses for our next study:

Jer 26:1  In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,
Jer 26:2  Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
Jer 26:3  If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.
Jer 26:4  And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,
Jer 26:5  To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;
Jer 26:6  Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.
Jer 26:7  So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
Jer 26:8  Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.
Jer 26:9  Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Jer 26:10  When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD’S house.
Jer 26:11  Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.
Jer 26:12  Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.

Dan 1:1–21  Daniel Purposed in His Heart not to Defile Himself with the King’s Meat

[Study Aired November 1, 2021]

Dan 1:1  In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 
Dan 1:2  And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. 
Dan 1:3  And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; 
Dan 1:4  Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 
Dan 1:5  And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 
Dan 1:6  Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 
Dan 1:7  Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. 
Dan 1:8  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 
Dan 1:9  Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 
Dan 1:10  And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. 
Dan 1:11  Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
Dan 1:12  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 
Dan 1:13  Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 
Dan 1:14  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 
Dan 1:15  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 
Dan 1:16  Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. 
Dan 1:17  As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 
Dan 1:18  Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 
Dan 1:19  And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 
Dan 1:20  And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. 
Dan 1:21  And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. 

The Book of Daniel is generally accepted to be written by Daniel, who travelled to Babylon with a group of young Israelite nobles, men of promise whom the conquering power of Babylon felt could be of use in service. This movement to Babylon was part of the first of three deportations (605, 597, and 586 BC) carried out by the Babylonians in Israel after they subdued Jerusalem and King Jehoiakim. The book is divided into two parts – Daniel Chapters 1–6 deals with narratives regarding Daniel and his three companions, and Daniel Chapters 7-12 contains prophetic visions seen by Daniel which are in sync with the Book of Revelation.

Dan 1:1  In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

The Book of Daniel starts with the exile of Daniel and other young Israelites to Babylon. As we are aware, Babylon represents the religions of this world, including Christianity. The name Jehoiakim means ‘Jehovah will raise’. So, as part of our walk with Christ, our Lord raises a storm in our lives represented here by the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians in Jerusalem.

Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

The fact that it was the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim signifies that the storm raised by the Lord is part of the process of spiritual completion through judgment. This means that our going to Babylon is part of the process of maturing in Christ. The prophets of the Old Testament and our brothers and sisters in Babylon were/are not given this understanding, and so they wondered why God would bring them such suffering. Let’s look at Habakkuk for example. He wondered why God would send the Chaldeans to destroy His people. This is what God told Habakkuk:

Hab 1:5  Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
Hab 1:6  For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
Hab 1:7  They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
Hab 1:8  Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. 
Hab 1:9  They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. 
Hab 1:10  And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.

These Chaldeans represent the leaders of the physical churches of this world whose messages make us worse off. We used to also propagate such messages until God’s light started shining in our lives.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Our lack of understanding of what our Lord is doing by sending us to Babylon, just like Habakkuk, makes us question our Lord as follows:

Hab 1:13  Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

A critical ingredient in dealing with sin is when we come to see that we are indeed the worst sinners and cannot help ourselves. This is a prerequisite to positioning us to take hold of the righteousness of Christ as we learn not to depend on ourselves. That is what our life in Babylon under judgment does. It brings forth the worst in us so we can know who we are. Knowing who we are serves as a catalyst to learning righteousness as our Lord takes this opportunity to come to us through judgment.

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.

1Ti 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Dan 1:2  And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

Our time in Babylon is all designed by the Lord as signified by the Lord giving Jehoiakim into the hands of the Babylonians. The carrying of the vessels of the house of God into the house of the Babylonian god is the same as taking the fair jewels of the Lord’s gold and silver and committing whoredom with them. This means that during our time in Babylon, we all used the word of God to propagate false doctrines, thus, creating images of another Jesus (the god of the Babylonians).

Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Dan 1:3  And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

Here the king signifies God, and Ashpenaz represents our Lord and savior Jesus. Ashpenaz means ‘I will make prominent the sprinkled’. Sprinkled means to cover with small drops or particles of substance. So, we are the small drops or particles that the Lord is making us prominent. Verse 3 also speaks of our election before the foundations of the world as we must be of Israel’s descent and from a royal background. Since nobody chooses whether he/she will be born an American, Israelite, Australian, etc. and whether he/she will be from a royal descent, it means that we do not contribute to our election and were chosen before the world began.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

We, the elect, are from a royal descent.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Dan 1:4  Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

A high paying job requires higher standards of qualification. As God’s children, we are required to possess the qualifications stated in verse 4 in order to inherit the promise. We were called from darkness and did not have a clue as to what righteousness was all about. But God has predestinated us to be a holy people, skillful in wisdom and understanding. So, in verse 4 here, our God is calling those things which are not as though they were.

Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

We are therefore called to be without blemish, well favored, skillful in wisdom, cunning in knowledge and understanding science. To be without blemish signifies we must be holy and without fault.

1Pe 1:14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

As God’s children, we are well favored.

Luk 1:28  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 

We are required to be skillful in wisdom.

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 

1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 
1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

We must be cunning in knowledge. As stated in Proverbs 9:10, understanding the ways of God is being cunning in knowledge.

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

We must understand science. We must know how the knowledge called science can easily derail our faith.

1Ti 6:20  O Timothy, guard the doctrine which has been entrusted to you, avoiding profane, empty babblings, and contradictions of false knowledge that is called science;
1Ti 6:21  Through which some, who are personally professing these false views, have missed the mark concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

Having the ability to stand in the king’s palace is laying down our lives for the sake of Christ as portrayed by Esther when she approached the King in his palace knowing she may lose her life. In other words, if we love our lives, we will not be able to stand before the king in his palace. On the other hand, if we lose our lives, we shall surely be able to stand before the king in his palace.

Est 4:16  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

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

As stated in verse 4, the whole essence of our lives here on earth is for the Lord to teach us the learning and tongue of the chaldeans. The term “chaldea” came to include practically all of Babylonia and was virtually synonymous with the neo-Babylonian empire. Chaldea means ‘clod breakers’. A clod refers to a lump of earth or clay. So what we are being told here is that our Lord, represented here by Ashpenaz, is teaching us the language of the spirit of those who have broken down their earthen vessels of clay to conform to the image of Christ.

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

Dan 1:5  And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

The positive application of the daily provision of the king’s meat refers to the word of God that our Lord is making us understand which is able to give us an inheritance. To stand before the king is to be given an inheritance or reward.

Act 20:32  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

The negative application of this daily provision of the king’s meat refers to false doctrines, that is worldly wisdom, which is not consistent with the word of God. When we walk in the flesh, we are attracted to these false doctrines which are lies. The fact that this daily provision is appointed by the king is to let us know that it is the Lord Who opens our eyes to see and our ears to hear the word of God, and it is also Him Who deceives us with false doctrines.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Verse 5 also mentioned that the king’s meat and wine are for the purpose of nourishing the selected royals for a period of three years. The three years signify our process of spiritual completion through the fiery word of God. In other words, as we are feeding on the word of God, tribulation and persecution will arise to put to death the old man and at the same time nourish the new man. This is what will make it possible for us to stand before the king.

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Psa 105:19  Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

Dan 1:6  Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 
Dan 1:7  Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

These verses give the original name of Daniel and the other three Hebrew young men and the names given to them by the Prince of the eunuchs. The significance of being given these names are as follows:

Daniel means ‘Judge of God’. We cannot be judges if we ourselves have not been judged. In this life therefore, we are being judged. The name Daniel is also to make us aware of the role we will play in bringing all humanity to Christ through judgment at the lake of fire age.

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

The prince of the eunuchs named Daniel Belteshazzar, which means ‘Lord of the straitened treasure’. Straightened is defined as characterized by poverty. We are those in poverty or poor in spirit. The treasure of the poor in spirit is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.  So, the changing of the name Daniel to Belteshazzar is to let us know that through judgment we grow or mature in the knowledge of the glory of God.

2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Hananiah represents ‘Jehovah has favored’. God has indeed favored us by causing us to see and to hear His words. Hananiah’s name was changed to Shadrach which means ‘command of (the god) Aku’. The English phrase “command of” can mean having knowledge or mastery of something. The changing of the name Hananiah to Shadrach signifies that, through God’s favor, we do not become ignorant of the devices of the devil but have the knowledge or mastery of the devil’s schemes.

2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Mishael means ‘Who is what God is’. Here we are asked a question as to who bears God’s likeness. It is we, the elect, who are being molded into His likeness.

Gen 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

The name Mishael was changed to Meshach which stands for ‘guest of the king’. When we have been molded into the likeness of Christ, we shall become the guest of the king at the marriage supper.

Azariah means ‘Jehovah has helped’. His name was changed to Abednego which means ‘a servant of Nebo’ which means prophet. So, through the help of our Lord, we shall become the servants of Jesus Christ, the greatest prophet.

Dan 1:8  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 

As we indicated earlier, the daily portion of king’s meat and wine for the Hebrew young men can have a positive or a negative application. In this verse, it is applied negatively, which means that the king’s meat and the wine signify false doctrine which characterized the Babylonian system. Such doctrines defile our heavens and make us unworthy to stand before our king. This is what happens to us after imbibing such doctrines:

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity (false doctrines), they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Like Daniel, we must have no tolerance for false doctrines. We must therefore, ask the Lord to remove all the false doctrines in our heavens that defile us.

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

If we want to serve at the altar where we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, then we must not be carried away by divers and strange doctrines.

Dan 1:9  Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

Daniel having favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs is another way of saying that we, the elect, are loved and favored by the Lord. This favor and love causes us to walk in a way that pleases the Lord and in so doing, we are able to live in peace with man.

Jer 31:3  The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

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

Dan 1:10  And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. 
Dan 1:11  Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 
Dan 1:12  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 
Dan 1:13  Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 
Dan 1:14  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 

What these verses are saying are that we are being measured by the word of God or by the standard of our Lord Jesus Christ. As our eyes are being opened and our ears are hearing, we must conform to the image of Christ.

Rev 11:1  And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 

The reed is a measuring device, and the fact that the reed is like a rod means that when we do not measure up to the standard of Christ, we will be disciplined. We can see here that it is only the elect, represented by Daniel and the three Jewish boys, who are being measured. Our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world, together with the rest of humanity are not being measured in this age.

We are being measured over a period of ten days. The number ten means the fullness of the flesh. Thus, as long as we are in this body of flesh, we are being measured to the standard of Christ.

It is only when we measure up to the standard of Christ that we shall become part of the new Jerusalem which shall descend out of heaven from God. Our gathering today is a foretaste of this New Jerusalem. At that time, there will not be any rod since we are measuring up to the standard of Christ. However, we are currently experiencing judgment in various ways to attest to the fact that we are being measured and disciplined by the rod.

Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 
Rev 21:12  And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 
Rev 21:13  On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15  And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 

We can see that all the numbers mentioned concerning the new Jerusalem are twelve, which is the number of Christ of which we are being measured. The fact that there are four Hebrew young men means that all the elect in every generation is being measured with the reed like a rod.

Dan 1:15  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 
Dan 1:16  Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. 

This is to assure us that at the end of our journey here on earth, we shall surely measure up to the standard of Christ. We must be assured that what our Lord starts, He is able to finish!! If we do not have this confidence or hope, then we are just trying to see if it will work, which is not of faith. It does not matter where we are now about our spiritual condition, our Lord is able to turn things around for our good!! Oh, that men will praise the Lord for His wonderful works towards us. He will surely bring us to our safe haven.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

The children who did eat of the portion of the king’s meat and wine are our brothers and sisters in Babylon. The food they eat brings leanness.

Dan 1:17  As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

The four children here stand for the whole of the race of God’s elect. The statement “God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom” is another way of saying that the elect shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of our Lord’s house, and He shall make them drink of the rivers of His pleasures.

Psa 36:7  How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
Psa 36:8  They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
Psa 36:9  For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
Psa 36:10  O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

The statement “and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams” is the same as what our Lord told Aaron and Miriam that with Moses, he speaks mouth to mouth and not in dark speeches.

Num 12:5  And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 
Num 12:6  And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 
Num 12:7  My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 
Num 12:8  With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 

Dan 1:18  Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
Dan 1:19  And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 
Dan 1:20  And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. 

At the end of our walk here on earth, our Lord and Master Jesus will bring us to stand before the Father blameless. The wisdom and understanding we are being given by the Lord will surpass all the wisdom of this world and its religions.

Col 1:22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Col 1:23  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

The story of Solomon’s encounter with Christ seeks to let us know that our Lord is preparing us to have a wise and understanding heart which will be unequalled by any flesh. That is what will qualify us to assume rulership in the age to come. Solomon here is representing the elect, and what was said to Solomon is what our Lord is saying to us today!!

1Ki 3:12  Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
1Ki 3:13  And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

2Ch 1:1  And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

Dan 1:21  And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. 

King Cyrus was the divine instrument for the release of the Jews from the Babylonian exile (Isaiah 44:28 and Isaiah 45:1-14). A few years after the fall of Babylon, Cyrus issued a proclamation which permitted the Jews to return to their own land. He restored the sacred vessels of the temple which had been carried to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar (Ezra 1:1-11). So, we can see that King Cyrus here represents the Lord Jesus Christ. This is affirmed by the meaning of the name Cyrus which signifies ‘possess thou the furnace’. It is only Christ who can possess our furnace or deliver us from our affliction.

The statement “And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus” is to let us know that as we continue to grow in Christ, we shall be of one mind with Christ. The number one or the first year of Cyrus’s reign here means unity with Christ.

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Ruth 2:1 –23: Go Not to Glean in Another Field

[Study Aired October 11, 2021]

Rth 2:1  And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 
Rth 2:2  And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 
Rth 2:3  And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 
Rth 2:4  And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 
Rth 2:5  Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 
Rth 2:6  And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 
Rth 2:7  And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. 
Rth 2:8  Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 
Rth 2:9  Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 
Rth 2:10  Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 
Rth 2:11  And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. 
Rth 2:12  The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. 
Rth 2:13  Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens. 
Rth 2:14  And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. 
Rth 2:15  And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: 
Rth 2:16  And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. 
Rth 2:17  So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. 
Rth 2:18  And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. 
Rth 2:19  And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. 
Rth 2:20  And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. 
Rth 2:21  And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest. 
Rth 2:22  And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. 
Rth 2:23  So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law. 

The first chapter of Ruth deals with how our Lord uses His four sore judgments, specifically, famine, to bring us from Babylon to the Heavenly Jerusalem or the body of Christ. Both Naomi and Ruth, representing the elect, came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

It is during our time in Bethlehem, or the church of the first born which is represented by the period of the harvest, that we come to clearly see the tares (false doctrines and our iniquities) and the wheat (the truth) through the angels sent by our Lord. That is when all the tares in us are destroyed by our fiery trials, and we are ready to be harvested as mature sons of God.

Mat 13:24  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Mat 13:25  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Mat 13:26  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Mat 13:27  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
Mat 13:28  He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mat 13:29  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Chapter 2 of Ruth deals with the process we go through to mature in Christ after entering the house of God or the Heavenly Jerusalem as indicated by the entry of Naomi and Ruth to Bethlehem, the house of bread.

Rth 1:22  So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Rth 2:1  And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

At the beginning of this Chapter, we are introduced to the One who makes all things possible, that is, our Lord Jesus Christ. Elimelech means ‘my God is king’ and Boaz means ‘in Him is strength’. From the meaning of the names here, we can see that Boaz here represents the Lord Jesus Christ. A mighty man of wealth suggests that all the resources of both heaven and earth are at His disposal. He is indeed a great God!!

Psa 95:1  O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psa 95:2  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
Psa 95:3  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Psa 95:4  In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
Psa 95:5  The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
Psa 95:6  O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

Rth 2:2  And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
Rth 2:3  And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

The field, as explained by our Lord Jesus in the parable of the tares and wheat, is the world. So, what verse 2 is saying is that it is in this life, or world, that the elect gets to know the word of God, represented here by gleaning of ears of corn. If we are blessed for our eyes to see and ears to hear, then it means that we have found grace in our Lord’s sight just as Ruth was looking to find favor to glean ears of corn. The rest of humanity will get to know Christ through the word during the lake of fire age.

Mat 13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

As we are aware, our steps are ordered by the Lord as we see Ruth end up in the field of Boaz. This field of Boaz also stands for the church of the first born or heavenly Jerusalem. What this means is that in whatever situation we find ourselves, we must rejoice knowing that our Lord is working things out for our good and that what He starts, He is able to finish because He has all the resources to do so!!

Jer 10:23  O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

The reapers here are the angels or messengers of God who speak the fiery words of the Lord. Gleaning in the field after the reapers means we follow the messengers as they follow Christ.

1Co 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Rth 2:4  And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.

It is in the church that we get to know who our Lord Jesus is. Our coming to know Christ is the same as the revelation of Christ to Apostle John on the island of Patmos. As we have learned, the whole of our walk with Christ is to know Him, and that is the essence of eternal life.

Rev 1:17  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Rev 1:18  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Rth 2:5  Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 
Rth 2:6  And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
Rth 2:7  And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

The servant that was set over the reapers also represents our Lord Jesus, and therefore what we are being told here is that our Lord knew us even before we came to know Him, and He is concerned about us.

Jer 1:4  Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 1:5  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Psa 139:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Psa 139:2  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Psa 139:3  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Psa 139:4  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Psa 139:5  Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Psa 139:6  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Such knowledge about the fact that all my actions including my thought formation and what comes out of my mouth are all ordered by the Lord is impossible to attain while we walk in the flesh as revealed in Psalm 139:6 above.

The statement in verse 7 that “she had continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house” is to let us know that our Lord is aware of our labor and all that we are doing in the kingdom, and He has assured us that our labor just like that of Ruth, who stands for the elect, will never be in vain in the Lord.

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Rth 2:8  Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:

Here our Lord, represented here by Boaz, is admonishing us not to go glean in another field. That means we must focus on the word of God and not be distracted by our works or anything else. Paying attention to anything but the word of God amounts to gleaning in another field. Another field also represents Babylon which represents the religions of this world including Christianity. It is the word of God which is able to build us up and to give us an inheritance.

Act 20:32  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Boaz also admonished Ruth to abide by the maidens. That means we should not stay away from the church of the first born.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We must continually be in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ as this fellowship invariably involves our Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

1Jn 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Rth 2:9  Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.

Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap and go thou after them is another way of saying that we must pay attention to what we hear from the messengers or angels of the Lord. In other words, we must hold on fast to what we hear. If we do not do that, it will cost us our crown.

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Boaz charging the young men not to harm Ruth is another way of saying that no weapon formed or fashioned against us shall prosper as the Lord (Boaz) is in full control of both good and evil. In this case, the young men are used in a negative sense.

Isa 54:16  Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Ruth was also instructed by Boaz to go to the vessel and drink of that which the young men have drawn. The young men in this context represents the messengers of the Lord who are providing us with the word of God. So, what we are being told here is that the way to grow or mature as sons of God is to put into practice (drink) what we hear from our brothers and sisters who are laboring for the gospel.

Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Rth 2:10  Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

We all have found grace in the sight of the Lord by being allowed to see and to hear His words of life even though we were strangers just like Ruth. We were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, but in the fullness of time, our Lord has brought us who were far off to become part of His elect.

Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Finding grace is another way of saying that our Lord is leading us in the way to know Him as we saw Moses making a request for the Lord to show him the way if he has found grace in the Lord’s sight.

Exo 33:13  Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
Exo 33:14  And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
Exo 33:15  And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

As we can see in verse 14 and 15 of Exodus Chapter 33, as we find grace in the sight of our Lord, we are assured of His presence to go with us to give us rest in Him. This rest is coming to know that we, of ourselves, cannot do anything and that everything is of the Lord including our salvation. That is when we cease from our own works and depend on God alone for everything.

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Rth 2:11  And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. 
Rth 2:12  The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. 

These verses are another way of expressing the fact that anyone who has left all to follow our Lord will surely be rewarded.

Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Mat 19:30  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Rth 2:13  Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens. 
Rth 2:14  And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.

Boaz inviting Ruth to come and eat is to let us know that finding favor in the sight of our Lord is being given eyes to see and ears to hear what the spirit of the Lord is saying to us through His words.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

In verse 14, Ruth did eat and became satisfied. As our understanding deepens concerning the word of God, we become satisfied by being content with whatever situation we find ourselves in knowing that our Lord is with us and is working out our salvation.

Psa 36:8  They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
Psa 36:9  For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
Psa 36:10  O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

Rth 2:15  And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: 
Rth 2:16  And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. 

Reproach her not in verse 15 and rebuke her not in verse 16 means we must not put impediments in the way of new believers as they seek to know the truth.

Rom 14:13  Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
Rom 14:14  I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.
Rom 14:15  For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. (ESV)

1Co 8:9  But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
1Co 8:10  For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?
1Co 8:11  And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
1Co 8:12  Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
1Co 8:13  Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (ESV)

Rth 2:17  So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.

Gleaning in the field until evening implies that for the rest of our lives until the sun goes down on us, or our body is destroyed through death, we must focus on hearing what our Lord is saying through the word. Beating what she gleaned signifies acting or obeying what we have heard.

Jas 1:19  Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Jas 1:20  for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Jas 1:21  Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Jas 1:23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
Jas 1:24  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
Jas 1:25  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (ESV)

The statement “And it was about an ephah of barley” is to show us that as we hear and act on the word of God, we are being measured by the Lord. An ephah is a biblical measure of volume. It is about 9 gallons or 40 liters. We are being measured to see whether we are attaining the standard of Christ. Those who are not part of the new Jerusalem are not being measured in this life.

Rev 11:1  Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there,
Rev 11:2  but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.

Rth 2:18  And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
Rth 2:19  And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.

As we hear and act on the word of God, we must share what we are receiving from the Lord with the body of Christ or the New Jerusalem, signified here by the mother-in-law, Naomi. We must feel free to share or discuss with our brothers and sisters in the body what we have gleaned from the word of God. This sharing or discussion of the word of God is what every joint supplies.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

To the Babylonians and the people of the world, we must be ready to answer them when they come to us enquiring about our faith.

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Rth 2:20  And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.

In the CEV version of the Bible, this is how verse 20 is rendered:

Rth 2:20  “The LORD bless Boaz!” Naomi replied. “He has shown that he is still loyal to the living and to the dead. Boaz is a close relative, one of those who is supposed to look after us.” (CEV)

Boaz, who represents our Lord Jesus, is our close relative in the sense we all share the same body while He walked on earth. In addition to being a close relative, He is supposed to look after us. The scripture says that He is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters.

Heb 2:11  For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren [brothers and sisters],
Heb 2:12  Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Heb 2:13  And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

So, how is our brother Christ looking after us? The verses we just looked at give details regarding how He is looking after us. As we are aware, all humanity are our Lord’s children, and He is caring for all of us in terms of providing us what we need – food, clothing and a place to sleep. But in the case of the elect, this is what He is doing in addition:

He is making His Father known to us by declaring His name unto us, His brethren. (Heb 2:12)

He is delivering us who through fear of death were held in bondage in our lifetime. (Heb 2:15)

Because He was made like us, He is serving as a merciful and faithful high priest and is reconciling us to God. (Heb 2:17)

Because He is our brother, who grew up in the same environment of suffering just like us, He is able to help us when we go through all kinds of trials or suffering. (Heb 2:18)

Oh, may we praise our Lord for the wonderful work He is doing on our behalf!!

Rth 2:21  And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.

The young men here are the reapers who, according to our Lord Jesus’ parable of the tares and the wheat, are His angels or messengers of the gospel. The harvest is the end of the world.

Mat 13:39  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Thou shall keep fast by my young men means keeping in step with our brothers and sisters who are laboring for the gospel. This is telling us that we should not refuse our Lord who is speaking through our brethren. Doing so will disqualify us of the reward.

Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 
Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 
Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 
Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Rth 2:22  And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.
Rth 2:23  So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.

Naomi’s suggestion to Ruth that it is good going out with the maidens means we should not neglect fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters of the same mind.

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

Belonging to a physical church of this world is meeting in a field that does not belong to Boaz or our Lord. That is what we call Babylon, of which we are admonished by the Lord to leave.

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

Ruth, who represents the elect, kept pace with the reapers and was also in the company of the maidens in Boaz’s field until the end of the harvest. Dwelling with the mother-in-law is the same as keeping the company of the maidens in Boaz’s field. This is to tell us that we must keep feeding on the word of God until the end of the harvest, which by that time, everything belonging to the world within us has been destroyed. That is the time of our departure from this present world!! May the Lord grant us the grace to endure to the end of the world as we focus on His words which is able to give us an inheritance. Amen!!

Jer 8:1-11 They… say Peace, Peace, When There is no Peace

[Study Aired May 2, 2021]

Jer 8:1  At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:
Jer 8:2  And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
Jer 8:3  And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts.
Jer 8:4  Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?
Jer 8:5  Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.
Jer 8:6 I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
Jer 8:7  Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
Jer 8:8  How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
Jer 8:9  The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?
Jer 8:10  Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
Jer 8:11  For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

As we learned in our last study, the Lord does nothing except He reveals His secret to His prophets:

Amo 3:6  Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
Amo 3:7  Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Amo 3:8  The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

There is evil in the city, and the Lord has done it, and He wants us to be aware of that fact.

The first three verses of this 8^th chapter must be read in the context of the last verses of the preceding chapter if we are to understand who ‘they’ are:

Jer 7:30  For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.
Jer 7:31  And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded  them not, neither came it into my heart.
Jer 7:32  Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place.
Jer 7:33  And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away.
Jer 7:34  Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.

These verses reveal that the Lord Himself is giving an occasion to send the armies of our enemies against us. Put these verses together with:

Jer 8:19  Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country:  Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?

Outwardly, we are being given a history lesson of why the Lord sent the King of Babylon to destroy Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, along with all the “daughters of Jerusalem” …all the cities of Judah.

While we must learn of the outward history of the Lord’s symbolic ‘chosen’ people, if He is giving us eyes to see and ears to hear, we will be granted to apply every word of this history lesson within ourselves as the Lord’s chosen people who have been made to see ourselves as “chief of sinners” being judged in this present time via our experience of having been conquered and ransacked by the spiritual king of Babylon. This ‘king’ has ruthlessly taken our most sacred treasures and our most honored idols, symbolized by the bones of the kings of Judah and the bones of the prophets of Judah, and has simply ransacked their graves seeking only the physical wealth which we have placed in their graves. Their bones and graves are the idols of our hearts which we hold dear and to which we hold fast. Babylon has no respect or concern for us. All she wants is what we can physically give her just as ruthlessly as the physical Babylonians dug up and looted all the graves of all the kings and prophets of Judah.

Here is an excerpt from Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews, chapter 15 paragraph 3, which gives us some insight into why the graves of kings and prophets would be looted by a conquering army:

“3. He was buried by his son Solomon, in Jerusalem, with great magnificence, and with all the other funeral pomp which kings used to be buried with; moreover, he had great and immense wealth buried with him, the vastness of which may be easily conjectured at by what I shall now say; for a thousand and three hundred years afterward Hyrcanus the high priest, when he was besieged by Antiochus, that was called the Pious, the son of Demetrius, and was desirous of giving him money to get him to raise the siege and draw off his army, and having no other method of compassing the money, opened one room of David’s sepulcher, and took out three thousand talents, and gave part of that sum to Antiochus; and by this means caused the siege to be raised, as we have informed the reader elsewhere. Nay, after him, and that many years, Herod the king opened another room, and took away a great deal of money, and yet neither of them came at the coffins of the kings themselves, for their bodies were buried under the earth so artfully, that they did not appear to even those that entered into their monuments. But so much shall suffice us to have said concerning these matters.” (End Quote)

It all happened to them, but it is written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have come (1Co 10:11). It all serves to make us to see how used and abused we are while clinging fast to all the idols of our Babylonian hearts.

Throughout scripture, the Lord denounces our sins and transgressions for the destructive force they are. He also makes it very clear why we commit all those sins and transgressions:

Rom 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Rom 9:14  What shall we say then? Is there  unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

“[The Lord] hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and He has hardened their hearts, that they cannot understand.”

Isa 44:18  They have not known nor understood: for he [the Lord] hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

Then the Lord’s prophets are given the thankless task of telling His blinded and deaf people of His words of judgment which they cannot see or hear.

Isa 30:8  Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Isa 30:9  That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Isa 30:10  Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

“Smooth things” equate to “deceits”. If we come to the Lord’s word with an idol of our heart and the stubborn self-righteousness of our own iniquity in our already made-up mind, then we will not even want to hear “right things”. The only thing we will settle for is lies which make life easier for us in this world. Today’s study tells us what some of those “deceits” are that make it easier for us to fit into this world system:

Jer 8:1  At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:
Jer 8:2  And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
Jer 8:3  And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts.

‘Spreading the bones of the priests and the prophets and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, whom we have loved’ is the same as knowing Christ in the flesh, and celebrating Christ in the flesh, while we are commanded that we are not to know Him any longer “after the flesh”.  We are told that we are still in bondage if we continue to celebrate ‘days, months, times, and years’. It is the celebration of Christ in the flesh and the deification of saints, which is an abomination to the Lord, as Christ made so clear:

Mat 23:29  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Mat 23:30  And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Mat 23:31  Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Mat 23:32  Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

Our false doctrines and idols of our hearts – doctrines like free will, salvation by works, and eternal torment in literal flames of literal fire – are ruthless Babylonian conquerors who have no compassion or concern for our mental or spiritual wellbeing. We cannot choose to do good, and it torments us while we believe that our sins are of our own free will.

Indeed, we all ‘fill up the measure of our fathers’, and it is precious few who are granted to repent of doing so in this present time.

Jer 8:4  Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?
Jer 8:5  Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.

Why do we as individuals ‘perpetually backslide and hold fast’ to things we know will produce our own destruction? Why do we continue in sins and transgressions we know are robbing us of our own birthright and harming those who are dearest to us? Why would anyone act so irrationally? There is just one reason in the final analysis:

Gen 45:8  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

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

Isa 44:18  They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

Isa 45:6  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace,  and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

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

The Lord really did call ancient Israel to be His own special people:

Deu 7:6  For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God:  the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

This is what we are told of that calling:

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.
Deu 7:11  Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
Deu 7:12  Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:

“If ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them… the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant… Them that love Him… keep His commandments” (Deu 7:9, 12). These words of God here in the Old Testament are the foundation for the same words in the New Testament:

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
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.

There it is in no uncertain terms. The covenant of God with those who are truly His special people is conditional upon them being obedient to His commandments.

This is “the covenant” which the Lord is keeping. It is essential that we notice that this covenant says… “IF ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant …”

Therefore, when we read in the New Testament…

Rom 11:29  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

…We must understand that ‘the gifts and calling of God are without repentance’ is not saying ‘without conditions’. All the promises of God are conditional upon obedience to His commandments. Therefore, they are conditional upon “good works”. However, nowhere in scripture – not one time in all the Bible – are we ever told that our obedience and our good works or our salvation depends upon us as the corruptible, the earthy creatures we are made to be. Rather, this is what we are told, and this is what the scriptures proclaim from Genesis to Revelation:

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Jer 23:6  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jer 33:16  In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

Jer 51:10  The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.

2Pe 1:1  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

It is based upon all those verses and many others that Paul could confidently tell us:

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; )
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
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.

“By grace ye are saved… by grace through faith”. Grace saves us through faith, and neither are ”of [our]selves” The word grace means:

G5485
χάρις
charis
khar’-ece

From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): – acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

Grace simply indicates the Lord’s favor upon our life. We were just informed:

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

Therefore, when the Lord favors us, we are shown His undeserved and certainly unearned ‘grace’, and what exactly does God’s saving grace do for us? This verse is hidden from the eyes and ears of all of us while we are in Babylon with its false doctrines of ‘free will’. This is not what grace is, this is what the Lord’s ‘saving grace’ does within our lives:

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

What does God’s grace do in our lives? It teaches us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. The word translated as ‘world’ is the Greek word aion, and it means ‘an age’. What is so very revealing in verse 12 is the fact that the word translated as ‘teaching’ is:

G3811
παιδεύω
paideuō
pahee-dyoo’-o

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

This Greek word means ‘to chastise’. It is the exact same word we find in this verse of scripture, which gives this Greek word a much more accurate translation:

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth [G3811: paideuo], and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

‘Grace through faith is not of ourselves. It is the gift of God.’ We have and are nothing of ourselves. Not even sinners:

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

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.

“We are His workmanship… saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves”. Being called and chosen in “this present time” (if we are given by our Lord to “endure to the end”), we are blessed above all men of all time, and yet this, by the Lord’s design and decree, is what we all at first do in spite of being given such a special calling:

Jer 8:6  I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
Jer 8:7  Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
Jer 8:8  How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
Jer 8:9  The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?

The point being made here is that we all begin with losing our first love, suffering that woman Jezebel to teach us, and allowing Nicolaitans to be our overlords. Satan’s throne is in our very midst, along with those who say they are Jews but are the synagogue of Satan. Those who hold the doctrine of Balaam are among us, and we have a name that we live, when in reality we are spiritually dead. We think that we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing when the Truth is that at this stage in our ‘humbling experience of evil’ (Ecc 1:13), we are actually spiritually wretched, miserable, poor and naked (Rev 2 and 3). At this juncture in our experience of evil, we are so spiritually dead that we think this verse of scripture is referring to physical wealth:

Eph 3:16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Those who see all the words I have emboldened as dollar signs, and are looking to be “the world’s first… Christian… trillionaire” are the poster boys of these verses of scripture:

Rev 3:1  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art [spiritually] dead.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

“Gold tried in the fire” is true wealth. Everything else is worthless by comparison, and that ‘gold’ is the chastening grace of God.

If we are granted to hear what the spirit says to the churches, we will be given to “look behind us and see that the Lord has been judging us in “this present time” (Rom 8:18), and only then will we be brought to our wits’ end and be accepting of our judgment:

Jer 8:10  Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

Our ‘wives’ are our harlot churches, and on a wider scale, ‘wives’ are the world’s religions which at this very moment are being devoured and burned with fire by the secular humanists to whom the Lord for a season is giving the power to do just that:

Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
Rev 17:17  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
Rev 17:18  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

While this is taking place, this is the fruit of the false prophets who speak not right things but speak only deceits:

Jer 8:11  For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Isaiah spoke of those who deny that ‘grace chastens us’, and that we ‘reap what we sow’ (Gal 6:7) or that ‘every man will be judged according to His own works’ (Rev 20:14) with these words:

Isa 30:9  That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Isa 30:10  Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

It is true that James tells us that ‘mercy rejoices against judgment’ (Jas 2:13), but that verse in no way whatsoever contradicts:

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

We must disabuse ourselves of the lie of the adversary, and the smooth things which he teaches, telling us that God’s mercy nullifies and cancels out His justice and His judgment. ‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked, whatsoever we sow we will also reap.’

This is what we are told of “Jerusalem” as a type of God’s elect:

Isa 40:2  Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.

It is the Lord’s elect who are the first to “read… hear… and keep the sayings” of the book of Revelation:

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

This is one of those sayings which concerns Babylon within each of us:

Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

The book of Revelation is simply reiterating the Lord’s words in Isaiah 40:2. We all reap double what we have sown, and enduring that judgment is the Lord’s mercy which delivers us from an unmerciful death.

Psa 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Isa 43:25  I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Jer 31:34  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

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.

The book of Micah accords with the rest of the Lord’s fiery words:

Mic 7:19  He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

How can the Lord say He will blot out our transgressions, forgive our iniquities, and forget our sins, and with the same voice declare that we will reap what we sow? How can the Lord tell us that mercy rejoices against judgment, that as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sins from us; that He will not impute our trespasses to us; that He will cast our sins into the sea, and with the same breath tell us that we will receive double from His hand for our sins and be judged according to our works? How are those two apparently opposing promises made possible?

The answer is that the judgments and the repentance, which is the fruit of judgment, must precede all the positive blessings and promises of mercy and forgiveness. There is not one word in any of the verses I have quoted concerning the Lord’s boundless, ever-enduring mercy and forgiveness which denies or contradicts any of the verses which speak of the justice and judgments pronounced upon the kingdom of our old man. Receiving double for our sins and being judged according to our works precedes but does not contradict any of the Lord’s many blessings of forgiveness and mercy.

Our own wickedness and sins will correct us in this present time if we are the Lord’s elect.

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

The prodigal son was not without judgment and justice. He was so extremely miserable in his judgment that he was forced to humble himself and ask his father to take him on as a mere “hired servant”.

Luk 15:19  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Physical ‘Jerusalem’ symbolizes the religions of this world, and she is “in bondage with [all] her children”:

Gal 4:21  Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
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 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

This is what the Lord has to say to historical Christianity and to all the religions of this world:

Jer 5:1  Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

‘Executing judgment and seeking Truth’ is the exact opposite of:

Isa 30:8  Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Isa 30:9  That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Isa 30:10  Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

Later in this prophecy Jeremiah reveals how the Lord, without contradiction, pours out upon us both His judgments and His boundless mercies:

Jer 30:10  Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
Jer 30:11  For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
Jer 30:12  For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable,  and thy wound is grievous.
Jer 30:13  There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.
Jer 30:14  All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.
Jer 30:15  Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
Jer 30:16  Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
Jer 30:17  For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
Jer 30:18  Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
Jer 30:19  And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.

It is when we refuse to acknowledge our own iniquities and transgressions, and when we refuse to acknowledge that the scriptures teach that judgment must precede blessings… It is when we teach that we can be blessed of the Lord while we deny His fiery judgment that we are guilty of the last verse of our study today:

Jer 8:11  For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

That is our study for today. I pray you were edified by the Word.

Here are our verses for our next study:

Jer 8:12  Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
Jer 8:13  I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.
Jer 8:14  Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.
Jer 8:15  We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!
Jer 8:16  The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.
Jer 8:17  For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.
Jer 8:18  When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.
Jer 8:19  Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?
Jer 8:20  The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
Jer 8:21  For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
Jer 8:22  Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

[Study Aired July 30, 2020]

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

In this verse of our study we see in the words that describe God’s spiritual Word, which is likened to a sword, that the elect are the first recipients to benefit from its use regarding becoming a new creation (Eph 1:12).

All the attributes of His word described in Hebrews 4:12 are used against our old man in a judgment which is currently on the house of God today and the sword of His Word is not meant to depart from us (1Pe 4:17, 1Jn 4:17, 2Sa 12:10).

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment (Heb 4:16): because as he is, so are we in this world.

2Sa 12:10  Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

God’s word, “the sword of the spirit” (Eph 6:17), is not departing from our house for a Godly reason that will bring us unto perfection on the third day, and His love will be perfected in us, if we are granted to endure until the end. (Luk 13:32, Mat 24:13).

The certainty of Christ being able to accomplish this work in us is then discussed in the verses that follow which we will look at next week, stating that He has “passed into the heavens“, meaning He is in our hearts and minds as our hope of glory (Col 1:27). Therefore we ought to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy” before the one who has endured the cross and knows how to comfort and deliver us as we come boldly before His presence where we will “find grace to help in time of need” (1Jn 3:2-3).

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be (Eph 1:14): but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope (Col 1:27) in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

As we are led by the spirit of God, “the sword of the Spirit” (Rom 8:14), the mind of Christ will give us victory over every possible enemy that may come up against us in this lifelong battle against the powers and principalities God created for our sakes to overcome through Christ who is far above all those principalities (Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21). We are learning to let our speech be “alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”.

Through the word, through Christ, God’s elect are called to learn that all things work together for good “to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” It is with the mind of Christ (1Co 2:16) that we can be as Christ (1Jn 4:17) and apply these most encouraging promises of scripture to ourselves as a kind of first fruits (Rom 8:27-30).

Rom 8:27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God [with “the sword of the spirit” Heb 4:12].
Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

This next section of Romans 8 confirms the promises we just read and reassures us of what we can expect God to do for His children against any and all enemies within and without that come up against Christ, our hope of glory within (Col 1:27).

Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
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 [Mat 16:25].

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

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.

Peter’s actions found in this section of John 18:8-10 reveal that he was willing to die for Christ in his flesh but not die with Christ on the cross, which none of us can do without God’s holy spirit within us making that possible (Rom 8:9).

Dying on the cross is described as this spiritual dissection of our old man which is accomplished by God’s word “the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart“, and these very actions we are discussing in Hebrews 4:12 (quick, powerful, sharper, piercing, dividing) define the process of judgment that is upon our carnal beastly nature which is being overcome through Christ against our flesh (Gal 5:17), and it typifies in the sacrifices of the many beasts in the book of Leviticus the very specific order of those sacrifices to the glory of God – just as God’s elect are today being nourished through the beasts being driven from our heavens (“the land”) little and by little as we present ourselves a living sacrifice (Rom 8:36, Exo 23:30, Rom 12:1).

In this same section of scripture (Joh 18:8-10), Christ is contrasted with Peter’s fleshly response to the circumstances God created, with words that explain how we are to truly fight a good fight of faith: “I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way.”

Christ lays His life down for us, willing to go through the process of suffering, despising the shame and looking to the joy that was set before Him (Heb 12:2), not just for the joy of knowing he would be going back to the fullness of the relationship with our Father but also for the joy of knowing He would now be equipped to accomplish the joyous task of being able to redeem the rest of the world, starting with the propitiation of our sins as our drink offering (1Jn 2:2, Mat 26:29, Luk 17:21).

This is the same joy of serving that has been set before us helping us and giving us vision so we can endure through this life knowing there is a purpose behind all our suffering and affliction as we fill up what is behind of His afflictions for His body’s sake, which is the church (1Jn 4:17, Joh 15:13, Col 1:24).

Peter is used to make the point that our flesh witnesses against us (the cock crows 2 times) until we go through a process of judgment (flesh denies Christ three times). This process is accomplished by grace (5) through Christ (2+3=5 [Eph 2:8]) as we learn that Christ won’t deny Himself the purpose for which He has come into our heavens (2Ti 2:13).

Christ being a mature son was able to discern Peter’s present condition of being yet carnal, and prophesied for our sakes the process each of us must go through in order to become mature sons by putting “up again thy sword into his place” and loving our enemies “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven” (Mat 26:33-36, Mat 5:44-45).

Joh 18:8  Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
Joh 18:9  That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
Joh 18:10  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

[Peter’s violent action of cutting the ear off “the high priest’s servant” typifies our trying to force conversion on someone; and then Christ heals the ‘deadly wound’ so to speak, and puts the babylonian ear back on him because it was not Malchus’ time to know the truth, but he was witnessed to through all these actions]

Mat 26:33  Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
Mat 26:34  Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Mat 26:35  Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

All these stories were written for our sakes and were given to us to inspire us to “give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” as we “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” God is working with each of us so that our speech can always be with grace, “Seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

1Ti 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1Ti 4:13  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1Ti 4:14  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
1Ti 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Col 4:6  Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Christ is our example in showing us how to overcome the adversary through a life time of vigilantly looking to God for the power we need to overcome our otherwise helpless flesh as we die daily and cry out to him in that we fear (1Co 15:31, Heb 5:7). While we are in this valley of the shadow of death, we are in our time of need (Heb 4:16) and can rest assured as we labour to enter into the rest of our Lord (Heb 12:1-4) that He can make us more than conquerors over every power and principality that is against us as we come to be convinced that nothing can separate us from His hand (Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21, Mat 24:24, Joh 10:28-29, Rom 8:38-39).

Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick,^G2198 and powerful^G1756, and sharper^G5114 than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart [Heb 5:14].

It takes the quick^G2198 and powerful^G1756 and sharper^G5114 than any twoedged sword word of God to discern the heart of man within us and without us. The question is asked therefore “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” The answer is in the next verse of Jeremiah: “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways [Pro 14:12], and according to the fruit of his doings” [Jer 17:10].

God’s word has to be quick^G2198 and powerful^G1756 and sharper^G5114 than any two-edged sword, to cut through the two-edged sword which represents the witness of man’s knowledge, or the wisdom of men, which is not the power of God (1Co 2:5-8). ‘Knowledge is power’, as the saying goes, but it is the words of eternal life (Joh 6:68) in which we are to have faith as we continue in His word (Joh 8:31-32). Those words sanctify and justify us as we are granted to be established and built on upon our Rock, Jesus Christ (Mat 16:18, Joh 17:17, Mat 16:18).

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 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

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

The body of Christ needs to be confident in what we have and never cast away that confidence in the promises found within God’s word that are exceedingly great and precious. They declare the victory that will be ours through Jesus Christ who is working in us both to will and to do of our Father’s good pleasure (2Pe 1:4, Php 2:13). (What Godly confidence is and is not, is explained in these verses – Php 1:6, Heb 10:35, Php 3:3)

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

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

Again, in this example of Peter’s confidence in his flesh found in John 18:10, Christ resolved the damage Peter was caused to do – for our sakes – by the quick^G2198 and powerful^G1756 and sharper^G5114 word of God that healed the servant’s ear, and quickly told Peter to “put up again thy sword” (Mat 26:52). Knowing that God’s word has both a positive and negative application, we know that Peter’s example was demonstrating how we all at first want to defend our position in life and strike down anything that gets in our way, especially regarding religious belief, as opposed to dying daily and seeing the need to constantly see the greatest enemy we will ever face is ourselves as we pray the Lord will never let “the sword of the spirit” depart from our house (1Co 15:31, Eph 6:17, 2Sa 12:10).

Here now is some of the etymology of these three words: quick,G2198 and powerful,G1756 and sharper G5114 that will be used to divide asunder “soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart“.

These words that define what God’s word can do within our heavens, will be needed to sharpen us (Pro 27:17) so we can overcome the conditions described in these verses (Mat 24:4-13).

Mat 24:4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

The “sword of the spirit” has to convict us and quicken us (Joh 6:63) in order to die daily and overcome through Jesus Christ.

quick G2198   zaō
Total KJV Occurrences: 144
live, 55
Mat_4:4, Mat_9:18, Mar_5:23, Luk_4:4, Luk_10:28, Luk_20:38, Joh_5:25, Joh_6:51, Joh_6:57-58 (3), Joh_11:25, Joh_14:19 (2), Act_17:28, Act_22:22, Act_25:24, Act_28:4, Rom_1:17, Rom_6:2, Rom_8:12-13 (3), Rom_10:5, Rom_14:8 (3), Rom_14:11, 1Co_9:14, 2Co_4:11, 2Co_5:15 (2), 2Co_6:9, 2Co_13:4, Gal_2:14, Gal_2:19-20 (4), Gal_3:11-12 (2), Gal_5:25, Phi_1:21-22 (2), 1Th_3:8, 1Th_5:10, 2Ti_3:12, Tit_2:12, Heb_10:38, Heb_12:9, Jam_4:15, 1Pe_2:24, 1Pe_4:6, 1Jo_4:9, Rev_13:14

living, 34
Mat_16:16, Mat_22:32, Mat_26:63, Mar_12:27, Luk_15:13, Luk_20:38, Luk_24:5, Joh_4:10-11 (2), Joh_6:51, Joh_6:57, Joh_6:69, Joh_7:38, Act_14:15, Rom_9:26, Rom_12:1, Rom_14:9, 1Co_15:45, 2Co_3:3, 2Co_6:16, Col_2:20, 1Th_1:9, 1Ti_3:15, 1Ti_4:10, 1Ti_6:17, Heb_3:12, Heb_9:14, Heb_10:20, Heb_10:31, Heb_12:22, 1Pe_2:4, Rev_7:2, Rev_7:17, Rev_16:3

liveth, 25
Joh_4:50-51 (2), Joh_4:53, Joh_11:26, Rom_6:10 (2), Rom_7:1-3 (3), Rom_14:7, 1Co_7:39, 2Co_13:4, Gal_2:20, 1Ti_5:6 (2), Heb_7:8, Heb_7:25, Heb_9:17, 1Pe_1:23, Rev_1:18, Rev_4:9-10 (2), Rev_5:14, Rev_15:6-7 (2)

alive, 15
Mat_27:63, Mar_16:11, Luk_24:23, Act_1:3, Act_9:41, Act_20:12, Act_25:19, Rom_6:1, Rom_6:13, Rom_7:9, 1Th_4:15, 1Th_4:17, Rev_1:18, Rev_2:8, Rev_19:20

lived, 4
Luk_2:36, Act_26:5, Col_3:7, Rev_20:4

quick, 4
Act_10:42, 2Ti_4:1, Heb_4:12, 1Pe_4:5

lively, 3
Act_7:38, 1Pe_1:3, 1Pe_2:5

livest, 2
Gal_2:14, Rev_3:1

life, 1
2Co_1:8

lifetime, 1
Heb_2:15

powerful G1756   energēs  Total KJV Occurrences: 3

effectual, 2
1Co_16:9, Phm_1:6

powerful, 1
Heb_4:12

sharper G5114 tomōteros  Total KJV Occurrences: 1
sharper, 1
Heb_4:12

I’ve spent a lot of time on this one verse (Heb 4:12) that describes God’s word, His voice, that we are to hear in hearts that are entreatable and miraculously not hardened (Heb 3:15, Isa 66:2), setting the stage for the verses we will look at next week (Heb 4:13-16), which describe what God’s word is able to accomplish right now in our lives through our great high priest, Jesus Christ, who is where He is, in our heavens, so that we can “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need“.

Lord willing, we will look at these last four verses of our study next week that we pray will help us see how we are to be “stedfast in the faith“, moving with fear to the saving of our spiritual house (Heb 11:7) as we overcome the adversary through Christ, and learn that Godliness with contentment is great gain (1Pe 5:8-10, 1Ti 6:6-10).

Heb 3:15  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain [Heb 12:2].
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

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The Virtuous Body of Christ - Part 14 Discussion

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“The virtuous body of Christ” - Part 14

June 5, 2016

with Steven Crook

Today we are going to wrap up the Proverb on the virtuous woman we have been studying. In doing so, we are going to find that the work of the Lord will be being accomplished while we are still in this tabernacle and that those same works are going to be what judges us worthy of praise or not.

Favour vs Grace

The final two verses for consideration and study are:

Pro 31:30  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Pro 31:31  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

All words in scripture are inspired to have a positive and negative application and that is no different with the verses we are studying today.

When we read “favour is deceitful” what favour are we talking about?

H2580 is defined as:

H2580

chên
khane
From H2603; graciousness, that is, subjectively (kindness, favor) or objectively (beauty): - favour, grace (-ious), pleasant, precious, [well-] favoured.
Total KJV occurrences: 69

H2580
chên
BDB Definition:
1) favour, grace, charm
1a) favour, grace, elegance
1b) favour, acceptance
Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H2603
Same Word by TWOT Number: 694a

Hebrew word 2580 as defined by strongs is used interchangeably as grace in the Hebrew.

H2580
chên
Total KJV Occurrences: 69
grace, 38
Gen_6:8, Gen_19:19, Gen_32:5, Gen_33:8, Gen_33:10, Gen_33:15, Gen_34:11, Gen_39:4, Gen_47:25, Gen_47:29, Gen_50:4, Exo_33:12-13 (3), Exo_33:16-17 (2), Exo_34:9, Num_32:5, Jdg_6:17, Rth_2:2, Rth_2:10, 1Sa_1:18, 1Sa_20:3, 1Sa_27:5, 2Sa_14:22, 2Sa_16:4, Est_2:17, Psa_45:2, Psa_84:11, Pro_1:9, Pro_3:22, Pro_3:34, Pro_4:9, Pro_22:11, Jer_31:2, Zec_4:7 (2), Zec_12:10
favour, 26
Gen_18:3, Gen_30:27, Exo_3:21 (2), Exo_11:3, Exo_12:36, Num_11:11, Num_11:15, Deu_24:1, Rth_2:13, 1Sa_16:22, 1Sa_20:29, 1Sa_25:8, 2Sa_15:25, 1Ki_11:19, Est_2:15, Est_5:2, Est_5:8, Est_7:3, Est_8:5, Pro_3:4, Pro_13:15, Pro_22:1, Pro_28:23, Pro_31:30, Ecc_9:11
gracious, 2
Pro_11:16, Ecc_10:12
pleasant, 1
Pro_5:19
precious, 1
Pro_17:8
wellfavoured, 1
Nah_3:4

When looking at favor being deceitful, and knowing that favor seemly means grace, what grace could we be talking about? Let’s look at the differences in the favor of men versus the favor of God.

The favor and grace of God:

Gen 18:1  And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
Gen 18:2  And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
Gen 18:3  And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

Gen 30:27  And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

Exo 3:21  And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:
Exo 3:22  But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

Pro 22:1  A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Gen 6:8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Gen 39:2  And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Gen 39:3  And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Gen 39:4  And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

Pro 3:34  Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

Pro 4:7  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Pro 4:8  Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Pro 4:9  She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Ecc 10:12  The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

Looking at the “natural” grace of men, then we will see the application of the negative aspect of grace. Grave from men is not always a negative thing so I am not trying to imply that, but seeking the praise and grace of men versus that which is of God is what I am focusing on.

When comparing the grace of men versus the grace of God, this is what we find we are dealing with:

Nah 3:3  The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:
Nah 3:4  Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured H2580 harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.

We’ve read a lot about riches of this world and being rich in the spirit, and our old man wants nothing more than to be favored by others in this world because it builds us up to “be something” when in fact we are blind and nothing at all relating to the kingdom of God.

The favored virtuous woman of God will understand that having favor of God and keeping His commandments is much more important than being favored in this world because we are willing to run the same excess of riot that they do.  The virtuous woman will KNOW this is true because she herself at ONE TIME did run with those that riot.

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
1Pe 4:3  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
1Pe 4:4  Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
1Pe 4:5  Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

When we realize this and take it all into account, then we will know Jesus Christ our Husband and knowing Him will give us Godly fear because He is ALWAYS pointing to His Father!

Pro 22:1  A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Pro 3:3  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Pro 3:4  So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Pro 31:30  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

By now we know this woman being talked about is not just any ol virtuous woman, but she is the wife of Jesus Christ.

Knowing the mind of Christ concerning those that fear God reveals to us why fearing the Lord shall be praised. There can be whole studies done on what the fear of the Lord is but due to lack if time I will simply just use a few scriptures to point out the overall concept of what the fear of the Lord is and why it is worthy of praise.

Pro 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

2Ch 19:7  Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

Pro 15:33  The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Pro 8:13  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Psa 19:9  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

If you just type in “fear of the Lord” in e-sword, you’ll have a lot of verses returned to you with a lot of context on what the Lord tells us is the fear of the Lord.

Anyone who discounts the importance of this fear simply has not been given eyes to see and ears to hear that this FEAR is the acknowledgement that the Lord is in complete and utter control over all things and works all things after the counsel of His own will.

Anyone that has the fear of the Lord, is listening to the voice of their Husband because Jesus Christ Himself had the fear of God working within Him!

Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

The spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, and the spirit of knowledge are ALL CONNECTED with the fear of the Lord and for good reason.

Without this fear, one CANNOT judge righteous judgment and we MUST be able to JUDGE!!

This is why our Husband is not ashamed to call us His wife. His words are on our lips and His commandments are in our hearts and minds.

This directly reflects why the end of this chapter talks about favor and fear together ALONG with WORKS and JUDGMENT.

Pro 31:30  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Pro 31:31  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

You might be saying that these verses do not mention anything about judgment, but here is what is mentioned right after Isaiah 11:1-2:

Isa 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Why are favor, fear works and judgment all connected together?

If you remember back to our last few studies, we cover what the “greater works than these” are concerning the work that this virtuous woman does throughout her life.

One of the aspects that I did not cover is that judgement and deliverance from the thing being judged is directly connected together.

What do I mean with that statement?

When Jesus Christ told His disciples that they would be going to all the nations of the earth to spread the gospel, and we are His disciples indeed, He was not telling all His disciples that they would PHYSCICALLY be required to go to all nations of this planet.

Rather, this is a message of Spirit and Life.

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

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 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Joh 6:62  What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Joh 6:64  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

So, combining this all together, what is the link between the fruit of this virtuous woman’s hands and her works praising her in the gates?

If we know what spiritual fruit is and what the spiritual gate is and what the works being spoken about are, then we can find an answer to this question.

Mar 11:17  And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Isa 56:1  Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

Isa 56:5  Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Isa 56:6  Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
Isa 56:7  Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

What is the gate a part of? It is a gate to a city within a kingdom. Within this kingdom sits a house and in this house righteous judgment is always handed out, but there is only one Way that is True.

Hint: It has something to do with Jesus Christ.

Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
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.
Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

1Pe 4:16  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The work this virtuous woman is always doing is CONERNING HER HOUSEHOLD!

Don’t you know that you are the TEMPLE of the Living God and the Spirit of God dwells within you?

Jesus came to show us that the physical healing and feeding of others was but for a moment, but the works we DO are those works which give LIFE, TRUTH and a WAY to live our lives while still dwelling in this constantly moving tabernacles through the wilderness of this flesh.

Yes, many of the “greater works” we will do will be done WITHIN OURSELVES!! How can that be and how can I make such a BOLD CLAIM?

Isn’t that taking credit for doing my OWN WORKS? NO! It is simply knowing the difference between claiming I ALONE do these things and taking credit for it and knowing that WHILE I work God the Father as predestinated that I will work out my own salvation because He is IN HIS TEMPLE WILLING and DOING his GOOD PLEASURE.

While we live out our lives as this virtuous body of Christ, we will be honored and recognized by God while we sit in the gates with our Husband.

While we are there, our focus is to be content with the situations the Lord has placed us in because while much of this experience in the flesh is very hard and trying, we ARE HIS WIFE and very few of this worlds human population can accurately make such a bold claim!

Notice when we are told to be content. It is a bit veiled, but I pray Jesus lifts the veil on our hearts and minds concerning this point.

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.
Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Being the Sons of God is what is PRODCUED by our relationship with our Husband Jesus Christ. You might ask how it is possible to be the FRUIT of the thing that PRODCUES the FRUIT, but this is a spiritual concept and one that is complete none sense to the natural mind.

Sons of God, the fruit, are products of Jesus Christ and the WORK which is done in His virtuous wife. For these things, the virtuous woman is to be praised above all others.

I hope this series has helped us all know and understand a little bit more about just how much our Lord loves us all!

“You All Are Partakers of My Grace”

Php 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

Introduction

As you all know, the Lord has granted Sandi and me, through the agency of a sister and a brother in Australia and the help of several others, the opportunity to visit our brothers and sisters all around the world. We may one day be physical prisoners in our Lord’s service, but we are already our Lord’s bond servants, His slaves, and we are all to count our lives as “a living sacrifice” in His service (Rom 12:1). As a brother just recently mentioned on a fellowship call, we are all “Jesus of Nazareth” (Act 22:8). But, as that brother pointed out, we are not Jesus Christ as individuals, and being Jesus of Nazareth was never intended to be understood as being Christ by or of oneself. That is a claim you and I can only make as part of His ‘many-membered body’:

1Co 12:12 For, even as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the one body, being many, are one body, so also is the Christ, (YLT)

With that doctrine firmly in place, if “you all are partakers of my grace”, then it follows that in Christ I am also a partaker of your grace, and we are all partakers of Christ’s grace, which is the very meaning of this statement of our Lord:

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

What does that mean? Why did Christ bother to tell us that? This is why He wants us to know that He is in His Father, we are in Him, and He is in us. We are in Christ’s heart, and He is in our hearts. Our relationship with Christ is to be a reflection of Christ’s relationship with His Father, His Head, because Christ has told us just that:

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

But look at what Christ had just done in the previous verse:

Joh 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Joh 20:20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

We know that Christ showed His disciples His wounds for the purpose of demonstrating that He really had been raised up from the grave, as the next few verses demonstrate:

Joh 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
Joh 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Joh 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Joh 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

But there is another reason why Christ showed His disciples His wounds. He also wanted them to know that they, too, must partake of His afflictions:

Col 1:24 Now, am I rejoicing in the sufferings on your behalf, and am filling up the things that lack of the tribulations of the Christ, in my flesh, in behalf of his body, which is the assembly, (YLT)

Christ showed His disciples the wound in His hands, His feet and His side because He wants us to understand that we, too, ‘partake of His grace’, and ‘grace’ is part of the two-edged sword that is the word of God. In other words, ‘grace’ has two applications, one for our flesh, the chastening of our old man, and another application is for the encouraging and edification of our spiritual man, the new man.

So what is grace? Here is how Strong’s defines the Greek word, ‘charis’ which is most commonly translated as ‘grace’.

G5485
χάρις
charis
khar’-ece
From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): – acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

In the New Testament, grace is translated from the Greek word ‘karis’, and it means, among other things, ‘favor’, as these few verses will serve to demonstrate:

Luk 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour [G5485: grace] with God.

Act 2:47 Praising God, and [those who had been converted on the day of Pentecost] having favour [G5485] with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Act 7:9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
Act 7:10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour [G5485] and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

Here are three examples of how ‘grace’ is properly translated as ‘favor’. Mary, along with the converts on the day of Pentecost, and Joseph, were all favored of God and of men. In time God will show His ‘favor’ and His ‘grace’ upon all men (1Co 15:22, 1Ti 4:10, and 2Jo 2:2), but at this time that favor is given to just a very few:

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

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

So what separates those who have God’s ‘favor’ from those who are not at this time being shown God’s grace, His favor? Can we discern those whom God favors by how they are being blessed financially as the prosperity ministers would have us to believe, or is the exact opposite true? What do the scriptures teach us about how we can know those upon whom God has poured out His saving grace, His favor which He plainly states is being given to very few in this age?

More specifically, what does the favor of God do in our lives, if we are favored by God? This is what the scriptures actually teach:

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you [God’s grace and favor]: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

That is what the grace and favor of God produces in the lives of the few who are chosen to receive of His favor and grace. The spirit repeats this Truth in the book of Hebrews:

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening [G3809: paideia, the noun form of the verb; G3811: paideuo, chasteneth] for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Every father favors his own children over the children of strangers:

Mat 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
Mat 17:25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
Mat 17:26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

But tribute money is not the chastening love of God. God chastens and scourges every son He receives. The strangers who pay the tribute money are, in spiritual terms, those who do not receive of the chastening, scourging love, favor and grace of God. Those who are under tribute generally are those who are prosperous in this life and who are not receiving of God’s chastening grace.

Is it true that the grace of God chastens those who receive of it? Or are the prosperity ministers right in telling us that those whom God favors are physically and financially prosperous in this age? For all who are given to receive what the scriptures actually teach, here it is:

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

It is through the grace of God that we are ‘taught to deny ungodliness and worldly lust, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly lives in this present age’.

But when we look up the Greek word which is translated as “teaching us” here in Titus 2:12, just look at what we learn about this Greek word:

G3811
παιδεύω
paideuō
Total KJV Occurrences: 13
chastened, 3
1Co_11:32, 2Co_6:9, Heb_12:10
chasteneth, 2
Heb_12:6-7 (2)
chastise, 2
Luk_23:16, Luk_23:22
chasten, 1
Rev_3:19
instructing, 1
2Ti_2:25
learn, 1
1Ti_1:20
learned, 1
Act_7:22
taught, 1
Act_22:3
teaching, 1
Tit_2:12

When we take the time to read the 13 entries of this word as it was inspired to be used in the New Testament, it clearly imparts the concept of receiving discipline from a father or from others in the vast majority of these entries. Any entries listed which are not translated as either ‘chastened’ or chastise are better and more consistently understood as being ‘disciplined’ rather than learning or being taught. Being taught is often referred to as being disciplined, even in English where we speak of the disciplines of math, languages or the sciences. But the concepts of chastening and scourging are far more in line with most entries of this Greek word, paideuo, and that certainly applies to what Titus 2:11-12 tells us is the function of God’s saving grace.

Let’s read those verses again and replace the word ‘teaching’ with the far more common translation of ‘chasteneth’, and see what we are actually being told is the function of the grace of God:

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 [Chastening] us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Notice how well that accords with these verses in the book of Revelation where we find this very same Greek word ‘paideuo’:

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

How does a person who is blessed to have the grace of God poured out in his life “buy gold tried in the fire”? How do any of us buy white raiment of God that will cover our sinful nakedness? How can we buy eye salve with which to anoint our eyes to give us spiritual vision? Here is the only way as it is revealed in the very next verse:

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten [G3811: paideuo]: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Those gifts of gold tried in the fire, white clothes, and eyesalve that will give us spiritual vision, come to us only through the chastening grace of God, as we’re told in:

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

Learning what grace does gives this verse of scripture a completely new slant:

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Now we know what Paul meant by that statement. Contrary to the false doctrines of substitutionary atonement and the false doctrine that grace delivers us from punishment, we now know that God’s chastening is a free gift which will, in the end, overwhelm and scourge any attempt to “sin that grace may abound”. It will indeed abound, and the chastening and scourging hand of God will, without even breaking a sweat, “much more abound” than the most rebellious and most stubborn of men. And there will be absolutely no charge for the free spankings and the free discipline of His saving grace:

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of [our] works, lest any man should boast.
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.

2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Conclusion

But there is also a positive side to the two-edged sword of this subject of God’s saving grace. On the negative side we are saved by God’s chastening grace, and His scourging of our rebellious, sinful, carnal-minded, old man. But through that fiery chastening work of grace we find much ‘favor’ with our heavenly father, and “through faith… [we are] created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God has before ordained that we should walk in them”. God’s chastening grace does not permit us to “sin that grace may abound”. Quite the opposite; becoming “free from sin” (Rom 6:14, 18 and 22) is the fruit of God’s free chastening grace which He pours out freely upon all those whom He favors:

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Those words of Paul were and still are twisted into a message of permissiveness, but the holy spirit foresaw that and inspired these words in the very next chapter:

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

And that “newness of life… free from [the bondage of] sin… no longer living therein” is the positive side of the sword of God’s grace with which Paul was blessing the church of Philippi, and that is the same blessing Sandi and I wish to share with all of you as we make this blessed trip around the entire earth, meeting with, fellowshipping with and ministering to the scattered body of Christ of every kindred and tongue and people and nation, through Christ, through you:

Php 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Do not think this trip will be just nothing but sweet fellowship. I have no doubt we will have plenty of that. But I am old enough to know that a man’s days are few and full of trouble, and that we are all given an evil experience to humble us:

Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

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.

But I also know what it is like to live in the favor of our loving heavenly Father, and you all are partakers of that favor, that grace we have in Christ, and I want to end this study by reminding you of what we have in each other with Christ being within each of us:

Psa 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2Ti 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

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;

And here is one last thing we partake of together in Christ:

Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: