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Awesome Hands – part 96

“Straight gate”

February 3, 2016

Acacia wood is a very intriguing wood with interesting attributes especially when we evaluate them in spiritual terms. In the study today, we are going to look at how the boards and bars of the tabernacle were used as a spiritual witness to who we are in the Lord and one of the many functions, as boards and bars, we serve as being members of His one body.

Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Eph 4:7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

To and Fro

As we covered in briefly in the last study, the word “shittim” or “acacia” has a root in the English phrase “to and fro” comes from the Hebrew word H7751.

Exo 26:15  And thou shalt makeH6213 (H853) boardsH7175 for the tabernacleH4908 of shittimH7848 woodH6086 standing up.H5975

H7848

shiṭṭâh    shiṭṭı̂ym
shit-taw’, shit-teem’
Feminine of a derivative (the second form being only in the plural, meaning the sticks of wood) from the same as H7850; the acacia (from its scourging thorns): – shittah, shittim. See also H1029.
Total KJV occurrences: 28
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H7850

shôṭêṭ
sho-tate’
Active participle of an otherwise unused root meaning (properly to pierce; but only as a denominative from H7752) to flog; a goad: – scourge.
Total KJV occurrences: 1
==================

H7752
shôṭ
shote
From H7751; a lash (literally or figuratively): – scourge, whip.
Total KJV occurrences: 11
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H7751

shûṭ
shoot
A primitive root; properly to push forth; (but used only figuratively) to lash, that is, (the sea with oars) to row; by implication to travel: – go (about, through, to and fro), mariner, rower, run to and fro.
Total KJV occurrences: 13

H7751
shûṭ
Total KJV Occurrences: 23
fro, 8
2Ch_16:9, Job_1:7, Job_2:2, Jer_5:1, Dan_12:3-4 (2), Amo_8:12, Zec_4:10
run, 6
2Ch_16:9, Jer_5:1, Dan_12:3-4 (2), Amo_8:12, Zec_4:10
going, 2
Job_1:7, Job_2:2
about, 1
Num_11:8
go, 1
2Sa_24:2
gone, 1
2Sa_24:8
mariners, 1
Eze_27:8 (2)
rowers, 1
Eze_27:26
through, 1
2Sa_24:2
went, 1
Num_11:8

A few of the verses this Hebrew root word of “acacia” is found in are:

2Ch 16:9  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Zec 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

I took the time to briefly recap these points of the last study so that I could connect these points to the next point we are going to cover which we did not have enough time to cover in the last study.

Acacia wood is rooted in “those who run to and fro”. This phrase, as can be seen in the brief reading of the verses above, is very informative of WHO it is that “runs to and fro”. There is a positive and negative to this running of to and fro.

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

To help us understand that this is us at various parts of our walk with being dragged to the Lord, I am going to use another part of scripture to support this idea.

Eze 1:1  Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
Eze 1:2  In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity,
Eze 1:3  The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.
Eze 1:4  And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

We start of in Ezekiel with the capture of the Israelites by king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Upon giving us the location (BDB says this means “far-off”), Ezekiel tells us the timing of when his visitation by the Lord’s awesome hands was upon him.

It was the thirtieth year (3 x 10 being the completeness of the flesh meeting the start of the process for spiritual completeness), in the fourth month (grace), in the fifth day of the month. For me, being a captive to Babylon during these named time periods reveals the spiritual reality of where we are all when the Lord places His hands upon us. He comes in a great whirlwind (spirit of God) with judgment while sitting on His clouds of great witnesses who are all comfortable in the fire!

While in this moment, Ezekiel sees “the likeness of a man”.

Eze 1:5  Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
Eze 1:6  And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
Eze 1:7  And their feet were STRAIGHT feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
Eze 1:8  And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
Eze 1:9  Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

Jesus Christ was every bit the son of man as He was the Son of God. He was the likeness of a man but had all power of the Father save the throne. We know that Jesus comes upon a cloud of great witnesses to those He comes to … the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

How then is Ezekiel connected to acacia wood and the tabernacle being built in Exodus? In order to answer that question and fully connect the two together, I will continue to read from Ezekiel 1 and 2 and then also from Ezekiel 10.

Eze 1:11  Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
Eze 1:12  And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
Eze 1:13  As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
Eze 1:14  And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

Isn’t it interesting that “lucifer” falls from heaven, Jesus says He saw satan as lightning fall from heaven, and we also read that the living creatures have the appearance of a flash of lightning?

How are they all connected?

Luk 10:16  He that HEARETH YOUR HEARETH ME; and he that despiseth you DESPISETH ME; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Luk 10:17  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the DEVILS are subject unto us through thy name.
Luk 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the POWER of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Unlike what orthodox Christianity teaches, lucifer is a reference to Nebuchadnezzar and NOT satan! What does connect lucifer and satan is that the beast is given power by the dragon, but BOTH are FALLEN from HEAVEN.

Isa 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isa 14:13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

The enemy that shall be destroyed is DEATH, and satan has the POWER of the air!

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

The SPIRIT that is DEAD in trespasses and sins is … WALKING according to the course of this world, fulfilling the lusts and desires of the FLESH and of the MIND.

In the head you have the mind/brain, eyes, ears, nose, mouth and tongue. This is also the ENTRANCE for the air that sustains you. This is where LIGHT enters your mind. This is where HEARING happens. Our sense of HUNGER is fulfilled by TASTE in the head via the tongue and mouth with the tongue ALSO having the sense of TOUCH. In other words, the 5 senses are all in the head and obviously some are located in other parts of the body like touch.

The senses are things that our flesh understand. So, when I make spiritual connections to these throughout the study, they should be fairly easy to grasp given that they are something we can all relate to by nature.

We just read that anyone that hears us hears the Lord, the spirit that works in the world is working because it appeals to our flesh, so what is the contrast to that? The contrast to that is the same contrast we find throughout all of the bible. It is the contrast between the old and the new man.

Wheels and “living” creatures

We briefly covered in the last study that there is a positive and negative to acacia wood and connected that positive and negative nature to the root Hebrew word/phrase “run to and fro”.

We have wheels being talked about in Ezekiel so now I am going to attempt to show the connection the wheels and the “living creatures” have with acacia wood.

Eze 1:19  And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
Eze 1:20  Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
Eze 1:21  When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
Eze 1:22  And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.

When the spirit moved, the living creatures moved. Which way did they move?

Eze 1:28  As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Eze 2:1  And he said unto me, Son of man, STAND UPON THY FEET, and I will speak unto thee.
Eze 2:2  And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.
Eze 2:3  And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
Eze 2:4  For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 2:5  And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
Eze 2:6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Eze 2:7  And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.
Eze 2:8  But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.
Eze 2:9  And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, A ROLL OF A BOOK WAS THEREIN;
Eze 2:10  And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

Eze 10:10  And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
Eze 10:11  When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
Eze 10:12  And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.
Eze 10:13  As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.

“Stand on your feet …. Move straight ahead …. I am sending you to the stiffnecked and rebellious children of Israel …. they will know there has been a prophet among them ….. speak MY WORDS unto them …. open your mouth and EAT the WORDS I give you, a roll of a book therein…a book of LAMENTATIONS, MOURNING AND WOE.”

If it still hasn’t click for you, what does Daniel say about those who “run to and fro” that we quoted for earlier?

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael STAND UP, the great prince which STANDETH for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Dan 12:3  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

The prophet Ezekiel was told to STAND upon his feet and the Lord would speak with him. Daniel says that Michael STANDS up for the children of thy people. When this standing takes place there is a GREAT time of trouble due to the book that is SEALED UP and SWOLLOWED. This is Jesus Christ WITHIN those prophets who have His testimony.

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

I have emphasized throughout this study both standing and going straight and there is a reason why.

When we FALL we are told to STAND because a “JUST MAN falls seven times” but RISES each time to stand.

Pro 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Those living creatures move straight. The wheel within a wheel turns and moves straight but does not go to side, and Jesus tells us that “strait is the gate and narrow is the way” that WE must ENTER into the kingdom of God.

So, it becomes very important that we understand what this straight gate is all about.

Mat 7:12  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The “strait” gate is G4728.

G4728

stenos
sten-os’
Probably from the base of G2476; narrow (from obstacles standing close about): – strait.
Total KJV occurrences: 3

This is only used a handful of times, but is from the base of G2476.

G2476

histēmi
his’-tay-mee
A prolonged form of a primary word στάω staō (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively): – abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up). Compare G5087.
Total KJV occurrences: 156

G2576 means to STAND and is used 156 times in scripture with the majority being “stood”, “stand” or “standing”.

Here are a few of those verses:

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

The “strait” gate is one that is a narrow standing. We are called to STAND in the Truth of the Word of God and we are FREE because of it. However, that does not mean we are not slaves/prisoners to our Master Jesus

Eph 3:1  For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

We are all called to be witnessed to the work the Lord has started in us all and will eventually work in all of mankind.

Look at what Jesus immediately says after telling us to enter in at the straight gate:

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 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17  Even so every GOOD TREE bringeth forth good fruit; but a CORRUPT TREE bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Eph 4:14  That we HENCEFORTH be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

False prophets have false doctrines. False doctrines are for and about another Jesus. Jesus tells us that these false prophets are trees which are known by their fruit. Therefore, prophets of the Lord, are also trees and will ALSO be known by their fruit.

As the body of Christ and those who have the testimony of Jesus, we are the acacia wood of the temple which is coupled together to form the frame of the tabernacle of God. However, we are used to carry the WORDS of the book WITHIN US as we carry the weight of the covering of the tabernacle on us, the frame of the tabernacle.

In the next study, we are going to cover how the boards and bars are placed together in order to form the “oneness” that is needed in order to form the structure of the tabernacle.

When we are coupled together by two tenons, we will see how we are just like the cherubim who have their wings connected together in order to move as one. We are One body entering into the kingdom together.

The two “hands” or “tenons” H3027, are indeed the hands of the Lord which keep us all connected together.

Exo 26:17  Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

Exo 26:24  And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.

Eze 1:9  Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

Audio Links

Make Your Calling And Election Sure – Part 1

by Mike Vinson

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:
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.
2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2Pe 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence [G4704, spoudazo] to make your calling and election sure:for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Introduction

God has created an adversary to oppose Himself and to oppose His elect. God is good at what He does, so His adversary is the very best adversary that can be imagined. This is what we are told about the adversary with whom we are dealing:

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

The accuser of our brothers accuses them before our God day and night. So our adversary perseveres and is persistent in doing his job. He will not miss an opportunity “day and night” to find any fault in anything we do, and he will convince us to believe his accusations against us before we even hear the matter. He will have us to ignore every admonition we are given to ‘seek a multitude of counselors… go to him, between you and him alone… search out the matter diligently and do not make any conclusions until you have done so’.

Pro 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

All of these admonitions go out the door when we are given over to the mind of the adversary. Our “multitude of counselors” are suddenly transformed into a multitude of deceivers because we have been given over to a lying spirit, which convinces us that people we have known and trusted and who have given us wise admonitions and wise counsel are all being led astray by an evil spirit, and we say “God has appointed me to show all of my counselors their grievous sins, before I have even gone to them to hear why they are acting and teaching as they do”. When this spirit of the adversary has be given dominion over us, that is when we begin to despise these words of our Lord:

Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Mat 18:18  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be [Greek, ‘shall have been’] bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

All of this is out the door when our adversary is given to blind us from the protection against his devices which obedience to these words will give us. In the place of that safety we become accusers of our brothers as instruments in the hand of our father the devil, and this is what we do:

Isa 29:21  That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.

‘No good deed goes unpunished’ by our adversary. If we “reprove in the gate” those who need reproof, then the adversary makes certain that our own sinful past will be used to nullify our good reproof in our own gate, and within our own body. That is his job, and he perseveres and persists in doing it.

On the other hand, we are given instructions concerning how we must overcome every effort of the adversary to take us away from the body of Christ and to convince us that we will be of greater service to God if we go out from among those who we ourselves have proven to be the body of Christ:

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
1Jn 2:20  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1Jn 2:21  I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

“They went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us”, tells us that these are those who refuse to ‘go to their brother, and if that brother does not hear them then they are instructed to take with them another brother or two, and if he refuses to hear them, then tell it to the church’. These are those who will not then “tell it to the church”, and they will not hear the church and will not even contemplate treating a heretic as a heathen man and a publican. They will gladly do just that to those who do seek a multitude of counselors and who obey Matthew 18:15-21, but they will not stand up to those who call Christ “Lord, Lord”, but will not do the things He says to do. “The pride of life”, the inability to confess that pride and destroy it from within, causes them to continue on in their “pride of life”.

“You know all things” means that we are granted to do the things Christ tells us to do. It means that we know that we must never, ever ‘lean to our own understanding’, and we must never ever place ourselves above the body of Christ and our multitude of counselors. I have posed the question on many occasions, “Why do we mention that we are never to lean to our own understanding, and we are to always depend upon our “multitude of counselors” if we are going to give in to a lying spirit which is telling us that the body of Christ, is not worthy of being our multitude of counselors? If the whole body of Christ is saying something we do not believe, is it not possibly time to “make search and ask diligently” concerning the matter that is within our own gates in accord with our Lord’s instructions in Mat 18?”

Deu 13:12  If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
Deu 13:13  Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
Deu 13:14  Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;
Deu 13:15  Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.

This is what we must do to “win [our] brother”. Anything short of our Lord’s words amounts to a false doctrine which must be denied by the body of Christ. The body of Christ is “Jesus of Nazareth”, and with “that which every joint supplies” that body is edified and is built up in obedience to what He says:

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

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. [obedience, 1Jo 5:2-3].

When a spirit comes to us and tells us that everyone to whom we have deferred as our leaders, and who have proven themselves to be incorruptible in dealing with the doctrine of Christ, has overnight become a liar and a false prophet, then we need to “enquire, and make search” of those we suspect, by “go[ing] to him, between you and him alone”, before drawing any conclusions. We know what the adversary wants to do, and what he really wants is to sow discord among those in the body of Christ, and to accuse our brothers of failing to do what Christ has told us to do. When we fail to do what our Lord has told us to do, we are taken and snared by the devices of the adversary, which we are to be aware of at all times.

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

Satan is a worthy adversary, but you and I can make our calling and election sure by never failing to inquire, making search, and by always finding out the facts before we “go to [our] brother, between [us] and him alone” before we “tell it to the church”.

This is why we are to do so:

Pro 18:13  He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

First going to a brother or a sister personally and privately deals with the devices of the adversary and helps us to make our calling and election sure. It is not easy to do that, but it is a ‘pill’ which will immunize us from the discord which the adversary so desires to sow among us:

Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

“A proud look, a lying tongue, [and] a false witness” are all part of being a lying or simply a deceived instrument of the adversary, who accuses our brothers day and night before our God, and he does that through those who fail to apply our Lord’s words, which keep us from being infected with the diseases of Egypt, which are nothing less than the diseases of Babylon.

Exo 15:26  And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

We will conclude our study today with a familiar verse of scripture, which, if we give heed to its admonitions, we will go a long way toward “mak[ing our] calling and elections sure”.

Here is what we are plainly advised will help us to “receive a full reward”

2Jn 1:8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. [“Make (our) calling and election sure”]
2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The way we are called to walk is a narrow way which this world cannot receive and will not obey. Those who will not “go to [their] brother between him and [them] alone” before they take with them one or two others, and before telling it to the church, are not bring obedient to Christ, and will not be rewarded with the peace of mind that comes with an obedient spirit. But those who “do the things [Christ] tells us to do” will reap the peaceable fruit of righteousness, and will be given “a full reward”.

Tomorrow we will go step by step into everything which Peter tells us will secure our calling and our election, and, Lord willing, we will be see our Lord just a little bit more clearly and will be transformed into that same image from glory to glory:

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

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:
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.
2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his       old sins.
2Pe 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence [G4704, spoudazo] to make your calling and election sure:for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: