“As He is so are we”

September 6, 2020

News alert! You are sin and were made in sin!?!

Psa 51:5 KJV  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Rom 7:25 KJV  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.

Rom 8:3 KJV  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Do you doubt this?

Well, here we are in our sin, so what do we do with our time? For this moment, we participate in fellowship that might get us thinking a little more about our Lord and His Kingdom.

Other times, we might just be living in our lives, in the world not of the world, while adhering to the principles of the things we learn to be like in the bible.

For example, we are learning to be as He is IN THIS WORLD.

As He is ….. ========== > AS HE IS ………so are we  … in THIS WORLD.

Said another way, and combined as Husband and wife, the Head and the body.

The H stands alone. He is the Head and the H of the body. He is the Head and we are the ead, we are the body. That is why I capitalize the H in He and Head.

He, Jesus, was the bridge of the Father to making everything through Jesus Christ, and now we have everything else in creation. Likewise, Jesus’ inheritance, is to the world, what Jesus was to the world. We are a gift given to now spread Jesus Christ.

But, that doesn’t always show itself up the in the ways you might be thinking.

In our study today, we are going to cover the second book in Judges.

We are going to attempt, once again in this study and the others like it, to connect our flesh with the spiritual message given in the study, so that the new man in us can learn to cope with the old man that we are.

While living in this flesh, we must contend with it. Our spiritual mind is battling the mind of that old serpent, the serpent which preys on … and EATS dust, for that is his lot.

Gen 3:14 KJV  And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

That old serpent, goes too and fro, seeking whom he may devour…. slithering along on the earth…. seeing what flesh he can temp into becoming his dinner.

More on that later.

In this second book of Judges, we find ourselves serving others gods again, even after being told my Joshua that we cannot serve the Lord…. because we serve other gods. Yet, whatever we are doing, we refuse to acknowledge who it is that we are.

Jdg 2:1 KJV  And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
Jdg 2:2 KJV  And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?
Jdg 2:3 KJV  Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
Jdg 2:4 KJV  And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
Jdg 2:5 KJV  And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.

What did we just witness? What we just witnessed is what everyone one of us, down to the last person, do to the Lord even after He redeems us while we were slaves in Egypt.

I mentioned that the old serpent is roaming too and fro seeking whom he may devour, but notice where it is that he is doing this.

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

Job 1:6 KJV  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7 KJV  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Job 1:8 KJV  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 1:9 KJV  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

Does anyone find it interesting that the Lord tells us not to tempt Him, but you find satan border line tempting the Lord of Job’s fear of the Lord not being real….by saying “Does Job fear you for no reason at all, what has Job ever had to fear you for?” … in my own words

That old serpent does this while “going to and fro in the earth…walking up and down in it.

You heard it here first, satan is near unto you … seeking you day and night.

The snares that early Israel had to endure are the same snares we have to endure today.

Jdg 2:2 KJV  And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?
Jdg 2:3 KJV  Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

That is why we weep/wept, because this walk can get pretty hard depending on your perspective and individual trials.

“gods” are a snare unto us… snares are anchored somewhere… and in this case, we are snared to the earth, earth, earth.

Have you ever noticed that that majority of “other gods” are “earthen” bound gods. They have something to do with our flesh. Fertility, health, wealth, crops, cattle, etc. We very much want to succeed in the flesh, as well as in the spirit. That is the law working in us every single day.

We want to feed our belly… the same belly that is crawled on when that oil serpent feeds on the dust that we are.

However, even the “sky” gods, are really like gods for sunshine, rain, etc. Physical weather related. Regardless of all of that, we have the One True God, but we don’t always focus on Him our His mind.

We tend to focus on the other because it screams the loudest, and the squeaky wheel gets the oil until the Lord forcibly steps back in .

The devil tempts God, and satan gets his mandate. A mandate satan the serpent cannot break.

Job 1:10 KJV  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Job 1:11 KJV  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 1:12 KJV  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

So, that old serpent is given a job to do but he is still a hired pit bull, completely in the control of the Lord.

Jdg 2:6 KJV  And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
Jdg 2:7 KJV  And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
Jdg 2:8 KJV  And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
Jdg 2:9 KJV  And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
Jdg 2:10 KJV  And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

Peace was known while Joshua, and the elders that outlived Joshua ruled, but as soon as they died (there is a type and shadow here, I know you can almost “see” it), Israel turns their back on serving the Lord.

Jdg 2:11 KJV  And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
Jdg 2:12 KJV  And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.
Jdg 2:13 KJV  And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
Jdg 2:14 KJV  And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
Jdg 2:15 KJV  Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

Now, we have Israel with the very hand of the Lord raised against His own people because they are not serving Him.

If you are only seeing physical Israel in this, then you are missing it. This is us.

Whenever we are serving other gods, we are going to be having the hand of the Lord against our flesh.

And if that is too heavy of a topic for some of you, let me introduce a new section to my studies called, “Stupid Jesus Jokes”.

Actually, I just made that up, but I do have a funny little joke I think to myself sometimes which would fall under this category.

I have always wondered why we don’t see too many miracles workers, much like social workers, but not to be confused with them, going around doing miracles we can see?

Then I thought to myself, what would be the qualifications for such a gig? I assume you’d have to be like super holy or something, and I already fail that.

Why do I fail at that? Cats. Yep, cats.

If it were left up to my “free will” I would fail the Jesus test right away because cats. I couldn’t be like Jesus left to my own devices, but for the glory of God go I into the world, because He is my Head with His mind in it.

If I had Jesus miracle powers, they would be revoked on day one or upon meeting the first cat I didn’t like. Why? Because poof, that’s why. I’d get my first round of cat-itude, and poof, no longer here. Poof into a floating hairball, then my Jesus miracle powers would be revoked and I think humanity would have been doomed. Cats can be cool once you figure out their personalities, which takes some deep medication or meditation sometimes, but once you get on the good side of a cat you might be okay.

But yeah, cats would end my Jesus powers because my fleshly carnal minded self would poof a cat because I can’t stand their cat-itudes, and because I think that would be a sin somehow, and you laughed at some of that joke too, making you a partaker of my sin, you now are proven to be a sinner.

Boom.

All because of a cat.

But seriously, our thoughts can at times become rampant, and we must get them back into submission and obedience to Jesus Christ. This isn’t some super holy test you have to undertake, but it is simply a mindset we must possess, so that we can counter the darts and wiles of the devil – which are spiritual in nature – taking place in the heavens.

We do this by judging our thoughts against biblical measurements (the Word of God), and then seeing what happens with that.

Jdg 2:16 KJV  Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
Jdg 2:17 KJV  And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.
Jdg 2:18 KJV  And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
Jdg 2:19 KJV  And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
Jdg 2:20 KJV  And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
Jdg 2:21 KJV  I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
Jdg 2:22 KJV  That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
Jdg 2:23 KJV  Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

The Lord is always giving us trials in our flesh, but of which are spiritual in nature. That is one way we are in the world, but not of it. Our mindset is on heavenly things, where the war is at, but we still must contend with whatever the Lord has us contending with while in this flesh.

We are always being tempted to give in to all that is in the world, (lust of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life).

I will give some examples so that isn’t just such a blanket statement.

In the bible, the Lord is always changing the names of His people. Abram and Abraham, Sarai and Sarah, Jacob and Israel, etc.

All my life, I have been known as Stevie to my family. To most others I am known as Steve. Some people call me by my name Steven. Some people known me from before, some people know me from recent history, but in all of this God has me realizing more and more that He just has been in this like as a bridge to Him.

I am being trained as bridge to Him. Jesus Is, was and will be a bridge to God the Father, but also, Jesus is Jesus the Christ. We are the Christ of the Christ!

We are a part of this process.

Therefore, people from my past are bridged to people of my future, but mainly to God who is all in all in the future.

See, I am the blind man who is the bridge to Jesus. Jesus uses me as a bridge to other people because they can see themselves in me, and if I am me (and they can see themselves in my a little bit) then they can see Jesus COME out of ME, thereby infected them with Jesus during social distancing…. Thank you very much.

My testimony in me, of who I use to be, can be verified by others, and then I find Jesus I get healed, because Jesus finds me one day with a gaping hole ion my face to be filled.

Jesus bends down and grabs some earth, and instead of ingesting it, Jesus SPITS on it, giving it LIFE via the water from His mouth, and He places that lump of life into my dead and blind sockets of darkness.

I can now see, and as I live my life, I live in such a way as to try to bring others to the truths of the gospel as easily and as painless as possible, depending on what the Lord’s plans are.

I get to live my life now as the chosen elect, hopefully being given the gift of FAITH, given that gift UNTO TO THE END, so that I can have it around the throne when I need to be called, chosen and faithful.

We are called to live in this flesh, with the knowledge we have, by contending with whatever the Lord challenges us with in flesh as a PAYMENT for being given this understanding now. Our payment is LIPS of THANKSGIVING while serving the Lord in sincerity and Truth.

However, that is only a portion of our calling as well, because there are people who will rise up spiritually after us, whether in this life or not, who will need guidance.

Let me paint a picture for you. For MANY MANY years, most humans have not know the secrets of the Kingdomg of God nor the fact that when they physically die the next stop is not heaven or hell.

Most Christians are going to rise to a very different situation than what they were planning. We will be there as spiritual stewardesses guiding people to their proper destinations while having the power of God ourselves.

I say this to say that just like in Judges, our flesh … which we are, is always being pulled at. The carnal mind is a tool used against our flesh to temp our flesh to give into sin.

At the same time, as Paul says, we have a law in our members (flesh) that battles the law of his mind that is in him.

Rom 7:22 KJV  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 KJV  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 KJV  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 KJV  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.

So, then in the mind I MYSELF SERVE THE LAW OF GOD. In my mind of the inward man, I serve the law of God. However, there is an opposite to the inward man, That man also has a mind that we must not serve, or we will be serving other gods just like the Israelites did when the elders and Joshua died. We do not want to go back to old ways and the old ways of the old man.

Psa 114:1  When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; 
Psa 114:2  Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion. 
Psa 114:3  The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back. 
Psa 114:4  The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. 
Psa 114:5  What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? 
Psa 114:6  Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs? 
Psa 114:7  Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; 
Psa 114:8  Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters. 

In regard to the first verse of our study, when God’s elect are called “out of Egypt” against whom we now witness [the world (Rev 18:4-6)], “the house of Jacob [God’s elect] from a people of strange language”, we needed and do need “sanctuary” in Christ in order to have “dominion” over “Israel” who represents the world within and without ourselves, whom we must overcome (1Jn 4:4-6).

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. 
1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 
1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 

The words “strange language” in verse 1 represents the uncircumcised heart of man that worships God with a fleshly heart (Rom 2:29, Mat 15:8-9]. That is the heart that we are to witness against (Rev 18:4-6).

Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. 

Mat 15:8  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 
Mat 15:9  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

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. 
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 
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. [Three times the word double is used to remind us that the process of judgment is witnessed to against our flesh (Col_1:24)]

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:

The natural consequence of having this hope of glory within us, which gives us the power to overcome (Col 1:27), is to see “the sea” within us “driven back” of verse 3, which “sea” represents all the sin of the world within us (1Jn 2:16). Jordan being driven back symbolizes one of the many baptisms which we must endure as we die daily and are baptized into His death so that we can live through Christ (Rom 6:3, Rom 6:11).

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

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.

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

When we are alive in Christ, the mountains “skipped like rams”, meaning our trials, our struggles, typified by these mountains in verse 4, are now cast into the sea by way of the faith which God provides (Mar 11:23). Those mountains represent something positive now because of Christ within us to whom we look (Heb 12:1-3) to gain dominion over those mountains which become bread for us through Him (Psa 121:1, Num 14:9).

Mar 11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 

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. 

Psa 121:1  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

Num 14:9  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Both the mountains and the little hills (the large and small trials of life) “skip”, meaning there is joy in overcoming as we prevail through Christ and learn that all our trials, small and large (hills and mountains) “work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”, a purpose that is sacrificial (Rom 8:28-30, 1Jn 4:17, Rom 12:1-2). The trials of our life (hills and mountains) are  connected to the sacrifice of a ram and a lamb in verse 4 (Psa 114:4), so that we see the correlation of our suffering through this life as something that will nourish us spiritually (1Co 10:16) as God gives us the power to overcome through Christ who is represented by those sacrifices (lamb and ram).[again what we just read in Hebrews is the example that we look to in Christ and His Christ  (Heb 12:1-3)]

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. 

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 
1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 
1Jn 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us. 

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

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? [It is through our suffering that we learn to identify what is “that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” as the veil is ripped]

The next verses in this Psalm study remind us what manner of people we ought to be (2Pe 3:11-14) seeing we are blessed to observe the sea within us flee (Rom 12:2, 1Jn 2:15, 2Ti 2:22) and the Jordan driven back (symbolizing God giving us dominion over sin through the baptisms that we go through as we die daily 1Co_15:31). 

2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 
2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 
2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 
2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

2Ti 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

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

We rejoice in our spirits always and again I say rejoice (Php 4:4), and we skip like lambs and rams, but also while our spirits are rejoicing with the prospect of knowing that we are more than conquerors through Christ and that it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Rom 8:37, Luk 12:32). We also see our flesh “tremble” at “the presence of the Lord” because we know our flesh will not inherit the kingdom and has a relatively very short time to exist, a vapour in God’s eyes (1Co 15:50, Mat 24:22, Heb 12:21, Jas_4:14). It is Christ’s presence in our life that causes us to “tremble” and fear the Lord, the God of Jacob, and we are blessed to have this relationship in earnest with Christ, typified by this moment with Moses who said “I exceedingly fear and quake” (Heb 12:21), and those words foreshadow Christ’s own words when he says in Luke 12:5 “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“. [Another witness with the words twice stated (Fear him) to remind us that healthy fear of God is only possible when we know Him and His son (Joh 17:3, Job 42:5).]

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. 

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

Job 42:5  I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. [shadow of Mat 13:16]

We fear the Lord, and that fear helps us continue to have reverence toward our Great Creator as we gives thanks and praise to Him for searching our stony hearts and turning all quarters of them into fleshly hearts or into “a standing water” (Psa 51:1-3, Psa 139:23-24). The “flint” [which means rock – another symbol describing the deceitful and desperately wicked heart in flesh Jeremiah 17:9]  is also turned “into a fountain of waters” as we learn obedience by the things that we suffer through the rod of spiritual correction that God must manifest in our lives if we are going to be received as sons in this age (Num 20:11, Rom 5:10, Heb 12:6-8).

Psa 51:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 
Psa 51:2  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 
Psa 51:3  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 
Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 
Jer 17:10  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 

Num 20:11  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

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? 
Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

The question is therefore asked of us, “Who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” in Psalms 15:1-5, along with the parallel questions in Isaiah 33 which ask, “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” (Isa 33:14-16). These questions are important to ask as we near the end of our age in Christ and learn of His fiery judgments which are unfolding in our earth so that we can be among those who are blessed and holy and have part in the first resurrection (Rev 20:6).

If the second death is to have no power over us in the future, we must be judged now (1Pe 4:17, 1Pe 4:12) and become comfortable in the fire today (Isa 26:9). If we are blessed to be among those ‘kind of first fruits’ who are being judged in this age, we will understand how this verse, the title of our study, applies to us today: “Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob”

Psa 15:1  A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 
Psa 15:2  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
Psa 15:3  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 
Psa 15:4  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 
Psa 15:5  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. 

Isa 33:14  The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? 
Isa 33:15  He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; 

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

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? 
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 
1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

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: 

Psa 114:1  When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; 

God called Israel “out of Egypt” when he was a child. That is when he “loved him” and called him out of Egypt, speaking of Christ and His Christ in type and shadow. John the baptist foreshadows this calling, too, when God used him as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias”, the wilderness representing the world or Egypt as well (Rom 9:13, Joh 1:23).

Rom 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 

Joh 1:23  He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 

That calling of Israel out of Egypt was accomplished through many plagues and much tribulation that was happening in ancient Egypt where Israel is coming out of her, and it typifies our coming out of the world as we are dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44) who gives us the power to overcome and to come out of her my people as stated in Revelation 18:4.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

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.

As mentioned in the introduction, the “strange language” of Egypt represents the many tongues of Babylon found in the many churches out of which we come (Rev 17:5), where God’s language, His words, are defiled and must be cleansed from the idols of our hearts through the destruction which comes about by way of the afflictions of this life, the persecution, and the much tribulation that is typified by the painful process of the nation of Israel being delivered from Egypt.

Psa 114:2  Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion. 

Without Christ as our sanctuary (1Co 6:19, Col 1:27), who is typified by Judah in this verse, we would never gain dominion over Israel which typifies the world within us that we are promised through Christ we will overcome (Rom 8:37).

We overcome because Christ is our head, and He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5).

1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 
1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. [Another way of saying “Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion“]

Psa 114:3  The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back. 

These following verses in Isaiah (Isa 43:16-20) help explain what the Psalmist was talking about when he was inspired to write “The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back”. When we see mighty waters being driven back, whether it was the Jordan or the Red Sea, it is a demonstration of God’s power that is always at His disposal to fulfill all things according to the counsel of His own will (Col 1:17, Eph 1:11). He brings us to our wits’-end circumstances which He creates so that we are without any hope in our flesh, but are blessed to hear His voice, typified by Moses saying “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today” (2Pe 3:10, Exo 14:13-14). The process of God’s salvation is symbolized by the parting of the Red Sea, as well as the driving back of the Jordan, allowing us to cross over these waters which represent our baptism, or baptisms, in Christ where the seed dies so that life can be brought forth abundantly (1Co 10:1-11, Gal 3:27-29, Joh 12:24-25). 

Isa 43:16  Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; [“The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back“]
Isa 43:17  Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow. 
Isa 43:18  Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 
Isa 43:19  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. 
Isa 43:20  The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. 

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

1Co 10:1  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 
1Co 10:2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 
1Co 10:3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 
1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 
1Co 10:5  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 
1Co 10:6  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 
1Co 10:7  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.  Neither let us commit fornication[spiritual fornication], as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 
1Co 10:9  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 
1Co 10:10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 
1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 
Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 
Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 
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. 

Psa 114:4  The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. 

If God will grant us to heed the admonitions, the ensamples [1Co 10:11 –  too’-pos From G5180] which were written for us, upon whom the ends of the world are come, it will be evidenced by our not lusting after evil things, as they also lusted, or committing idolatry or fornication. That overcoming process brings about joy in the morning, after we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but rather the powers and principalities against which we would never be able to make war except the Lord gave us the victory (Gen 32:24-25, Eph 1:21, Rev 13:4). 

The world will continue to worship the beast because they can’t at this time make war against those powers and principalities of which Christ is far higher. God calls us to rejoice always in this victory that He is giving us through our Lord (Col 1:24, Col 1:27) but also admonishes us to not be conceited or looking down upon (Luk 18:12), or being bitter against (Heb 12:15), those who are enslaved to sin, not having been given to go unto maturity in this age by God’s design (Heb 6:3). It is all a gift of God to go unto maturity, and when we consider how underserving all flesh is for what God has done, it should be crystal clear that He is not a respector of persons, even calling the weak of the world first so all flesh can understand that these things are all being done to the glory of God and (Heb 12:2 Rom 8:18, 1Co 1:26) will leave us skipping like rams and lambs in our spirit.

G5179  tupos  too’-pos   From G5180; a die (as struck), that is, (by implication) a stamp or scar; by analogy a shape, that is, a statue, (figuratively) style or resemblance; specifically a sampler (“type”), that is, a model (for imitation) or instance (for warning): – en- (ex-) ample, fashion, figure, form, manner, pattern, print.

Psa 114:5  What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? 
Psa 114:6  Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs? 

Being given dominion over sin (Rom 6:14) does not mean that it is a one-time deal, but rather a process of dying daily as the sea, our flesh, flees every day as we die daily being figuratively baptized every day in the Jordan as we die daily (1Co 15:31).

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 
Rom 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?[sinning with impunity Gal_6:7-8] God forbid. 

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. 

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

Being given dominion over sin also does not mean that we will never sin while in these marred vessels (1Jn 1:8), and that also is by design so that no flesh will boast in His sight and so that all flesh will know that all increase comes solely from God who gives us what we need to push back the sea and drive back the Jordan through the power of His holy spirit which leads us to repentance so that we can confess our sins to our Brother who is faithful (1Jn 1:9-10, Jas 5:16, We confess our sins both to each other when needed, and to Christ, but in both cases it is confessing to Christ. We were blessed to learn that the silver cup put in the sack of Joseph’s brother represents the self-righteous spirit within us which does not want to confess that both our sin and our righteousness are caused of God who is sovereign over our life. Our great blessing that we have today is to be able to identify with our need to see God’s hand working both the light and darkness, the good and evil, as He fulfills His will in every life or book “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 45:6-7).

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

It is when we walk in the light that we are going to see our need to grow and mature in Christ (1Jn 1:7), and conversely, it is when we stop seeing our need to keep God’s commandments that we begin to sin with impunity (Gal 6:7-8).

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

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. 

Psa 114:7  Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; 
Psa 114:8  Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters. 

Our earth [our physical life] trembling “at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob” is a sign of a great blessing that God is working with us and looking to and not hardening our hearts as He did with Pharaoh and most of the world today (Isa 66:2, Exo 7:13, Rom 9:23, Joh 9:2-3). 

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Exo 7:13  And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. 

Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

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

Here again are some of the verses that Mike brought up on last Sunday’s study to help demonstrate this truth that we are to fear God:

(Psa 119:118-120, Heb 10:30-31, no fear of man 1Jn 4:17-18, Mat 10:28, Rev 2:5, Heb 5:7-8, God who is the ruler working through all these positions of authority which He has created Rom 13:3-4).

The fruit which God produces in our life when we “Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob” is nothing short of having the miracle of a changed heart (Eze 36:26) that goes from being a rock, or flint, to someone who is like a child with an easily entreated spirit (Mat 18:3) due to the powerful hand of God having brought forth the “standing water” and “the flint into a fountain of waters” by way of wars and rumors of wars and earthquakes in our heavens, which were all settled in time so that we had peace that passes all understanding (Php 4:7); a peace that was obtained not by might or by power but by His holy spirit (Zec 4:6).

Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 

Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Audio Links

Introduction

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
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.

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.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, [natural] Eye hath not seen, nor [natural] ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of [natural] 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.

So the “deep things of God” are understood only “by His Spirit.” What is “His Spirit?”

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.

Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

And what does ‘one flesh’ mean “by His Spirit?”

Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Exo 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Zec 14:8 And it shall be in that day, [that] living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
Zec 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Phi 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Phi 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

But what if there is not “one mind”? What if there is heresy?

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

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

Tit 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

What is the purpose for heresy?

1Co 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Zec 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

1Co 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Can anyone who is not “of the same mind” and not “abiding in the doctrine of Christ” be a converted Christian? The answer to that question can be found at this link here.