The power believers have been given

Posted September 14, 2014

In the first part of this series, we focused on the important aspect of the “house of prayer” being the temple of God and those in whom the Spirit dwells.

While we have all learned many ways to pray in our Christian lives, there are specific guidelines to how we are to look at and apply prayer in our lives as “disciples indeed”.

Yes, we are to be disciples “in deed.” (Truly)

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.

“Worship in the Lord’s house”

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:

Today we are going to focus on the ‘words commanded’ and spoken concerning how we handle prayer and how we worship in Spirit and Truth concerning prayer in our daily lives.

In this second part of the series, we are going to look at scriptural witnesses and scriptural instructions on how to worship the Father through our prayer.

Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

“Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship” The contrast being made today will be between “you know not what you worship” versus “we know what we worship”.

The focus on Part 1 was on those who are of the house of prayer, but that group was being contrasted with another group.

When I say “group”, the true spiritual contrast is being made between the natural and the spiritual, the old and new man, the first Adam versus the second Adam.

The house of prayer is compared against a den of thieves.

Mat 21:13  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den^G4693 of thieves.

I ask everyone reading this if “ye” is you? Have you made the house of prayer a den of thieves? Before you answer that, let us examine the thieves who live in a den versus a house.

G4693
spēlaion
Total KJV Occurrences: 6

den, 3
Mat_21:13, Mar_11:17, Luk_19:46

dens, 2
Heb_11:38, Rev_6:15

cave, 1
Joh_11:38

Here are a couple of examples of where this word ‘den’ appears in the New Testament:

Heb 11:37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38  (Of whom the world was not worthy: ) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

Rev 6:14  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Rev 6:15  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The first example is of those who receive a good report through faith, but they don’t receive the promise. Yet, we know there is only One Faith. The promise we are given concerning Faith is to partakers of the “One Faith”. We’ll get to that in a little while.

The second example is of those who ‘tell the mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of Jesus Christ.’

So, what separates the thieves who are a den of thieves from those who are the house of prayer as “receiving the promise”?

Luk 24:45  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luk 24:46  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luk 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luk 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Act 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Act 2:33  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

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.

Through the Spirit, I will attempt to connect what worship, Truth, Spirit and prayer have to do with one another.

We just read that those who worship God, who is Spirit, must do so in Spirit and in Truth. Therefore, we must know and understand what this means. Otherwise, how can we ever presume to be praying properly so that we are heard by God?

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.
Joh 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

So, the Words spoken by Jesus are Spirit and Life. It is also true that Jesus is Truth.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

How does someone come to Jesus?

“No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father….” And “no man cometh to the Father but by Jesus Christ.”

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” says Jesus.

It is not speaking above what is written to combine all of these verses to conclude the spiritual Truth that the Words which Jesus speaks are Spirit and Life, Words which speak the Truth and are the Way to the Father.

As a matter of Truth, Jesus says this to His disciples, after explaining the spiritual Truth of Him being the Way, Truth and Life:

Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:8  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Joh 14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Joh 14:11  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Joh 14:13  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

After explaining the Spirit behind seeing the Father, and who Jesus is in this process, He tells His disciples (indeed) to keep His commandments.

Now that the stage has been set, let us look toward His words as they pertain to being a house of prayer versus a den of thieves.

Joh 10:8  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

Mat 6:16  Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:17  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
Mat 6:18  That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Mat 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 6:22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

What do thieves do? They break through and steal treasures. However, the treasure we have “laid up” is heavenly.

Why would Jesus mention this in connection to fasting? When we are fasting for the appearance of “giving of ourselves to the Lord” and to be seen of men to be fasting, our reward is EARTHLY. It is for the FLESH in others to see it and think of how “godly” we are, and it is for our flesh and carnal mind to believe we are “doing the works of God”.

When you connect this idea with prayer (fasting and prayer go hand and hand) when telling someone we are “praying for them” or we are “keeping them in prayer” and we are not doing it as if it were we ourselves in this situation needing prayer. We are doing it to give the appearance of true prayer, knowingly or unknowingly.

Those that have come before the true Jesus Christ are those that are thieves. They come through to steal our reward, because by giving us their doctrines, their ways of praying, their examples of how to fast, we have to realize that our home with them is in a cave or den.

It is not the house of prayer we belong to in this situation.

Why am I mentioning fasting and prayer together?

Psa 35:11  False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
Psa 35:12  They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
Psa 35:13  But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
Psa 35:14  I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
Psa 35:15  But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

Dan 9:3  And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, WITH fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Dan 9:4  And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

Mat 17:19  Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mat 17:21  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

How then is our fast (Jesus and His mind concerning fasting) directly coupled with our prayer?

Isa 58:4  Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
Isa 58:5  Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
Isa 58:6  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and THAT YE break every yoke?

Said in the CEV translation:

Isa 58:4  You even get angry and ready to fight. No wonder God won’t listen to your prayers!
Isa 58:5  Do you think the LORD wants you to give up eating and to act as humble as a bent-over bush? Or to dress in sackcloth and sit in ashes? Is this really what he wants on a day of worship?
Isa 58:6  I’ll tell you what it really means to worship the LORD. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused!

What the prayers of the “house of prayer” are coupled with is the POWER we have been given to free those who are bound to wickedness, take away heavy burdens, to let those who are oppressed go free from their oppressors and to break every yoke weighing someone down.

What do we do these things with? We do it with the Word of God! We couple the Word of God with prayer!

In not so many words, we comfort those in need of prayer with the Word of God, with the Shepherd in us, by speaking to them in a voice they understand (His voice), and we let them know we are petitioning the Father on their behalf in BELIEF that “His will be done”.

“Disciples Indeed”

How do we do this? How do we act on what Jesus tells us to do with prayer? Will His example give us any direction?

Joh 11:35  Jesus wept.
Joh 11:36  Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
Joh 11:37  And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
Joh 11:38  Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave^G4693, and a stone lay upon it.
Joh 11:39  Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Joh 11:40  Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Joh 11:41  Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
Joh 11:42  And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 11:43  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
Joh 11:44  And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Have you ever asked yourself how it is Jesus was heard of the Father? It is obvious that Jesus prayed to the Father in secret, but then thanked the Father openly for being heard.

What was Jesus’ prayer coupled with? “Take away the stone…loose him and let him go”. If you would believe, you would see the glory of God.

Before I am misquoted or misunderstood, am I saying that if a person simply believes something when praying for it then that belief will be granted to them?

No, I am not saying that at all.

True Faith only comes from one place, Jesus – the Word of God – and that is why it is so important for the eye to be single.

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 6:22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

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.

In a previous study, I spoke about grace heavily as it pertains to God working His awesome hands in our lives.

In particular, I compared the Sea of Galilee being north of the dead sea to the spiritual concept that if we have the waters of the Jordan flowing through the Sea of Galilee from north to south, the Sea of Galilee is flowing with life.

The sea of Galilee is where Jesus called disciples to follow Him (Mat 4:17-20). It is where He healed people of various afflictions (Mat 7:31-37) including deafness and dumbness, cast out unclean spirits (Mar 1:23-27), and performed many more miracles including feeding the masses with five loaves of bread and two SMALL fishes.

In Mark 1:35, after having done many miracles, Jesus showed us the importance of prayer.

Mar 1:34  And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
Mar 1:35  And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

I mentioned the Sea of Galilee to point out that it has an inlet and an outlet for the Jordan River waters which flow through it.

However, when the Jordan River exits out of the south of the Sea of Galilee, those waters travel for a distance south and empty into the Dead Sea which has no outlet.

If we are given anything of the Lord whether it be One faith, One baptism, One Spirit, One calling, our One Lord, One Hope, or One God and Father of All, and we do not have an outlet for it, we will be as the Dead Sea.

We become stagnant and lifeless, and nothing flows out of us. How can we be the “house of prayer” and not a “den of thieves” if this is true of us?

How this applies to prayer is that the Lord places a “dead Lazarus”, who someone cares about, in front of us. He places a “deaf and dumb” person in front of us to say “Ephphatha, that is, Be opened,” so that they are healed and raised from the dead.

If we are among the dead, as typified in the Dead Sea, how then can we so these things? However, if “Christ be in you”, you can do ALL THINGS through Him who strengthens you.

Prayer is our realizing that we are ALWAYS HEARD.

How do we know this to be true?

Joh 11:42  And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Pro 8:32  Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Pro 8:33  Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Pro 8:34  Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Pro 8:35  For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Luk 6:47  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

There it is! When we are dragged to the Father, through Jesus and the Words of God, we are to DO THE Words! When we do them, we are building our house (the house of prayer) on a foundation which cannot be shaken.

When we are given to come to the Lord to hear His sayings, we can be confident that we are being heard by the Father when we pray to Him.

Our confidence comes in knowing that we answer all things according to the SAME EXAMPLE Jesus gave us and lived by.

“I came to do the works of my Father …. Thy will be done.”

If you have any doubt that the Father hears our prayers always, then weigh your prayers against the way in which Jesus taught us to pray. Here is where we have been given power.

Mat 6:5  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Mat 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mat 6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Have Faith. Our Father knows what things we ALL NEED before we EVER ASK HIM for them. We are presented with a tremendous power to be able to PRAY for ourselves and others, and when we pray, we pray in Spirit and Truth when our prayer is “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.

This is True Worship. We acknowledge that all things are being worked after the counsel of His own will.

In the next study, I am hoping that the Lord will bless me to speak about how or why we are, or are not, to pray for the world, how we are to pray or not for the “earth, earth, earth” and how we are to practically “pray without ceasing”.

[Next study in this series is here.]

Zec 4:1-14  “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts”

[Study Aired June 22, 2023]

Zec 4:1  And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 
Zec 4:2  And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: 
Zec 4:3  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 
Zec 4:4  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? 
Zec 4:5  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 
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. 
Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Zec 4:8  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Zec 4:9  The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. 
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.
Zec 4:11  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? 
Zec 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? 
Zec 4:13  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 
Zec 4:14  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

We have to go back to Zechariah 3:6 to understand that this is the same angel of the Lord who represents the body of Christ who is going to come to Zechariah to spiritually awaken him, “as a man that is wakened out of his sleep” in this first verse of chapter four. The angel visiting us typifies the body of Christ that is come to us if we are dragged to Christ and His body in this age (Joh 6:44, Col 1:24, Eph 5:30) “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: 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 church is the first to know and understand these mysteries which have been hidden from the world for the purpose that, in time, all will 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”. Ultimately the entire world will be awakened out of their spiritual sleep, and there is an order to that awakening of humanity starting with God’s elect (2Co 4:14-18) who are represented by Zechariah, who is going to be shown these mysteries which were not for his sake but for ours (Eph 3:9-10, Psa 8:4, 1Co 15:22-26, 1Co 10:11, 1Pe 1:12). 

2Co 4:14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you [“wakened out of his sleep“]. 
2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes [1Co 10:11, 1Pe 1:12], that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 
2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day [Zec 4:1 “wakened out of his sleep“]
2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory [Rom 8:18]; 
2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen [“hid in God” of Ephesians 3:9]: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

This mystery of our relationship with Christ is only made possible “by the faith of him” (Eph 3:12) and revealed “by the church” and likened to our physical marriages in the earth (Eph 5:27-33, Eph 1:17-23) of which Christ is the Head. Our Father, who is Christ’s head (1Co 11:3), states of this relationship which we have with Him and Christ, that it is “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” (Eph 2:10, Joh 17:3)

Eph 3:12  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

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 [how we walk in them (Rom 1:17)].

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent [3Jn 1:4].

These words of the apostle Paul found in Ephesians 3:9-12 are foundational thoughts upon which the following statements he makes are founded in Ephesians 3:13-21, and they reflect for us the strength and power God can give to those whom He has purposed to be His witnesses in this life by His power and not ours (Rev 11:3, Zec 4:6). This fourth chapter of Zechariah reveals, in type and shadow imagery, the means by which God is going to bring this relationship with Christ and His bride to its predestined conclusion in the first resurrection, and how His strength will be made perfect through those who are given to overcome in this age, not by might nor by power but by God’s holy spirit (Zec 4:6).

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

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.

Zec 4:1  And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 

These verses (1Co 15:33-34, Eph 5:13-16) confirm to us what the spiritual meaning of being woke up by the angel means:

1Co 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 
1Co 15:34  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 

Eph 5:13  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light [1Pe 4:17]: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light  [It is through that reproving that the light of Christ is made manifest (1Pe 1:7, Mat 25:7-9, Rev 3:18, Heb 12:6)]. 
Eph 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Eph 5:15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 
Eph 5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil [Psa 90:12]. 

We have the example of Paul who was a messenger or angel of God sent to awaken the church to the righteousness of Christ. It is with the light of God’s word that we are awakened to Christ’s righteousness, and if God’s spirit is within us and being stirred up (2Pe 3:1, 2Ti 1:6-7) then we will be that light to one another in the body of Christ, and to all men, each joint supplying in love what the other needs (Gal 6:2) in order to have spiritual vision (Pro 29:18) which is given to those who receive that light and don’t reject it (Eph 4:16, Joh 1:10-12, Joh 3:19-21). 

2Pe 3:1  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

2Ti 1:6  Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [Zec 4:6].

Joh 1:8  He was not that Light [John the baptist], but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 
Joh 1:9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world [Act 17:28]. 
Joh 1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not [The camp of Israel can  symbolize the world that knew him not]. 
Joh 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not [The Jewish religion of his day typifies the churches of Babylon – “He came to his own” – that reject the true gospel message of Christ today  (Isa 3:1)]. 
Joh 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power (Rev 11:3, Zec 4:6) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: [believed on his word [“his name” (Pro 22:1)] in order to do the work of God as His witnesses (Joh 6:28-29)]

Zec 4:2  And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: 
Zec 4:3  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 
Zec 4:4  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? 
Zec 4:5  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 

Zechariah can describe the vision he had, just as Pharaoh could describe the dreams that are found in Genesis 4:1-7, but it took Joseph, a man of God who typifies those who have God’s holy spirit within them, to interpret the dreams that are one (Rom 8:9, Gen 41:12, Gen 41:15-16, Gen 41:25). 

Gen 41:12  And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

Gen 41:15  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. 
Gen 41:16  And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. 

In the same manner as the Ethiopian eunuch who, when asked if he understood what he was reading declared, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” (Act 8:31), so, too, was Zechariah’s humble answer to the angel that talked to him, “Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.” (Psa 69:32, Mat 18:4, 1Pe 5:5)

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.

1Pe 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Zechariah looked and what he saw was “a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof” which represent the body of Christ that Christ is in the midst thereof (Rev 1:4, Rev 1:11-13). 

Rev 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: 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. 
Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 
Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

We are told there is “a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it“, which candlestick represents the elect of God who have been tried in this life to become a candlestick made of pure gold that continues to be tried and purified (Act 14:22, 1Pe 4:12,  Mat 25:7-13) so that we are able to provide light to the house of God and be a light in this dark world (Php 2:15, Mat 5:14-16) because of the store of God’s word, which is spirit (Joh 6:63) found in our heavens, our minds, which are set on things above (Col 3:2). Our sufficiency is in Christ (2Co 3:5) who is our Head, represented as “a bowl upon the top of it” atop the candlestick the body of Christ (Rev 11:4).

There are “seven pipes to the seven lamps” and they are “upon the top thereof“. The seven pipes represent the complete church, each joint that supplies (Eph 4:16) what is needed for the building up of the body of Christ in love, and the pipes run to the “seven lamps” that represent where the whole store, or the complete (7) “stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water” of Isaiah 3:1 is obtained, “upon the top thereof“, meaning from the Giver of every good and perfect gift from Jerusalem above, the “the Father of lights” (Jas 1:17, Gal 4:26).

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

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. 
Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. 

In the physical event “in the second year of Darius” (Zec 1:1), it was the prophets Haggai and Zechariah who “prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel” to stir them up, with Zerubbabel and Jeshua leading them, “to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem” (Ezr 5:1-2) (after being stalled by their enemies – see Ezra chapters 1 and 4).

Ezr 5:1  Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. 
Ezr 5:2  Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

Here in Zechariah 4:6, we are told that it is “the LORD of hosts” who speaks to Zerubbabel via the angel of the Lord. As mentioned at the beginning of this study ‘the angel of the Lord’ here is a type of those who have Christ’s spirit in them as their hope of glory within (Col 1:27). It is therefore they who are able to confidently answer the question, “Who can make war with the beast”? (Rev 13:4), which is the same question being asked here, “Who art thou, O great mountain?” The answer to the question is the same in both instances, and it is Christ in us who will save us by grace through faith (Eph 2:8, Rom 7:24-25). 

Our old man will be abased through our trials and much tribulation in this life and so it is written, “before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain^H4334…”

Isa 40:3  The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 
Isa 40:4  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight^H4334, and the rough places plain: 
Isa 40:5  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Isa 42:15  I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools. 
Isa 42:16  And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight^H4334. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Psa 143:10  Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness^H4334.

…and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.“ (grace said twice, as a witness of it being Christ who is doing the work in us as “the head-stone“ – Php 2:12-13, 1Co 11:3).

Christ is our cornerstone, or “head-stone” (Job 38:5-6, Isa 28:16, Eph 2:18-22) as translated in the KJV and many other versions (AFV, AKJV, BBE, Cepher, CLV, Darby, EWB, EJ, EVI, ERR, GEN, IH+, IAV, JST, JUB, LBP, LOT, NSB, RNK, REB, RV, WCB, WoY). However, it is instructive to also look at other translations of these combined Strong’s numbers H68 H7222 that make up the english words “head stone”

“capstone” – HNV, ISV, LITV, NET, NAA, NWT, TLV, TS, VW, WEB
“top stone” – ACV, ASV, ESV, JPS, JPA, LEB, LSV, MKJV, YLT
“topmost stone” – GW, ULB, UPD
 “first stone” – COV, MST, TRC
“most important stone” – CEV, ERV, NIRV
“stone of inheritance” – Brenton, CTB, CAB, ABP+
“chief stone” – DRB
“keystone” – NJB
“stone of the main architect” – JPT
“crowning stone” – LHB
“last stone” – GNB

Job 38:5  Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 
Job 38:6  Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 

Isa 28:16  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 

Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 
Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The favor or grace we are receiving in this age in advance of all the world “with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it” is to decrease through the chastening grace of God, the much needed tribulation in our lives so we can become abased, “a plain“, and Christ in us can increase, “he shall bring forth the headstone.” If we endure that process, it will be something God will make possible through Christ (Rom 5:10, Php 4:13), preparing the bride to begin to work with the nations of this world who are represented by mount Esau, another “O great mountain” which will be judged by the same measures by which we have been judged in our lives (Oba 1:21, Eze 43:10).

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. 

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

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.

Eze 43:10  Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 

Zec 4:8  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Zec 4:9  The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. 

In Babylon we separated Christ from His body all the time and considered that Zerubbabel was Christ alone and not His body, just as we considered “THE BRANCH” to represent only Christ and not Christ working within His own body. It is with that faulty mindset that we miss the incredible promise being made to those who have eyes to see it, and that promise is that Christ will build the church through the body stated this way, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.” It is the LORD of hosts who is doing the work within us as we move with fear and work out our own salvation knowing it is Christ working mightily in us to this good end (Heb 11:7, Luk 12:5). We are filling up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake, the church (Col 1:24), and we are filling up the second half of Christ’s ministry as the scapegoat, and second dove, represented by the two witnesses who complete the ministry of Christ (3.5 years Christ’s ministry, and 3.5 years with the two witnesses who represent the ministry of the church in this life (Rev 11:3), which adds up to that complete ministry of seven years.)

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.

We all have despised the day of small things at our appointed time, and grow into a greater and greater appreciation of how we must possess our souls patiently as we fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ (Luk 21:19). In doing that, our joy will increase as Paul said, “I 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” (Col 1:24). 

This parable in Matthew 16:2-3 says the exact same thing. We have trials our whole life, the red skies in the morning part of our life and the red skies in the evening part, but at the end of the day (Joh 11:9) in the evening we rejoice having filled up what is behind of Christ’s affliction and see those red skies at that point in our life as a great indicator that we are truly more than conquerors through Christ, who are going to be blessed and delighted to rule and reign under our LORD. “When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red” is the confirming message that those who are enduring through this life in Christ should take from our Lord’s parable regarding sailing conditions, that also concluded with another parable that assures us that this prior parable is speaking about what is happening within the body of Christ (Mat 16:4).

Mat 16:2  He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
Mat 16:3  And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Mat 16:4  A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. 

God’s elect are typified by “those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth“, and the earth is the church that has to go through a process of judgment now in order to grow to maturity (Jer 22:29). The “plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven” represents the word of God within the church, the words of eternal life that are used like a “plummet” to measure us up to the fullness and stature of Christ (Eph 4:13-14). The plummet must be “in the hand of Zerubbabel” who typifies those who have the mind of Christ who do not think above what is written (1Co 4:6). It takes the “hand of Zerubbabel” and “the eyes of the LORD” that run to and fro through the “whole earth” (Jer 22:29) to accomplish the complete judgment of Christ’s body so we can enter into the temple of God (Rev 21:9, Rev 15:8).

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

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:
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; 

Rev 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

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.

If we are blessed to endure until the end of this life and be found in Christ (Php 3:9), then God will use us to begin that process of judgment in the earth through the thousand-year reign of the saints (Rev 20:6). That symbolic period of time is the same as saying ‘O earth, earth, earth’, or 10x10x10=1000, or flesh, flesh, flesh, hear the word of God, hearing without understanding at first (Luk 6:46), the learning of righteousness (Isa 26:9), but no actual change with the inward man, seeing those waters that fill the earth have not yet been tried in the lake of fire which will sanctify the rest of humanity at that appointed time unto conversion (Hab 2:14, Rev 20:10).

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.

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

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.

Zec 4:11  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
Zec 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? 

Zechariah is being shown the source of what empowers and surrounds God’s elect on the left and right (Eph 1:1, Rom 8:28), “two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof.” That empowerment from God makes our predestined calling in Him possible as it gives us the ability to carry out His will in this manner, “with power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (Zec 4:6, 2Ti 1:7). That is the unction (1Jn 2:20) typified for us with the two witnesses in chapter eleven of Revelation that also represents the church, the body of Christ (Rev 11:3, Php 2:12-13).

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. 

2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

1Jn 2:20  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 

Rev 11:3  And I will give power [1Jn 2:20] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 

Zechariah asks the question again “I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?” This asking a second time reminds us that it takes Christ’s life in us as the true witness to keep us in that state of mind which is questioning, ever searching and coming to the knowledge of the truth (Mat 6:33) by the grace and faith of God. We are olive branches (Zec 3:8) that have been grafted into Christ (Rom 11:23-25) who is the vine (Joh 15:5), and our function as a body is described as “two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves.” The olive oil represents the spirit of God which He gives to His children that is distributed through Christ’s life in us, represented by the “two golden pipes” (Col 1:27), and each joint operates in the measure of faith God gives, as His love is shed abroad in our hearts. That is how the church empties “the golden oil out of themselves” (Rom 12:3, Rom 5:5).

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

Zec 4:13  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 
Zec 4:14  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. 

Zechariah, who is a type of the elect, is asked by the angel of the Lord, “Knowest thou not what these be?” which reminds us of Paul’s question to the Corinthians, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1Co 3:16-17) 

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Then the angel of the Lord speaks plainly and tells him “These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” Only Christ in us can stand as we’re given His spirit, the very faith of Christ, so that we may “stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” That standing before the Lord is only possible because of the anointing given to the “two anointed ones” representing the body of Christ (Rev 11:3, 1Jn 2:19-29).

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^G5545 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. 
1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 
1Jn 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
1Jn 2:24  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father [Heb 6:3]. 
1Jn 2:25  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life [Joh 17:3]. 
1Jn 2:26  These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 
1Jn 2:27  But the anointing^G5545 which ye have received of him abideth in you [Col 1:27], and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing^G5545 teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him [Joh 16:13]. 
1Jn 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; (Joh 8:31-32, 1Ti 6:12) that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 
1Jn 2:29  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

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“The House of Prayer” – Part 2

The power believers have been given

Posted September 14, 2014

In the first part of this series, we focused on the important aspect of the “house of prayer” being the temple of God and those in whom the Spirit dwells.

While we have all learned many ways to pray in our Christian lives, there are specific guidelines to how we are to look at and apply prayer in our lives as “disciples indeed”.

Yes, we are to be disciples “in deed.” (Truly)

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.

“Worship in the Lord’s house”

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:

Today we are going to focus on the ‘words commanded’ and spoken concerning how we handle prayer and how we worship in Spirit and Truth concerning prayer in our daily lives.

In this second part of the series, we are going to look at scriptural witnesses and scriptural instructions on how to worship the Father through our prayer.

Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

“Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship” The contrast being made today will be between “you know not what you worship” versus “we know what we worship”.

The focus on Part 1 was on those who are of the house of prayer, but that group was being contrasted with another group.

When I say “group”, the true spiritual contrast is being made between the natural and the spiritual, the old and new man, the first Adam versus the second Adam.

The house of prayer is compared against a den of thieves.

Mat 21:13  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den^G4693 of thieves.

I ask everyone reading this if “ye” is you? Have you made the house of prayer a den of thieves? Before you answer that, let us examine the thieves who live in a den versus a house.

G4693
spēlaion
Total KJV Occurrences: 6

den, 3
Mat_21:13, Mar_11:17, Luk_19:46

dens, 2
Heb_11:38, Rev_6:15

cave, 1
Joh_11:38

Here are a couple of examples of where this word ‘den’ appears in the New Testament:

Heb 11:37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38  (Of whom the world was not worthy: ) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

Rev 6:14  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Rev 6:15  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The first example is of those who receive a good report through faith, but they don’t receive the promise. Yet, we know there is only One Faith. The promise we are given concerning Faith is to partakers of the “One Faith”. We’ll get to that in a little while.

The second example is of those who ‘tell the mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of Jesus Christ.’

So, what separates the thieves who are a den of thieves from those who are the house of prayer as “receiving the promise”?

Luk 24:45  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luk 24:46  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luk 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luk 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Act 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Act 2:33  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

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.

Through the Spirit, I will attempt to connect what worship, Truth, Spirit and prayer have to do with one another.

We just read that those who worship God, who is Spirit, must do so in Spirit and in Truth. Therefore, we must know and understand what this means. Otherwise, how can we ever presume to be praying properly so that we are heard by God?

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.
Joh 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

So, the Words spoken by Jesus are Spirit and Life. It is also true that Jesus is Truth.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

How does someone come to Jesus?

“No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father….” And “no man cometh to the Father but by Jesus Christ.”

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” says Jesus.

It is not speaking above what is written to combine all of these verses to conclude the spiritual Truth that the Words which Jesus speaks are Spirit and Life, Words which speak the Truth and are the Way to the Father.

As a matter of Truth, Jesus says this to His disciples, after explaining the spiritual Truth of Him being the Way, Truth and Life:

Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:8  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Joh 14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Joh 14:11  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Joh 14:13  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

After explaining the Spirit behind seeing the Father, and who Jesus is in this process, He tells His disciples (indeed) to keep His commandments.

Now that the stage has been set, let us look toward His words as they pertain to being a house of prayer versus a den of thieves.

Joh 10:8  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

Mat 6:16  Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:17  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
Mat 6:18  That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Mat 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 6:22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

What do thieves do? They break through and steal treasures. However, the treasure we have “laid up” is heavenly.

Why would Jesus mention this in connection to fasting? When we are fasting for the appearance of “giving of ourselves to the Lord” and to be seen of men to be fasting, our reward is EARTHLY. It is for the FLESH in others to see it and think of how “godly” we are, and it is for our flesh and carnal mind to believe we are “doing the works of God”.

When you connect this idea with prayer (fasting and prayer go hand and hand) when telling someone we are “praying for them” or we are “keeping them in prayer” and we are not doing it as if it were we ourselves in this situation needing prayer. We are doing it to give the appearance of true prayer, knowingly or unknowingly.

Those that have come before the true Jesus Christ are those that are thieves. They come through to steal our reward, because by giving us their doctrines, their ways of praying, their examples of how to fast, we have to realize that our home with them is in a cave or den.

It is not the house of prayer we belong to in this situation.

Why am I mentioning fasting and prayer together?

Psa 35:11  False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
Psa 35:12  They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
Psa 35:13  But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
Psa 35:14  I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
Psa 35:15  But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

Dan 9:3  And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, WITH fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Dan 9:4  And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

Mat 17:19  Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mat 17:21  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

How then is our fast (Jesus and His mind concerning fasting) directly coupled with our prayer?

Isa 58:4  Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
Isa 58:5  Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
Isa 58:6  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and THAT YE break every yoke?

Said in the CEV translation:

Isa 58:4  You even get angry and ready to fight. No wonder God won’t listen to your prayers!
Isa 58:5  Do you think the LORD wants you to give up eating and to act as humble as a bent-over bush? Or to dress in sackcloth and sit in ashes? Is this really what he wants on a day of worship?
Isa 58:6  I’ll tell you what it really means to worship the LORD. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused!

What the prayers of the “house of prayer” are coupled with is the POWER we have been given to free those who are bound to wickedness, take away heavy burdens, to let those who are oppressed go free from their oppressors and to break every yoke weighing someone down.

What do we do these things with? We do it with the Word of God! We couple the Word of God with prayer!

In not so many words, we comfort those in need of prayer with the Word of God, with the Shepherd in us, by speaking to them in a voice they understand (His voice), and we let them know we are petitioning the Father on their behalf in BELIEF that “His will be done”.

“Disciples Indeed”

How do we do this? How do we act on what Jesus tells us to do with prayer? Will His example give us any direction?

Joh 11:35  Jesus wept.
Joh 11:36  Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
Joh 11:37  And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
Joh 11:38  Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave^G4693, and a stone lay upon it.
Joh 11:39  Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Joh 11:40  Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Joh 11:41  Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
Joh 11:42  And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 11:43  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
Joh 11:44  And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Have you ever asked yourself how it is Jesus was heard of the Father? It is obvious that Jesus prayed to the Father in secret, but then thanked the Father openly for being heard.

What was Jesus’ prayer coupled with? “Take away the stone…loose him and let him go”. If you would believe, you would see the glory of God.

Before I am misquoted or misunderstood, am I saying that if a person simply believes something when praying for it then that belief will be granted to them?

No, I am not saying that at all.

True Faith only comes from one place, Jesus – the Word of God – and that is why it is so important for the eye to be single.

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 6:22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

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.

In a previous study, I spoke about grace heavily as it pertains to God working His awesome hands in our lives.

In particular, I compared the Sea of Galilee being north of the dead sea to the spiritual concept that if we have the waters of the Jordan flowing through the Sea of Galilee from north to south, the Sea of Galilee is flowing with life.

The sea of Galilee is where Jesus called disciples to follow Him (Mat 4:17-20). It is where He healed people of various afflictions (Mat 7:31-37) including deafness and dumbness, cast out unclean spirits (Mar 1:23-27), and performed many more miracles including feeding the masses with five loaves of bread and two SMALL fishes.

In Mark 1:35, after having done many miracles, Jesus showed us the importance of prayer.

Mar 1:34  And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
Mar 1:35  And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

I mentioned the Sea of Galilee to point out that it has an inlet and an outlet for the Jordan River waters which flow through it.

However, when the Jordan River exits out of the south of the Sea of Galilee, those waters travel for a distance south and empty into the Dead Sea which has no outlet.

If we are given anything of the Lord whether it be One faith, One baptism, One Spirit, One calling, our One Lord, One Hope, or One God and Father of All, and we do not have an outlet for it, we will be as the Dead Sea.

We become stagnant and lifeless, and nothing flows out of us. How can we be the “house of prayer” and not a “den of thieves” if this is true of us?

How this applies to prayer is that the Lord places a “dead Lazarus”, who someone cares about, in front of us. He places a “deaf and dumb” person in front of us to say “Ephphatha, that is, Be opened,” so that they are healed and raised from the dead.

If we are among the dead, as typified in the Dead Sea, how then can we so these things? However, if “Christ be in you”, you can do ALL THINGS through Him who strengthens you.

Prayer is our realizing that we are ALWAYS HEARD.

How do we know this to be true?

Joh 11:42  And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Pro 8:32  Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Pro 8:33  Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Pro 8:34  Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Pro 8:35  For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Luk 6:47  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

There it is! When we are dragged to the Father, through Jesus and the Words of God, we are to DO THE Words! When we do them, we are building our house (the house of prayer) on a foundation which cannot be shaken.

When we are given to come to the Lord to hear His sayings, we can be confident that we are being heard by the Father when we pray to Him.

Our confidence comes in knowing that we answer all things according to the SAME EXAMPLE Jesus gave us and lived by.

“I came to do the works of my Father …. Thy will be done.”

If you have any doubt that the Father hears our prayers always, then weigh your prayers against the way in which Jesus taught us to pray. Here is where we have been given power.

Mat 6:5  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Mat 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mat 6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Have Faith. Our Father knows what things we ALL NEED before we EVER ASK HIM for them. We are presented with a tremendous power to be able to PRAY for ourselves and others, and when we pray, we pray in Spirit and Truth when our prayer is “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.

This is True Worship. We acknowledge that all things are being worked after the counsel of His own will.

In the next study, I am hoping that the Lord will bless me to speak about how or why we are, or are not, to pray for the world, how we are to pray or not for the “earth, earth, earth” and how we are to practically “pray without ceasing”.

[Next study in this series is here.]

[Audio added October 5, 2021]

Dear Mike,

How are you? Hope things have been good with you! I am having doubts about whether or not I am one of the elect! I understand the Bible studies and all the lessons on the site when I read them, but when I read the Bible itself, I don’t get the same understanding unless you’re spoon-feeding it to me. This has me very concerned. Where am I in my life? If you are always interpreting everything for me, is that really me understanding it?

In Christ, D____

Hi D____,

Thank you for your honest question. You say:

“I understand the Bible studies and all the lessons on the site when I read them, but when I read the Bible itself, I don’t get the same understanding unless you’re spoon-feeding it to me. This has me very concerned. Where am I in my life? If you are always interpreting everything for me, is that really me understanding it?”

The first thing I want to do is congratulate you for reading the Bible itself, at least enough to realize that you don’t understand it without the study notes. Reading the Bible for yourself is the first step to becoming able to understand the spiritual symbolism that is part of the very nature of scripture:

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.

Christ here is telling us that HIS words are spirit. The words of Herod or the high priest and the scribes were not spirit, but all of Christ’s Words “are spirit”, and if you and I speak for Him, then we have to be careful to repeat His words or else our words will be no better than Herod’s, the high priests and the scribes. Here is how we should be speaking:

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
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.

“The demonstration of the spirit and of power” is not great physical miracles. That is not what is being said here by the apostle Paul.

John the baptist performed no miracles at all, and yet this is what the scriptures say of John:

Luk 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Paul was not referring to physical miracles when he gave the Corinthians this admonition concerning the fornicator in their congregation:

1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

“The power of Elias, [and] the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,” are both referring to “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit…”

What is being said when Paul says that his words were “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” is that Paul’s words are the same as Christ’s words. That is why He says:

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

I have witnessed you discern a false spirit, and I saw you withstand that spirit, and you did not need my help to do so. I have no doubt that if I were to tell you that you should go fight for God and country, you would withstand me also. So don’t make the mistake that Korah and 250 of the most popular leaders in Israel made, along with Miriam and Aaron just a few week earlier, and compare yourself with others. It is God who has set teachers in “His body, the church.”

You are exactly where God wants you at this moment. Don’t become discouraged because you are not yet a spiritual giant who can expound the deep spiritual meaning of every word of God. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging your need for a teacher. That is the very lesson we are given in the example of the Ethiopian eunuch:

Act 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Act 8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Act 8:28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Act 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Act 8:30 And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
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 [and “guide him”].

What a wonderful humble attitude to have! “He desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him” and give him guidance in the scriptures.

That is the very attitude Christ is looking for in you and in me. He actually insists that we “humble ourselves… and become as a little [teachable] child” before we can enter into the kingdom of God. That is the very attitude which will make you “greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Mat 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
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.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

So instead of allowing the Adversary to enter in and make you doubt your standing with Christ, turn this experience around and simply “become as a little child” and do what that Ethiopian eunuch did, and be thankful for what God has given you through your brothers and sisters around you who are following Christ. That was the attitude taken by that Ethiopian eunuch:

Act 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Act 8:36 And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Act 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Be thankful for what you have been given, and “go on your way rejoicing” in its nourishing abundance.

Continue to read the studies, and continue to have a Berean attitude. Try the spirits to see whether they be of God. That is the proper positive attitude to have. Look at how John words this admonition:

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.

Yes, “many false prophets are gone out into the world,” but John does not say ‘To prove they are not of God.’ Instead he says “to see whether they ARE of God.” That was the attitude with which the Bereans examined the teachings of Paul and Silas:

Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Like you, these Berean converts were not receiving the revelations God had given Paul and Silas, but they were “searching the scriptures daily, whether these thing were so.”

I hope this helps you to be grateful for what you have been given, and I hope this will help to keep you from “comparing yourself” with others who might seem to know more than you at this time. It is not the great scholars who are promised greatness in the kingdom of heaven. It is the student who “humbles himself and becomes as a little child” who receives the promises.

2Co 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
2Co 10:13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

There is nothing wrong with needing a teacher. The body of Christ needs teachers, and they have been placed in His body by God.

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

You are an inspiration to many more than you know. Be thankful that you have been given a teachable Berean attitude. Search the scriptures daily to see whether these things be so, and with the Ethiopian eunuch “go on your way rejoicing.”

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Hello Mike,

I was hoping you could answer a question about “Elijah”. I have heard of the actual Elijah, and John the Baptist coming in the spirit of Elijah, but my question has to do with “the Christ”. When “the Christ” is revealed, will there be an actual Elijah as a forerunner (as mentioned in Malachi)?

Thanks for your time,
J____

Hi J____,
You ask:

When “the Christ” is revealed, will there be an actual Elijah as a forerunner (as mentioned in Malachi)?

Anyone who witnesses to and is faithful to the Truth is this ‘Elijah.’
Like all of the types of the Old Testament, be it tithing, circumcision, being a Jew, baptisms, the temple, or “the commonwealth of Israel”, Elijah is also a type of “the heavenly things themselves”. But when taken to be literal, we miss the true meaning and understanding of any of these types.
No, there is only one literal Elijah. ‘The ‘Elijah’ that is to come before the Christ, is a certain “spirit and power” in those who are also “the Christ”. Anyone today who is stands up for the Truth in the face of all the strong delusions of Babylon, is this ‘Elijah’ who proclaims the coming of the Christ.

Luk 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

The expression “the spirit and power of Elijah” was never intended to mean that the prophet Elijah himself would be resurrected and appear here on earth before the first resurrection. Of course it is easy for those who do not understand the principle of “the sum of thy word” to misunderstand a verse like this:

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

But that too, is by God’s design. Nevertheless, Christ said that no one in the Old Testament economy, from Adam to John the Baptist, would be in the kingdom of God until the second resurrection. That would certainly include the prophet Elijah.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Mat 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias [ John], which was for to come.
Mat 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

I hope this answers your question “will there be an actual Elijah as a forerunner (as mentioned in Malachi)?”
Your brother in Christ,

Mike