Exiles in the Bible: Christ’s Own Example

[Study Aired October 24, 2024]

7: Christ’s own examples of preaching to the captives, setting us free with God’s word that heals us and brings liberty.

When God’s judgements are in the earth men will learn righteousness (Isa 26:9), and yet it is only the church, the body of Christ who are being judged in this life (1Pe 4:17) and learning of Christ’s righteousness within, through spiritual baptisms, called fiery trials that purify the faith that comes to us by hearing the word of the Lord (1Pe 3:21, 1Pe 4:12-14, 1Pe 1:7, Rom 10:16-21). The world has trials, and God is working all of those trials according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11, Isa 45:7). The difference between the judgement that God has upon the world and the judgement that He has upon the body of Christ can be understood by looking at these verses (Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28, Rom 9:18-23, 2Cor 4:15, Rev 11:1-3):

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

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 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
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,

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

Without the spirit of God within us (Rom 8), our trials will not and cannot produce the spiritual growth that comes with being received of our Father through his chastening grace (Heb 12:6). During the thousand year reign there will be trials for the world, but without the presence of the holy spirit within anyone’s life, the gold of God’s word cannot be purified. The elect will water and plant seed throughout that period of time, however, no spiritual increase will come from God (Rev 20:8), and that being for the express purpose of showing that it is only God who can give that increase that comes via the spirit of God within (1Co 3:6, Col 1:27), and it is not something that we can do, and when we try without God’s spirit abiding within us, it ends up being our own labours, our own righteousnesses which are as filthy rags unto God (Isa 64:6, Matt 7:22).

1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Christ had to be in the earth going through a life-long process of judgement that brought him unto perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32), and God’s elect must be in the earth learning righteousness through judgement, in order for the world to one day learn of his judgements as well, through the church (1Jn 4:17, Mat 24:37-42). These following verses come to mind:

Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

The eight souls who entered into Noah’s ark typify the body of Christ who are shown mercy and who gladly receive the word of God, symbolized by baptism, which gives us power to put off the flesh (Act 2:40-41, 1Pe 3:20, Luk 17:28).

Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Luk 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

The ark, which represents the church that is Christ’s body, had to be built; and Noah represents Christ who also was ‘heard in that he feared God’ (Heb 5:7). Christ’s temple was being built as he “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luk 2:52), being prepared as the head of the body to be the burnt offering that God’s elect would partake of in their appointed time (Joh 6:44, 1Cor 10:16). Christ going without the camp is another example of actions that typify His exile from the sinful flesh that he was born into (Psa 51:5), and by the power of God’s holy spirit within us, we can go without the camp with Christ and follow his example (Heb 13:13).

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

Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

The deliverance from this body of death can only come about by its destruction, as we are baptized into Christ’s death, dying daily (Rom 6:3), which is another way of saying putting off the flesh or circumcision, which is connected to the eighth day and is the typical reason that eight souls were saved on the ark (the eighth day representing the new man)(Lev 12:3, 1Pet 3:20). Through that process of judgement, we are raised in heavenly places typified by the ark, a symbol of the church, the body of Christ that was raised above the waters (Eph 1:20, Eph 2:6, Col 1:24). The process of judgement is typified by these numbers that correlate with God’s judgement on the church (Gen 7:19-21 – “fifteen cubits”).

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

1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God (Rom 2:4) waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing (Rev 19:7-8), wherein few (Matt 22:14), that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Gen 7:19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
Gen 7:20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
Gen 7:21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:

Two major examples of baptism in the bible are the flood in Noah’s time and the crossing of the Red Sea where the armies of Pharaoh and his horsemen were destroyed (Exo 15:19). Christ is the one who worked in Noah’s life (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11) preaching to the captives and it was only those who were given to heed those words of Noah’s preaching who would escape the flood (1Pe 3:18-19); and it is only those who hear the words of our Lord today who will escape the second death, by being baptised into Christ’s death today (1Jn 4:6, Mat 18:17, Rev 20:14).

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.

Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [Those who are spiritually dead and still burying their dead (Luk 9:60).]

In (1Pe 4:18-19) and (Mat 22:14), we are told in both of these stories, one about the flood, and the other regarding the crossing of the Red Sea, that it will only be by God’s great and mighty hand that any of us will be scarcely saved (1Pe 4:18). The idea of coming out of exile is clear with Israel coming out of Egypt by God’s mighty hand, but it is no less a demonstration of God’s mighty power to give Noah a heart that reverenced God as “he moved with fear to the saving of his house”, by preparing the ark (typifying the bride being made ready), typifying how God’s elect come out of exile (Heb 11:7, Rev 19:7). Moses also typifies for us how God’s power works within the elect of God bringing us to have “a respect for the recompence of the reward” (Heb 11:25).

Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

With these scriptures as our backdrop, with this last installation on the subject of exiles in the bible, we’ll consider the most preeminent of all examples of what it means to go into exile and come out of it, that being the life of Christ who has in type and shadow gone into a type of exile by divesting himself of his power that he previously had before becoming flesh (Php 2:7-8, Col 2:15-23, Gal 6:1-18, Gal 4:1-31).

Christ is the only one who can give us the power to overcome the man of perdition on the throne of our hearts (Joh 15:5), and our Father in heaven is the only one who could deliver Christ from the fleshly exile that he was born into, called “flesh” (Joh 5:30). Knowing those truths makes this statement that much clearer in our heavens (Rom 14:4):

Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

These following verses remind us of how “Christ’s own examples of preaching to the captives, setting us free with God’s word that heals us and brings liberty” will be accomplished in the lives of all those who are called and chosen and remain faithful unto death, in this life (Rev 2:10). Christ is our example of what we should be reflecting in our lives as we come out of exile from Babylon, and these following verses (Php 2:7-8, Col 2:15-19, Gal 6:1-10, Gal 4:14-26) give us a clear understanding of what Christ is working in the body of Christ to accomplish this miracle.

Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life [faithful to the dying daily process we’ve been called unto 1Co 15:31].

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross [Heb 5:8].

Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Col 2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God [1Cor 3:6].

What God’s elect are doing to come out of exile:

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
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.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

The sticking point that can potentially keep us in exile:

Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; [exile] but he of the freewoman was by promise. [liberation]
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. [exile]
Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. [liberation]

The fruit of coming out of exile and the exercise of faith involved:

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

2Th 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

Finally, the last point that I want to examine is a very clear and concise way of explaining how each of us are going to come out of exile by the grace and faith of God day by day (Eph 2:8), explained in the answer that Christ gave his disciples who asked him how we ought to pray to our Father. The answer to this question is effectively saying what we need to do to come out of exile, rather what Christ will do through the bride of Christ who are being saved in this age (Mat 6:5-21). Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1Th 5:16-18):

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. [No coming out of exile just worldly praise and acceptance in the flesh, the world hearing the world, bound to the earth and not to the altar (1Jn 4:5, talent buried in the earth Matt 25:18).]
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 [Col 3:3].
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. [First and foremost acknowledge God is the sovereign Creator doing all things according to His one will (Ecc 1:11-12, Php 2:12-13).]
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. [We pray for his will to be done in our heavens and earth via Christ the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2).]
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [We acknowledge our marred in the Potter’s hand condition and ask forgiveness acknowledging that the sin within us is also a work of the Lord for our good and that He will deliver us through Christ (Rom 7:24).]
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. [We ask God to deliver us from exile, from the sin that can so easily beset us and keep us in bondage (Joh 8:36).]
Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [Our deliverance from exile is conditioned upon God softening our hearts so that we don’t despise His goodness that leads us unto repentance, and with that changed heart we can as Christ did say “forgive them Father for they know not what they are doing” (Luk 23:34).]
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. [If the son of God does not set us free by giving us a forgiving heart we will not be able by God’s design to carry our cross and be bound to the altar. The altar is the cross (Matt 5:23).]
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. [Fasting and prayer are integral to loosening the bands of iniquity that keep us in exile (Matt 17:21).]
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. [This verse is reflected in the words of Micah, and demonstrates the need to humble ourselves under His mighty hand so that in due time He will exalt us, delivering us from exile (Mic 6:8, 1Pe 5:6).]
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: [One sure way to pierce ourselves through with many hurtful lust is to make seeking the wealth and riches of this world our priority rather than losing our life for his name’s sake as we seek the kingdom of God first and his righteousness in order to be delivered from spiritual exile (1Ti 6:8-10, Matt 6:33).]
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 (Luk 2:35).

Luk 2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. [Here we have the positive piercing of our hearts as opposed to being pierced through because of many hurtful lusts (1Ti 6:8-10).]

In the final analysis, our coming out of exile is dependent upon the Lord, the fit man, fulfilling God’s will in our lives “in earth, as it is in heaven” (Lev 16:21), and these verses we’ve looked at (Matt 6:4-21) admonish and remind us that our journey is one that is promised to be filled with affliction, persecution, tribulation, and suffering, but there will be joy in the morning when this very endurable process through Christ is being carried out (Rom 8:18, 1Cor 10:13) and our exile will in time come to a completion as it did in Christ’s own life. Along the way God will use the many body parts to supply what is needed in love, to bring us forward, together, unto that glorious day when we will be changed in a moment and in a twinkling of an eye (1Cor 15:52). Lord hasten the day and prepare our hearts. Amen.

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Awesome Hands – part 119

“Bearing His reproach”

August 18, 2017

Oftentimes I find myself sitting quietly or driving to work and pondering just what the heck my purpose is for the Lord at any given time. What I almost always conclude is that the Lord will reveals this to me within the context of the day to day living that I find myself in.

When we look at various stories found throughout scripture, we see that most are normal everyday situations which have been caused for the Lord to present Himself in.

In other words, there is nothing for us to do but wait on the Lord to present an opportunity to manifest Himself, from within us, to the “outside” world we live in.

Our study today finds us in the “outside” world, but spiritually this is also a location know as being “without the camp” or “into the wilderness”.

Where does the Lord place our hands?

The verse for our consideration today is Leviticus 16:21, but we will cover several other verses to give us some context on this verse.

Leviticus 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness

For the most part, this verse explains itself, but we must first read what precedes it in order to know why we find Aaron about to send away a goat into the wilderness and why he “confesses iniquities of the children of Israel” over said goat.

Leviticus 16:20  And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
Leviticus 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Leviticus 16:22  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

The goal of this study is to help us bring into focus how the Lord works His hands into our lives, and who the “our” or “us” is that I refer to.

Indeed, if we do not recognize who the “they” and “us” are, then we cannot possibly know who the “us” are that need to go outside the camp with Jesus Christ.

So, let’s identify this “goat” in our verse for today.

Leviticus 16:5  And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
Leviticus 16:6  And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
Leviticus 16:7  And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Leviticus 16:8  And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Leviticus 16:9  And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
Leviticus 16:10  But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

While this all can seem like a lot of information, the Lord has sent me to break it down to help us all understand a little better who we are in the Lord.

I know these goats are probably familiar to a lot of us, but review is never a bad thing. For those who this may be new to, welcome to the wilderness!

It may seem counter intuitive to think that we are the scapegoat, but we indeed are the scapegoat with Christ. After all, we want to be that goat that is the Lord’s, correct? However, that goat is presented before the Lord DEAD and the scapegoat is presented alive. Interesting indeed.

So, why do I claim we are the scapegoat with Jesus Christ?

Hebrews 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Hebrews 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Hebrews 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Hebrews 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

It appears there is an “us” and “them”.

Romans 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
2 Corinthians 2:17  For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1 John 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.

How then do we compare to the scapegoat and the sacrificed goat?

The old man in us is the goat that is presented dead to the Lord. This is the goat which must be killed in order for the scapegoat to go free.

The scapegoat is presented to the Lord alive, but only because “the hand of a fit man” sends that goat into the wilderness.

“Let us go to him without the camp, bearing His reproach” is telling us that we are taking on His shame and disgrace in order to be with Him.

(CEV)  That’s why we should go outside the camp to Jesus and share in his disgrace.
(GNB)  Let us, then, go to him outside the camp and share his shame
(ISV)  Therefore go to him outside the camp and endure the insults he endured.

I am not sure about you all, but I certainly feel His shame and disgrace and share in the insults He endured when I dare to keep His commandments and do what He commands me to do.

In fact, my son has a birthday party right now where most people despise me, and worse, because I will not celebrate this with them. However, because I witness to the Truth, my daughter doesn’t celebrate her birthday any longer. She does get immense pressure for this because most don’t consider her “old enough” to make such a decision. So, it is chalked up to me brainwashing her.

It’s none-sense of course (brainwashing), but people must rationalize their lack of obedience for what God says to do versus what He causes to happen when these things occur.

The Son is darkened

It’s interesting to note what is happening in the US currently. There is a solar eclipse coming up and it is all the rage now. There is practically nowhere which has solar glasses left to sell to view the eclipse. I work for an eye glass company and we steadily get calls asking if we sale them.

For the most part, there is nothing inherently wrong with viewing the eclipse. In fact, it is a neat physical event that reflects a spiritual Truth that happens day in and day out of our human lives, but the physical viewing of this eclipse has nothing particularly wrong with it. Here is the spiritual type and shadow of the sun being darkened. After all, we know who the Sun of Righteousness is.

Romans 11:10  Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

Ephesians 4:17  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Ephesians 4:18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Ephesians 4:19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Ephesians 4:20  But ye have not so learned Christ;

Revelation 8:12  And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

Luke 23:44  And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
Luke 23:45  And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
Luke 23:46  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Matthew 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Matthew 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Joel 3:15  The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

All of these verses examples should give us pause to think about the spiritual type and shadow of what happens to those that “see” and those that have their hearts and minds blinded.

Again, this is most definitely an “us” and “them” situation as it pertains to being children of God.

Look at what Joseph was told about his own family!

Genesis 37:3  Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
Genesis 37:4  And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
Genesis 37:5  And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
Genesis 37:6  And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
Genesis 37:7  For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
Genesis 37:8  And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
Genesis 37:9  And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
Genesis 37:10  And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
Genesis 37:11  And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

Israel observed the saying his son Joseph spoke to them all. There is a witness being told in this story and it is two-part. The first dream has sheaves, which are OF THE EARTH, giving obeisance to Joseph. The second dream has the “sun, moon and stars” giving obeisance to Joseph of which things are “in the heavens”.

In other words, the dream the Lord gave to Joseph tells us that both the old man and new man are completely caused to do what they do and controlled by the Lord.

Connecting this story to the goats in Leviticus 16, it is the goat that is sent “in the wilderness” or “outside the camp” which is LIVING. This is the “us” goat.

Why is this the “us” goat? This is the goat which is separated, by the will of God the Father, to go out from the camp of Israel, in order to be with Jesus Christ.

For most of the time, being sent outside the camp has a negative connotation.

Exodus 29:14  But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.

Leviticus 24:14  Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.

Numbers 5:2  Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:
Numbers 5:3  Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.
Numbers 5:4  And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.

Numbers 31:19  And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day.

Ahh, there is our “end-game”. Purification happens “without” the camp.

Hebrews 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Hebrews 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Hebrews 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Hebrews 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

God is well pleased with the sacrifice that LIVES, yet doesn’t. We should continuously be giving God the praises and thanks of our lips for being caused to go out FROM THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE ISRAEL.

Yes, indeed I use to be apart of this same group, but praise be to God that I no longer am!

Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 5:24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Galatians 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Romans 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Romans 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.

Before I am accused of doing this miraculous work myself or taking credit for any part of it, let me emphatically state:

John 6:43  Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
John 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.

What then does all of this mean for the “us” who are apart of the “us” group and also for the “them” group.

The first thing is to be thankful and praise the Lord for being caused to be in a life that the Lord can now use as a life and vessel of honor.

Romans 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Romans 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

1 Thessalonians 4:4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

1 Peter 3:4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
1 Peter 3:5  For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
1 Peter 3:6  Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
1 Peter 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Secondly, we must not be found guilty of BLMAING others for being “he is not a Jew….” when it comes to being a child of God or not.

Who is the camp of Israel as it pertains to this type and shadow? Also, who is sent out from this camp?

The camp are those that call the Lord, Lord but do not do the things He tells them to do.

Luke 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luke 6:47  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

Those which are called to go without the camp are those who are to join Jesus Christ by “bearing his reproach”, bearing His shame, and enduring the very hard trials that come to those who are looked down on for being “not a part of the group”.

1 Peter 4:3  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
1 Peter 4:4  Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
1 Peter 4:5  Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
1 Peter 4:6  For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

See the “dead in the flesh” are those DEAD and SACRIFICED GOATS who are slain so that we can be shown mercy. However, that does NOT mean we do not need to continue to PREACH the GOSPEL to them.

Preaching the gospel to these dead folks is what will bring LIFE to them LATER! AMEN!

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

That is what our walk and lives are all about in one way or another. We are here now to show to the “outside world” the hope, life, love and LIGHT that is on our inside.

How we interact AND REACT to what the Lord causes in our lives is the reflection of if we are doers of the word or ONLY HEARERS.

As a result, I leave you all with one more arrow to put in your quiver in how we are to LIVE day by day by dying daily.

1 Peter 4:6  For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
1 Peter 4:7  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
1 Peter 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:9  Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
1 Peter 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 4:11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.