Matthew 16:13–28 Take up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

Today’s study is about Peter’s confession of Jesus as Christ, Jesus foretelling of His death and resurrection, and finally, the need for us to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 
Mat 16:14  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 

Jesus asking His disciples about the people of Israel’s opinion of Him is to show us what the church system of this world or Babylon, thinks about our savior Jesus Christ. The diverse opinions of the church system of this world about Jesus in verse 2 indicate that they do not have one mind and that they are divided. This implies that during our walk in the churches of this world, we were carnal.

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 
1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 

It is instructive to note that Jesus never said that the people were wrong in their view of Him. The mention of Jesus as John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets by the church system of this world is therefore to show us the work of the Lord in our lives, characterized by these prophets, during our time in Babylon. The work of John the Baptist is depicted by the following statement:

Joh 1:19  And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 
Joh 1:20  And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 
Joh 1:21  And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 
Joh 1:22  Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 
Joh 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Here in John 1:23, the work of Christ through John the Baptist was to make straight the way of the Lord. This implies that during our walk in the churches of this world, the Lord was making it easier to come into the lives of His elect with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness. In other words, our walk in Babylon prepares the way of the Lord to come into our lives with His judgment. 

Mat 3:7  But when he (John the Baptist) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

The fact that Elijah was mentioned as being Christ shows us the work of Christ in our lives, exemplified by Elijah during our time in Babylon. It is important to note that Elijah’s work in the Bible is the same as John the Baptist. That is to say that Elijah’s or John the Baptist’s work was to prepare us for Christ coming into our lives. This is what the Lord says about Elijah:

Mat 17:10  And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 
Mat 17:11  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 
Mat 17:12  But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Mat 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. 

The mention of Jeremiah as being Christ indicates the work of the Lord through Jeremiah during our time in Babylon. Jeremiah was the prophet who lived in the final days of the crumbling of Judah. The main point of Jeremiah’s message to the people of Israel was that they should surrender to the invading Babylonian army. 

Jer 38:1  Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying, 
Jer 38:2  Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. 
Jer 38:3 Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it. 

Jer 38:17  Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: 
Jer 38:18 But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. 

These verses show us that our walk in the churches of this world or Babylon is a necessary part of the work of the Lord for the enemy to trample over us so that we come to know our deplorable state. That is when the Lord comes with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to save our soul as indicated in Jeremiah 38:17. 

The mention of Jesus as one of the prophets in verse 14 shows us that the work of the Lord during our walk in the churches of this world was to make us blind so that we did not come to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. As we are aware, the prophets were never given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven.

1Pe 1:10  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 
1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

Mat 16:15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 
Mat 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 
Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

In verse 15, Jesus asking the disciples about what they think about Him is to let us know what the Lord is doing in the lives of His elect, represented by the disciples, in this age. When Simon Peter answered that Jesus is the son of the living God, the Lord told him that this revelation was not given to him by flesh or blood, but by the Father who is Spirit. This shows us that it is only those who are His elect, who know who Christ is in this age. That is another way of saying that it is only the elect who are given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. The church system of this world is not given to know Christ, and therefore she is not able to appreciate the mysteries of the kingdom.

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

Jesus telling Peter that this revelation of Christ was given to him by His Father in Heaven, is to bring us to appreciate that we can only know the Lord in the spirit, since God is spirit. 

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 

Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 

Christ is everything to us. It is in Him that we live, move and have our being. We do not have our own will. and it is Christ who does His work through us. We do not bring anything to the table.

Act 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 

Verse 18 is one of the misunderstood verses in the Bible. Many think that it is Peter on whom the Lord will build His church. This erroneous doctrine comes from the meaning of the name Peter. In the Bible, the Greek word “Petros” generally translates to “stone” or “a stone” and is used as the name Peter. We, His elect, are regarded as living stones for the building up of spiritual house with Jesus as the chief cornerstone or the foundation.

1Pe 2:4  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  

There is a Greek word “Petra”, which means “rock” or “cliff.” We know that it is Jesus Christ who is referred to in the Bible as rock.

1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  

Psa 62:6  He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. 
Psa 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 

We can therefore see that in verse 18, the foundation upon which the Lord will build His church was not Peter (Petros) but that the revelation of Jesus as the son of the living God is what serves as the rock (Petra) upon which the Lord is building His church. It is therefore, this revelation of Jesus Christ which is the foundation upon which the Lord is building His church. This revelation is given only by God, just as Jesus told Peter that knowing Him as the son of the living God only comes from God.

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 

Now let’s turn our attention to the gates of hell, which in other versions is called the gates of hades. In the Biblical times, most cities were surrounded by walls with gates. When an enemy wanted to attack a city in those days, the focus was to attack the gates. The protection of a city is therefore determined by the strength or power of its gates. The gates in verse 19 therefore signify the power or strength of Hades. 

In the New Testament, Hades represents the realm of the dead. Therefore the gates of Hades symbolizes the power of death which in the Bible is the sting of death. We know from the word of the Lord that the sting of death is sin. At that time, Jesus was yet to go through the cross and die for our sins. Therefore, Jesus was indicating that our sins will not hold Him back from building His church. This is because Jesus knew at that time that He will die for our sins once and for all. 

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

Rom 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  

Are you struggling with sin in your life? Jesus is saying here that it will not hold Him back from delivering you to become a living stone for the building of His church. This shows us that all that the devil is throwing at us in this age will not prevail, because no matter the circumstance we go through, which is like the shadow of death, the Lord will build us up as living stones for the establishment of His church.       

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

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 
Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

In verse 19, the Lord told Peter that He is giving him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. In the churches of this world or the Babylonian system, they believe that it was only Peter that was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. They are not given to know that Peter, in this case, represents the Lord’s elect, and therefore it is unto us that the keys of the kingdom have been given. This is what the word of the Lord says about this:

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (keys of the kingdom of Heaven), but to them it is not given.   

In verse 19, the wording seems to suggest that it is what we bind or loose here on earth that is replicated in heaven. In other words, what we disallow or permit here on earth is what is replicated in Heaven. This is an error and does not reflect the sum of the Lord’s words. Fortunately, there are a few Bibles which have translated correctly verse 19 to show that it is what is disallowed or permitted in heaven first, that we also disallow or permit here on earth. 

Mat 16:19  And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven. And whatever you bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven. And whatever you may loose on the earth shall be, having been loosed in Heaven. (LITV) 
Mat 16:20  Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. 

Jesus strictly ordering His disciples not to tell anyone about the fact that He is the Messiah is to let us know that it is His elect, represented here by the disciples, whom the Lord is opening their eyes to see and their ears to hear who Jesus is. The rest of humanity shall know Him in another age called the lake of fire age.

Mat 13:10  Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 
Mat 13:11  And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 
Mat 13:12  For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 
Mat 13:13  This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 
Mat 13:14  Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 
Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ 
Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 
Mat 13:17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

Mat 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 
Mat 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 

It is when we begin to know who Christ is in the spirit that we are given to know about the suffering Jesus endured resulting in the destruction of His flesh. Being raised the third day means that Jesus went through the process of spiritual maturity through judgment and is the first man to be resurrected after death. His resurrection was what made Him perfect. 

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 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 

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.
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

As He is, so are we. We are also going through this process of spiritual maturity through judgment as our flesh or old man is gradually being destroyed. This destruction of our flesh is what guarantees the fact that we shall be perfected when we are raised from the dead during the first resurrection. 

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 

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

Peter taking Jesus aside and objecting to His going to the cross is the main strategy of Satan in His dealing with us. In this case, Peter was being used by Satan to prevent the Lord from achieving the will of His Father – dying on the cross and being resurrected on the third day to provide a way of salvation for us first and later, all mankind. That is why the Lord rebuked Satan. 

The devil wants us to reject the idea of suffering which is the requirement for the death of our flesh and our being raised on the third day. In a way, he had been successful in deceiving us during our time in the churches of this world, when we taught that Jesus has already suffered for us and therefore we are not meant to suffer. Without suffering and death of the flesh in this age, there is no first resurrection.   

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.

Jesus’ rebuke of Satan in verse 23 shows us that Satan is focused on those things that be of men. The things that be of men generally refers to human perspectives, motivations, and priorities that are not aligned with God’s will or perspective. It often contrasts with “those things that be of God,” which represent divine wisdom, truth, and righteousness.

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 
Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 

To understand what is being said in verse 24, we need to know what it means to deny oneself and to take up his cross. Verse 25 gives us a clue as to what denying oneself and taking up the cross is about. To deny oneself means to prioritize the Lord’s will over our own desires. It’s about sacrificing personal ambitions, comfort, and even life itself, if necessary, to follow Jesus. This involves a daily commitment to submitting one’s will to God, even when it’s difficult or unpopular. Like the disciples, we have to leave everything to follow Jesus.

Mar 10:28  Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 
Mar 10:29  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 

To take up our cross therefore signifies the willingness to endure suffering or hardship for the sake of knowing Christ. That was not what we heard when we were in the church system of this world or Babylon, where we were taught that coming to know Christ results in the end of our suffering – a false doctrine from the pit of hell. 

2Ti 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

This suffering which we have to endure in this age as the Lord’s elect is what the scapegoat goes through when it is set free in the wilderness. The other goat upon which the lot fell, represents Christ who offered Himself for our sins.

Lev 16:7  And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 
Lev 16:8  And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 
Lev 16:9  And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 
Lev 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.

We are the scapegoat that is set free in the wilderness as we complement the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake, which is the church.  

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 
Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 

Ultimately, denying oneself and taking up one’s cross is a call to a life of selfless service and devotion to God, even in the face of adversity. It’s a radical shift in perspective that prioritizes God’s kingdom over personal comfort and desires. 

Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 
Mat 16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 

There are several examples in the Bible of those who, for the sake of serving God, denied themselves as they look forward to future reward. There are others, however, who tried to gain the whole world and ended up losing their soul. Let’s take a look at one or two examples of those who tried to gain the world at the expense of their soul:

1Ki 11:1  But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 
1Ki 11:2  Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 
1Ki 11:3  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1Ki 11:4  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 
1Ki 11:5  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 
1Ki 11:6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 

2Ti 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

On the other hand, Let’s look at the example of Moses, who represents the Lord’s elect.

Heb 11:23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 
Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 
Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 
Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 

Mat 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. 

What is said here in verse 28 is the same as what Simeon said regarding the fact that he was not going to see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ, during the presentation of baby Jesus in the temple.

Luk 2:25  And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 
Luk 2:26  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Luk 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,  

The disciples did see Jesus coming to establish His kingdom within them when the Holy Spirit came to them on the day of Pentecost. Spiritually, verse 28 means that it is until Christ comes to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to establish His kingdom within us that we proceed to die to our old man or flesh.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:  

May the Lord grant us mercy to be with Him when the kingdoms of this world becomes the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. Amen!!

If you be Christ, Save Yourself

[Study Aired September 13, 2022]

Matt 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
Luke 23:37 And (the soldiers) saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
Matt 27:36 And sitting down they watched him there;
Mark 15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
Matt 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, 
Luke 23:32 malefactors, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Mark 15:28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
Matt 27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Matt 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Matt 27:41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking [him], with the scribes and elders, said,
Matt 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save.
Mark 15:32 (a) Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. 
Matt 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Matt 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him
Mark 15:32 (b) reviled him.
Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Luke 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Luke 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise.

In our last study Christ begged the Father to forgive His accusers. This was for our benefit as an example of how we are to think about our accusers. This study will continue to be an example of how our interactions with others will be our judge.

Matt 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, 

Luke 23:32 malefactors, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Mark 15:28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

Once again, the scriptures are fulfilled.

Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

We are a transgressor if we do not follow the law of Christ and the royal law.

Gal 6:1-5 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. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.

Jam 2:1-13 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

The way we act toward others must follow the law of Christ. Christ’s accusers do not act according to His law.

Matt 27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Matt 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Matt 27:41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking [him], with the scribes and elders, said,
Matt 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save.

Mark 15:32 (a) Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. 

Matt 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Matt 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him

Mark 15:32 (b) reviled him.

Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

We all sought a sign to convince us that we would be saved. As carnal babes in Christ, we do not understand the things of the spirit and believe only what we see in the flesh. Christ did not come to save himself. He came to save the world through death.

Joh 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Joh 12:44-50 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Heb 2:14-18 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

1Co 1:21-25 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The one thief was just like those in the crowd representing our old man. Now the other thief responds and he represents us when we realize we are sinful and must die for our wickedness.

Luke 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Luke 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Christ gives a promise to the thief, which is a promise to us. Our sins will be forgiven and remembered no more. If it is written in our book to be judged in this age, we are in paradise with Christ.

Heb 10:14-18 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Heb 2:1-18 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Gospels In Harmony – Bearing the Cross

Matt 27:32-44, Mark 15:21-32, Luke 23:26-43, John 19:17-22

[Study Aired March 29, 2022]

Mark 15:16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged [him].
Matt 27:28 And they stripped him,
John 19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put [it] on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
Matt 27:29 and a reed in his right hand:
Mark 15:18 And began to salute him,
John 19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
Matt 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Mark 15:19 and bowing [their] knees worshipped him.
Mark 15:20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
Mark 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
John 19:17a And he bearing his cross went forth
Luke 23:27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
Luke 23:28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Luke 23:29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed [are] the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
Luke 23:30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
Luke 23:31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
Luke 23:32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Luke 23:33a And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, 
John 19:17b [the place] of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
Luke 23:33b there they crucified him,
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

In our last study Pilate sentenced Christ to death. He washed his hands of the whole matter, released Barabbas, and handed Christ over to the people to be crucified.

Mark 15:16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged [him].
Matt 27:28 And they stripped him,
John 19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put [it] on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
Matt 27:29 and a reed in his right hand:
Mark 15:18 And began to salute him,
John 19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
Matt 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Mark 15:19 and bowing [their] knees worshipped him.

We are on both sides of this. On the one side we are the people mocking and spitting on Christ. This takes place while we are in Babylon worshipping “another Jesus”.

2 Cor 11:1-4 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

We bear with another Jesus, another spirit and another gospel when we are in Babylon. Following the false doctrines is the same as striking Christ and spitting on him. There is a time, if Christ be in us, that we are as Christ. Once we have Christ in us, the world will begin to treat us just as he is being treated here. We are mocked and are led away to be crucified in the hearts of those that are not able to hear us and cannot confess that Christ is come in the flesh.

1 John 4:1-6 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 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.

We must always keep in mind that we were just as the world a short time ago and be careful to know that the man of sin is still within us and must be subdued daily.

Mark 15:20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
John 19:17a And he bearing his cross went forth
Mark 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

The name Simon means “that hears; that obeys”. The name Alexander means “one who assists men” and finally Rufus means “red”. These three names are types and shadows of the old and new men and the number three deals with the process of spiritual completion through judgment. This is exactly what Christ is enduring.

Luke 23:27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
Luke 23:28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Luke 23:29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed [are] the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
Luke 23:30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
Luke 23:31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Christ is telling us that we should not worry about what is happening to Him, but we should be concerned how we could survive this judgment without Him. Jesus has received the spirit in fullness and knows what must be done so that he can then give the spirit to everyone else.

Luke 23:32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Luke 23:33a And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, 
John 19:17b [the place] of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
Luke 23:33b there they crucified him,
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Through all of this Jesus still had the ability to ask the Father to forgive them. 

There is a phrase in this section of our story that needs to be examined further. 

John 19:17a And he bearing his cross went forth

Christ bearing his cross is an example of what we all must do in this life in order to be in the first resurrection.

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.

Luke 9:23-25 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

[Study Aired February 18, 2021]

Heb 11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

The answer to how all these examples of faith are going to benefit the body of Christ is explained in the opening verses of Hebrews chapter twelve (Heb 12:1-6) where we read that when we look to all these examples we are in fact looking toward Jesus who is typified in this “great a cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1-2) where God is making “known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles“, which explains what Christ could do and has done and will do through those who are being saved by the life of Christ within them today (Rom 8:9). All those events, those rich stories of faith summarized in Hebrews eleven, are only types and shadows of “Christ in you, the hope of glory:” (Col 1:27). We are now able to look back at all these examples and see how they were used to show us how we must be dead to sin and alive in Christ, as we live by the faith of the son of God who died for us and is saving us right now (Rom 6:11, Gal 2:20, Rom 5:10).

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

Gal 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 [Eph 5:30, 1Co 10:16] I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me [Joh 15:13].

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

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. [‘Through the manifest knowledge that we continue in through Christ in the church filling up what is behind of His afflictions for His body’s sake which is the church’ (Eph 3:10, Joh 8:31-32, Col 1:24)]

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

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.

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

This whole chapter of Hebrews 11 is showing us example after example of the contrast between “the righteousness which is of the law” and “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” stated in (Rom 10:5-6).

Rom 10:1  Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Rom 10:5  For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Rom 10:6  But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7  Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach [Col 1:27];

[Christ is ascending and descending in those “that believeth” typified by Jacob’s ladder (Gen 28:12-16)]

Gen 28:12  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
Gen 28:13  And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
Gen 28:14  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Gen 28:15  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
Gen 28:16  And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. [he knew it not and none of us do until our hope of glory is within (Col 1:27)]

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [‘believe he is ascending and descending within us – nothing is hidden from our Lord who is recreating us’]
Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [The process of being saved leads us “unto righteousness” and “unto salvation” until we go unto perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32)]
Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (1Jn 4:6).

[The “by faith” actions of old of Hebrew 11 we are studying does not produce the righteousness of Christ but is a type and shadow of the faith of Christ that comes “by hearing”]

Rom 10:18  But I say, Have they not heard? [Rom 1:20] Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Rom 10:19  But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
Rom 10:20  But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
Rom 10:21  But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses (1Co 10:1-6, Jud 1:3-7, Heb 3:17), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him [Heb 11:1-40] that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

1Co 10:1  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1Co 10:6  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jud 1:5  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Jud 1:6  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jud 1:7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. [all being talked about in the context of earnestly contending “for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints“]

With this contrast in mind we can now cry out to God and ask Him to help us in our unbelief and increase our faith so that we can take heed and be encouraged by the faith that was made available to the elders or the kings and priests of old who typify for us the patience and faith of the saints (Jas 5:10, Luk 10:24) that we need as we fight a good fight of faith so we can rightly divide the word of God and no longer be giving ourselves over to spiritual “fornication, and going after strange flesh”[‘false doctrines‘] so we won’t have to suffer “the vengeance of eternal fire” which is speaking of the lake fire.

Jas 5:10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Luk 10:24  For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. [Heb 11:39-40]

Heb 11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 

We’ve established that this righteousness of Abel is only type and shadow righteousness and was recorded for our learning and for our instruction in understanding what the righteousness of Christ within us is accomplishing (1Co 10:11-12, 2Co 4:15, 2Ti 3:16-17).

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

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

To further establish that point of Christ’s righteousness as opposed to the typical righteousness we read of throughout the old covenant, we are reminded of what Christ told us of John the Baptist of whom Christ said this, “Among those that are born of women [churches Col 1:24] there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom [1Co 1:26] of God is greater than he.” (Mat 11:10-11, Luk 7:27-28).

The kingdom of God is in us now if Christ’s spirit is in us (Luk 17:21, Joh 17:21, Col 1:27, Rom 8:9), and when we read that John pointed to Christ in this verse (Joh 1:29), it also points to all those who would believe on God’s word “that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (Joh 17:20, Luk 17:21) because we are as He is (1Jn 4:17, Joh 20:21).

Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

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

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Joh 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Joh 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

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

So just as John the Baptist and his life pointed to Christ, so should all these stories (in Hebrews 11) of those who lived by faith be telling us the same message. The ‘dream is one principle’ found in Genesis 41:25 is always in effect when we know that the bible was written for God’s elect and that these stories were all prophetic events that were written to do what all prophecy should do, and that is to edify, exhort and comfort (1Co 14:3-4, 2Pe 1:19).

Gen 41:25  And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co 14:4  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

We can look at this first example of something that happened “by faith” and see what those actions mean for us today who have God’s spirit dwelling within them. It was “by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” because that faith typified a man living by the faith of the son of God (Gal 2:20) which is the only way our sacrifices can be acceptable to God (Eph 1:6). Abel’s sacrifice of the “firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof” (Gen 4:4) represents the altar, which is the cross we bear through Christ (Php 4:13) for each other (Gal 6:2-3).

Gal 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.

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Gen 4:4  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

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

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 (Php 3:9), when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself (Luk 17:10).

[“Cain thinking that his righteousness represented by “the fruit of the ground”(Gen 4:3) would be acceptable to God (Gen 4:5)]

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Gen 4:3  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Gen 4:4  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Gen 4:5  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

It was by Abel’s actions “by which he obtained witness that he was righteous“, again a typical righteousness that we obtain today through “the righteousness which is of God by faith”, who gives us the power to lay down our lives so we can be a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1) and witness to the world around us of the reality of Christ’s righteousness (Rev 11:3). In many of the upcoming examples we will be reading in the coming weeks, we will see that it took faith-filled action to accomplish these acts which testified of a very important work God was manifesting in the lives of these ancients for our sakes (Jas 2:17-18, Tit 3:8).

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy [1Co 14:3-4, Joh 13:35] a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Tit 3:8  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

“God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh” is also typical language that reminds us that our testimony today is being blessed in this age to lay down our life at the altar as a gift that we offer through Christ alone (Rom 12:1) for whom we live and die (Rom 14:8), and therefore Abel “he being dead yet speaketh” tells us that the grave or the gates of hell cannot hold back the testimony of Christ within us whether we live or die (Rom 6:11). Abel’s testimony was only a shadow of the reality of Christ within us whose purpose for God’s elect will prevail (Rom 8:28, Mat 16:18). One day both Cain and Abel will come to understand what their lives represented for our sakes.

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

Rom 14:8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s [Rom 9:27, Rom 11:5, Mat 22:14].

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

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.

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

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at more examples of how God used all these lives of old so that we can come to understand in this age through Christ’s faith how “the worlds were framed by the word of God” (Php 3:9).

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

[Study Aired April 10, 2020]

Psa 148:6  He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
Psa 148:7  Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
Psa 148:8  Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
Psa 148:9  Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
Psa 148:10  Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
Psa 148:11  Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
Psa 148:12  Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
Psa 148:13  Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
Psa 148:14  He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” of Mark 10:9 is something God has promised He will accomplish with the bride of Christ (Rev 19:7), and this is something to greatly rejoice and praise God as we consider that “he hath made a decree which shall not pass” regarding the relationship He has given us with Christ, who is the head over the church which is His body and His bride (Col 1:18, Eph 5:26-29).

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready [How she has “made herself ready” (Eph 5:26-29)].

Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

That decree^H2706 which shall not pass is being fulfilled because of God’s sovereign hand over the light and darkness in our heavens (Isa 45:7, Eph 1:11) as he brings everything into subjection within us unto Christ according to the counsel of his own will (1Co 15:27).

1Co 15:27  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

As we discussed last week, without the “Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word” that typify the judgment which must occur within Christ’s bride, we would not be made ready or be able to “Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps“, and it is through that judgment God will accomplish bringing “all things under his [Christ’s] feet”, a judgment that begins at the house of God and ends in the great white throne judgment for the rest of humanity (1Pe 4:17, Rev 20:11-15).

The deeps^H8415 being spoken of in the 7th verse are the depths of darkness within us that would never naturally praise God from the grave, or abyss within us, unless the Lord would judge us and convert our hearts (1Pe 4:17, Eze 36:26). Through our being buried into Christ’s death (Rom 6:4) we can be that positive version of the serpent or seraphim which is dying daily by mortifying the deeds of the flesh as we consider ourselves dead to sin and alive through Christ who gives us the power to carry our cross (Rom 6:11, Mat 16:24). God’s elect are able to spiritually heal others (Joh 14:12) as we look to Christ’s example in each other typified by the time when the Israelites of old were healed from the physical bite of serpents in the wilderness by looking to the serpent of brass (Gal 2:20, 1Ti 4:16, Num 21:9, Joh 3:14).

Gal 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.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them  [The washing of water by the word that the bride is experiencing (Joh 15:4)]: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Num 21:9  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. [1Co 11:1, Psa 121:1-2]

Joh 3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: [He must be lifted up in our heavens,by the miracle of being raised in heavenly places together, in order for us to be healed and to be able to heal others spiritually Eph 2:6].

If there were no judgment upon the body of Christ today, the “Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word“, then none of these things could happen. None of the “Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars. None of the “Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl“. None of the “Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth. None of the “young men, and maidens; old men, and children” would be able to “praise the name of the LORD“. But because the Lord “exalteth the horn of his people“, we know what it means and we believe when it says that “his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven“.

We praise God for this privilege to be “a people near unto him” being held by His great power which is far above (Eph 1:21) all those afore mentioned things within us.  Christ is able to bring it all into subjection to our Father who created all these powers and principalities so we could be matured through the process of bringing them all into subjection through having our senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Heb 5:14).

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Psa 148:6  He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

God has established the physical heavens and all that is in them (verses 1-5) as a type of what He’s going to establish in the hearts and minds of all His creation “for ever and ever” from aion to aion, each man in his order. He “hath made a decree which shall not pass” tells us God’s purposes shall stand (Isa 46:9-11, Pro 19:21, Eph 1:11). The physical realm will pass, and its purpose is to point to the everlasting relationship God is forming in the spirit realm (Rom 1:20, Mat 24:35, Rev 21:1, 2Pe 3:10-15).

Isa 46:9  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Isa 46:10  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Eph 1:11, Rom 4:17)
Isa 46:11  Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Pro 19:21  There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

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:

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
Pro 16:2  All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

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

Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent [Pro 12:24] that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. [Eph 5:26, Rev 19:8, 1Co 9:27]
2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation (Rom 2:4); even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

Psa 148:7  Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

We “praise“^{H1984 [H8761 = Piel]} God from these various locations each one representing a stage in our going toward the time when He will be “all in all” (1Co 15:28) when “all deeps“^H8415 will worship Him, meaning the sea or all of humanity. As we read, one day there will be no sea, meaning there will be no more carnal-mindedness left, but all of God’s creation washed by the word of God and praising God for the new creation we have become (Rev 21:1, 2Co 5:17).

H1984 Praise – BDB Definition:
1) to shine
1a) (Qal) to shine (figuratively of God’s favour)
1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light

2) to praise, boast, be boastful
2a) (Qal)
2a1) to be boastful
2a2) boastful ones, boasters (participle)
2b) (Piel)
2b1) to praise
2b2) to boast, make a boast
2c) (Pual)
2c1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise
2d) (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one’s boast
2e) (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool
2f) (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman

Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root

H8415 Deep – BDB Definition:
1) deep, depths, deep places, abyss, the deep, sea
1a) deep (of subterranean waters)
1b) deep, sea, abysses (of sea)
1c) primeval ocean, deep
1d) deep, depth (of river)
1e) abyss, the grave

Part of Speech: noun feminine or masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H1949

Everything within God’s elect should be praising God now (Psa 103:1), but the outward and dispensational view of this verse will be when all of humanity has come under His authority. God does not need our praise for all eternity, but we will, with the mind of Christ and the fullness of our relationship with our Father and Lord, always be wanting to be about our Father’s business and praising Him with our actions, demonstrating a stedfast love toward each other and toward our heavenly Father and Christ!

Psa 103:1  A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

We praise Him in Babylon not even knowing that we are one of His elect, a stage represented by the time when we “Praise the LORD from the earth“. As we grow in the grace and in knowledge of our Lord, God willing we become mature sons in this age as our actions continue to glorify God or praise him more and more as a result of being given the power to abide in Christ and bring forth much fruit (Psa 34:2, Joh 8:31, Joh 15:4-6).

Psa 34:2  My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Then we are told “ye dragons“^H8577 are praising God, and this dragon or serpent as it is defined represents our origin of being of our father the devil, having become a Son of God who can now worship God in spirit and in truth (Job 30:29, Isa 43:20, Joh 4:24), praising Him for the many wonderful works that He has done in our life to transform our minds into the mind of Christ (Psa 107:30-31, Rom 12:2).

H8577 Dragon – BDB Definition:
1) dragon, serpent, sea monster
1a) dragon or dinosaur
1b) sea or river monster
1c) serpent, venomous snake

Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: intensive from the same as H8565

Psa 148:8  Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

The wonderful works to the children of men of (Psa 107:31) are described with these words in this verse: “Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind” and these are the treasures of God that are “fulfilling his word” in the day of the Lord, “against the day of battle and war” within (Job 38:22-24)

Job 38:22  Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
Job 38:23  Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
Job 38:24  By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

Excerpt from Revelation 7:1-3, Part 3

…So the “four spirits” are the whole of God’s spirit realm, and we are told by Christ, that realm is dealt with and sustained “by the word of His power.”

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

What is that  “word of His power?”

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.

Psa 148:7  Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
Psa 148:8  Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

So it is these very words which we are studying which will “hurt the earth, and the sea, and the trees.” Why do these words “hurt” God’s creation? The reason is that “judgment is upon the house of God,” and that judgment is a “fiery trial.”

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

So these words are spirit, and life, but they are also fiery words which are judging us at this very moment… ***[end quote]

God uses all aspects of His creation to bring about fruit in the life of those who are His own, and when we bring forth fruit He prunes us (gives us fiery trials Isa 28:17, 1Pe 4:12) so that we bring forth even more fruit (Joh 15:2-4).

Isa 28:17  Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Psa 148:9  Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 
Psa 148:10  Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
Psa 148:11  Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 

All the things mentioned in these verses are also connected with the opening statement in verse 7 that says “Praise the LORD” and all these things are in the earth, so it is speaking about what God is able to do in us as His workmanship (Eph 2:10) how he can bring us to hear him through a process of judgment that is ongoing in our earth (Jer 22:29).

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.

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

When we do hear the voice of the true Shepherd, our mountains and hills that represent the pride of life (Isa 40:4) are abased as we look to one who is far higher than all our cares (1Pe 5:7) and anything that we can think of that may try to separate us from His love (Psa 121:1, Eph 1:21, Rom 8:35). We praise Him therefore because we can see how God can make the fruitful tree and keep it producing more and more fruit. He can also take the cedar and cut down these trees that represent unfruitful events of our life and turn them into something that will serve the temple of God which we are, just as Solomon did in the temple of God using the cedar tree (1Ki 5:5-6).

1Ki 5:5  And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
1Ki 5:6  Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.

It’s with this same train of thought we can see how God can and does use all things for our sakes (2Co 4:15), the “Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl” along with “Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth“. Whether these things be within or without, they are all part of God’s creation to do with as He pleases.

Psa 135:6  Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

1Co 12:18  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

The “beasts” that we are is humbled by God, chastened and scourged so that we can grow and mature in Him (Ecc 3:18, Heb 12:6, Rev 15:8 ).

The “cattle” are sacrifice for us and provide spiritual lessons for us as we learn with all the levitical sacrifices made back in ancient Israel (Lev 9:4, 2Ch 7:5, 1Co 3:16).

The “creeping things” represent the sin that is in our members that God knows how to manifest in our lives (Psa 104:25, Eze 8:10, Hab 1:14), so that it can be used to correct us as our own iniquities will do (Jer 2:19, Rom 9:19-21, 1Jn 1:8).

Psa 104:25  So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

Eze 8:10  So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.

Hab 1:14  And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

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

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

The “creeping things” is more akin to the wood and stone, silver and gold, idols that we worship instead of God (Deu 29:17, Psa 115:4), whereas the “flying foul”  is more connected to the spiritual battles in our heavens that we have in regard to learning how to rightly divide the word of God, having our senses exercised so we can learn to discern good and evil overcoming all the lies of Babylon that had darkened our heavens for so long (Heb 5:14, Rev 9:2, Rev 18:2).

Deu 29:17  And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:

Psa 115:4  Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

Job 28:7  There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:

Job 28:20  Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:21  Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Psa 148:12  Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 
Psa 148:13  Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. 

These are some more of “the generation to come” (Psa 78:4) that are mentioned who praise the LORD, and “His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven“, meaning we are more than conquerors through Christ, through His name, through His word, through His mind, that is far above our heavens and earth (2Ti 1:7) which are praising God for His stedfast love toward His children (1Jn 3:1).

Psa 78:4  We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

This section of Psalm 148 expresses the thanks and praise we ought to give to God for the victory that He has promised to His children over sin (Joh 8:36), and as we read through 1 John 2:12-17, notice the very similar references to “young men, and maidens; old men, and children” and how it is all in the context of overcoming. Being given the power to overcome is one of the greatest reasons we praise God and give him thanks as his mercies are renewed day by day as he heals us of all our iniquities and diseases (Psa 103:3).

1Jn 2:12  I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
1Jn 2:13  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
1Jn 2:14  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

[God gives His children the ability to abide in his word and to overcome the wicked one by our faith which is a gift of God (Joh 16:13, 1Jn 5:4)]

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

[Christ is our example and by the hope of glory within us (Col 1:27) we can fulfill God’s will and overcome our fleshly will. We are sojourning together as the body of Christ through the wilderness of this life that our flesh represents and we are seeing him increase and our life decrease as we continue to die daily and cry out as our Lord did “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Joh 3:30, Luk 22:42).]

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
1Jn 2:20  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1Jn 2:21  I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
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. [Joh 8:31-32, Joh 15:5]
1Jn 2:25  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
1Jn 2:26  These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1Jn 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; 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.

Psa 148:14  He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

“Praise ye the Lord” because “He also exalteth the horn of his people“.

“His people” is speaking specifically of the elect who are “of the children of Israel” and are blessed to be “near unto him” through the dragging and converting process (Joh 6:44) we are going through as those who are first being judged and learning to trust God (Eph 1:12) at the altar which is the cross where the power, strength or “horn of his people” is exalted, as God makes his strength perfect through our weakness (Psa 118:27, 2Co 12:9).

These last verses we’ll look at for this study explain very clearly that the enemy we are overcoming is within, and that it is God alone who is going to save us from ourselves. Not only will the Lord save us, but He will do it in this fashion through Christ: “Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore“. We were all enemies of the cross in our appointed time, and now we “Praise the Lord” for this reason: “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.”

Psa 18:45  The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
Psa 18:46  The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
Psa 18:47  It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
Psa 18:48  He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
Psa 18:49  Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
Psa 18:50  Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

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.

PART I (Aim High) Psa 105:1-8
PART II (Get the big picture) Psa 105:9-15
PART III (Keep your eyes moving) Psa 105:16-22
PART IV (Always have an out) Psa 105:23-37

PART V (Make sure people see you Psa 105:38-45)

Psa 105:38 Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
Psa 105:39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
Psa 105:40 The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
Psa 105:41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
Psa 105:42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
Psa 105:43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
Psa 105:44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
Psa 105:45 That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.

If you haven’t already noticed in this five-part study, I’ve been using five common safety rules for driving a car to draw an analogy for us of how we can be admonished by God’s word as we are directed by our Lord into still waters in this life. This directing of our life is what Christ is causing or working in us both to will and to do, as he leads His little flock that he loves and is shepherding unto perfection on the third day visa vie the grace and faith by which we are saved (Php 2:13, Luk 13:32, Eph 2:8) through our good shepherd (Joh 10:11-18).

Rules for the road:

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.[another way of saying “come out her my people” [Rev 18:4], and as we overcome the spiritual delusion and congestion of this age-the following verses in this part of [Psa 1:2-6] explains how we can do that!]
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.[these verses reminds us that we must possess our souls in patience as God is longsuffering toward us in this process of bringing forth fruit in due season Luk 21:19, Jas 5:7]
Psa 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Psa 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment [1Jn 4:17, 1Pe 4:17], nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psa 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous [Jer 29:11-13]: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.[“the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous”]
Luk 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms [Gal 6:10]; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Luk 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luk 12:35 Let your loins be girded about [Eph 6:14], and your lights burning [Mat 5:14-16];
Luk 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord [Psa 27:14], when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

We are being admonished to trim our lamps today (Rev 3:18, Mat 25:2-9) while it is called today, and seek the Lord and lay up treasure in heaven, knowing there will be one last climatic trimming of our lamps [that] they [God’s elect] may open unto him immediately]. If we are faithful in the little day-to-day events of dying daily, then we will have laid up store for the day of adversity being able to go unto perfection on the third day through Christ (Luk 16:10).

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

The treasure of God’s word, which is likened unto oil and is able to quicken us and be a light unto our path in the day of the Lord, is what God’s elect are blessed to lay up in store in our heavens today, and it is with that oil that we can ‘make sure people see you’ as we glorify God with the life of Christ as we “fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church” (Zec 4:6-12, Joh 6:63, Psa 119:105).

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

Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!  [praise him for being blessed to die daily, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church].

A foundation of works in the Lord is what witnesses to the fact that God is working in our heavens and a tree is known by its fruits.

A foundation of works to ‘make sure people see you’

Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

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

Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin [Mat 24:12].
Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. [our treasure is understanding the thoughts of God’s love toward us, his mercy, and abundant pardoning of our sins, and that it is God’s goodness that leads us to that mercy that we are not to despise (Rom 2:4)]
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.

1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day [the day of the Lord] shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  [God’s elect are promised to receive this reward because He makes it possible for us to drink the cup Mat 20:23]

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.

1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
1Ti 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Luk 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

These verses we just read are very instructive in helping us know how the foundation is being built in each of our heavens as the body of Christ so that we can be the light of the world as Christ was, and in so doing we can glorify our Father as Christ did and let our lights, the light of Christ shine before all men (Col 1:28-29).

We must be making sure that people see us, and that we are ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us (1Pe 3:15). Christ is going to shepherd us into this purpose of being his two witnesses which is what we have been called unto and given power to accomplish through Christ (Rev 11:3). The good shepherd has taken us away from the wanting to be known of all men, spirit of the Pharisees, to wanting to make ourselves of no reputation as our Lord demonstrated His whole life (Mat 6:2, Php 2:7, Luk 17:10). So when I say ‘make sure people see you’, I am saying, “Make sure people see Christ in you, even if they don’t know what they are just looking at today (1Pe 2:12).”

Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

We are called to do this for one another, to give our life for one another and help each other by being shepherds to one another who are being judged by our Lord and giving our life to one another as He did for us – The process of judgment through which we are going is what makes it possible for us to give our lives to one another (1Jn 4:17, 1Pe 4:17, 1Pe 4:12). So all the following verses in John apply to us as the body of Christ and are how we witness our discipleship in Christ to one another (Joh 13:35).

Joh 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
Joh 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life [Rom 12:1] for the sheep.
Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life [Rom 12:1], that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself [Rom 12:1]. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

The author of those five points of safe driving at which we are looking, “Harold Smith”, declared that approximately 80% of all accidents could be avoided if we follow these rules, which tell us that we don’t naturally obey even the physical laws which are there for our good. Only 20% lay hold of these laws.

The law is good if it is used lawfully (1Ti 1:8-9), but we also know that obedience to any law does not change the heart of man. Knowing God is sovereign and in total control (Eph 1:11) changes our entire outlook on this discourse of what people do whether under the law or subject unto Christ. God is bringing all of His creation, starting with the elect, to know that what pleases Him is a humble and contrite heart, that He alone can form so that we become blameless in the spirit (2Pe 1:3-10).

Php 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

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

We are giving Christ over to the wheel of our vehicles so to speak, and as we go through the judgment and fiery trials of this age which bring us to no longer have need to control our fleshly situations, we find ourselves blessed to commit our lives to our faithful High Priest who knows how to deliver us from all our temptations, as we witness the life of Christ which we now live by the faith of Christ (2Co 1:9, 1Co 10:13, Gal 2:20).

What a glorious prospect to know that God is able to bring us to be attentive to His word, that He becomes wakeful over within us as we stumble less and less as the Lord works in our heavens to bring about the right results which glorify God who is giving that increase in each of our lives (Jer 1:12, 1Co 3:6).

Our goal is to trust the Lord with all our hearts, leaning not unto our own understanding (Pro 3:1-7), and when we are blessed to do so, the fruit of Christ’s righteousness will manifest as we grow in being circumspect and wise as described in this part of Peter’s writing which explains that process that is leading unto perfection unto the third day but must be accompanied with a mind that leans “not unto thine own understanding”.

Pro 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Pro 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Pro 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

We will look at our the last part of our five-part study entitled “Oh give thanks unto the LORD” with the subtitle “Make sure people see you”, and we will also discuss one other final driving tip that also has a very clear spiritual point which, Lord willing, we will apply at all times in our sojourn in the Lord. God is faithful to finish what He has started in us (Php 1:6), and His purposes for His little flock will ultimately result in wiping away all the tears of this world (Rev 21:4). The thought of this gives us great reason to say “Oh give thanks unto the LORD”.

Psa 105:38 Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.

When we are “warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:  Whereunto I [we] also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me [us] mightily”(Col 1:28-29), we will be hated by all men for His name’s sake on the outside (Mat 10:22). Inwardly, the war will rage on until our last breath, and the flesh symbolized by Egypt and all that is in the world within me, will be conquered through a process of judgment (the #3) upon every man within me (1Jn 2:16). That “fear of them fell upon them” is knowing that the old man within me is going to be destroyed, and the new creation is going to be formed out of darkness, and the anti-Christ or man of perdition within me is going to be destroyed by the brightness of His coming (2Th 2:8, 1Jn 2:17-18). We are naked on the cross through this process, and the Lord will make sure that this witness is seen of all men in time (Act 26:26, 1Jn 4:17).

Psa 105:39  He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.

The pillar in the wilderness represents Christ and His Christ whom God uses to give light to each other (Mat 5:14-16, Exo 13:21), but as we just read, that light offends the outside world and keeps them in darkness because God has not given them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God as He has with us (Mat 13:11).

‘Spreading a cloud for a covering’ is speaking of the elect who are that great cloud of witness to the world (Heb 12:1), to the world (Israel), and also in the positive sense a cloud of witness to one another as the Israel of God (Gal 6:16). Having that light in our life brings peace and enables us to be a light unto the world as well.

Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

We also are the light of the world and “give light in the night” in this dark world in which we live. We see and perceive that light with Christ in us (Joh 8:12) while the world cannot understand that light which enters into their cities within (Joh 3:19, Isa 9:2).

Clearly, if men are going to ‘make sure that men see you’, we want them to see Christ in us, and the only way that will happen is if we are dragged to our Lord (Joh 6:44) and are blessed to “have the light of life” as we follow Christ, and each others’ example of Christ in us (1Co 11:1).

Psa 105:40 The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

You have not because you ask not, right? Well, that was the case with Israel, but they asked amiss to consume these things upon their own lusts (Jas 4:2-3) leaving us an example of what not to do in regard to the quail and the manna both of which represent the nourishing words of Christ.

I’ve mentioned this in the past that “the bread of heaven” is manna that represents Christ, and men in John’s day were no different than the Israelites in the wilderness, or the world today, who ask the same question of the manna, which means “what is it” or of Christ who asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am” (Mar 8:27, Joh 6:51).

The bread and the light are both not recognized as being Christ, and the quail, as we know, was given to the murmuring Israelites who were not content with what God had provided for them, and therefore they were judged (Num 11:4, Num 11:20). The same disobedient and ungrateful spirit manifested in regard to the manna which was not properly consumed or picked up in the manner that God had intended Israel to do (Exo 16:22, Exo 16:27). These things were written for our admonition, to be thankful, whether we have a little or a lot, and this is a learning process (Php 4:12).

Psa 105:41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.

It’s interesting to note that again there was a rebellious spirit connected to this event as well (Num 20:11). God allowed all these incidents to unfold to teach us today the need for our hearts which are initially like stone (Exo 36:26), that we need to be change through the bruising which we experience and can only bear with Christ in us, who is typified by the rock which Moses smote in disobedience, and yet it pleased the Father to bruise this rock (Act 4:27-28).

The waters can only run “in the dry places like a river” after we have been bruised and learn obedience by the things which we suffer (Heb 5:8, Act 5:32).

Psa 105:42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.

Abraham represents Christ, and God remembers His promises and keeps them (2Pe 3:9-11, 2Th 2:8). These promises to Abraham we know represent the new covenant promises which are given to us through Christ (Heb 8:6, Gal 3:16).

Psa 105:43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:

If Abraham represents Christ, then “his people”, “his chosen” whom he is bringing forth with “gladness” must represent the elect of God (Mat 22:14).

We enter into God’s joy today when we are obedient and doing those things that are pleasing in His sight (Mat 25:21).

Psa 105:44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;

Giving us the “lands of the heathen” is just another way of saying that we are granted through Christ to be more than conquerors and to rule over sin within our members (Rom 8:37, Joh 8:36).

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

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

We inherit the works when we are no longer children, just like the parable of the story of the child who is an heir but cannot inherit “the labour of the people within” until he matures. The child has those works within him, but he does not acknowledge them as being solely the work of the Lord, and until that is burned out of him or us, we are yet under “tutors and governors”.

Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Psa 105:45 That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.

When we are those mature sons, we can “keep his laws” and “observe his statutes”, and that is how we can be a light to the world when God will want us to ‘make sure that people see us’.

Unless the Lord builds the house and judges us in this age, there will be no witness and true praise to the Lord for those wonderful works unto the children of men. This story in Joshua 4:1-7 reminds us that we must have a “stone on our shoulder”, which is a metaphor to remind us to carry our cross (Mat 10:38). When we carry our cross and mortify the deeds of our flesh through Christ as we die daily (Gal 2:20), we are letting our light shine before the world and blessed of God to ‘make sure that people see us’. We want people to see us for this reason, and this reason alone, “That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever”.

Jos 4:1 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
Jos 4:2 Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,  (types of God’s elect Gen 49:28, Rev 14:4)
Jos 4:3 And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.
Jos 4:4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
Jos 4:5 And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
Jos 4:6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
Jos 4:7 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

Jos 4:23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:
Jos 4:24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.

The last few very important rules that I want to mention that are critical to keep in mind both when we drive our physical cars, and much more importantly when we live each moment of our life in Christ is to remember to “always make space” between yourselves and other vehicles so as to have time to react to unforeseen events and to avoid an accident or what is called a secondary accident and remember to make as few lane changes as possible in your vehicle so you don’t cut people off or run into someone because you didn’t check your blind spot. The verses that I think of when I remember these physical laws for driving are these spiritual laws for Christ’s body:

Make space:

Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Rom 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Don’t change your lane too often:

Pro 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
Pro 24:22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

Check your blind spot:

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2Co 13:6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

These are instructive admonitions which we can follow as the Lord leads us and does lead us so that God can be glorified in our lives as the light of the world He has called us to be. “Make sure people see you”, Christ in you, and “O give thanks unto the LORD” for all these wonderful works unto the children of men.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  [Gal 4:6]
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

PART I (Aim High) Psa 105:1-8
PART II (Get the big picture) Psa 105:9-15
PART III (Keep your eyes moving) Psa 105:16-22
PART IV (Always have an out) Psa 105:23-37
PART V (Make sure people see you) Psa 105:38-45

PART III (Keep your eyes moving)

Psa 105:16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
Psa 105:17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
Psa 105:18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
Psa 105:19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
Psa 105:20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
Psa 105:21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
Psa 105:22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

In this study we will look at how the first two goals of aiming high and getting the big picture are to always be accompanied with a diligent heart that is seeking the Lord. When we wholeheartedly do that we will not be distracted by the world around us.

Pro 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Jer 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier (Mat 22:14).
2Ti 2:5  And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

Psa 101:3  I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work [not them personally but the work in them (Mat 5:43, Mat 24:12, Mat 10:21)] of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.  [To strive lawfully is to not be entangled with the affairs of this life which will manifest in the hearts of those who have turned aside]

Isa 33:15  He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;  [This is what is required of God’s elect as we strive for the prize of the high calling in Him and learn of His faithfulness to finish what he has begun in us (Php 1:6)]

Keeping our eyes moving is just another way of saying ‘look well to the flock’ of which we all have our part as we present our lives a living sacrifice for each other for the overall good of the body of Christ.

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

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

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

The verses which we will be addressing in our study tonight demonstrate that in order for us to keep our spiritual eyes moving, our heart’s desire must be set on the things that are above, where our treasure is being laid up in store in heavenly places where God has been preparing a place for us in our Lord.

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. [We keep our eyes moving by having them set on our Father and Christ so we can die daily (Act 7:55) ‘is, was and will be’]

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.  [If not for the grace of God, sin would continue to have dominion over us!]

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. [This is an ongoing is, was and will be workmanship of our Lord’s hand that is taking place in the body of Christ right now, and that workmanship has been ordained from the foundation of the world (Eph 2:10)].

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

God’s kindness toward us is manifested in the workmanship of his hands that will be witnessed to all the world. His mercy is being demonstrated through his good pleasure of giving us the kingdom of God within today as He matures us as those first fruits of His creation who have love toward one another, witnessed in a discipleship being formed to the end “That in the ages to come [the rest of humanity, each man in his order] he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Joh 13:35).

Ultimately it is only God who can help us see the big picture, together, and He gives us the vision and hope that we need through Christ’s body, the church, so that we don’t spiritually perish in this life.

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

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

Pro 29:18  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Joseph’s time in prison is a parable for us which really brings to light our need to receive our Lord’s counsel to buy gold tried in the fire and to purchase the salve for our eyes so we can see and keep our eyes moving toward the mark of the prize of the high calling in Him even while we are sore pressed on every side.

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  [We are under grace, and if not for the grace of God sin would continue to have dominion over us which is why we must buy gold tried in the fire, and have on Christ’s white raiment, his righteousness, and have eyes that are anointed by the washing of the word so we can see (Joh 9:6-7)]
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. [It is through the pressing toward Christ as a body that admits that we cannot see (Joh 9:41) that our sins can continue to be washed away as God reveals to us where we are otherwise minded and in need of washing by the word].

2Co 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Psa 105:16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.

God is always educating the world and the body of Christ through contrast whether we recognize that or not. Right after He says “touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm” (of verse 15), our Lord contrasts that thought with “Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.”

Not being “touched” means that God’s work will not be hindered even though there will be hindering moments which God allows to remind us that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities in the heavens.

1Th 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

For Babylon, the true spiritual work of becoming mature sons has not begun because God has broken “the whole staff of bread” and caused the process to be hindered, and we know that is His power and goodness to do that.

Isa 3:1 For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

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 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

There is an inward application to this calling for a “famine upon the land”, and God will cause that to happen in the lives of His children by bringing us to our wits’ end so we cry out for deliverance, asking for the living waters that our souls are blessed to thirst after in these last days of our old man’s existence.

Joh 7:37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

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

Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Our baptisms are by fire today, and that fire represents the grace of God that is needed in order to mature us to be able to properly administer His judgments in the earth of others as the Lord leads. We must first be refined by that fire first within our own heavens to be able to comfortably and obediently do the work we are called unto. Elijah also typifies this work of withholding and giving of rain that represents God’s manifold wisdom that is made manifest through the church as He gives the increase.

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

Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

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.

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Jas 5:17  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
Jas 5:18  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Jas 5:19  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Psa 105:17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
Psa 105:18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:

Verse 16 talks about how God “called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread”, and verses 17 and 18 are a parable that describes how Joseph, who is a type of Christ, was imprisoned in his sinful flesh as a servant who made himself of no reputation.

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

Job 14:1  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. [This is man’s house]

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. [This is God’s house]

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you [while you are in this house], which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
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:

This whole event of Joseph being rejected of his brothers, being imprisoned, then having his feet “hurt with fetters” and being “laid in iron” is the parable that God has given us to demonstrate how Christ is going to be formed within the body of Christ after we have filled up what is behind of His afflictions.

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

We must keep our first estate of being living sacrifices who are willing to give up everything so we can be found worthy to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection. If not for the fetters or the thorn in our flesh, or the law being used lawfully as we are “laid in iron” (1Ti 1:8), we would soon languish in these earthen cells. It is our hope of glory within us who visits us and encourages us to continue on through this light affliction so we can say with Paul “I now rejoice in my suffering for you” (Col 1:27, Rev 2:10, 2Co 4:17).

Jud 1:6  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Luk 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

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.

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

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.
Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Rom 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Joseph’s imprisonment represents our entire “ten days of our flesh” enduring unto the end through Christ our Saviour who gives us the ability to not focus on what we don’t have or what we have lost or are losing, but rather gives us the ability to focus on that which is set before us as we look to that joy [keep your eyes moving] and come to learn and be confidently convinced of His faithfulness in this life to finish what he has started in each of them.

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Php 4:14  Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.[we know that we are all imprisoned in that sense and so with our common affliction in the Lord we are commanded to bear each others burden and so fulfill the law of Christ by visiting each other in that affliction].

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  [that “good work” is what we are doing for each other as we comfort each other and help each other bear the cross that God has given us in this life, whatever those burdens may be].

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Jas 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Psa 105:19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
Psa 105:20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.

The ruler of the people in this instance represents Christ who is the power of the resurrection and the one who sets us free from our weak earthen vessel through his word that initially tries us (“the word of the LORD tried him”) but then heals us or loosens us from the bondage of sin through the destruction of the carnal mind that is eventually crushed (Joh 8:36, Mat 21:44). He is “the ruler of the people” who can “let him go free” as He gives us the ability to continue in that word the truth that frees us (Joh 8:32).

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. [“Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him”]

Psa 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free (Col 1:27), ye shall be free indeed.

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.  [“The king sent and loosed him” is what happens when the word of God is within us and crushes us, and that alone is what will “let him go free”]

Psa 105:21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
Psa 105:22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

What happens when the Son makes you free, as typified by Joseph’s release from prison, is that we will gain dominion over sin within us (Rom 6:22-23), stated as “He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance”.

Now Joseph has been given power in type and shadow to rule over the powers and principalities with which he wrestled all those days he was in prison. Now he can “bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom”; another way of saying he can now take heed unto himself, and unto the doctrine as he continues in them, knowing that in doing this he will both save himself, and them that hear him, as he teaches “his senators wisdom”. That time of being tried in prison represents the time when we are not yet heirs, and yet we can see that Joseph was steadily growing toward that time of being taken out of prison and was shown “favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Gen 39:21).

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Gal 4:1  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Prior to being put in prison, we learn that in regard to Potiphar “Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand” (Gen 39:4). It was showing Joseph that favour as he “found grace in his sight” that allow him to be put in the situation where he would be in proximity with Potiphar’s wife, which brings us back to the point of our needing to always “keep our eyes moving” so that we don’t get fixated on Potiphar’s wife who represents the false doctrines or churches of this world. Satan wants us to be snared by straining at a gnat or by swallowing a camel (Gal 5:9, Mat 16:6, Mat 23:24) and Potiphar’s wife is a type of Babylon who wants to ensnare us and falsely accuse us by taking our words represented by Joseph’s garment so that we can be imprisoned and destroyed by her false accusations that bring us there (Gen 39:5-8, Mat 27:12, Luk 3:14).

Gen 39:4  And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Gen 39:5  And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
Gen 39:6  And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
Gen 39:7  And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
Gen 39:8  But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

Our high calling in the Lord requires that we be wise as serpents and gentle as doves and beware of men, as we flee spiritual fornication, idolatry, youthful lusts and the riches of this world, which is what Joseph was doing in type and shadow when he fled from the advances of Potiphar’s wife.

Gen 39:9  There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Gen 39:10  And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
Gen 39:11  And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
Gen 39:12  And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Gen 39:13  And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
Gen 39:14  That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
Gen 39:15  And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
Gen 39:16  And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
Gen 39:17  And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
Gen 39:18  And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
Gen 39:19  And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
Gen 39:20  And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

Thanks be to God that we can, through Christ, heed the admonitions given to us in this age as He shows us mercy, just as He did with Joseph, taking us through our prison experience, causing all that we do to prosper to His glory and honour.

Gen 39:21  But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. [Within he makes our enemies to be at peace with us (Pro 16:7)]
Gen 39:22  And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
Gen 39:23  The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Col 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

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

Lord willing, next week we look at these following verses (Psa 105:23-37) in Part IV of our study subtitled “Always Have an Out”, where we will consider the promises of God to His people that tell us we will always have an way out through Christ who enables us to bear our cross in this age.

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.

Here are the verses for our next study:

Psa 105:23  Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
Psa 105:24  And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
Psa 105:25  He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
Psa 105:26  He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
Psa 105:27  They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
Psa 105:28  He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
Psa 105:29  He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
Psa 105:30  Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
Psa 105:31  He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
Psa 105:32  He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
Psa 105:33  He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
Psa 105:34  He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
Psa 105:35  And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
Psa 105:36  He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
Psa 105:37  He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

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Awesome Hands - part 115 Discussion

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Awesome Hands – Part 115

“Thy brothers blood crieth from the ground”

April 21, 2017

Our previous study left us looking at how it is we, as the body and bread of Christ, participate with Jesus Christ in going to the altar, table and cross of the Lord so that “through death” Life can come forth.

This Life in Jesus, also involves many facets that aren’t apparent to most of the world because they have been hidden in scripture and by the Spirit of God.

In our study today, we are going to move to our next set of verses which shows us just how important the blood of Jesus is but also how it is we deal with the blood of Jesus within our everyday lives.

The verses for consideration today are found in Leviticus 7.

Lev 7:25  For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people.
Lev 7:26  Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.
Lev 7:27  Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
Lev 7:28  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 7:29  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
Lev 7:30  His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD.
Lev 7:31  And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'.
Lev 7:32  And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.
Lev 7:33  He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part.

As with most of scripture, there is a lot being said within a few verses, and when that is coupled with spiritual types and shadows, there can be an overwhelming amount of extra information that doesn’t always rise to the surface without a little digging.

There are a few points of interest I would like to cover in this study as it pertains to the verses we just read, and of course there is more that can be said beyond what will be covered in this study.

When I read about “blood”, “peace offerings”, “fire”, “wave offerings”, “heave offerings” and the altar, I tend to be a little intrigued at what could be gleaned from all of these topics being mentioned together within a few verses.

As many of you know, I have written about these very topics within the context of the “Awesome Hands” series, but I am going to bring those topics all together in this study in a much more condensed version, Lord willing. However, this will all be familiar if you’ve read those studies, but it should also provide a way to gel them all together nicely in why it matters for us.

“Thy brothers blood crieth from the ground”

When you look at Leviticus 7:25-27, these verses are mentioned before “And the Lord spoke with Moses…”. When we see this phrase, it usually indicates to us another “session” or transition that the target has with the Lord; in this case Moses. I say “session” because right before verse 28 we are being told of different commandments pertaining to the other offerings, and then we are given new information about what “blood” represents. “Blood” is going to be somewhat of the focus of this study.

Before this “new information” concerning blood is recorded in Leviticus 7, we have some other very significant events happen with blood, so we are going to mention those here for a little context.

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Gen 4:8  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Gen 4:9  And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
Gen 4:10  And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Gen 4:11  And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
Gen 4:12  When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Gen 4:13  And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Gen 4:14  Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Gen 4:15  And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Gen 4:16  And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

This story is, of course, the story of the first murder in scripture. Notice that Cain is cursed from the earth, and scripturally speaking, Cain’s seed after him will be cursed to not gain the strength of the “earth” either. We know that the physical application of this applies but so, too, does the spiritual.

As with any story, we have both men being discussed, and the new man, in type, has had His blood shed so that the EARTH has opened “her mouth” to receive the blood of “righteous” Abel.

When you start to put together that since the foundation of the world the Lord has been establishing His people to rule with Him, then these stories start to speak much more to what our purpose of living life is today. We are all in training for something much more glorious than anything this life itself and alone has to offer.

“Shed no blood”

Our next significant mentioning of blood as we build up to Leviticus is found with the story of Joseph and his brothers selling him as a slave. Those verses are found in Genesis 37.

Gen 37:18  And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
Gen 37:19  And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.
Gen 37:20  Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
Gen 37:21  And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
Gen 37:22  And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.
Gen 37:23  And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
Gen 37:24  And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
Gen 37:25  And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
Gen 37:26  And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
Gen 37:27  Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.
Gen 37:28  Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

And then a few verses later we see:

Gen 37:31  And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
Gen 37:32  And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.
Gen 37:33  And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

This familiar story is one that shows us the plan of God in full effect on the seed of the free woman versus the seed of the bondwoman. Though Joseph and his brothers are not directly mentioned as representing these two groups, we know that they do from the “sum of thy Word”.

Again, we see the “earth” being used of God to “swallow” up the new man, in type, as represented by Joseph. Additionally, we see that blood is directly connected to the earth in that blood is used to deceive Jacob into thinking that Joseph is dead while Joseph is actually alive.

There is much more to this story, but for this study’s purposes we are going to move to the next example of blood being mentioned found in Genesis 49.

Gen 49:1  And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.
Gen 49:2  Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

Gen 49:8  Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.
Gen 49:9  Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
Gen 49:10  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Gen 49:11  Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
Gen 49:12  His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

When we hear or read the words “last days” we should immediately be brought into remembrance that these are very significant clue words into what is being talked about.

In this story we have Jacob telling his twelve sons what it is that shall happen with each of their tribes. There is so much being said here in just a few verses that a whole study could be dedicated to breaking them apart, and it would barely touch the surface on what is contained here.

However, for the sake of this study, we will concentrate on just a few points.

Judah’s prophesy of what he and his tribe shall represent is very revealing for the true spiritual Jews who are God’s children, and it is important to grasp this so that, as God’s children, we can draw on the strength that can be found in these Words of Life.

The power of God rests upon His children and has freely been given to them. Do you believe this and believe you are a child of God? Are you a son of God now? The rod of authority will not depart from you if you know you are a son of God.

The foal mentioned in verse 11 is significant in several ways since it is the same word translated as “ass” elsewhere in scripture.

Since Christ comes from the tribe of Judah, and this prophecy is about the coming “Shiloh” or savior, it is interesting to note that Christ comes riding on a donkey that was tied to a vine.

See, the beast that is given a deadly wound and then healed has ALWAYS been tied to the vine since the foundation of the world.

Mat 21:1  And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
Mat 21:2  Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
Mat 21:3  And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
Mat 21:4  All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
Mat 21:5  Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Zec 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Joh 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

We have always been tied to the vine. We are a peculiar people indeed but very scattered. Not only are we scattered geographically in most cases, but much more importantly, we are scattered among the nations of the earth that dwell within us.

While one of us may have conquered one nation of depression, with Christ in us doing the work, others in the body still struggle with the war that rages in the heavens. While one of us may have conquered the land of addiction, many others of us may still be trying to stop using pain medicines, stop smoking, stop viewing inappropriate material on the internet, etc.

Indeed we are scattered on the earth, and that is exactly why we must be in fellowship with one another. Christ is the Head who sits upon His shoulders. Christ is the Head who rides upon the donkey who has always been tied to Him, the vine.

However, there is a time that we, as His body, realize that this truly does come at a price, and the price is the blood of Christ; the new man.

Indeed, even the waters will be turned to blood in our hearts and minds. The very thing that gives us hope, the Word of God as represented in water, will be brought into remembrance as bringing DEATH TO ALL OF US.

That is where we find ourselves in Exodus 7, the next mentioning of blood before our verses found in Leviticus.

Exo 4:1  And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.
Exo 4:2  And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
Exo 4:3  And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
Exo 4:4  And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
Exo 4:5  That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.
Exo 4:6  And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.
Exo 4:7  And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.
Exo 4:8  And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
Exo 4:9  And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

Continuing, we see this come to pass in the water bring turned to blood as a plague on Egypt.

Exo 7:17  Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
Exo 7:18  And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.
Exo 7:19  And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.
Exo 7:20  And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
Exo 7:21  And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
Exo 7:22  And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

The magicians can always simulate the blood of Christ with their enchantments. Yep, you heard me correctly. The blood of Christ can be simulated and faked by the magicians who claim to have the power of God.

Sure, they may not directly make these bold claims, but in their actions they certainly convey the concept. The rod of authority, the scepter, is given to those that are from the spiritual tribe of Judah, the house of God.

When you couple this together with the water of the Nile being turned into blood by the rods given to Moses and Aaron, then it is easy to conclude that these actions have significant importance.

The first plague upon Egpyt, which affected both the Egyptians and the Israelites, was turning water into blood. Likewise, the first miracle done by Christ, as recorded in scripture, was Jesus turning water into wine.

Before you look at this miracle as NOT being blood but wine, I present to you Exhibit A.

Mat 26:26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mat 26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

Ahh, how intriguing it is!

We are now brought full circle around to what communion with the Life of Christ is all about and how this all relates to Leviticus.

In Leviticus we see the Israelites being given very specific commandments on how to participate in the various offerings being mentioned. However, we want to participate in these offerings spiritually, and we want to be living a life with whatever time remains for us in such a way that this participation is relevant and out there for the world to see.

The world of Christianity just celebrated Easter, a very pagan-oriented holy day holiday, and they didn’t flinch in their ignorance of what they are doing. Truly, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event to happen to all of humanity as it relates to the meaning of Life!

Let’s connect this to Paul’s writing on 1 Corinthians.

1Co 11:23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
1Co 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
1Co 11:27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
1Co 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1Co 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
1Co 11:30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
1Co 11:33  Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, TARRY ONE FOR ANOTHER
1Co 11:34  And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

How does all of this connect to the verses in Leviticus which we started with in this study?

Lev 7:27  Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

Wow, there is so much contained in this one verse! The life is in the blood! The Israelites were forewarned that they would be cut off from “their people” if they ate any manner of blood, but we see Christ TELLING us to DRINK HIS BLOOD.

Let me ask all of you if you have been cut off from your people for daring to JUDGE YOURSELF and drink the blood of Christ. When you drink the blood of Christ, you are GUILTY of the BODY and the BLOOD of the Lord.

Isn’t it interesting that Paul tells us all about the blood and body of Christ, moves to judgment, and then moves directly back to WAIT FOR EACH OTHER? That is followed up by “if a man is hungry let him eat at home”.

Now, I ask you what “home” are we to think about here. Sure there is a physical and outward application, but there is also a Holy Spirit inspired “house of God” that we need to consider.

The body of Christ does not go to the world, which worships other gods named “Ishtar” or “Eostre” or any other variation through the ages; for example, on Easter, for gaining sustenance to maintain the Life within them.

The body of Christ cannot EAT at the altar of devils and the altar of the Lord. I ask again what is the altar of the Lord?

The altar of the Lord is where we go to receive Life THROUGH death. Judging yourself means that YOU and I, Steven Crook, must pick up our cross and follow Christ to His. It means we must participate in seeing our lives consumed in His. It means we find meaning in living a life that will produce the fruits of the spirit by having fruit of our lives fall to the ground and die first so that Christ can increase.

When we start taking ourselves a lot less seriously, then our lives begin to have room for Christ to grow in them. If you consider what is able to be tempted by the devil in you, it is mostly items that have to do with YOU individually. If you take the 'YOU' out of the equation, Jesus increases, and He will give you victory over the flesh, eyes and pride of life that is in the world within you.

The importance of the blood of Christ is that the authentic blood can be seen when Christ is your covering and the garment you wear is Him. This garment can be SEEN by others because LESS of you is seen, and more of Christ Jesus is available to shine through from within you.

Jesus Christ’s ACTIONS and WORKS showed the Father to all around Him and likewise Christ Jesus is shown by His works in us to decrease “US”.

I conclude this study with these verse which sum up this study.

2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2Co 4:5  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2Co 4:11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
2Co 4:12  So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

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Awesome Hands - part 114 Discussion

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Awesome Hands – Part 114, “Wash your hands and your feet”

March 31, 2017

Many biblical concepts come up when examining the act of washing our hands and feet. Of course there are sanitary reasons to wash our feet and hands, but from a biblical perspective, we know that the Lord was very particular about this washing before approaching Him in the tabernacle.

In our study today, we are going to examine some of the reasons why this commandment was given to the priests and Moses and also why and how it is spiritually applicable to us today.

Closing our Exodus and moving to the “laws”

As with all of the “Awesome Hands” studies we find ourselves moving to the next mentioning of the Hebrew word “yad”, but we are actually going to cover the next few times it is mentioned so that we can build upon a biblical theme within this particular study.

Today we are going to mention Exodus 38:21 in passing and then focus on the surrounding verses found in Exodus 40:31 and Leviticus 1:4.

Exo 38:21  This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.

Exodus 38:21 is actually the next mentioning of the word “yad”, but there isn’t much mentioned here that we haven’t already covered in the previous studies concerning the materials of the tabernacle. However, I did want to mention it before moving to Exodus 40:31.

Now we find ourselves looking at Exodus 40:31, which will be the end of our coverage of Exodus. We will be moving from our Exodus out of Egypt into the laws by which the Lord gives us to live.

The literal laws we are going to read are for the whole of Israel, but we are going to be given very specific laws, which we can also apply to our walks today, which deal only with the priests of the Lord.

Exo 40:30  And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.
Exo 40:31  And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:
Exo 40:32  When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 40:33  And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

We now find that Moses, Aaron and Aaron's sons all wash their hands before the Lord at the laver and then once again as they come near to the altar. After this washing is accomplished, Moses puts the finishing touches on the tabernacle.

vWhat happens next will help to guide the rest of our walk with the Lord for the remainder of our lives. If we pay close attention, the Lord is going to tell us just how involved in our lives He always is.

Whether we are on the highest peak or in the lowest valley, the Lord is there. Whether we approach death or are in the summer of our lives, the Lord is there. There is simply nothing that can or will separate us from the Love of the Lord, and just what is the Love of God?

Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The focus of Romans 8 is God’s elect and the role Christ Jesus has in their lives. When we know that, and apply everything we read here in Romans 8 (and the rest of the bible) to US, then we should see a great fire of Light go off in our minds at just what the Lord is doing with us.

Before any of us were every born, the Lord reached through the tunnel of time and touched us with the Word of JUST WHO WE ARE TO HIM and what it is he is doing in our lives.

Here at the beginning, just before telling us that He is our Father and His LAWS must be followed, He tells us He will always be with us. What Father DOES NOT give His children RULES to follow in His household?

Exo 40:34  Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Exo 40:35  And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Exo 40:36  And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
Exo 40:37  But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
Exo 40:38  For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, THROUGHOUT ALL THEIR JOURNEYS.

The act of Moses and Aaron and his sons washing their hands has wonderful significance for us today, because it reminds us that the Lord alone has made us clean so that we can approach Him. I am well aware that Jesus Christ is the God of the old testament, but I am also aware that this is hidden from the world.

However, we must know this Truth if we can ever recognize that without the Lord delivering the Israelites from the Egyptians, and then providing all the materials for the tabernacle, we could never have this laver in which to wash our hands and feet.

Why is this important at all to realize? Well, it shows us that it has all been orchestrated by the Lord 100%.

Why is that important? This is important because it is just like when my wife and I had our children. When they were first conceived, and being nourished in my wife’s belly, they were being cared for. We were doing what we thought was the best for them before they were ever born.

When they were born and couldn’t remember a thing, we were feeding and clothing them, changing their diapers, entertaining them, loving them, and overall preparing for them, as best we could, a life in which they could accelerate and grow.

All of these days and nights of preparation were brought to a point of when our children’s “eyes are opened” to the what their lives are about. Slowly but surely their minds are able to perceive just is happening in their lives and what they are about, memories take hold and “suddenly” they start to decide on things they want to do.

In reality, none of this happened suddenly but moment by moment and step by step. This is how we see the Lord working for all of us, and now at this moment for the Israelites of “here we have this tabernacle thing built” and we are approaching you Lord, the “RULE BOOK” comes out.

This book of laws comes out at the precise time that God’s children can begin to OBEY or NOT the things that are contained within this proverbial book.

Lev 1:1  And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
Lev 1:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
Lev 1:3  If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
Lev 1:4  And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
Lev 1:5  And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 1:7  And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
Lev 1:8  And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
Lev 1:9  But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

The burnt offering is a very intense offering. It is the beginning of the offerings to the Lord that show our connection with the realization that we have to make an offering to the Lord in order to approach Him in any way.

There are many details that are contained within these few verses that really open up to us what this offering is all about.

These burnt offerings have nothing to do with sin but rather open up to us the concepts that will be presented by Jesus Christ and His actions about how it is we approach God the Father. We cannot approach Him empty-handed, and Jesus Christ never sinned yet was MADE SIN.

The burnt offerings could be of a young bull without blemish, a young ram, a young he-goat, a turtle dove or a young pigeon. We are only focused on the offering “of the herd” contained within the above verses, but I wanted to mentioned that there are other animals of various degrees which were used as burnt offerings.

If it were a bull, ram or goat, the offerer had to bring the offerings to the “door of the tabernacle” which happens to be right at the brazen altar. This altar would have been a very bloody scene indeed. Blood, animal parts, very strong odors and fire would all be very present among other things.

When it came time to offer the burnt offering notice that the offeror, as contained within the verses we just read, had very descriptive things that had to be done. The offerer must place their hand on the head of the animal about to be killed. The offeror must kill the animal. The offeror must flay it. The offeror had to wash the intestines and the legs.

Then the priests had their roles as well. They had to gather the blood and sprinkle the altar with it. They had to out the head, fat and remainder of the animals there. The also had to place a meat offering upon the burnt offerings. Then they had to move the ashes to the east of the altar and carry them outside the camp to a clean place.

Obviously, this is a lot of detail, but the offerer had to completely identify with the atonement that was being made by their animal that was being offered.

So, who is this unblemished male? Jesus is a Head that has a body. What does the New Testament tell us about His body, and in particular, how does His body relate to these verses today?

Does the placement of the offerer's hand on the Head tell us anything to help us understand that WE are the ones who sacrifice the King of kings and Lord of Lords?

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

If it is questioned that it is us who identify with our Head, let us understand that the Lord causes us to be the very offering that is being offered by creating in us a WILLING HEART to be offered up WITH CHRIST.

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, AND OPEN THE DOOR, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Lev 1:3  If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.

I contest with you today, you being anyone struggling with giants in your land, that you listen to that faint still voice coming from within you and place your hand on the door and OPEN IT UP.

Jesus Christ is waiting on the other side.

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

Who among us is too good to get their hands dirty in a blood sacrifice? Are you willing, rather, has the Lord given you a willing heart, to sacrifice ALL THAT IS IN YOUR WORLD so that the door may be opened and the Lord may come in to your world?

What exactly is 'the world'? I proclaim to you all that the world is not only, and definitely not mostly, what the world thinks it is. There is something that makes up this world we all live in and here it is:

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The “world” out there is of no concern to us. These verses aren’t telling us to not go to work, don’t watch a movie, don’t listen to “worldy songs”, etc., etc.

These verses are telling us to not LOVE the WORLD or the things IN THE WORLD. What is in and of the world? It is nothing more than can be contained in 'the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the PRIDE OF LIFE'.

All that is in the world tells us that not matter what is “out there” it is already “in here” in my world. Therefore, anything “out there” in the world is there because the world is in us all. Picking on one particular thing or one another as a “fine detail” only helps us feel better in some way than another person, when in reality we oftentimes glaze over or ignore the real issues within.

What, then, are we placing our hands on in sacrifice as an atonement to the Lord? We are placing our hands on OUR LORD. We are accepting that HE ALONE can and DID “ENTER INTO PERFECTION”. He alone went to the altar, which is the cross and table of the Lord, and now He asks us to come join Him.

Mal 1:7  Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
Mal 1:8  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 1:9  And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 1:10  Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
Mal 1:11  For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 1:12  But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

Isn’t it interesting, to say the least, that the altar and table are interchangeable in these verses and verse 7 tells us that “ye offer polluted bread upon the altar of the Lord”. What BREAD do we offer that is polluted upon the altar of the Lord?

Mat 26:26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

The body follows the Head. Why is it in our lives that it is easy for us to “place our hands on the Head” and “thank Him” for His sacrifice for us, take joy in it, but not actually believe nor think that we ourselves are PART of the SACRIFICE?

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Gal 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.

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

I say nothing in this study to discourage any of us but rather to give HOPE in what our lives can and will be with Jesus ruling our hearts and minds.

How can I make such a claim after stating that lust and pride is in all of us?

Listen, whatever it is you battle within your world Christ has ALREADY DEFEATED. When we place our hands on “the head of an animal sacrifice”, we are placing it ON OURSELVES. The world tells you that Christ sacrificed Himself so that we do not need to be sacrificed, but that is UTTER false doctrine. We are crucified with Him!

The wages of SIN if DEATH. Though we are not talking about the sin offering within this study, we are talking about why it is NECESSARY that we are crucified, but the reason we are crucified is so that we can RISE out of DEATH being shown how to escape it because of Jesus Christ DOING IT FIRST!

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

What is it you struggle with in your life? Is it anger, lust, envy, lack of humility, cruelty, coveting, lack of faith, lasciviousness, slothfulness, gossiping, money, vanity, thievery and on and on it can go? So, what is it you struggle with?

Whatever it is I tell you to LAY IT ON THE ALTAR NOW, because that’s where it is going one way or another. You can continue to live your life with and in it OR you can accept that Christ HAS GIVEN you all things NOW.

Ask the Lord for Faith to believe these things, and He will give it to you, but giving you Faith to believe He can and will deliver you DOES NOT MEAN that you do not still need to die daily to those things that will battle you at ever turn.

Why? It is the TRIAL of YOUR FAITH that is precious to the Lord so He is going to TRY YOU.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
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:
1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Let me read that again but only this time in a standard English version.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5  who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
1Pe 1:7  so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1Pe 1:8  Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
1Pe 1:9  obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1Pe 1:10  Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
1Pe 1:11  inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
1Pe 1:12  It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

I am preaching to you the good news that the salvation of your souls can be TASTED now in the bread and blood of Christ. The things we read about in Exodus concerning the tabernacle, and the verses in Leviticus pertaining to the burnt offerings, were revealed to the prophets as belonging to US.

Though we will and are tested in various trials, the Lord DOES DELIVER us from these things and will not tempt us without providing a way out. That way out is Jesus Christ, and He is placed on the altar by His priests AFTER He is slain by the one who needs to make atonement.

Atonement is acknowledgment that a sacrifice is needed, but we need to realize that we are a body following the Head onto the altar to be “burned by fire”. I dwell happily there.

Isa 33:13  Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.
Isa 33:14  The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15  He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
Isa 33:16  He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
Isa 33:17  Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 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.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 99

“Brass Altar”

March 30, 2016

Being a part of the body of Christ is a very special calling. With all that we are called to endure it can seem like a burden at times.

Like Joseph, we are called to our Father at a young age to be told we will be rulers, kings and priests, who must put a coat of many colors on which represents all of the different stages we will endure as we are trained up. This coat always ends up covered in blood.

In our study today, we are going to attempt to identify, Lord willing, just how the Lord uses the bronze altar of the tabernacle to forgive the sins of His people and to draw them one step closer to His tabernacle and mercy seat within.

Brass

If we hearken back to the beginning of the mentioning of the tabernacle within this awesome hands series, we will notice that the first offering that the Lord required of His people includes brass/copper.

Exo 25:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
Exo 25:3  And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,

Here in Exodus 27 we now see one of the uses of the brass that was collected of the Israelites to make the tabernacle. Here are the verses for consideration today.

Exo 27:1  And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
Exo 27:2  And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
Exo 27:3  And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
Exo 27:4  And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof.
Exo 27:5  And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.
Exo 27:6  And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
Exo 27:7  And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.
Exo 27:8  Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.

We see a lot of the mentioning of brass in these verses and we see that brass is overlaid on various objects representing the watchmen that are being talked about.

So, what do watchmen and brass have in common and how is brass used to show us the way to the mercy seat of God?

The pattern shown in the mount is Jesus Christ and we must follow this same pattern.

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  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Heb 5:10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Joh 17:5  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

As we all strive to move toward the mercy seat of His glory, we must first come to the brass altar to make a sacrifice.

During the time of the Israelites, the first thing they saw when they came from outside to tabernacle and passed through the fine linen gate to the outer court, was a brass altar.

On this altar there must be shedding of blood to receive a pardon and forgiveness. The sinner would bring a sacrifice which would be killed and offered by placing your hand on the head of the animal being sacrificed.

Lev 1:3  If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
Lev 1:4  And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

Lev 1:7  And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
Lev 1:8  And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
Lev 1:9  But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Often times it is hard to understand why the Lord would require such a brutal sacrifice for the atonement of sin. As a priest, and we are all kings and priests in the Lord, it is our job to do as the priests do and set fire to the altar after putting the wood in the proper place to be consumed.

We also must wash the INSIDE of the sacrifice and the LEGS of the sacrifice with water.

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Anyone who is being worked with by the Lord will be brought to the priests of God. The first thing they are going to be told about, Lord willing, is the sacrifice that Jesus made for the sins of the entire world.

That is what this brass altar is all about. It is the power of God to bring all to salvation. The blood had to be spread on the horns of the altar, and the horns represent the power of the Lord.

Psa 89:15  Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
Psa 89:16  In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
Psa 89:17  For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

The horns are on 4 corners of this square altar and 4 is the whole of whatever is being talked about. So, the power of God covers the whole of humanity.

All of this sounds good and well, but what do we say or explain to someone who is suffering the wrath of God in their lives even if they do not understand it as such?

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

Eph 5:4  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Eph 5:5  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Col 3:8  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Col 3:9  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

The difference the “you who were dead in trespasses and sins” are form the words is the KNOELWEDGE of the WHY this these things happen to us. This is what BUILDS the obedience through suffering.

The Truth is that we would all much rather avoid the suffering part altogether if there was any other way that the Lord could work it out for us. Even Jesus Christ’s flesh reacted the same way!

Mat 26:39  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Mat 26:40  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mat 26:42  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

The first thing you see as you go into the tabernacle, as a general Israelite, is the brazen alter so that SACRIFICE can take place. Jesus is our altar always. The altar is the cross.

This is the FIRST thing a sinner would see going into the tabernacle. The tabernacle is surrounded by linen walls so that there is only one entrance into the tabernacle outer court and then into the inner court. Death at the brass feet of Jesus is the requirement for sin, but that is as far as a sinner can be taken until they are moving into the spiritual understanding of the Word. This represents  the Christ and Him crucified that Paul speaks about in 1 Corinthians.

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

However, there is a golden altar of incense in the “holies area” which was between the “holy of holies” and the “holies” area. This altar is different in that there was still blood placed on the horns of this GOLDEN altar, but this is where incense is offered day and night. Why is that significant compared to the brazen altar made of brass?

Psa 141:1  A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
Psa 141:2  Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Psa 141:3  Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Rev 8:2  And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
Rev 8:3  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4  And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
Rev 8:5  And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Our connection is significant to the Lord when we move beyond the first altar, which brings us to the feet of Christ, to where we have a direct connection to Him via the golden altar and the incense of our prayers. That is why the incense burns day and night and the prayers of the saints happen without ceasing.

Once an atonement for sin has been made by telling others why they have been dragged to the feet of Christ, the altar, then we can move on to telling and showing them the next parts of the tabernacle which are closer to the mercy seat.

Num 21:8  And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Num 21:9  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Joh 3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Joh 8:28  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak THESE THINGS.

Joh 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Why and how is Jesus the altar?

Lev 4:32  And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.
Lev 4:33  And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.
Lev 4:34  And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:

Gal 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.

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

Connecting the sacrifice on the altar, with the cross where the ultimate sacrifice of the spotless Lamb took place, what does this altar represent to those who KNOW what the altar is? It is all about renewing our minds to the KNOWLEDGE of what our lives NOW represent to God.

All of the world suffers in so many ways. The days of all of our lives are filled with suffering or the knowledge of the suffering of others and we all ask ourselves why this is and how the Lord could “allow” this to happen, but we have knowledge of the “why” because the Lord has brought us to the Light out of darkness.

This knowledge, of knowing Jesus Christ and God the Father, is ETERNAL LIFE!

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Joh 17:1  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Joh 17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

We are given the knowledge that this flesh is NOTHING and though we will all die due to the wages of sin, we will be with our Lord. Because we die daily NOW, we also live our lives NOW with a renewed mind to make our sufferings count for something and not just suffer as the world suffers. We desire to suffer for righteousness sake!

1Pe 3:12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1Pe 3:13  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1Pe 3:14  But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

In our suffering we have something to give to others and that is the SERVICE to them of showing them what the mind of Christ is.

Php 2:1  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
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.
Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We have also been given His name and when we represent Jesus Christ as ambassadors we will be able to share His love and the rest of the fruits of the Spirit which we have been given to share WITH OTHERS.

Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev 3:13  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.