Therefore, it should be painfully clear to all of us that witnessing miracles in the New Testament in no way whatever of itself serves to change the vengeful carnal minds and hearts of anyone. Israel of the old Testament was no more converted by witnessing miracles than “the Israel of God” is in the New Testament (Gal 6:15-16).

It is only if we are strengthened to ‘give our backs to the smiters’ that we will also be given the faith to truly believe that:

Pro 16:32  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Joh 7:17  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

When “the Lord God… helps [us]” to trust in Him for our protection, this is what we are told is true:

Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 
Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

It is not humanly possible to “be content” when we are being abused and persecuted for His name’s sake. It is not humanly possible to “be content when we are in extreme pain, but if we are granted to ‘give our backs to the smiters, and our cheeks to those who pluck out our beard’ and if we are given to be willing to be ‘mocked and spat upon’ then we, like our Lord, will be “hated of all men for [His name’s sake”, and we will be qualified to be in the Lord’s kingdom:

Mat 10:17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 
Mat 10:18  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 
Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Like our Lord, we will also be strengthened to remain faithful to Him, even while it appears to this world that they have overcome us and have shamed us before men and made us to look foolish before the people of this world.

Mat 27:39  And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 
Mat 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.
Mat 27:41  Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
Mat 27:42  He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 
Mat 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.

“Save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross” is the taunt of our carnal mind. A much better plan is to “suffer with Christ” and be ‘resurrected from the dead with Him’:

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.
Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

It is of utmost importance that we notice we must “endure to the end” in order to be saved. We cannot ‘obey the Lord’ as we see fit and expect Him to just go along with our own interpretation of His commandments and our own definition of being obedient to His Word as King Saul did when the Lord sent him to annihilate the Amalekites and destroy all their possessions:

1Sa 15:3  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

This is our self-righteous old man’s way of obeying those commandments from the Lord:

1Sa 15:8  And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
1Sa 15:9  But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

If we act like King Saul, the Old Testament type of the spirit of Babylon within us, it will be a work of the Lord which He will and does work in all of us. The Lord does not play mind games. He is not manipulated by us. To the contrary, it is we who are manipulated by Him who “works all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph 1:11).

We reason that our way is better than His way, and that the Lord will be grateful for our disobedient generosity.

The Lord has made all things for Himself, and that includes His own adversary, and it even includes those whom He sends to oppose us:

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

As we have seen repeatedly, the Lord knows those who are His and He will help and preserve us:

Isa 41:9  Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Isa 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isa 41:11  Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 

Isa 49:15  Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Our study today will end with that same promise to those who are given to hear the voice of the True Shepherd, and who are granted the strength to “endure to the end” all the shame and persecution and pain of this present time:

Isa 50:9  Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
Isa 50:10  Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
Isa 50:11  Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

“The Lord will help me” is the doctrine of Christ. We do not help Him. When we attempt to help him, and when we exact vengeance upon those who oppress or attack or in any way offend us and fail to show us respect, we are robbing the Lord of His glory, and we are telling Him how we will obey Him just as King Saul told the prophet Samuel:

1Sa 15:12  And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
1Sa 15:13  And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. 
1Sa 15:14  And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

Like King Saul, we just naturally disobey the Lord, all the while telling ourselves we are doing the right thing. The Truth remains that we have demonstrated we despise the commandment of the Lord, and we have demonstrated that we are incapable of fearing the Lord and being obedient to Him. We demonstrate before ourselves and the whole world that we fear the people more than we fear God. We rob the Lord of His glory, and we think we can produce spiritual fruit without being obedient to him. That is the homosexual spirit which has ruled all of us in our own time and which is being revealed to be in all men who think that vengeance belongs to us instead of the Lord.

Deu 32:35  To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

Deu 32:41  If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.

Deu 32:43  Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

We have no business calling ourselves ‘Christian’ when we fear men more than to tremble at His Word:

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

This is what the Lord told King Saul when King Saul decided that his way of obeying the Lord was better than the Lord’s commandments:

1Sa 15:17  And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
1Sa 15:18  And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
1Sa 15:19  Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
1Sa 15:20  And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
1Sa 15:21  But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

King Saul is the Old Testament type of us while we are in Babylon where we think like King Saul that we can “kindle [our own] fire and compass ourselves about with sparks.” Look closely at what the Lord tells us about such a homosexual spirit, which thinks it can produce fruit without having Christ as our head:

Isa 50:11  Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

Here is “the light of [our] fire”:

Mat 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

‘Our light’ is really nothing more than the lies of Babylon and can produce only what the Lord has decreed:  “This ye shall have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow”. A we were told in the preceding chapter, as the Lord’s chosen special people, He does not leave us in that sad state:

Isa 49:14  But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Isa 49:15  Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. 
Isa 49:16  Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

That is our study for today. Here are our verses for our next study in Isaiah 51:

Isa 51:1  Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
Isa 51:2  Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
Isa 51:3  For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
Isa 51:4  Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.
Isa 51:5  My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/studies-in-psalms-psa-10430-35-i-will-be-glad-in-the-lord-part-8/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=studies-in-psalms-psa-10430-35-i-will-be-glad-in-the-lord-part-8 Fri, 04 May 2018 14:46:12 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=16147 Psa 104:30-35 “I will be glad in the LORD”, Part 8

Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Psa 104:31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
Psa 104:32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
Psa 104:33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Psa 104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
Psa 104:35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

This last section of our study entitled “I will be glad in the LORD” commences with the two verses that explain how that gladness is made possible in the lives of those with whom He is working. “Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth” and “The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works“. It is God’s work, in which He delights within his creation, and he shares in that joyful process with us as we are shown in His word.

1Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
1Th 2:20 For ye are our glory and joy.

What could be more joyous and reassuring than to know that our all-powerful Father’s purpose is to take His workmanship and bring it unto perfection on the third day so that we can enter into His joy. These following verses remind us that we are God’s joy, and when we mature and share the gospel with others, that is our joy, knowing that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

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

Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation [cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow]; and uphold me with thy free spirit. [Rom 8:14, 2Co 3:17-18]

Notice that it is Christ and His body, the “I shall be perfected” part of Luke 13:32, who are being perfected on the third day [all in Adam in time in other words], and that the “I do cures to day and to morrow” is speaking symbolically (Mat 13:34) of the day of the Lord for the elect and the day of the Lord for the rest of the body of Christ, a witness (2) that all of humanity will come to see their need for a physician to cure them (Luk 5:31) and bring them unto perfection on the third day, the day that symbolically represents when we go unto perfection through the process of judgment (3).

Psa 43:4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God [After we are healed by God’s word, then we go “unto the altar of God” (Luk 15:17-18)]

Psa 45:13 The king’s daughter is all glorious within [Joh 17:13, 1Jn 2:16]: her clothing is of wrought gold [Rev 19:7].

Psa 45:14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework [Exo 36:35, Heb 10:20, Rev 21:2]: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
Psa 45:15 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.
Psa 45:16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth (Isa 2:3, Mic 4:2, Oba 1:21, Isa 60:3).
Psa 45:17 I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever (Rev 2:17, Rev 3:9).

Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

It is an amazing reality to think about, to know that you will never be tired again, that we will never lack for energy and a desire to praise and serve God and each other, together with the body of Christ worshiping Him and experiencing this great gladness that will flow from us like rivers of living waters, even as it does in earnest today. The knowledge that He has shown us in mercy is sanctifying us and making us one body through His spirit, as He brings us unto perfection on the third day. We therefore say three times “Holy, holy, holy, [thankful for the process of sanctification] Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come” knowing that it is more blessed to give, and to lay down our life today, and so we sing these praises toward God believing that our experience of being sanctified first will be used to help bring in the rest of humanity, and that these praises will continue on.

Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Psa 145:1 David’s Psalm of praise. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
Psa 145:2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Chapter 17 of the book of Revelation speaks of the sealing process that the Israel of God will go through [God’s elect, are typified by Israel who is made up of Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Nepthalim, Manasses, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zabulon, Joseph and Benjamin who collectively make up the symbolic number of 144,000 which represents the foundation of God’s government (Rev 7:4)]. Ultimately all of humanity will be washed by the blood of the lamb and arrayed in white robes which typify His righteousness within us: “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:1-17).

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

God’s elect must endure all that is written in chapter six of Revelation through Christ (Rev 6:1-17), and have all those seals poured out upon them, and as a result of that suffering they must endure, that much tribulation, that “washing of water by the word”, which is His judgment upon us, we can then know that we have been prepared of the Lord to rule and reign under Him (Eph 5:26, 2Ti 2:12).

Having done all and standing is to be wearing the whole suit of armour God provides so (Eph 6:13, Rev 19:7), we can be used by Christ to help wash the great unwashed masses of this world (Isa 1:16). Without the seals and the trumpets and the vials being poured out upon ourselves first, we could not put on the whole armour of God and stand or be that bride “his wife hath made herself ready” and therefore the question is asked “who shall be able to stand“? The answer is: those who have gone through the day of the Lord as explained in the verses in this chapter 6 that precedes verse 17 (Rev 6:1-16).

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.

Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Being able to stand is all connected to our joy in the Lord, our gladness in the Lord, knowing that in Him and through Him, we are more than conquerors (Rom 8:37) who are now able to minister His judgments on “the four corners of the earth” within ourselves first and ultimately as kings and priests on all the nations of this world one day (Rev 7:1, Rev 1:6, Rev 5:10). The number of angels that are doing this work are said to be standing in the same verse that comes after the judgments spoken of in Revelation chapter six, and so the Lord is telling us this is our inheritance in Him to bring the rest of the world into maturity just as He has already done in us, if we are blessed to endure unto the end and be found in the blessed and holy first resurrection where it will be more blessed to give this saving knowledge of our Lord that we have already received through the church.

Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

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,
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

The verses we will examine in this study point to the sovereign power of God which brings us to a place of spiritual healing where we can stand in Him and experience the joy and gladness of knowing that His purpose for us will stand, as it will for the rest of humanity.

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

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:

Psa 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

God sends forth His word (Psa 107:20) which is spirit (Joh 6:63) and “they are created”. Now whether the “they” in this verse are Adam and Eve being physically created, or the “they” are the marred vessels being made anew in the Potter’s hands as the second Adam, both are created by God and for His purpose of showing us that He is the one who “renewest the face of the earth”.

When we hear the word of God, we are blessed (Mat 13:16) because we are becoming that renewed creation in him as we receive that word or seed that must die daily (Joh 12:24, 1Co 15:31). We are being given power to bring all our thoughts into subjection unto God through Christ (2Co 10:5). That is the sanctification process that we rejoice in and sing “holy holy holy” for: the Lord granting us eyes and ears in this age to come out of the “earth earth earth” or the world (Rev 18:4, Jer 22:29).

The same Strong’s number is used in Jer_22:29, Gen 1:1 and Gen 3:19:^G1093 — for earth and dust, telling us we are the marred vessel of dust and the earth that needs to have our heavens cleansed through a judgment (1Pe 1:1-8), which can only be effective if we are hearing the word of the Lord and abiding or continuing in those words (Joh 8:31-32).

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth^G1093. [and both were marred]

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust^G1093 thou art, and unto dust^G1093 shalt thou return.

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.

Psa 104:31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

What God has started in us will have no ending because “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isa 9:7). As mentioned at the beginning of the study, part of our joy or gladness comes in knowing that we will never grow weary in the Lord in our newly resurrected bodies, and even today He brings us to a point where we can rejoice and be glad in the Lord for “his wonderful works”. He is doing those works within us both to will and to do (Php 2:13) so God’s elect can be blessed to have our eyes set on the prize of the mark of the high calling. The joy that is set before us is being able to share in the fulness of that relationship, seeing the Lord face to face in each other and no longer only in part.

Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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

Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Psa 104:32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

The imagery presented in this verse explains the need for the Lord to look upon us in our weakened state so that we know how vulnerable we are in these weak vessels of clay that He is making his strength perfect through.

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly [“I will be glad in the LORD“] therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We tremble in our flesh at the prospect of disappointing our Father, and yet he tells us that’s exactly what we’re going to do (Isa 63:17), until we don’t (Joh 8:36), and then we have peace in knowing that he has worked the whole process both to will and to do as he brings us closer to Him through our weaknesses and trials which bring us to cry out for deliverance; a deliverance that he promises will come as these following verses tell us (we are the widow and the fatherless child in God’s eyes coming out of Babylon and being delivered.

Exo 22:22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
Exo 22:23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;

Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Psa 91:14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
Psa 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
Psa 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

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.

God created the hills within us, and He “toucheth the hills, and they smoke” which symbolically represents the living sacrifice which we are being dragged to the altar (Rom 12:1), which is the cross where Christ gives us the power to put off our flesh through the fiery trials which humble us in this age (Exo 19:18, 1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:17).

Psa 104:33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

When we are convinced that God has “set his love upon me”, when we believe that we are the redeemed of the Lord, when his spirit bears witness that we are his sons (Rom 8:16), then we will “sing praise to my God while I have my being“, a praise which He is perfecting in the saints, in the elect, which is typified in these verses below and is another reason why Christ says we must become as children to inherit the kingdom of God; children who have perfected praise.

Mat 21:15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
Mat 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

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

Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

It is humbling to know that God looks at us as the weak of the world, the “not many noble” brethren, but that should only make us all the more grateful for His ways which don’t depend on the arm of man, and to know that we are in His care “while I have my being”. It should give us great reason to rejoice in the Lord, and “again I say rejoice” (Php 4:4), because you are the apple of His eye and the first to know of His great love within us, which makes our hope in him real and tangible and not something of which we are ashamed.

1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Ecc 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

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 (Ecc 9:11):
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

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 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Psa 104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Our meditation of God is sweetest when we think about those things that are above (Col 3:2-3, Php 4:8-9), and that is one of the most important parts of our fighting a good fight of faith, not loving the world or the things that are in this world that are not of the Father (1Jn 2:15-17).

If God will grant that we continue to work together toward that goal of losing our life so that we may find it in him (1Co 3:9, Mat 10:39) as we die daily together, we will not only find and know God and Christ (Joh 17:3), but we will find each other in that blessed and holy first resurrection together as a family ready to be about our Father’s business of saving the rest of humanity, who will be saved through Christ and His Christ (1Co 15:22). I mentioned on a study some time ago that the saving of the physical world from destruction is a type and shadow of what we will do as the body of Christ for the rest of humanity, and that is the reason we have gladness in the Lord knowing that he loves all mankind that much and is giving us a joyous part in this incredible process of salvation.

Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

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.

Psa 104:35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

The last verse in our study explains how “I will be glad in the LORD”: it is by having sins consumed out of my earth, and the wickedness no more, so that I can bless the LORD, and praise Him. The world without can’t experience this joy just yet, and it is this process of judgement upon us (1Pe 4:17) that brings joy to God’s kind of first fruits (that judgment ripens us Jas 1:18).

We will be instrumental in delivering the world from all the sadness, all the tears, and all the sorrow that we will be blessed to wipe away, and will have experience in our own life to various degrees so that we can fulfill our role of being saviours (Psa 30:5, Psa 126:5, Joh 6:44). The world will finally cry out to God and be saved by those humbled saviours who will come up on Mount Zion, and that is a great reason to be “glad in the LORD” (Oba 1:21).

We must be consumed out of the earth, along with the wicked who cannot be anymore (Eze 24:10, 2Ti 2:12, Act 14:22). We are the weak of the earth whom God has mercifully predestinated to save in advance of all the world (Rom 11:31-32, Eph 1:4), and that knowledge brings us to say “bless thou the LORD, O my soul” and “Praise ye the LORD” because of His unfathomable love toward us. It is His love shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5) which enables us to rejoice and say with all confidence “I will be glad in the LORD”.

Jos 3:17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

Jos 4:11 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.

Eze 22:14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.
Eze 22:15 And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.

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.

Next week, Lord willing, we will start a little mini-series compiled from all the emails which God gave us through our elders regarding the second resurrection, as I mentioned in a recent email I sent to the body.

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/studies-in-psalms-psa-141-7-sanctified-and-meet-for-the-masters-use/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=studies-in-psalms-psa-141-7-sanctified-and-meet-for-the-masters-use Sun, 12 Feb 2017 01:08:43 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=13343 Psalms 14:107 “Sanctified, and meet for the master’s use”

Psa 14:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psa 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
Psa 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Psa 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
Psa 14:5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
Psa 14:6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
Psa 14:7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” and God tells us straightway in this Psalm what the fruit of that unbelief produces as the abominable works spring forth from a corrupt earth that cannot inherit eternal life.

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

We can’t partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and be strengthened spiritually by the experience when Christ is not in the picture (the tree of life, who comes forth from the earth as well). When we read the effect that looking at and partaking of the tree had upon Eve (who is a type of the church) without the discerning mind of Christ within her, not yet connected to the vine (the vine and tree of life are one and the same – Christ), it is very clear that her senses have not been exercised to discern the good and evil of this tree and she can only be enamoured by what this knowledge can do for her personal gain, being a marred vessel in the hand of the Potter as we all start off, not yet made anew.

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

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.

Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Without Christ’s discerning mind yet present within us there will be no strong meat received because it takes Christ in us, the hope of glory, and the experience of having our faith tried through Christ, the sharp two edged sword, that brings us to have minds that can “who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil”.

Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
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.

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:

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:

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

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.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil reveals the destructive nature of our flesh (Rom 7:7-8), and the inability to partake of that fruit maturely without Christ ruling and reigning in our hearts (Mat 7:18). There is a difference between knowing good and evil, and being able to discern both good and evil.

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

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.

Mat 7:18 A good tree [the tree of life Christ] cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is not a good tree, but represents the law for the lawless (1Ti 1:9) that is very good for what it was intended to do (Gen 1:31), to be a schoolmaster (Gal 3:24)]

When we know good and evil and yet cannot rightly divide the word of God which has good and evil within it, or light and darkness that God created, then we stumble and fall back and become ensnared, not spiritually benefitting (Rom 14:23) from this tree of the knowledge of good and evil which can only be partaken for our benefit once we have matured through receiving the faith (Gal 3:24) that the tree of life gives along with the ability to continue to endure in that faith that gets tried so that we can rightly divide or discern the fruit of good and evil. This rightly dividing of the word that can then quicken us is likened unto strong meat that we need as God’s people to be able go without the camp with our Lord to fulfill our Father’s will.

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Isa 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

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

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.

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.

Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

If you contrast that thought of the fool who does not “believe” God in his heart of verse one, with Christ telling us that to do the works of God we must “believe” and continue in the truth of John 8:32, we are given the key as to how and why we can lay up treasure in heaven and not on earth as Christ works in us both to will and to do, this work of patiently enduring and possessing our souls as we hear the word of God, or believe the word of God, being given to us through the voice of the good shepherd (Joh 10:14).

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.

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

God’s elect believe that God has purposed every event under the sun, or under the Son of righteousness (Ecc 1:9, Mal 4:2) and that the world lives and moves and has their being in him (Act 17:28). We also believe that all those events are working together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). As our discernment grows in the Lord, we can see that purpose working together for all of His creation, including the other fold who will one day understand the vision that God provided through His mighty counsel so that His people could be given “a more sure word of prophecy” that would give them vision in a world that is promised to wax worse and worse (Eph 1:11, Pro 29:18, Mat 24:12)

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:

God will take all humanity in time from being the fool who says in his heart that there is no God to revealing that “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”

Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life come out of the ground, and out of the same earth. Both were created by God and are represented by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. That pillar of cloud and pillar of fire was the means by which God gave perception or vision or took it away from others, and reminds us that we like Israel of old are completely at the mercy of God, His children today rely solely on Him to provide everything we need through Christ to endure until the end (Php 4:13, Mat 24:13, Heb 1:7, Heb 12:1, Rev 11:3, Rev 3:11).

Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

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.

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.

Exo 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

In the end all people will acknowledge “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works”, and we hope that this study will strenghthen us and help us see the certain hope that we have with God as our helper through this process of becoming vessels unto honour, pillars of a cloud, and pillars of fire “sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work”.

Psa 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Psa 14:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

As discussed in the introduction, God makes us the fool who says in his heart, “there is no God”, and the end result of that unbelief is corruption and abominable works that bear witness that none of us can do good unless the Lord tears down the old house and builds the new one on the foundation of Christ.

Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Psa 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

This is not a rebuild of the old man like we see over and over with the reformation of churches in this world, but true reformation that comes through Christ alone who destroys the first temple and builds the new one described symbolically as something that will take three days to bring unto perfection.

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

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

The fool is anyone who does not believe, or who did believe and then stopped believing, and this is a work of God that proves his Sovereignty to give us faith to believe or to take that faith away, and so we see throughout his work the need to be grateful and ever mindful that it is the Lord who is keeping us and building the house unto the glory of God.

Heb 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Heb 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Joh 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Here’s a closer look at the word “foolH5036” in this verse, giving us a clear view of where we all start.

Total KJV Occurrences: 18
•fool, 7
2Sa_3:33; Psa_14:1; Psa_53:1; Pro_17:7; Pro_17:21; Pro_30:22; Jer_17:11 •foolish, 5
Deu_32:6; Deu_32:21; Psa_39:8; Psa_74:18; Eze_13:3
•fools, 2
2Sa_13:13; Job_30:8
• [foolish] man, 1
Psa_74:22
• [vile] person, 2
Isa_32:5; Isa_32:6
• [foolish] women, 1
Job_2:10

Psa 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

God knows our hearts, and knows how much we believe, or understand, or if we are seeking him. He inhabits all of the creation and nothing is hidden from Him, so the goal for his people is to become a body that has a singleness of mind that, by the grace and faith of Christ, will continue to believe all things, and continue to lean not unto our own understanding.

Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
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.
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

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.
Pro 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

The “children of men” represent the entire world that has been deceived by the devil and lying in wickedness, a situation that God uses for the express purpose of demonstrating His power and might over that wickedness just as He did in Egypt unto Pharoah who represents the god of this world.

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Psa 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

This does not include Christ who never sinned (Heb 4:15), however Christ did admit that there was nothing good within him (Mar 10:18), and that it was the Father working in him both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Joh 5:30) just as it is with the body of Christ which is the church and the dwelling where Christ is fulfilling the will of the Father within us both to will and to do (Joh 15:5, Eph 5:30, Php 2:13).

Until that relationship is granted with Christ, we “are all gone aside” and are “become filthy” needing to be cleansed by the blood of Christ, who will take us from that state of “none that doeth good, no, not one” to someone who is “a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work”.

1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? (Luk 17:21) Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2Ti 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

Psa 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

Isaiah 3:1 gives us a clear answer as to whether or not any of the “workers of iniquity” have any knowledge.

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,

We can eat the bread of life positively (Joh 6:48, Php 3:10, 1Co 10:16) or we can not discern the Lord’s body and miss out on the occasion to do that when we come together (1Co 11:18-29).

His purpose, which should always be ours, is to have us break His bread and call upon the LORD. Coming together must be for the express purpose of having true communion and comunication that is Christ centered, and we pray that God will continue to grant His people to do that today (Mal 3:16, Heb 10:25) in contrast to those “who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD”

Psa 14:5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

The contrast is always amazing in God’s word and in the life of those who he is working with, which reveals the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud working in our life, or the severity and goodness of God accomplishing His purpose which will not fail.

Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

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?

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:

We are of the generation who He is bringing unto perfection through the fiery judgements He places on us. That fire should cause great fear for our first man Adam who we know cannot inherit the kingdom. Knowing these things are going to come upon our earth what manner of people ought we to be in all fear and Godly reverence obeying God from a pure heart so that we can be cleased and blessed to narrowly escape from this untoward generation, as Christ describes it.

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?

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

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^G4747 shall melt with fervent heat?

G4747 Total KJV Occurrences: 7
elements, 4 Gal_4:3, Gal_4:9, 2Pe_3:10, 2Pe_3:12
rudiments, 2 Col_2:8, Col_2:20
principles, 1 Heb_5:12

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

Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Psa 14:6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.

We will be shamed by this world for believing what we believe (1Pe 4:4), but Christ was shamed as well, and together through our Lord we can continue to despise that shame and look unto”the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame“.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

The LORD and his body is truly our “refuge” in this evil world that we will not find rest in. This rest will only be found in our Lord and His Christ.

Luk 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Luk 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Psa 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Psa 14:7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

This last verse of Psalm 14 will happen after God makes us a people “Sanctified, and meet for the master’s use” who are able to come up on mount Zion “to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S”.

2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Oba 1:21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

As we mentioned in the introduction earlier in this study:

“We can’t partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and be
strengthened spiritually by the experience when Christ is not in the picture” …Mat 7:18…

Throughout the verses of this Psalm, we see the subtle hints of words such as ‘understand^H7919‘ and ‘knowledge^H3045, ‘counsel^H6098‘, and their use revealed in other sections of God’s word shows us the negative ‘fool part’ of our life when we had those words wrapped around the idols of our hearts. When God’s word is rightly divided it is a tree of life unto us revealing other definitions of these words that demonstrate that point very well:

Psa 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand^H7919, and seek God.

‘understand^H7919‘ of verse 2 – Total KJV Occurrences: 70

wise, 12, wisely, 8 prudent, 2 wisdom, 2 prudently, 1
Gen_3:6, Job_22:2, Psa_2:10, Psa_36:3, Psa_94:8, Pro_10:5, Pro_10:19, Pro_14:35, Pro_15:24, Dan_12:2-3 (2), Dan_12:10
1Sa_18:5, 1Sa_18:14-15 (2), 1Sa_18:30, Psa_64:9, Psa_101:2, Pro_16:20, Pro_21:12, 1Sa_18:5, 1Sa_18:14-15 (2), 1Sa_18:30, Psa_101:2
Pro_19:14, Amo_5:13
Job_34:35, Pro_1:3
Isa_52:13

understand, 9 understanding, 5 understood, 2 understandeth, 1
1Ch_28:19, Neh_8:13, Psa_53:2 (2), Isa_41:20, Isa_44:18, Dan_9:13, Dan_9:25, Dan_11:3
Psa_47:7, Psa_119:99, Pro_21:16, Jer_3:15, Dan_11:35
Deu_32:29, Psa_106:7
Jer_9:23-24 (2)

prosper, 6 prospered, 1 prospereth, 1 success, 1
Deu_29:9, Jos_1:7, 1Ki_2:3, Jer_10:21, Jer_20:11, Jer_23:5 2Ki_18:7
Pro_17:7-8 (2)
Jos_1:8

consider, 2 considereth, 2
Job_34:27, Psa_64:9 Psa_41:1, Pro_21:12

instruct, 2 instructed, 1 taught, 1 teacheth, 1
Neh_9:20, Psa_32:8 Pro_21:11 2Ch_30:22 Pro_16:22-23 (2)

skill, 2 expert, 1 skilful, 1 wittingly, 1
Dan_1:17, Dan_9:22 Jer_50:9
Dan_1:4
Gen_48:14

Psa 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge^H3045? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

‘knowledge^H3045 of verse 4 – Total KJV Occurrences: 930

know, 429 known, 105 knew, 82 knowest, 66 knoweth, 59 knowledge, 19 acknowledge, 5
perceive, 6 perceived, 11

…and showing some negative examples of the word knowledge….

prognosticators, 1: Isa_47:13
ignorant, 3: Psa_73:22, Isa_56:10, Isa_63:16
cunning, 4: Gen_25:27, 1Sa_16:16, 1Sa_16:18, Dan_1:4

…adding to what the ‘fool’ is and does and how vile, corruptness and evil belong to the heart of the fool^H5036 who is without the experience of Christ who grows us up into wisdom through the many things we endure through this life.

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

That process of enduring until the end will be the hardest journey anyone of us will ever have to endure, but we will not do it alone, we will do it as one body asking our Father for what we need, asking in Christ’s name, and knowing that He will be able to answer us “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us”

Joh 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Joh 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/psalms-743-10-o-god-how-long-shall-the-adversary-reproach-part-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=psalms-743-10-o-god-how-long-shall-the-adversary-reproach-part-2 Tue, 09 Aug 2016 19:59:04 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=12233 Psalms 74:3-10 “O God, how long shall the adversary reproach?” – Part 2

We will once again look at the absolute sovereignty that God has over the good and evil, both within and without of ourselves, and how He uses the light and darkness of this evil experience to humble and to reveal to us who He is preparing in this age to become kings and priests who must endure through this suffering in order to learn how to judge a matter correctly.

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.

God never intended for this walk to be easy, but rather to be ‘narrow’ and ‘trying’ so as to go unto perfection ‘on the third day’ and be enabled to give all the glory unto God who prevails in finishing His workmanship of forming the mind of Christ within those who will be used to judge the world, men and angels alike. (Luk 13:32, Rev 1:6, 1Co 6:2-3)

The reproach that we feel along the way is part and parcel of that process, and we must grow in grace and in knowledge and in our ability to discern spirits and properly judge a matter. God will continue to challenge us in the measure that we are able to endure as we go from glory to glory in an obedience that is growing within us as we learn through the things which we suffer (Heb 5:8).

It is instructive to remember that evil men will wax worse and worse at the end of the age, and as it says in the book of Timothy, people will be lovers of themselves.

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

This progression of deception and false prophets is increasing as Christ said it would in Matthew as well as 2Ti 3:13. And this is paralleled in the type and shadow of Lot (nephew to Abraham), Ishmael (older half brother to Isaac), and Esau (older twin brother to Jacob), who are progressively harder to differentiate/determine as not being the true seed, by way of the physical similarities, which if not tried and tested could go unnoticed. But again we are reassured that the gates of hell which this false seed represents will not prevail against Isaac who represents the seed of promise.

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves.

Mat 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.

Rom 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

As I mentioned earlier, in this study we will once again look at the absolute sovereignty that God has over the good and evil both within and without of ourselves, and how he uses the enemies’ reproach to mature a few in this age, enabling them to bring the rest of humanity unto the place of being mature sons.

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
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,
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Psa 74:3 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
Psa 74:4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
Psa 74:5 A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
Psa 74:6 But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
Psa 74:7 They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
Psa 74:8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
Psa 74:9 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
Psa 74:10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

Psa 74:3 Lift up^H7311 thy feet^H6471 unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.

[Lift upH7311 is to exalt and thy feetH6471 is as time, or oftentime, or now: in other words, there is an urgent cry being made here in this verse]

This is speaking to “thy congregation” of verse two who plead that God will remember and cleanse all that “the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary”. The english words translated from the Strong’s numbers for ‘lift up’ and ‘thy feet’ does not evoke the urgent cry to hasten the work to be accomplished, as these following verses do.

Psa 35:17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

The “perpetual^H5331 desolations^H4876” are “constant” “ruin” in our former days and time of first man Adam, and when we come to see them, we do cry out for God to ‘rise up’ ‘now‘ or ‘right now’ or ‘at this time’ to make right the works that shall be burned up.

Job 30:2 Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?
Job 30:3 For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.

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?

So we continue to see the sound pattern of our God who is longsuffering and full of mercy. He will bring us into remembrance as we can bear it step by step (Psa 37:23, Deu 7:22), but it is certain (Dan 2:45) and being done in order (1Co 14:33) for us to give an accounting for the wicked things we have done in this life, but once that process that consumes us is done, it is done (Heb 12:2, Joh 2:17, Jas 1:15, Joh 19:30)
Lift up ^{H7311 [HGH8685]}

– Original: רu^H1493 ּu^H1501
– Transliteration: Ruwm
– Phonetic: room
– Definition:
d. (Hiphil) [HGH8685]
1. to raise, lift, lift up, take up, set up, erect, exalt, set on high 2. to lift up (and take away), remove
3. to lift off and present, contribute, offer, contribute

– Origin: a primitive root – TWOT entry: 2133
– Part(s) of speech: Verb
– Strong’s: A primitive root; to be high actively to rise or raise (in various applications literally or figuratively): – bring up exalt (self) extol give go up haughty heave (up) (be lift up on make on set up on too) high (-er one) hold up levy lift (-er) up (be) lofty (X a-) loud mount up offer (up) + presumptuously (be) promote (-ion) proud set up tall (-er) take (away off up) breed worms.

Total KJV Occurrences: 193
exalted, 28
1Sa_2:1, 2Sa_22:47, 1Ki_14:7, 1Ki_16:2, 2Ki_19:22, Neh_9:5, Psa_12:8, Psa_13:2, Psa_18:46, Psa_21:13, Psa_46:10 (2), Psa_57:5, Psa_57:11, Psa_75:10, Psa_89:16-17 (2), Psa_89:19, Psa_89:24, Psa_108:5, Psa_112:9, Pro_11:11, Isa_30:18, Isa_33:10, Isa_37:23, Isa_49:11, Isa_52:13, Hos_13:6
high, 25
Exo_14:8, Num_33:3, Deu_12:2, Deu_32:27, 2Sa_22:49, Job_21:22, Job_22:12, Job_38:15, Psa_18:27 (2), Psa_78:69, Psa_89:13, Psa_99:2, Psa_113:4, Pro_24:6-7 (2), Isa_2:13-14 (2), Isa_6:1, Isa_57:15, Eze_6:13, Eze_17:22, Eze_20:28, Eze_31:4, Eze_34:6
lift, 18
Gen_7:17, Gen_14:22, Gen_41:44, Exo_14:16, 1Ch_25:5, Ezr_9:6, Job_38:34, Psa_75:3-5 (3), Psa_110:7, Isa_10:15 (2), Isa_40:9 (2), Isa_58:1, Isa_62:10, Eze_21:22
exalt, 17
Exo_15:2, 1Sa_2:10, Job_17:4, Psa_34:3, Psa_37:34, Psa_66:7, Psa_92:10, Psa_99:5, Psa_99:9, Psa_107:32, Psa_118:28, Psa_140:8, Isa_13:2, Isa_14:13, Isa_25:1, Dan_11:36, Hos_11:7
lifted, 16
Gen_39:15, Gen_39:18, Exo_7:20, Num_20:11, Deu_8:14, Deu_17:20, 2Sa_22:49, 1Ki_11:26-27 (2), 2Ch_5:13, Psa_27:6, Isa_26:11, Eze_10:17, Eze_31:10, Dan_11:12, Mic_5:9
offer, 14
Exo_35:24, Lev_22:15, Num_15:19-20 (2), Num_18:19, Num_18:24, Num_18:26, Num_18:28-29 (2), Eze_45:1, Eze_45:13, Eze_48:8-9 (2), Eze_48:20
take, 11
Lev_2:9, Lev_4:19, Lev_6:10, Lev_6:15, Num_16:37, Jos_4:5, 2Ki_6:7, Isa_57:14, Eze_21:26, Eze_45:9, Hos_11:4
set, 7
Gen_31:45, Ezr_9:9, Psa_27:5, Psa_89:42, Isa_49:22, Lam_2:17, Eze_31:4 gave, 4
2Ch_30:24, 2Ch_35:7-9 (3)
lifteth, 4
1Sa_2:7-8 (2), Psa_107:25, Psa_113:7
taken, 4
Lev_4:10, Lev_4:31, Lev_4:35, Dan_8:11
exalteth, 3
Psa_148:14, Pro_14:29, Pro_14:34
heaved, 3
Exo_29:27, Num_18:30, Num_18:32
lofty, 3
Psa_131:1, Pro_30:13, Isa_2:12
tall, 3
Deu_2:10, Deu_2:21, Deu_9:2
away, 2
Eze_45:9, Dan_8:11
extol, 2
Psa_145:1 (2)
held, 2
Exo_17:11, Dan_12:7
higher, 2
Num_24:7 (2), Psa_61:2
liftest, 2
Psa_9:13, Psa_18:48
offered, 2
Num_31:52, Ezr_8:25
promotion, 2
Psa_75:6, Pro_3:35
took, 2
1Sa_9:24, 2Ki_2:13
aloud, 1
Ezr_3:12
bred, 1
Exo_16:20
bring, 1
Isa_23:4
brought, 1
Isa_1:2
give, 1
2Ch_30:24
haughty, 1
2Sa_22:28
heave, 1
Num_15:20
levy, 1
Num_31:28
lifter, 1
Psa_3:3
lifting, 1
1Ch_15:16
loud, 1
Deu_27:14
mount, 1
Eze_10:16
promote, 1
Pro_4:8
proud, 1
Pro_6:17
setteth, 1
Psa_75:7
taller, 1
Deu_1:28
went, 1
Eze_10:4

feet^H6471
– Original: פu^H1468 עu^H1502 הפu^H1468 עu^H1501
– Transliteration: Pa`am
– Phonetic: pah’-am
– Definition:

1. stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence
a. foot, hoof-beat, footfall, footstep
b. anvil
c. occurrence, time, stroke, beat
1. one time, once, twice, thrice, as time on time, at this repetition, this once, now at length, now…now, at one time…at another

– Origin: from H6470
– TWOT entry: 1793a
– Part(s) of speech: Noun Feminine
- Strong’s: From H6470; a stroke literally or figuratively (in various applications): – anvil corner foot (-step) going [hundred-] fold X now (this) + once order rank step + thrice [often-] second this two) time (-s) twice wheel.

Total KJV Occurrences: 111
times, 42
Gen_27:36, Gen_33:3, Exo_23:17, Lev_4:6, Lev_4:17, Lev_8:11, Lev_14:7, Lev_14:16, Lev_14:27, Lev_14:51, Lev_16:14, Lev_16:19, Lev_25:8, Num_24:1, Deu_1:11, Deu_16:16, Jos_6:4, Jdg_16:15 (3), Jdg_16:20, Jdg_20:30-31 (2), 1Sa_3:10, 1Sa_20:25, 1Sa_20:41, 1Ki_9:25, 1Ki_17:21, 1Ki_18:43, 1Ki_22:16, 2Ki_4:35, 2Ki_5:10, 2Ki_5:14, 2Ki_13:19, 2Ki_13:25, 1Ch_21:3, 2Ch_8:13, 2Ch_18:15, Neh_4:12, Neh_6:4, Job_19:3, Psa_106:43
time, 14
Gen_29:34, Gen_43:10, Exo_8:32, Exo_9:14, Exo_9:27, Deu_9:19, Deu_10:10, Jos_6:16, Jos_10:42, 2Sa_23:7-8 (2), 1Ch_11:11, Neh_6:5, Nah_1:9
once, 11
Gen_18:32, Exo_10:17, Jdg_6:39 (2), Jdg_16:18, Jdg_16:28, 1Sa_26:8, Neh_13:20, Isa_66:8, Jer_10:18, Jer_16:21
now, 8
Gen_2:23, Gen_29:34-35 (2), Gen_30:20, Gen_46:30, Jdg_15:3, Pro_7:12 (2)
feet, 7
2Ki_19:24, Psa_58:10, Psa_74:3, Psa_91:13, Pro_29:5, Son_7:1, Isa_37:25
twice, 5
Gen_41:32, Num_20:11, 1Sa_18:11, 1Ki_11:9, Ecc_6:6
steps, 4
Psa_57:6 (2), Psa_85:13, Psa_119:133, Isa_26:6
thrice, 4
Exo_34:23-24 (2), 2Ki_13:18-19 (2)
corners, 3
Exo_25:12, Exo_37:3, 1Ki_7:30
oftentimes, 2
Job_33:29, Ecc_7:22
ranks, 2
1Ki_7:4-5 (2)
anvil, 1
Isa_41:7
before, 1
Jdg_16:20
footsteps, 1
Psa_17:5
goings, 1
Psa_140:4
hundredfold, 1
2Sa_24:3
order, 1
Eze_41:6
this, 1
Gen_18:32
two, 1
Gen_27:36
wheels, 1
Jdg_5:28

Psa 74:4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns^H226 for signs^H226.

This ‘mark‘ or ‘ensign‘ or ‘signs‘ is the same Hebrew number H226, and the enemy setting up this flag or monument as they roar in the midst of thy congregation is reminding us of the strong delusion or miracles that God will allow to come forth from those who will do them at the end of the age.

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

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:

In other words the gates of hell will not prevail against the church within our without:

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.

Those who have the mark of the beast are the ones who will be deceived and drawn into believing that these events or signs and wonders and miracles were done to deepen the belief of what we know to be the already deceived masses who will be caused to “roar in the midst of thy congregation”.

Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

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:

It’s verses like the ones that we are reading now that remind us why it is important to be brought into remembrance that the greater works that we will do that Christ spoke of are not more physical miracles per-say, but rather the converting of those who are called and chosen to go unto maturity in this age.

Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

In order to do these greater works we need to be diligent as our Lord commanded us to try every spirit whether it is of the Lord or not.

Eze 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

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

ensigns^H226 signs^H226.
– Original: אu^H1493 ת^Hpar
– Transliteration: ‘owth
– Phonetic: oth
– Definition:
1. sign, signal
a. a distinguishing mark b. banner
c. remembrance
d. miraculous sign
e. omen
f. warning
2. token, ensign, standard, miracle, proof

– Origin: probably from H225 (in the sense of appearing)
– TWOT entry: 41a
– Part(s) of speech: Noun Feminine
– Strong’s: Probably from H225 (in the sense of appearing); a signal (literally or figuratively) as a flag beacon monument omen prodigy evidence etc.: – mark miracle (en-) sign token.

Psa 74:5 A man was famous^H3045 according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick^H5442 trees.

This cunning^H3045 enemy uses signs and wonders to deceive and cut down those who are established as “thick trees”. There can be a negative and positive way to cut down trees and in this part of the Psalm, it is the negative but in Jeremiah we read of how “The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded” as “she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north” which is where the judgement will come from upon the earth when God’s judgments are in the earth being introduced through the body of Christ.

Jer 46:22 The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.
Jer 46:23 They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.
Jer 46:24 The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.

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.

We can be deceived by the the myriad of charlatans that are in the court, but not if God will prevent this and grant that we be amongst the few who come out of her my people, again and always only by the grace and faith of Christ.

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We come back to this theme of understanding that this hewing is still the same sword and rod that is used to chasten and purify us, or as we mentioned in a couple of studies ago how God creates within us a pure heart through judging the elect first who are called to remove the beam from our own eye before we can judge all the matters that are set before us (1Co 6:2-3).

Isa 9:18, For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets^H5442 of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

Psa 74:5 A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick^H5442 trees.

Isa 10:33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.
Isa 10:34 And he shall cut down the thickets^H5442 of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.

The iron represents the word of God the axe that floats and the rod of iron that the elect will be during the millenium, and sharpening each other today as iron sharpens iron.[more on this concept below].

Psa 74:6 But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.

This verse along with the next couple of verses describe the reproach that the religious world will bring upon God’s people who are promised to be hated of all men for his name sake (his word, which is like a hammer.

Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Breaking down^H1986 carved work^H6603 with axes and hammers is simply a metaphor for attacking that which God has built up with the very things that the religious world uses to tear it down, hammers and axes which represent the word of God. When that word or hammer or axe is in the wrong hand it can wreak havoc on the house of God (Exo 39:30, 1Ki 6:29).

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

There are several connections with a staff and the effect that a servant of God has with it, the two most notable examples being with Moses in. The word of God will not overflow or swim^H6687 (in this case of the verse in 2Ki 6:6 below) without the staff and rod being lifted up and/or used as a hammer.

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

Exo 14:16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

Exo 15:25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

2Ki 6:5 And it happened that one was felling the log, and the iron fell into the water. And he cried out and said, Alas, my lord! For it was borrowed. [freely we have received, freely we give]
2Ki 6:6 And the man of God said, Where did it fall? And he made him see the place. And he cut a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float^H6687. (LITV)

The word “float” in this last verse in 2Ki 6 is the word ‘swim’ or ‘overflow’. In other words it is brought to the surface, or made manifest, just as the sin in each of us is brought forth to give an accounting. The breaking down of God’s carved work is an important step on the road to our salvation.

Jer 17:1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars; [stubborn unchanged heart of iron]

Job 33:29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,
Job 33:30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. [iron floating]

Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Job 40:5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

Psa 74:7 They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.

Another metaphor for the word of God is fire but when the unbelieving cast fire into the sanctuary it again represents those who bring down fire from heaven that deceives “the dwelling place of thy name to the ground”, which is his temple which we are. We live these words as well and in our appointed time are both the false prophet who brings those lies to the congregation or are the weaker member of the body whose spiritual house has been sought out by Satan who walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Of the 27 verses that include both Strong’s numbers for ‘ground’^H776 and ‘fire’^H784, the theme remains the same. It is all of the Lord, both the building up and the breaking down and building up again, all for good.

Exo 9:23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire^H784 ran along upon the ground^H776; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

Eze 19:12 But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground^H776, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire^H784 consumed them.

Zep 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth^H776 shall be devoured with the fire^H784 of my jealousy.
Zep 3:9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

Psa 74:8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

This is the wickedness that will increase more and more as we near the end of this age, people attacking Christ at every turn and trying to be that gate of hell that will not prevail against the church but only witness to themselves and the rest of the world that God’s plan cannot be altered or stopped.

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.
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.

Psa 74:9 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

In this case the word signs^H226 is being used in the positive sense of the word, meaning the evidence or banner of God’s love which is waxing cold because evil men are waxing worse and worse, in so much that we are not able to encourage or enlighten or comfort one another anymore with true prophecy, and no one is there to provide spiritual meat in due season which can quicken us and help us to lay hold on today because we know that today and getting through today with the encouragement that comes from God’s word and his body takes care of the question “how long”. Christ tells us that ‘today’ has enough trouble in it, and the devil always wants us to fret about the morrow or what has already come and gone and in so doing take our mind off of the very present help that Christ always is right now.

Son 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being
deceived.

Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Psa 46:1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psa 74:10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

So we come to our last verse for this study with the age old question “O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?”

The adversary will reproach just long enough, just as long as God will allow him to do the work that this reproach is meant to do in the minds and hearts of God’s people, and no the enemy within and without will not blaspheme his name for ever, nor will those who are persecuted for his name sake, which is his word that we are blessed to see and understand that are the words of eternal life.

Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Mat 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Mar 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.



]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/foundational-themes-in-genesis-study-120/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=foundational-themes-in-genesis-study-120 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 17:59:10 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=10627 Foundational Themes in Genesis – Study 120

(Key verses: Genesis 50:22-26)

We conclude our discussions on foundational themes in Genesis with the final section of this book where the death of Joseph is detailed. The theme of death is indeed the story of the first Adam, and here with the death of Joseph, certain aspects of this theme are again highlighted for us. Joseph lived in Egypt since he was seventeen years old until the time of his death at the age of a hundred and ten years – in total he lived ninety-three years in Egypt, which includes the eighty years as a ruler (Gen 37:2-36; Gen 41:46). The number eighty has the numbers eight and ten connected to it, which in spiritual terms refers respectively to the new man in Christ and the completeness of flesh. It is indeed the new man who reigns over the flesh, as Joseph also is a type of the elect and their time of rulership (Oba 1:21; 1Co 6:2-3; Rev 20:4-15):

Gen 50:22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.

During his time of rulership in Egypt, God also used Joseph to bring his own family down to Egypt. All of that was initiated when his ten brothers sold Joseph to traders, who in turn sold him as a slave in Egypt. However, the natural man cannot see that all man’s thoughts and acts are caused by God, and everyone is actually contributing to fulfill God’s purposes, whether through the good or the evil:

Pro 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Pro 20:24 Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Isa 63:17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

These truths are not accessible to the carnal mind of the natural man, and this is also what Joseph’s brothers could not grasp, even when Joseph repeatedly told them why all things happened, even the evil they committed:

Gen 50:20 But as for you [his ten brothers], ye thought evil against me; but God meant it [the evil] unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Joseph’s life, as with the lives of his family and all creation in every detail, is set up and being “worked” by God from start to finish (Eph 1:11):

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.

Joseph’s heart was fixed on God’s promises

Joseph’s fleshly offspring through his Egyptian wife, Asenath, were born and bred in Egypt as Joseph was also taken through a process of resisting the manifold temptations of Egypt:

Gen 50:23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.

Like Joseph, the elect are called by God to reckon themselves dead to the flesh with all its desires, even while living in this land of flesh:

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.

Throughout his time in Egypt, amidst all the trials and tests, Joseph’s heart was always fixed on the promises of God to his fathers. Even now on his deathbed this was still Joseph’s focus which he also wanted his family to remember:

Gen 50:24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Through God’s words to his forefathers, Joseph knew that Egypt was not the permanent dwelling place for his family and their offspring. Egypt is the type of our flesh which God never intended to be the permanent dwelling for those in the first Adam:

Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity [Greek: mataiotēs = transientness/lasting only for a short time], not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

It is indeed God who subjected this whole creation to operate in the way it does – 100% according to His plan. All physical things were “made subject to vanity”, meaning they were created in a state of transience. All things that were created within this state also operate according to this “very good” plan which God instituted from the beginning – this “very good” plan includes darkness and death:

Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Gen 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good…

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

This is the initial spiritual state of the first Adam and all in spiritual Egypt. Those who can receive it at this time rejoice in the truth that Adam and all in him were not created “in vain” to continue in this spiritual state. God’s glory will eventually fill the whole earth – even all in Adam (1Co 15:22-28). This is the promise of God:

Isa 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Num 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Hab 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Is this creation malfunctioning?

Joseph knew Egypt was part of God’s plan and that one day his family will return to the land God has promised to them. In the same sense, this flesh and all our trials and pain are necessary to teach us important spiritual lessons which we will otherwise never learn. Here are Solomon’s wise words about this earthy experience:

Ecc 1:13 (CLV) I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.
Ecc 1:14 (CLV) I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun, And behold, the whole is vanity [Hebrew: hebel – emptiness or vanity; figuratively something transitory and unsatisfactory] and a grazing on wind.

For the natural mind and those who twist the Word of God, this creation appears as malfunctioning, as they also claim that God is not responsible for this so-called chaos. Those perspectives are grounded in spiritual blindness and are not the truth which considers the sum of God’s Word (Psa 119:160). Here are a few scriptural witnesses to show us that God is indeed sovereign and responsible for all things in this creation, and nothing can function outside God’s intended purpose:

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

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Jer 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Nothing in this creation malfunctions, because nothing is out of the control of God – that is what sovereignty means. Even Satan, “the waster”, was created for a specific purpose:

Isa 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

This “waster” was a murderer and liar “from the beginning”, and God gave this adversary “power…and great authority” to deceive those in the first Adam (Gen 3:1-5; 2Sa 24:1; 1Ch 21:1; Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-6; Rev 13:2). Jesus said these words to those Jews who actually believed in him, but followed him after the flesh:

Joh 8:44 Ye [those who reason according to their carnal mind] are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Every creature is doing exactly what God wants them to do – nothing more and nothing less. It is only those who believe in the false doctrine that creatures have a so-called “free” will who will deny this truth. God can do with His creation what He “pleasures” as His counsel will stand (Isa 46:10). He does not need anyone’s permission to mar or make a vain human “pot” (a vessel “unto dishonour” and “fitted to destruction”) at first before He makes it again in spirit – “a vessel unto honour” (Rom 9:20-22):

Jer 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jer 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Jer 18:3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

This is what the sons of Israel, and all at their appointed time are learning. There is no malfunctioning in God’s works. We are all clay in the Potter’s hand.

Redemption is a process in the Potter’s hands

The physical nation of Israel which was being formed in Egypt was promised their own land, and this is what Joseph also now reiterates before his death in Egypt:

Gen 50:24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Gen 50:25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you…

This “visit” of God was, of course, first through hardships in which this physical nation was actually formed and bonded together. As the physical Israel was a type of the spiritual Israel of God, so is the physical land of promise a type of the spiritual inheritance which is fulfilled through the kingdom of God (Rom 2:28-29; 1Co 15:28). Joseph knew that Egypt and all its splendour and glamour was not where he must be, not even for his dead bones:

Gen 50:25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

The removal of Joseph’s bones from Egypt is again emphasising the total destruction of everything associated with this earthy life and “this death”:

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

The removal of Joseph’s bones is pointing to this truth that not even a speck of dust will remain of this creation when the new creation has come in its fullness, even the very substances or bodies associated with these two ages (Rev 21:1-6):

1Co 15:37 And that which thou sowest [in the earth], thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:

1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

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.

Even in this age this church knows that their redemption from this old heaven and old earth is experienced “from glory to glory” although it is still in downpayment now (Exo 23:30; Deu 7:22; 2Co 3:18; Eph 1:13-14). The whole creation is waiting for the deliverance from this restriction of flesh, but it is only the church of God in Christ who has this hope already manifesting through the faith of Jesus in them!

Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
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 body was embalmed and placed in a coffin which again brings interesting insights to the fore.

Joseph’s death in Egypt

Gen 50:26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Embalming in its negative application points to our natural attachments to flesh and how the earthy things ensnare us so easily, even coming with a strong desire for a miraculous rapture out of our trials and tribulations. Nevertheless, it is by enduring the trials and going through death which indeed brings the victory over “this death” which qualify those in the first resurrection (Col 1:22; Heb 2:14). We can only rule over what we have endured and overcome – not escaping it, which the whole life of Joseph is such a powerful witness of:

Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Embalming in its positive application therefore points to the elect of God who are being prepared for their own burial through trials and tribulations (Act 14:22; Gal 6:1-10; 1Pe 4:12; Rev 15:6-8):

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.

The church is the physical flesh and bones of the spiritual Head Jesus Christ, and if we say we love and serve the Head and ignore His body, we are deceived (Mal 3:16; Heb 10:19-25; 1Jn 5:2-3). Christ’s church is dying to this world and gathered together in that sense:

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

After being embalmed, the corpse of Joseph was placed into a coffin. This is the first time in the scriptures a coffin is mentioned as being used to enclose a body. Here is Dr James Strong’s explanation of the Hebrew word which was translated as “coffin” in Genesis 50 verse 26:

H727
ארן ארון
‘ârôn ‘ârôn
aw-rone’, aw-rone’
From H717 (in the sense of gathering); a box: – ark, chest, coffin.
H717
ארה
‘ârâh
aw-raw’
A primitive root; to pluck: – gather, pluck.

This is also the first time the Hebrew word “ârôn” appears in the scriptures, and in this instance it is referring to a box in which a body is “gathered” in terms of preservation. The “coffin” in its positive application points to a separation from the world, even as Joseph reveals his faith in the promises of God in this regard:

Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

The coffin also therefore points to those who are gathered together by the death of Christ (Gal 2:20; Php 1:23). This is God’s elect who belong together and are taken to be seated with the Christ (Eph 2:6):

Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

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.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Death is a powerful witness of God’s life

God teaches us through opposites. This pattern was established right at the first day of this creation with which this book of Genesis opens – we first experience darkness before the Light comes:

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

When physical Israel suffered through slavery in Egypt, which lasted four hundred and thirty years, this coffin of Joseph was among the children of Israel during that whole period as a powerful testimony. The words of Joseph and the oath of the children of Israel were passed on through generations, as we also read how the bones were removed from Egypt and buried in Canaan (Gen 50:25):

Exo 13:19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

Jos 24:32 And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

Throughout his life we see that Joseph displayed this silent and powerful witness when he was always a living example of obedience to God. Sometimes the vocal Word of God becomes silent to give us the opportunity to be the powerful display of the word and life of God through our works (2Co 3:2-3; Php 1:17; 1Pe 1:15; 1Pe 3:1-2; 1Pe 3:16):

Jas 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

This is Joseph in life and in death – he lived what he confessed and was either hated or loved for that. In the same way, the death of Christ and His resurrected life is working in a few in this age to bring forth a good conversation or lifestyle for those around to witness. As the godly wife wins her unbelieving husband to the truth which she lives out, so does the true church of Christ show His testimony also by the good conversation they have in the world “without the word” (Rev 1:1-3):

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation [conduct] of the wives;
1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

There is indeed a time to speak and a time to keep silence:

Ecc 3:7b ….a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.

————–

[The author may be reached for questions or comments at glgroenewald@gmail.com]

Detailed studies and emails relating to these foundational themes in Scripture are available on the iswasandwillbe.com website, including these topics and links:

Numbers in Scripture
Gathered Unto His People
Is The Flesh ‘Being Sown’ Our Physical Death?
Is Our Moment of Death Our Resurrection?
Who Is Taken, and Who Is Left?

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/is-it-possible-to-backslide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-it-possible-to-backslide Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:53:00 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=3006

Hi Mike,

I hope all is well with you? My question to you is this: is it possible for someone to have a pentecostal experience like the disciples had on the day of Pentecost and fall (or at least backslide; fall away or backslide may be the same; not sure?) away from the Lord? Like a dog who returns to his vomit? This is just a question I have pondered about.

Ybic,
T____

Hi T____,

Thank you for your question. You ask if it is possible to be truly converted and filled with the spirit and still backslide?

The answer is: yes, definitely. It is possible to be truly converted and then to backslide and be lost in this age. Judas is a New Testament type and shadow of just such a person. Please note I said a “type and a shadow”. When so many who had been following Christ, “went back and walked no more with Him”, Judas remained faithful.

Joh 6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve“ proves that Judas remained faithful through this trial only to backslide at a later date, serving to emphasize these words which are addressed to any who are so foolish to ever think there comes a time, while still in these bodies of sinful flesh and blood, that we can ever say that we are beyond the temptations and struggles of “dying daily” to these corruptible bodies.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Why would we “fear and tremble” if there is no chance of our being lost to “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”? Why should we fear and tremble if there is no way that the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches can reach and seduce us? Whether we fail or succeed is already known by our Lord, because it is His work either way, and our salvation or our loss of salvation in this age is really all of God. So we are told in the very next verse.

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Here is how the apostle Paul followed Christ, and this is how we should do the same concerning our attitude toward facing the trials of this life. It is right here in this same epistle:

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.
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
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 [ Greek, are being perfected], be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

“I count not myself to have apprehended.” Paul was very much aware that our Lord had said, “He that endures to the end shall be saved.” Paul did not consider himself to be above failure. He was always sober, vigilant and diligent to fight against all the pulls of his flesh and this world. He considered his backsliding as a definite possibility, if he became lackadaisical in His service to our Lord. He even tells us this:

1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Please do not take any of this to mean that Paul or you and I must go through life in fear. No well-armed warrior lives in fear. He has complete confidence in the power of his military strength to fight the fight in which He is engaged. At the same time, however, he realizes that he of himself cannot win the battle.

Christ and “the armor of God” are our military strength, and all the nations are as dust.

Isa 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

So while we are diligent and sober and vigilant, we do not need to be anxious or fearful.

Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?
Mat 6:26 Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they?
Mat 6:27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?
Mat 6:28 And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29 yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.(ASV)

“The morrow will be anxious for itself.” We are to be “sober and vigilant, but we are not to worry or be anxious.

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].

I will close with these very comforting verses which are just a much a part of the Bible as those which exhort us to work hard, be diligent, sober, and vigilant.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
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.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Yes, it is possible to backslide. Backsliding is in our flesh. “I am the chief of sinners.” If you and I acknowledge that and repent, then we are “the apple of His eye”, if indeed Christ is living in us.

Zec 2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
Luk 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
1Ti 1:15 This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

God bless you as you seek to know Christ and His Father better each day, and learn to think as they think.

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Your brother in Christ,

Mike

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