Scourging – Is, Was and Will Be – The Unknown Character of Christ and His Word

Gospels in Harmony – The Trial of “The Christ” – Part 3

Aaron Lohman — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 14:20:37 +0000

https://www.dropbox.com/s/y8dueq8wp29szip/20220315-Study_AaronL-TrialofChristPt3.m4a?dl=0

Gospels In Harmony – The Trial of “The Christ” – Part 3

Matt 27:13-26, Mark 15:11-15, Luke 23:18-25, John 18:40, John 19:1-16

[Study Aired March 15, 2022]

Matt 27:13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
Matt 27:14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
Matt 27:15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
Matt 27:16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
Matt 27:17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
Matt 27:18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
Matt 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Matt 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
Luke 23:18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this [man], and release unto us Barabbas:
Luke 23:19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
Luke 23:20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
Matt 27:21 Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
Mark 15:12 What will ye then that I shall do [unto him] whom ye call the King of the Jews?
Matt 27:22 What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? [They] all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
Luke 23:22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let [him] go.
John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
John 19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
John 19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
John 19:4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
John 19:5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And [Pilate] saith unto them, Behold the man!
Luke 23:23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified.
John 19:7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
Matt 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but [that] rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed [his] hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye [to it].
Matt 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children.
John 19:8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
John 19:9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
John 19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
John 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.
John 19:12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
John 19:13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
John 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
John 19:15 But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
Luke 23:24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
Mark 15:15 And [so] Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged [him], to be crucified.
John 19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led [him] away.

In our last study we investigated the sin of envy and saw how it applies to each of us and what we must do to combat that sin.

Today’s study we will see that no matter what Pilate desired, and even Pilate’s wife desired, they cannot convince the chief priests and elders to release Christ.

Matt 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Matt 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
Luke 23:18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this [man], and release unto us Barabbas:
Luke 23:19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

They all cried out for Barabbas to be released. Let’s look at the meaning of Barabbas, and this will all make sense.

Barabbas = son of shame, confusion

What is confusion?

Lev 18:22-23 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

Confusion is the lust of the flesh. Spiritually speaking, it is following the doctrines of Babylon. Also it is dealing with how to interpret the scriptures. If not done properly this causes confusion.

1Cor 14:27-33 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

This is what the world chooses. This is the state of mind of mankind without Christ. Christ is the opposite of the desires of the flesh. They chose Barabbas because it was written in their book to do so.

Barabbas = son of shame, confusion

Psa 109:29 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.

Pilate speaks to them again, advocating for the release of Jesus.

Luke 23:20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
Matt 27:21 Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
Mark 15:12 What will ye then that I shall do [unto him] whom ye call the King of the Jews?
Matt 27:22 What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? [They] all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
Luke 23:22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let [him] go.
John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
John 19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
John 19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
John 19:4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
John 19:5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And [Pilate] saith unto them, Behold the man!
Pilate mocked the elders by dressing him up as a king which stirred them up even more.
Luke 23:23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified.
John 19:7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

As we saw in earlier studies, they had not established two or three witnesses against Jesus and therefore proceeded with twisting the words of Christ and used them as a confession.

John 5:15-18 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

John 10:31-38 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Here are the laws they accused Christ of breaking:

Lev 24:13-16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.

Duet 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

They do not believe Jesus was sent by God as a true prophet, “the Truth”, and therefore they believe He is blaspheming the name of the Lord and was not commanded to speak for God. Pilate sees they will not back down from their decision.

Matt 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but [that] rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed [his] hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye [to it].
Matt 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children.
John 19:8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
John 19:9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
John 19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
John 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.

Jesus proclaims the sovereignty of His Father to Pilate. Christ has not tried to defend himself because He understood His destiny. Everything He was doing is for the sake of the elect to be an example to them. Christ knows that the flesh must die so the new man will live.

Rom 8:1-5 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2Cor 5:14-17 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Finally, Pilate must give in and hand Christ over to them.

John 19:12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
John 19:13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
John 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
John 19:15 But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
Luke 23:24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
Mark 15:15 And [so] Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged [him], to be crucified.
John 19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led [him] away.

Notice when this happens – the sixth hour. This symbolizes that the flesh must be destroyed because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom.

John 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

1 Cor 5:7-8 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

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

This is Christ’s ending of preparing for his death which started in the following verses.

John 12:1-8 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

This is the end of the trial of “the Christ”, and the sentence is death by the cross. We must take comfort in this because we have the same destiny. The following verses describe how we die to the flesh.

Php 2:1-11 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Study of the Book of Kings – 1Ki 11:1-4 “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom”

Tony Cullen — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 06:01:12 +0000

https://www.dropbox.com/s/guj9dkuw0nppeft/20220311-Study_TonyC-NumberYourDays.m4a?raw=1

1Ki 11:1-4 “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom”

[Study Aired March 10, 2022]

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

With God’s mercy in our life we can apply our hearts unto wisdom and number our days.

Psa 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Solomon ruled as king over all Israel for forty years (1Ki 11:42), and in the end it was revealed that he was not given to apply his heart unto wisdom as king David in type and shadow did.

1Ki 11:42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.

1Ki 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

The Godly wisdom was there in Solomon’s life at one point, and we could say in type and shadow that he had “tasted of the heavenly gift” of Hebrews 6:4, but he was corrupted by his love for “many strange women” (1Ki 11:1) which we know represents churches where false doctrines reside turning our hearts away from the Lord if God allows this. It was these actions that caused Solomon to stop applying his heart to wisdom, unlike David who typifies the elect who are chastened and scourged by a sword that does not depart from his house or our house, which house represents the temple we are (2Sa 12:10, Heb 12:6, 1Co 3:16). Solomon, on the other hand, was brought into this bondage of ungodly relationships by loving the world, represented by “the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites.” (1Jn 2:15-17, Php 3:7-8)

1Ki 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

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

[“I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David” (1Ki 11:38) is a promise by God whose conditions can only be met through Christ, and so, although a sure physical house was built for Solomon, the spiritual house, the temple of God which was his body, was corrupted by “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” In the positive, Solomon can and does represent the elect during the thousand-year reign who will rule over the riches of mankind’s kingdoms (Rev 11:15), the silver and gold and ivory as well as the ape and peacock of (1Ki 10:22) that was brought to Solomon from afar. However, in the negative all these physical liberties given to Solomon corrupted him and caused him to forget God’s commands preventing him from continuing in those things which were required of him as king. Thus, he lost sight, at least in type and shadow, of Christ’s words in Luke 12:15: “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” This brings to mind what God tells us will naturally happen to all of us unless the Lord continues to keep us humble in this life, and we know these events of Solomon’s life were written for our sakes upon whom the end of the world are come (Deu 8:10-11, 1Co 10:11)].

Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [Mat 10:39]

[If God gives us the ability to continue in the truth (Joh 8:31-32, Php 2:12-13) and value the eternal words of God more than anything in this life, we will join each other in this comparative statement Paul was inspired to write telling us as the body of Christ we will lose all things, (Rev 2:10) in order to gain the life of Christ, which cannot happen without going through much tribulation and persecution and fiery trials. Despite all of that affliction and suffering, we will be shown to be more than conquerors through Him (Rom 8:38-39) as a result of being given to endure unto the end (Php 2:13) as we keep our eyes on Christ who promises “I will give thee a crown of life” as a result of our working out our own salvation with fear and trembling as we press toward “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:14)]

King David, like Solomon, also reigned forty years (1Ki 2:11) and both time periods represent the much tribulation and many trials [40] that we must endure in order to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (2Ti 2:12). Solomon can be seen as our old man who must decrease, while David can represent the new man, Christ in us, as our hope of glory whom God promises will increase and will not deny Himself in that process of overcoming within us (Joh 3:30, 2Ti 2:13).

Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful [Christ in us (Col 1:27)]: he cannot deny himself.

It takes both forty years, however, in order to create the new man represented by the number eighty (forty plus forty). This brings us back to Psalm 90:1-13 where we read of “a prayer of Moses the man of God” that explains what God does within those eighty typical years of our life and how he uses forty of them to destroy the man of sin within us, represented by Solomon [40 year reign] and builds up the new man represented by king David [40 year reign].

Psa 90:1 A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

Psa 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [Php 4:13] they be fourscore years [80 years], yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

When we read this section of scripture (1Ki 11:1-43), if we keep this principle in mind that both David and Solomon are within us, then we will get the message of the books of Kings and every book of the bible that is admonishing the body of Christ to hold fast to our crown and be confident “that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Rev 3:11, Rev 2:10, Php 1:6, Gal 5:1, Php 4:1). Here is that prayer of Moses which in type and shadow reveals the certainty of God’s deliverance in the life of those who have His spirit, that enables us to go through the fiery trials of this life that will refine the gold and silver of God’s word within us.

Psa 90:1 A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations [thinking within] .
Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God [Eph 1:4].
Psa 90:3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
Psa 90:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night [2Pe 3:8].
Psa 90:5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
Psa 90:6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
Psa 90:7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
Psa 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
Psa 90:9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

[All of these verses we’ve read (Psa 90:3-9) are the narrative that leads up to the passage that reveals the new man that is formed through a lifetime of much tribulation]

Psa 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years [80], yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away [Job 5:7, Jas 4:14].
Psa 90:11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath [Rom 11:22, Act 10:35, Ecc 12:13].
Psa 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom [Rom 2:13].
Psa 90:13 Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
Psa 90:14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. [Rom 11:5, Rom 11:11, Rom 11:20-26, Rom 11:31-32]
Psa 90:15 Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

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 [“I will give thee a crown of life“]:

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Php 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

This section of scripture in the book of Timothy admonishes the body of Christ as to what we should and shouldn’t do in our service to God and will help brighten our understanding of what God is teaching us through this section of 1 Kings where we learn that Solomon’s heart became corrupted by “his wives [who] turned away his heart after other gods” so that he “was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.” So we are admonished today to cry out to God as Christ did (Heb 5:7) and fear Him and ask Him to “teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

1Ti 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour [Rom12:1], that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed [Php 3:14-15, 1Jn 1:7].
1Ti 6:2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort [Christ is our believing master (Joh 13:13-15, Luk 6:46)].
1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money^{G5365 G5366 [rich young ruler (Mat 19:21)]} is the root [“a” root not “the” root – see most other translations] of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

[“For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.“]

1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; [“Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches” (Pro 30:8)] and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness [“feed me with food convenient for me” (Pro 30:8)].
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. [flee fornication (1Co 6:18), flee idolatry (1Co 10:14), flee youthful lusts (2Ti 2:22)]
1Ti 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things [Joh 6:63, Joh 6:68], and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
1Ti 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, [Rom 6:23] and was heard in that he feared;

1Ki 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

God has called His children to overcome all these “strange women” which the wretchedness of our flesh could not begin to overcome except the Lord deliver us (Rom 7:24-25, Joh 8:36), and so we are admonished to flee all these ‘women’ that represent churches: “the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites” knowing that it is Christ in us who is giving us the power to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling as we overcome through Him (Php 2:12-14).

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.

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

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.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Php 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Together “with the daughter of Pharoah”^H6547 (Rev 17:1-5), these women typify the fleshly parts of Babylon within me that must be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming which will destroy (2Th 2:3-7) the part of my heart that is yet being held captive by her lies, as Solomon in type and shadow was experiencing (2Co 6:17-18).

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: [“the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites“]
Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: [We all go into Babylon and by God’s grace come out of her (2Co 6:17)] and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

[flee fornication (1Co 6:18), flee idolatry (1Co 10:14), flee youthful lusts (2Ti 2:22)]

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,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Moabites,H4125 H4124 [spiritually learning the way of the heathen (Jer_10:2) typifies this incestuous spirit of H4124 where we have children with our father the devil’s children while in Babylon]

Ammonites,H5984 H5983

Edomites,H130 H123

Zidonians,H6722 H6721 – H6679 – H6718 [negative use of fishers of men, hunters of men]

Hittites;H2850 H2845 H2865 [where God’s spirit is there is liberty (2Co 3:17) but without his spirit we see what the foundation of all these Babylonian woman or churches is founded upon having no stay of bread or water (Isa 3:1, Jas 3:16, 2Ti 4:18)].

H2865 châthath khaw-thath’

A primitive root; properly to prostrate; hence to break down, either (literally) by violence, or (figuratively) by confusion and fear: – abolish, affright, be (make) afraid, amaze, beat down, discourage, (cause to) dismay, go down, scare, terrify. Total KJV occurrences: 48

Links to other studies on the spiritual significance of these peoples:

How blessed we are to have God’s love shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5-6, 1Jn 4:17-19) to overcome that confusion and fear, that violence to God’s word in Babylon that while it is abiding in our heavens beats down Christ and discourages us, and dismays us and scares us and terrifies us until the appointed time that God says enough (2Th 2:3, 2Th 2:6).

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

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

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [when God says enough]

2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

That man of sin is revealed through the chastening and scourging God gives His children the ability to endure, and it is through that correction, through that suffering, we learn obedience (Heb 12:6, Heb 5:7).

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death,[Rom_6:23] and was heard in that he feared;

1Ki 11:2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

In type and shadow, Solomon was not just thinking above what was written (1Co 4:6), which is always the starting point of any of our divergent paths which take us away from God’s word (Jas 1:15, Gen 3:6), but he was getting right in bed with those he ought not have. By these actions he was shedding abroad his perverted sense of what love was in the lives of all these women, committing for our sake spiritual fornication before God to remind us not to lust after these things “as they also lusted” (1Co 10:5-6). Solomon demonstrated how our flesh wants to take occasion with the liberty God gives us, and instead of ‘coming out of her my people’ “Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you“, Solomon went in to them and they in unto him resulting in his reaping what God said he would sow if he did this, “Surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.“

1Ki 11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1Ki 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

Solomon’s heart was turned away from God, and the numbers in these verses reveal the beastly nature of man that has seven heads and ten horns (Rev 13:1): “Seven hundred wives” who were “princesses” and “three hundred concubines.” God is showing us through these ordained scenarios of Solomon’s life what we are before God comes in and starts to destroy the man of sin within us, the beast with seven heads and ten horns. Seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines gives us the grand total of our fleshly relationship in Babylon 1000 that must be judged and destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens (2Pe 3:8).

Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Solomon’s actions in this verse (1Ki 11:4) typify someone operating in their flesh and not in the spirit (Gal 5:16-21): “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.” He was not being portrayed as someone who was fighting the good fight of faith as his father king David had done, whose life typifies the fruits of righteousness that come about as a result of being “a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (1Ti 6:12, Act 13:22, Gal 5:22-26).

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

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.

Act 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

As we get older we can either see our old man perish and our new man thrive (2Co 4:16, Psa 92:13-15), or we can see our old man negatively thrive and whatever relationship we had with Christ fall apart and come short (Eze 18:24, Heb 4:1). That is the major lesson we are to take from the life of Solomon who started off very strong in God’s service but became distracted and took his eyes off of the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ (1Co 9:24-25, Php 3:14-15). These things “happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1Co 10:11).

2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, [1Co 15:31] yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Psa 92:13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psa 92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
Psa 92:15 To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Eze 18:24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die [Rom 6:1-5].

Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear [Heb 5:7], lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things [Luk 21:19]. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Solomon, in type and shadow, was not able to handle the truth, as the riches of God’s word were only residing in him superficially and became choked by the cares of this world (Mar 4:3-7). The lesson for God’s people is to pray for a greater sense of urgency as we near the end of this age praying for each other that our faith fail not (Luk 22:32) and that we might receive the blessing of having an “honest and good heart” upon which God can “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Mar 4:8-9, Luk 8:15).

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

Mar 4:3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
Mar 4:4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
Mar 4:5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
Mar 4:6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
Mar 4:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
Mar 4:8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased [1Co 3:6]; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mar 4:9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart [1Co 2:16], having heard the word, keep it [Rev 1:3], and bring forth fruit with patience [1Co 9:27, Luk 21:19].

The Book of Jeremiah – Jer 9:1-12 Through Deceit They Refuse to Know Me Saith the Lord

Mike Vinson — Sun, 16 May 2021 01:56:14 +0000

Jer 9:1-12 Through Deceit They Refuse to Know Me Saith The Lord

[Study Aired May 16, 2021]

Jer 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Jer 9:2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.
Jer 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
Jer 9:4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.
Jer 9:5 And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.
Jer 9:6 Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.
Jer 9:7 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?
Jer 9:8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.
Jer 9:9 Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
Jer 9:10 For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.
Jer 9:11 And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.
Jer 9:12 Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?

Jeremiah is the author of two books in the Bible, and both deal with the judgment of the Lord upon His people. There are fifty-two chapters of this prophecy of Jeremiah, and the other book written by this prophet is the book of Lamentations, which gives Jeremiah the title of ‘The weeping prophet’. We are just beginning the ninth chapter of this fifty-two-chapter prophecy. As we progress in this account of our judgment, those who are being judged in this present time will identify with all the rebellions and transgressions revealed to be in our flesh within the pages of this prophecy of our judgment in “this present time” (Rom 8:18). The description of the seven last plagues in Revelation 16 is a condensed version of the books of Jeremiah and the book of Lamentations.

Being given a part in the “blessed and holy… first resurrection” is the benefit and reward of enduring the seven last plagues of the Lord’s judgment upon the kingdom of the beast within each of us in “this present time”:

Isa 26:8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
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.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Four times in Psalms 107 the Lord beseeches each of us to be grateful for being given eyes that see and ears that hear the details of our own judgment, which is now upon the Lord’s elect.

Psa 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

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

Psa 107:21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

“His goodness” referred to here is the mercy He displays in the chastening He bestows upon us in the verses preceding these four verses.

This prophecy of Jeremiah demonstrates that the Lord chastens and scourges every son He receives (Heb 12:6).

For that reason, the weeping prophet continues his lamentation:

Jer 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Jer 9:2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

“Oh… that I might weep day and night for the daughter of my people” is the same spirit expressed by the apostle Paul when he said:

Rom 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
Rom 9:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
Rom 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

In bewailing the condition of the Lord’s people and saying “Oh… that I might leave my people and go from them! For they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men” Jeremiah is essentially saying:

Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

“All nations… and the kings of the earth” are all the idols of our hearts which separate us from our Lord. These include our closest associates and friends:

Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Receiving double according to our wicked works is known as:

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

To what is the word “here” referring? What exactly is the patience of the saints and the faith of Jesus? The preceding verses are what the word “here” references:

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

It is the “worship of the beast and his image, and… the mark of his name which ”lets [restrains]” the coming of Christ within us:

2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [restrains] will let [restrain], until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

“Now you know” refers to the previous verses which speak of “the man of sin… the son of perdition” being revealed within the temple of God, which temple is the dominion of our hearts and minds:

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

What had Paul told these Thessalonians when he was with them? Paul’s gospel was consistent wherever he traveled and preached. He had told these Thessalonians the same exact same thing about the subject of the temple of God that he had told the Corinthian church about “the temple of God”, which was:

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.
1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The human body is the temple of God, and yet, by the Lord’s own design, it is first the temple where Satan’s throne is located:

Rev 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat [Greek: ‘thronos’, throne] is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

There it is. “Satan [first] dwells… among [us]. We “hold fast [Christ’s] name” even while we dwell where Satan’s throne is, which ‘throne’ is the dominion which first is given to Satan over our hearts and minds.

For that reason, Jeremiah continues revealing our own judgment:

Jer 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.

My own ‘process from evil to evil was from the blasphemous ‘God is love, sinners will burn in hell’ doctrine of mainstream Protestant Pentecostalism to the self-righteous, under-the-law doctrines of the ‘Armstrong-centric’ Worldwide Church of God, and from that insidious self-righteous harlot to the even more insidious and self-destructive greasy grace of the Concordant conferences. Every time we think we are making a step in the right direction in hindsight we look behind us and realize that we must:

Jer 9:4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.
Jer 9:5 And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.

“They… will not speak the Truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies and weary themselves to commit iniquity” is accomplished through the greasy-grace doctrine being peddled by all the ecumenical seeking Christian denominations, both Protestant and Catholic, who subscribe to the mantra of “Agreement in the essentials; tolerance in the non-essentials; but love in all things.” Being the whores they all are, they will tell you what are “the essentials” and what are “the nonessentials”, and they will even tell you what their definition of the word ‘love’ is. Rest assured it is not in agreement with the scriptures which define love thusly:

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

While in the grip of the great harlot she must keep us from knowing that the love of God is defined as ‘keeping His commandments’ because His commandments belie her lying mantra of “Agreement in the essentials, tolerance in the non-essentials, and love in all things”.

It is impossible to love God and keep these commandments and remain faithful to the great whore and her daughters and their lying doctrines.

This is what Christ had to say about the ‘non-essentials’ of the Word of God.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

What part of this commandment to “live by every Word of God” is “non-essential”???

Here is another commandment which the apostle Paul “beseeches [us]” to keep and obey:

1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that [1] ye all speak the same thing, and that [2] there be no divisions among you; but that [3] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Co 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1Co 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1Co 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

This commandment to be of “the same mind” is part of “every Word which proceeds out of the mouth of God.” It is repeated three other times in the New Testament:

Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

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

Php 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

Christ is not a legal ‘organization’ of men. Christ, like His Word, is a living spiritual organism which is:

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living, and potent, and sharper, above every two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division both of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and discernible of the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

“The Word of God” has discerned that “the thoughts and intentions of the heart” tell us we need denominations among us, while the voice of the True Shepherd commands us “that there be no divisions among you”. When the Lord’s flock is encouraged to do the exact opposite of what the Lord Himself commands us to do, then this is what Christ Himself commands us:

Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Here is a defense of the indefensible mantra of the ‘great harlot and her daughters’… “Unity in the essentials, tolerance in the non-essentials, love in all things” taken from this site which claims to be the best on the internet on the subject of Christian denominations:

https://www.christianvalour.com/christian-denominations-guide/#whatgetsyououtoftheclub

“What Gets You Out of The Club?

“How do we decide what is a legit Christian denomination, and what is not? After all, anyone can call themselves a Christian.

It comes down to a few core beliefs which are considered clear and fundamental teachings, according to the Bible, by the majority of Christian denominations.

Belief in Jesus, as I described above is one. The other is the doctrine of the trinity.

You may have heard the term before.

The word ‘trinity’ is not in the Bible.

However, the trinitarian view of God best describes the Bible’s words regarding the relationship between the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Generally speaking, it is the Bible’s teaching that there are three personal, unique persons, that make up the One Godhead.

They are God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.

Three persons – one God.

To deny that any one of them is God is to deny the Bible’s clear teaching about God.

This is what Christians have taught and believed since the very beginning of Christianity.

This is the universally understood nature of the Christian God that is common to all Christian denominations.

So we can say, based on what we’ve discussed, that a group or person is definitely not Christian if they:

Deny the trinity, especially if they…

Deny Christ’s Deity (and humanity) or they…

Deny God’s sovereignty, and finally if they…

Distort the Bible’s teaching in any way that, logically leads to a denial of 1, 2 or 3

These are not the only things, but they are super important. No true Christian group would deny any of these teachings.

So the next big question is, if all Christians believe in Jesus, and the Bible teaches us about him, why are there so many denominations?

To understand better the differences between Christian Denominations we need to understand a little bit of Christian history.” (End quote)

“No true Christian [denomination] would deny any of these teachings” is true because ‘denominations’ have no place in the body of Christ:

1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Co 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1Co 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1Co 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

No, Christ is not divided, but those who believe in a trinitarian God are divided multiple thousands of times, witnessing against themselves that they do not know the Christ of scripture who taught:

Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

If the God head were indeed a trinity, then Jesus Christ Himself just slapped His so-called “equal” in the face by leaving him completely out of the picture in that statement.

The Catholic Encyclopedia confesses to changing the text of Matthew 28:19 from “in My name” to:

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Here are all the verses in the New Testament which mention the baptismal formula that was originally used by all the apostles. Not once is the holy spirit mentioned as being anything other than the gift of God, and that appears in the very first entry:

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Act 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Act 8:16 For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Act 10:48 And he [Peter] commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Act 22:16 And now why tarriest you? arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

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

1Co 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul? [Posing this question implies that the baptismal formula of Acts was “In the name of the Lord Jesus” – Act 19:5]

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

In Acts 22:16 the apostle Paul poses the question, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” He did not tell these Ephesians to ‘call on the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’! What this demonstrates is that there is ONLY one name under heaven whereby we can be saved:

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

It is through the holy spirit of God that we are instructed: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the NAME of Jesus Christ” (Act 2:38).

Yes, the scriptures clearly reveal that “the holy spirit” is not a person at all but is simply “the holy spirit of God”:

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

If there were a trinity should not Eph 4:30 read ‘And grieve not God, the holy spirit’ instead of “the holy spirit of God”? The fact is that the ‘holy spirit’ is never once referred to as a person. Using the pronoun ‘he’ does not make the holy spirit a person any more than referring to sin with the pronouns ‘his and him’ makes sin a person:

Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

If the holy spirit is equal with God, then why is he not coming to us of his own accord. Why must “the Father… send” him?

Yes, it is true, the apostles were physically baptizing disciples in the first few decades of the church. They simply had not yet been shown that the true and only baptism is:

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

We fail to realize that the apostles had to grow in the knowledge of the Lord just as any of us do. The sum of the Lord’s words reveals that the apostles were still offering blood offerings in the temple at Jerusalem decades after the ultimate sacrifice had been made:

Act 21:17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
Act 21:18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
Act 21:19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
Act 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
Act 21:21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
Act 21:22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
Act 21:23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
Act 21:24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
Act 21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
Act 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

It was “the holy spirit which made that decision that the Gentiles need not keep the law:

Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Where were Christ and His Father at this time? The answer, of course is that Christ comes to us through the holy spirit, and “the holy spirit [is the spirit] of God” (Eph 4:30)!

The apostles were physically baptizing and still living under the law of Moses for the Jews because that was “the present Truth” for them at that time, as we are told there in Acts 15:28.

2Pe 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

The lie of a trinitarian God is an evil spirit sent to deceive mankind and keep them from coming to know Christ. This lie is the basis and foundation for many other false doctrines. Without the doctrine of a trinitarian God, there could be no trinitarian man with a mortal body of flesh and an immortal soul and an immortal spirit. Without an immortal soul, there could be no Godless eternal hell, or the most heinous and demonic doctrine of eternal torment in literal flames of fire. Yet many Christians will give up the pagan holiday of Christmas before they will relinquish their lying, monstrous, demonic doctrine of eternal hell fire.

I tell the true story of seeing a church marquee which read “God is love” and right under that statement the words “Sinners will burn in hell”.

All the false doctrines of the great harlot are the home of our old man. They are a lying habitation which must be burned up which brings us to the verse from which we took the title of today’s study:

Jer 9:6 Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.

Ezekiel calls the false doctrines of the great harlot “briers and thorns and scorpions”:

Eze 2:6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

It requires His loving chastening grace to judge us and burn all these lies out of each of us (Tit 2:11-12, and Heb 12:6):

Jer 9:7 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?

“How shall I do for the daughter of My people?” Isaiah answers this question in no uncertain terms:

Isa 1:23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
Isa 1:24 Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
Isa 1:25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

Like any loving Father, our Lord chastens and scourges us to forsake the kingdom of our old man:

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching (Greek: ‘paideuo’, chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

That is what is required by the Lord’s design, because without the seven last plagues of the Lord’s wrath being poured out upon the kingdom of our old man, we are simply what we are made to be, which is:

Jer 9:8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.
Jer 9:9 Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

“An arrow shot out” is a false doctrine which will tell you that “God is love” and in the same breath the moment you turn your back that same lying spirit is condemning you to eternal torment in literal flames of literal fire… “God is love… sinners will burn in hell.”

Jer 9:10 For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.
Jer 9:11 And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.

“Jerusalem… a den of dragons” is what is also said of those who are in Babylon:

Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon

Rev 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Not one minister in Babylon can understand that he must come out of his connection to this lying daughter of the “great red dragon”, as the next two verses of Revelation 18 demonstrate:

Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Christ has chosen the weak, base and despised of this earth to give His wisdom and understanding:

Jer 9:12 Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?

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.
1Co 1:30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

“Who is the wise man that may understand this…that…may declare it?” Daniel answers this question for us:

Dan 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Dan 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Dan 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Contrast the closing of the book of Daniel in the Old Testament with the closing of the book of Revelation in the New Testament:

Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

The ends of the ages have come upon us:

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

That is our study for today, and here are the verses for our next study:

Jer 9:13 And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;
Jer 9:14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:
Jer 9:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
Jer 9:16 I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.
Jer 9:17 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:
Jer 9:18 And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.
Jer 9:19 For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.
Jer 9:20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.
Jer 9:21 For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.
Jer 9:22 Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.
Jer 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
Jer 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Jer 9:25 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;

Jer 9:26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

Psalms 74:18-23 – “O God, How Long Shall The Adversary Reproach?”, Part 4

Tony Cullen — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 21:31:19 +0000

Psalms 74:18-23 – “O God, how long shall the adversary reproach?”, Part 4

Psa 74:18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
Psa 74:19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
Psa 74:20 Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
Psa 74:21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
Psa 74:22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
Psa 74:23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.

This last part of our study with Psalm 74 concludes with the psalmist crying out to the Lord to remember the reproach of the enemy and remember the foolish man who reproaches us daily. At first glance it sounds very outside of ourselves to make these pleas with the Lord, and yet, as always, we are reminded that the word of God was written for us and that our greatest enemies lie at the gate of our own hearts. When God’s word is properly applied and experienced we come to understand that all these verses have an inward and an outward application as well.

Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

What we’ve been looking at over the last few studies is truly how God is building up His abundant grace through the church who are filling up what is behind of Christ’s affliction (partly through reproaches) so that this abundant grace can be formed within us. We are blessed to be partakers of His suffering in this age and will be able to comfort the world with the comfort that God brings to us because He has granted that we can through Christ be buried into his baptism(s). We die daily and bear each others burdens along the way and learn to discern his plan and purpose for all of humanity, as His grace and faith unfold in each of our lives. Every person and situation that we encounter and that He puts us in is being accomplished to His glory and to the end that His word might “dwell in you richly in all wisdom”.

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

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.

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

God is teaching us through all our struggles and much tribulation that we can endure all things through Christ and His peace can rule in our hearts, a peace that is not as the world’s peace, but a peace that is connected to the outcome of grace and faith (Col 3:16). We must experience the unsettling ways of this world’s mountains crumbling around us (reproaches), and the winds of war that always seem so eminent (reproaches), to realize that our peace comes from God alone who alone can still these events so that we can hear the still small voice of our Lord whose grace and faith are given to us through the tribulations and fiery trials of this life.

1Ki 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

I hope we are all blessed and encouraged by the conclusion of our study which reminds us that God is our deliverer through every reproach which is given to us as the body of Christ. We are His turtledove, and ‘the congregation of thy poor’, and God is demonstrating to the world through the church that He does have respect to His covenant that is being fulfilled through the kind of first fruits we are. We will know how to deal with all the habitations of cruelty in this earth because of the fear and trembling process we have been blessed to go through and that the spirit of God quickened us to be part of (Joh 6:63). We are going to wipe away every tear eventually; but before that glorious day, we need to fulfill these verses which talk about our deliverance through the tribulation placed upon us in this age.

Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

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

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Psa 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Psa 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psa 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psa 126:3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
Psa 126:4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
Psa 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Psa 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Psa 74:18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.

How long has this been going on? Right from the foundation of the world, right when Adam and Eve (type of the church) were created. And so we’re not surprised to see the reproach of Adam and Eve against God as they sinned against him, against Christ and gave the first witness to the foolishness that is in the heart of man that naturally blasphemes “thy name”, “thy word” right from the foundation of the world. What we are being told right from the start of creation is that the true enemy that is going to reproach Our Lord and blaspheme his name is all flesh.

The foundation of the church parallels this foolishness and reproach that comes forth from those who hear the word of God as did Adam of Eve but could not endure the words that we’re being given to them just as no one can today unless the Lord builds those words up and that spiritual house or ark that we are becoming through grace and faith that is the means by which his words are sanctified within His body.

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

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.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Psa 74:19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude^H2416 of the wicked: forget not the congregation^H2416 of thy poor for ever.

Our Lord went through a myriad of narrow escapes where God was demonstrating to us the certainty of His deliverance in our lives as well. We know that there is nothing that can separate us from His love, and that the angels of God are always there to pick us up less we dash our foot against a stone. These things must happen to us as they did to Christ to demonstrate his ever present help and Sovereignty over every moment of our life. It will be a great comfort to the world one day when they come to see the safe arms that Christ and His body were always in, as we will witness to the fact that our ‘soul’ not necessarily our flesh, will be delivered from the ‘multitude’.

Here are some verses that are parables of how the church today is narrowly delivered through the fleshly trials that we experience just as our Lord has (1Jn 4:17).

Joh 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Mat 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

Gen 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

Luk 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

Psa 74:20 Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

God’s covenant as we know has to do with the heart of man being changed from within, and not a physical covenant of physical blessings in the old covenant which were the types and shadows of the abundant life that God would give to those after John (Mat 11:11), specifically to those who the holy spirit was given to. Only then could the promises of the old covenant see their spiritual fulfillment in the new covenant promises that God has “respect” unto.

Eze 16:59 For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant.
Eze 16:60 Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.
Eze 16:61 Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.
Eze 16:62 And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD:

Hos 2:18 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.

1Ki 8:23 And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:

“The dark places of the earth” that are “full of the habitations of cruelty” are within each and every man’s heart to whatever degree lesser or greater that God caused to be witnessed. Having said this, we all are guilty of all the entire spectrum of possibility from Abel to Zacharias (Mat 23:35), and it will take the living sacrifice of Christ and his body to cleanse this temple of every man that is guilty of the death of the prophets all, from “Abel to Zacharias”.

Psa 74:21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.

This particular verse reminds us that God knows every part of our walk and calling that are not easy, and not for the faint of heart so to speak. If not for his mercy we would faint and the oppression we experience would be too much for us bear.

Psa 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Eze 16:61 Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.

Eze 43:10 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.
Eze 43:11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.

The reproach or oppression the poor and needy experience will not only build us up but witness to how we are more than conquerors through Christ (Rom 8:37) who gives us the power and rich faith needed (Jas 2:5) to overcome and “praise thy name” even in the midst of the oppression that God allows in perfect measure upon Christ’s body (1Co 10:13).

Jer 20:12 But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.
Jer 20:13 Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.

Psa 74:22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.

There is a negative and positive use of the word ‘foolish’: we have “the foolish man” who reproaches you daily, and we have “the foolishness of preaching” by which we’re saved. We start off as unbelieving, slow of heart fools who can’t identify with Christ needing to be reproached and suffer along with his body.

Luk 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Luk 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

God mercifully drags the elect along toward Christ so that we can see that the work we’ve been called unto is one of believing which causes us to enter into his glory (obedience), and that this believing is a gift that is given to very few in this age. We go from being the ones who reproach God and his word until we are the ones who are reproached for his name sake, which is our great and incredible blessing as God’s children, having our names written in heaven.

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

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 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Psa 74:23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.

Evil men wax worse and worse at the end of any age that has God’s spirit working in it (2Ti 3:13), and the reason being is that Satan knows that his time is short (Rev 12:12), and the inevitable is going to unfold, deliverance that comes to us through Christ after we go unto perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32).

Until that day, sin will continue to be at the door of our hearts, but we will hear the voice of the enemy for what it is because we hear the voice of the true Shepherd in contrast (Joh 10:5, Joh 10:16). The tumult of those who rise up against us will be more and more (Act 4:27), but rejoice in that day and lift up your eyes for behold your redemption draws near (Luk 21:28).

At the beginning of this study, in verse 18, we pray “Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached O LORD”, and end with the continual prayer to “Forget not the voice of thine enemies” in verse 23. The “multitude”^H2416 and “congregation”^H2416 of verse 19 reminds us that we are all beasts and that we are called to “come out of her my people”, and that the only way we do so is by the humbling experiences, fiery trials and judgement that is first upon us for purifying us and not to have us return ashamed (verse 21) but changed by his reproach that He allows to come upon us today as His sons and daughters (Heb 12:6).

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

In Amos 8:7 we are reassured that “The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works [the enemy]”. Judgment will come to pass, the sin offering and burnt offering and atonement (Lev 14:22), Lev 14:30-31, Lev 12:6-8) and the trespass offering (Lev 5:7) will be accepted (symbolism of verse 19 and the turtledove pointing to how and why this dove is sacrificed), and all will be saved.

God willing we are the beasts of Hoseah 2:18 who, by the covenant of the Lord working within us, are made to lie down safely and blessed to be counted to come out of great tribulation and have our robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb of Rev 7:11.

Psa 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

Psa 20:9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

Rev 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Why Does God Chasten Us?

Mike Vinson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:01 +0000

Brother Mike,

I have been studying and wondered if you can explain when we are chastised and scourgeth mean (Heb-12-6). If we are having physical illness, ailments, emotional upsets, does this mean we are being chastised by Christ to teach us something? I know that spiritual growth and maturing is more important than going through physical, temporal pain, set backs whether financial, or whatever. These all can cause us to trust God to work his will in our lives knowing he works all things according to his purpose.
The flesh hates to go through any trials, but as the word declares, we must live by every word of God, not by physical bread alone. When you can and have time you can tell me so I can understand chastisement.

Praying daily for the body and your family
Brother in Christ
J____

Hi J____,

You ask about chastening and scourging. You are right. God uses both physical and emotional pain as the fire of our trials. The words ‘fire… chastening… and scourging,” are all talking about the same chastening grace we all must endure. All three words are simply ways of expressing God’s wrath in which we abide until we repent of our sins, rebellions, ungodliness and unrighteousnesses.

Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

I used to struggle to understand whether God’s wrath was poured out on us via the actions of others persecuting us, or if it were poured out on us as the result of our own evil deeds. The truth is that God uses any and all means at His disposal to accomplish His work of His chastening grace in our lives:

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching [ Greek, paideuo, chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [ Greek, aion, age].

You ask:

If we are having physical illness, ailments, emotional upsets, does this mean we are being chastised by Christ to teach us something?

If there is any truth to the following words, then yes, God is teaching us something in all things:

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

So God really is working all things, good and evil, “together for good.”
I hope that answers your question. If not be sure to let me know.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Fiery Trials & Tribulation Versus His Wrath

Mike Vinson — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:46:00 +0000

Mike,

I read and listened to the recordings you suggested. I see that a person falls short when he sees the vials, plagues, etc. are not for him. It seems to me that there are those who believe that because they fail to see their guilt in the sins of Babylon, therefore they do not have to experience the plagues. I do tend to believe concerning wrath versus fiery trials and tribulations, that wrath seems to be more severe in both administration and veracity reserved for those who fail to repent until the second death. Thank you for your time and quick response, and please let me know if I am missing something concerning wrath versus fiery trials and tribulations.

Your Brother, S____

Hi S____,

God is love, and all He does is out of love. He is not in the business of hardening hearts simply for the sake of displaying His wrath on someone. It is just not given to some now to accept and stick with Biblical principles like these:

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

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.

Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as [is] the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as [he] that feareth an oath.
Ecc 9:3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

Every word?… Keep those things which are written therein? Yes, every word and all of the things written therein. I believe those words.

Rev 22:18 For I testify to every one that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book: If any man shall add to these things, God shall add unto him the plagues written in this book.
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from these things that are written in this book.

Does Matthew 4:4 or Revelation 1:3 exclude part of Psalm 38:1? Do they exclude Revelation 15-16? No, the truth is ” No man can enter the temple of God till the seven angels have poured out the seven plagues.”

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Is that ‘temple’ someone else? Out of your own mouth you will be judged.

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

The rule that governs all judgment, both now and in the lake of fire, is not some unscriptural theory of God’s wrath being reserved for someone else’s unrighteousness and ungodliness, but that part of His word is not for you and me. No, it is all for us all:

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Here is the principle which governs God’s judgments whether at the first or the second resurrection:

Luk 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not [himself], neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes].
Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

There are those who believe that “wrath” and “chastening” are decidedly NOT in the same family. Ecclesiastes 9 says otherwise as does Hebrews 12:

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Paul said he was “chief of sinners.”

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.

So does Paul consider himself to be chief of sinners, but consider others to be the object of God’s wrath???

Are those words not for you and me? They are for me, and I hope you think that they are for you.

There are those who teach that Paul never did experience God’s wrath for the things he did. Here is what Christ said of us all, and it is “the same” for all men in their own times (Ecc 9:2-3).

Mat 23:34 Therefore behold I send to you prophets and wise men and scribes: and some of them you will put to death and crucify: and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.
Mat 23:35 That upon you may come all the just blood that hath been shed upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just, even unto the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom you killed between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Amen I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation.

Are any of these words for someone else besides you and me? Does “upon you” mean someone else much more deserving of God’s wrath than you? Did you and I slay and betray Christ? Be careful how you answer. “Out of your own mouth I will judge you… and mankind will live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Luk 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and He tells us this right after telling us that every son will experience His scourging:

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Do you see a difference between scourging and wrath? If you do and if you think certain words of God’s word have no personal application, then you are saying that there is a part of the sayings of this book which are not for you, and as a brother once told me, “If I do not see my own name on every page of God’s Word, then I am taking out that part, and I will have to live that part in the lake of fire.” That is not a scripture, but it is a true statement which is based on Matthew 4:4, Revelation 1:3, 22:7, 22:18-21.

God doesn’t change, but He does operate on principles, and He does have a plan that requires that a few be called to bring in the rest. He will deal with both groups with the same loving principles, and Ecclesiastes 9:2-3 and Hebrews 12:6 “will not pass away” just to accommodate an unscriptural theory which calls for special wrath to be poured out on Joseph’s symbolic brothers, whose hearts God Himself hardened.

I wrote a letter on this subject earlier. Here is the link to that letter for your consideration: The Difference Between Orge And Thumos

I cannot and do not want to convince anyone of anything that is not made clear to that person by God’s spirit, so try the spirits and see if they are of God.

Mat 16:17 And Jesus answering said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar- Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

I think that when you do that you will see that “All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked.” It is simply a matter of God’s own purpose being worked out in His own time.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike