Serve – Is, Was and Will Be – The Unknown Character of Christ and His Word https://www.iswasandwillbe.com Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:28:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/cropped-headerlogo-32x32.png Serve – Is, Was and Will Be – The Unknown Character of Christ and His Word https://www.iswasandwillbe.com 32 32 Study of the Book of Kings – “He Made a Molten Sea” – Part 2 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/study-of-the-book-of-kings-he-made-a-molten-sea-part-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=study-of-the-book-of-kings-he-made-a-molten-sea-part-2 Fri, 10 Dec 2021 02:15:51 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=24845 1Ki 7:36-46  “He made a molten sea” – Part 2
[Study Aired December 9, 2021]

1Ki 7:36  For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about. 
1Ki 7:37  After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size. 
1Ki 7:38  Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver. 
1Ki 7:39  And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south. 
1Ki 7:40  And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD: 
1Ki 7:41  The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; 
1Ki 7:42  And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars; 
1Ki 7:43  And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases; 
1Ki 7:44  And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea; 
1Ki 7:45  And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass.
1Ki 7:46  In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan. 

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” As we’re told in Romans 11:33, and with the mind of Christ which has been given to God’s elect, we can search out the deep things that are currently hidden from the world and given to a very few who are now hidden in Christ (Col 3:3, Mat 13:17). Christ opens up our heavens and shows mercy to us through judgment that makes us bold (1Jn 4:17) and prepares us in this life to judge angels in the next (1Co 2:14-16, 1Co 6:3).

God’s knowledge is without a doubt unsearchable, and so these verses in Peter will always be true for us, until our last breath in this life, which tell us how we are to approach this unsearchable knowledge God has given to so very few in this life to understand and pursue with a steadfast spirit: “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; [Rom 2:4, 2Co 1:5-7] even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2Pe 3:15-18).

Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 

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.

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 
1Co 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 
1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 

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

The natural man in me “receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Co 2:14, 1Co 1:21, 1Jn 4:5-6), and so in our flesh we are designed by the Creator to only know things ‘in part’ through the earnest of the spirit (1Co 13:12, Eph 1:14, 2Co 5:5) that gives us a hunger (Mat 5:6) to go from glory to glory with a diligent and steadfast spirit which understands that this process of growing in grace and in knowledge of our Lord is a life-long arduous process of dying daily as we experience “the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” which is connected to the goodness of God. His goodness leads us unto salvation via that same longsuffering spirit that is at work in Christ’s body, the church, who are continuing in the truth believing thatGod’s truth will set us free (2Co 3:18, Rom 2:4-5, Joh 8:31-32).  

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; [2Pe 3:15] not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 
Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

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

We learn obedience by the things that we suffer going from glory to glory as the veil is ripped, and through those experiences God gives His children the ability to compare spiritual things with spiritual using the physical (1Co 2:13). That is the concept God has called us to have at the forefront of our thinking so that with the mind of Christ we can make sense of all God causes in our lives as we grow in a spirit of gratitude and thanks as we recognize His workmanship taking place in our lives by the faith that is given to us as a gift from God (Eph 2:10, Luk 17:17-19). 

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

Luk 17:17  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 
Luk 17:18  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 
Luk 17:19  And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

This section of Kings we are looking at now reminds us that it is through much tribulation that God’s elect will inherit the kingdom of God, and God is the one who causes the furnace to be turned up “seven times more than it was wont to be heated”, which is typical of the lavers in this section of scripture that were used to heat the baths that were used for ceremonial washing. All these works of copper are, in type and shadow, reflecting the sanctification process which God’s elect are going through ‘in this age’ that must be accompanied with fiery trials (Dan 3:19, 1Pe 4:12).

Dan 3:19  Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy [presently today as we go from glory to glory to glory, rejoicing always in the Lord, and ultimately in the first resurrection if we are blessed in this age to endure until the end through Christ].

1Ki 7:36  For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.

“The sides of the cart and the frames had pictures of Cherub angels, lions, and palm trees carved into the bronze. These pictures were carved all over the carts—wherever there was room. And there were flowers carved on the frame around the cart.” (ERV)

All these symbols were very visible on every side of each cart that represent God’s elect who will very visibly be seen by all corners of the world that we will minister to during the thousand year reign and beyond (Isa 30:21, Act 26:26, 1Jn 4:17, Rev 20:6), as those “Cherub angels, lions, and palm trees” [process of judgment – #3 – Cherub angels, lions, and palm trees], with Christ in the midst of them symbolized by ‘flowers’ (‘additions’H3914 in the KJV)] carved on the frame around the cart”. 

Psa 92:11-15 “Bless The LORD, O My Soul…” Part 3 (see the section in this study regarding palm trees and the elect )

Animals in Scripture – Lion (see this study by Mike regarding the lion and the elect)

FAQ – the seraphim of Isa 6(see this FAQ for a concise study on the cherub angels/seraphim and the elect)

These symbols remind us what we will be doing for humanity at this time in the physical realm as spirit beings whose lives have been predestined or carved into God’s plan for that very purpose as typified by this verse:

Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

In the physical realm during Solomon’s time the water of these carts was used to wash off the ashes of the sacrifices that were burnt. As God’s ministering spirits, we will go forth as angels who will bring strength and healing to a world that will be learning of God’s mercy toward them as they are washed with the word of God through Christ’s bride who will “wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Rev 21:4).

Right after the twelve symbolic tribes of Israel are sealed in Revelation 7:1-8, which represents God’s remnant that is sealed, we see how a great multitude is then worked with as Christ’s other fold of which we are told “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (Joh 10:16, Rev 7:9-17).

This twain becoming one process started first with the body of Christ (1Co 6:16, Eph 2:14, Mat 19:6, Rev 19:9), and as saviours of our Lord it is completed through the elect (Oba 1:21) who are sent forth for this purpose of reconciling all the nations unto God (Joh 20:21, Joh 3:17). “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” of Revelation 6:17, reminds us that no flesh will be able to stand before God’s wrath which will begin to consume all the world who are not as yet aware that their lives are going to be presented as living sacrifices that will drink the cup God’s people will have already drank (Jer 25:28).

Rev 6:16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 
Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? [Mal 3:2-3] 

Rev 7:1  And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree [these are able to stand through Christ, having done all (Eph 6:13)].

[God’s elect who are likened unto palm trees do not measure the court that represents the world today (Rev 11:1-2) which is what “that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree” means]

Rev 7:2  And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 
Rev 7:3  Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 

[Once the first resurrection occurs [the servants having been sealed in their foreheads], then the work of God’s judgments being in the earth will begin (Isa 26:9, Rev 11:15) and although there is no conversion at this time, men are in this first stage of judgement that is represented by a baptism with water and not fire that will unfold in the second resurrection (Rev 20:6). The measure of stripes people receive in the second resurrection has all been calibrated by our merciful Father and there is no one who is in that second resurrection who does not need to have these words fulfilled in their lives to greater or lesser degrees as it has already occurred to God’s elect (Joh 3:5, Heb 13:8)].

First group:

Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 
Rev 7:5  Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 
Rev 7:6  Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 
Rev 7:7  Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 
Rev 7:8  Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

Second group:

Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 
Rev 7:10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 
Rev 7:11  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 
Rev 7:12  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 
Rev 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washedG4150 [G5656] their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Rev 7:15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 
Rev 7:16  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 
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 awayG1813 [G5692] all tears from their eyes.

We’ve gone from the first group, the 144,000 sealed, (the kind of first fruits who minister to one another and bring those living waters via those carts that symbolize the body of Christ who are being saved today), to then start to minister to the rest of the world the words of God that will ultimately bring forth fruit when the trial of humanity’s faith occurs in the lake of fire (1Pe 1:7). The trial of our faith is happening today so we can be those jewels God will prepare for the world’s sake, with God’s longsuffering spirit of mercy extended to them through that process (Mal 3:17-18, Joh 14:20).

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

Mal 3:17  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. [Joh 14:10, Jas 5:7] 
Mal 3:18  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. 

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 

1Ki 7:37  After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.

The ten bases that were made as “one casting” represents the hardness that is forged in our heavens, for each and every member of the body of Christ (Eze 3:9), which is what God’s judgment promises to accomplish for the church. It is all “ten bases” because “the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” and in our flesh, where God is working this work (2Th 2:2, 1Pe 4:1) which will bring us to perfection on the third day (1Pe 5:9-10, Luk 13:32).

Eze 3:9  As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. 

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. 

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

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

1Ki 7:38  Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver. 

The numbers mentioned in this verse are significant as they denote that it is those who have become those “ten lavers of brass” who can administer God’s judgments, and each “laver contained forty baths“. Forty represents the tribulation that comes about as a result of being washed with the word of God.

Every “laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver” tells us that all the world will be judged, all “four cubits“, and there is “one laver” for every “ten bases” to accomplish this. The “one” represents the tenth part of ten that has already been judged and becomes the storehouse God intended for this purpose of judging the rest of His creation (Mal 3:10-12). If we are granted to “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse”, which means to give our whole life unto God, the outward fulfillment of this blessing will be beyond what eyes and ears can comprehend, a true statement regarding the elect’s future that is too great to be received in the flesh: “I will …open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. “(1Co 2:9).

Mal 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Mal 3:11  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 
Mal 3:12  And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. 

1Ki 7:39  And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south. 

Putting “five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house” represents the witness of grace that will  be experienced by the whole house that needs to be washed by the blood of the lamb (Heb 9:22, Joh 1:29). The molten sea’s position “on the right side of the house eastward over against the south” demonstrates God’s power on the “right side” that will make this cleansing work of grace possible. It is on “the right side of the house eastward over against the south” which is symbolic language that tells us that the man of perdition who is trying to flee judgment in the south will be judged by the brightness of Christ’s coming from the east “eastward” (Mat 24:27, 2Th 2:8).

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

Mat 24:27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

1Ki 7:40  And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD:

All these tools that Hiram made, “the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons“, are types of how Babylon serves the body of Christ today with all the means by which the gospel has been able to go forth into all the world. That work does lead people to repentance at an altar that brings our flesh to stumble onto Christ, but if we are blessed to be introduced to the altar of Christ that sweeps away the refuge of spiritual lies in our heavens, it will be through the crushing process Christ requires of all those who are being received as disciples indeed who are blessed in this age to continue in the truth (Heb 13:10, Mat 21:44, Heb 12:6-7, Joh 8:31-32).

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

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 

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

The “laversH3595, and the shovelsH3257 and the basonsH4219” each symbolize the vehicles God will use to make the gospel known to all men as a witness, and for those who are given to receive that witness in this age and keep the sayings of the prophecies, there will be a sanctification process which unfolds that will lead to the first resurrection (Mat 24:13-15, Joh 17:17).

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 
Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) [Rev 1:3]

If you recall, in our last study we looked at the word “networksH7639” which means ‘lattice’, and learned that the same word was used in the negative sense with the king within us by the name of Ahaziah who has to fall through that network or lattice and continue to seek healing in Babylon where there is no healing, meaning no stay of bread or water (2Ki 1:2, Isa 3:1).

In the positive use of the word ‘lattice’ we see these two pillars that represent the elect who are being dragged out of Babylon having “networksH7639” that God has ordained to provide a safety net for all the world eventually through the crown of life that represents the faithfulness of Christ who finished the work of faith within the elect who were granted (Rev 19:8) to resist sin unto the shedding of blood, and as such were given this crown of life represented by the “chapiter“.

I think it’s extremely important that we meditate on the fact that we all fall through this lattice [the lies of Babylon, and half truths of the harlot], and even after we fall and hit the ground so hard, we still seek healing in Babylon for the longest time, which is not there (Isa 3:1). God wants us to know that salvation comes from only One, and that is through Christ and His Christ (Act 4:12, Act 26:14, 1Jn 4:17).

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.

Act 26:14  And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 

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. 

1Ki 7:42  And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars; 

We’re certainly not bearing this cross alone of being saviours along with Christ, and this verse we are looking at confirms this fact and gives us hope that together as “four hundred pomegranates for the two networks” all the world can be saved, and all this will be accomplished by the life of Christ in us represented by the witness of “two rows of pomegranates for one network“. What we do as those works of lattice is save all the world.  None that the Father drags to us will be lost (Joh 17:20, Mat 4:19). The lattice is used to “cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars” which represents the elect who are the means to the end with the life of Christ in them, making it possible for them to save all of humanity in the great white throne judgment (Rev 20:12).

Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 

Mat 4:19  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

1Ki 7:43  And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases; 

If we are going to be equipped to save anyone, we will need to have a permanently fixed understanding in our heart that we are unprofitable servants who have only done that which was expected of us (Luk 17:10). That is what it means to be “ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases.” You’ve been abased, you know intimately you’re the chief of sinners and that you have nothing to offer God and that you bring nothing to the altar, and yet you also understand that through Christ you are more than a conqueror. You are a saviour who can now save others as you have been saved through Christ by continuing in the word of truth (1Ti 4:16).

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

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

1Ki 7:44  And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea; 

Abraham, who is a type of Christ, was given this promise in Genesis 32:12. Making Abraham’s seed “as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude” typifies what God is going to do for His elect (Gen 32:12, Rev 7:9).

Gen 32:12  And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 

These verses in Revelation 7:4-8 which speak of the twelve tribes of Israel that precedes Revelation 7:9 typify the “twelve oxen under the sea” who are a type of the elect or 144,000 whose salvational work will save all of mankind “as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude” (Gen 32:12, Gal 4:27).

Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 
Rev 7:5  Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 
Rev 7:6  Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 
Rev 7:7  Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 
Rev 7:8  Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. 

Gen 32:12  And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

1Ki 7:45  And the potsH5518, and the shovelsH3257, and the basonsH3257: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass. 
1Ki 7:46  In the plain of JordanH3383 did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.

Hiram is a type of those who have not been given eyes to see and ears to hear the true gospel (Luk 8:10) and are serving the elect by making the word available through their labours as expressed with this verse “and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of brightH4803 brass“.

Luk 8:10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

This point of Hiram being as those who are not given to discern spiritually is also symbolized by there being two groups who built the temple: “Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house” (1Ki 5:18). Solomon typifies the elect who are blessed to have the hope of glory within them, Jesus Christ, the new man who is the only one who can build the spiritual temple (Psa 127:1).

1Ki 5:18  And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house. 

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.

To further brighten this point of where our knowledge of Christ starts, we read:

“And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD” were of “bright brass” and they were made in “the plainH3603 [circle] of JordanH3383 [descender] did the king castH3332 [cleave fast, be firm] them, in the clay groundH127 [man] between SuccothH5523 [booth] and Zarthan.H6891“[Jos 3:16].

This tells us that as the Israel of God (Gal 6:16) we must live by these words that explain our forty years in the wilderness which have us going in circles trying to perfect ourselves in our flesh cleaving fast to our false doctrines. It is here where we formulate or cast our thoughts in the earth, which represent Babylon, that we are called out as the manchild of God (2Co 6:17, Rev 12:5). At this stage we do not hear the word of the Lord, but rather the king in us at that time does this:

“…the king castH3332 [cleave fast, be firm] them, in the clay groundH127 [man]”, 

All of this is showing us that we are Adam from start to finish “between SuccothH5523 [booth] and ZarthanH6891” [their distress (Jos 3:16)]; but if we are blessed to be worked with in this age as God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10), then Adam will be decreasing and Christ increasing all our lives, and that image of the beast or [man] will be dying daily (Joh 3:30, Rev 13:14-15).

It is a lifelong process to which the Lord has called the elect to learn how to implement the “pots, and the shovels, and the basons” in the service of God in the temple of God as they were intended to be used. Because judgment is upon us (1Pe 4:17), we are assured we will learn through that judgment and see God’s love perfected in us (1Jn 4:17) so that we can minister to those whom God will drag to us (Joh 6:44) to show mercy as He has to done to us (Rom 11:30-32). Looking at the words “pots, and the shovels, and the basons“, we are given an understanding of how these vesselsH3627 typify the word of God that will be used to bring the world to salvation through the church (Oba 1:21).

God made a physical molten sea through Hiram, and we are blessed to see that the true “molten sea” this represents is the lake of fire which will purify the rest of humanity. Why is it a blessing to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Rev 20:6)? The only way we can know the answer to this is to have been tried and tested and made ready to wash the world with the blood of the lamb, symbolized by the molten sea. All the glory and honour are God’s for the starting and finishing of this process, and the saints cry out “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come” because they typify those who understand the blessing it will be to one day be used to bring healing to all the world made possible because of the judgment they have endured in this life [3] (1Pe 4:17).

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

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

1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 

]]> Awesome Hands – part 13: “Hinder me Not” https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/ah_p13_hinder-me-not/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ah_p13_hinder-me-not Sat, 22 Sep 2012 21:17:22 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=1263 Audio Links

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Awesome Hands – Part 13

“Hinder Me Not”

In this week’s study, we are going to continue where we left off in part 12, as we are going to continue towards verse 26 of chapter 25.

Gen 25:26 –  And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

However, in order to continue from verse 24:49 in last week’s study, we should cover the activities as they unfold between these verses because God’s awesome hands are doing a lot between the two verses.

Last week, the Lord showed us that we are completely reliant on Him. Abraham was sent to sacrifice Isaac; yet, upon Abraham being led to prove his faith, the Lord also had already prepared a sacrifice, “a ram stuck in the thicket by his horns”.

This sacrifice is to show us that we are doing the Lord’s will when we can look back and see that we were given Faith via the trial of sacrificing all that we hold dear. Alas, our “wife” will die and we will continue on to prosper and be blessed to take on our new wife, our spiritual “temple of the Lord”.

This “first wife” who comes “naturally to us”, will be buried in the land of our future enemy.

Through all of this, we will send our servant out to do our will. We know as shown by the Faith we see displayed in the NT, that a master’s servant is the same as the master.

We too, are ambassadors for Christ, and as we pray “thy will be done”, we are living out the function of obeying our master and doing only what He has sent us to do. Once that work is done, we will know that the Lord is in control and is working all things for our good.

Mat 8:8 –  The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Mat 8:9 –  For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Mat 8:10 –  When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Gen 24:50 –  Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
Gen 24:51 –  Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
Gen 24:52 –  And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
Gen 24:53 –  And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. Gen 24:54 –  And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.

We too can’t wait to bring news to our Master that we have accomplished that which He sent us to do.

As we dive into the study in part 13, we will continue to see God’s hands working as He brings more “seed of the promise” along via Isaac’s physical seed.

Continuing with verse 55 we see:

Gen 24:55 –  And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
Gen 24:56 –  And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

Notice, we see a very common story unfolding which we also see another time in the New Testament.

Only with the NT example, we see Christ as the messenger and God as the Master, but the scenario plays out the same and we are given more detail with the parable which involves Christ.

Mat 8:19 –  And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Mat 8:20 –  And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Mat 8:21 –  And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

 

How are these two stories connected together?

In Genesis, we have the master and the master servant doing the will of the master by going forth to find a wife for the master seed. The parallel in the New Testament is really striking to me.

In verse 54 we see:

Gen 24:54 –  And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.

The masters servant would not originally eat until he has spoken the masters will to those who he had been sent to. Now that he has tarried in the night, he again gets to the point of the business at handàsend me away unto my master.

The answer of those we are sent to ends up being:

Gen 24:55 –  And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
Gen 24:56 –  And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

Do any of us think that the number ten mentioned here is just a randomly mentioned number?

The “brother and mother” of those who we have been sent to want to make sure the perfection of the flesh is accomplished, that we can take care of the things we need to take care of first, THEN we can do the will of God.

We, Lord willing, can relate directly to this state of mind because we indeed need to recognize that we all want to tidy things up before we “let God” do what He wants to do.

If you doubt this is you and me at our appointed time, what sayeth the scripture?

Mat 8:19 –  And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Mat 8:20 –  And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Mat 8:21 –  And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

“The Head of Christ is …”

Let me ask you all a very pointed question. Who is Christ’s head? Also, who is Christ’s body? Christ was just told by a scribe that he would follow Christ where ever He went.

Christ’s reply should seem a little “odd” to the natural man in us all. On the surface, it looks like Christ doesn’t really answer him and just under the surface, it looks like Christ’s answer is simply addressing Christ’s physical head having a place of rest.

However, we all know Christ speaks in parables so why did Christ answer this way and is He only speaking about a place to rest His physical head?

Bringing this question back into focus with this study, we see Christ does give us an answer, though it is cloaked and hidden from those it is hidden from.

Mat 8:22 –  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
Mat 8:23 –  And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
Mat 8:24 –  And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

There is a difference in us doing our own will and doing the will of the Lord. We know the Lord orchestrates it all, but what can we glean and learn from this two stories separated by time but connected by the Spirit?

Didn’t Peter tell the Lord the same thing, after walking with the man and seeing and doing miracles with Him?

Mat 8:19 –  And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

Mat 26:33 –  Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
Mat 26:34 –  Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Mat 26:35 –  Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Brothers and sisters, we are offended at God and His Word when we want to stay back, keep something back or otherwise do what we want to do in order to shore up whatever it is we think is important in the flesh before we are willing to follow Christ.

There is a HUGE difference in how we want to do things that the Lord commands us to do, and how the Lord commands us to do them. We like to qualify things to meet our own needs, just like this scribe:

Mat 8:19 –  And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

Unlike this scribe, Christ TELLS US what He wants us to do:

Mat 8:22 –  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

See, the masters servant doesn’t qualify what the masters will is. He doesn’t expound on it, add to it, take away from it or otherwise try and change it. We simply DO the will of the Lord as it has been commanded to us and as the instruction is given to us.

Christ is clear. When He comes to us, He is telling us to “follow Him”. This is a very simple command.

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

Gen 24:57 –  And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
Gen 24:58 –  And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

As we read scripture in types and shadows, we have come to know that the woman typifies the weaker of the two pieces…. the head and the body.

“The master” has sent his messenger to do a very specific thing, reminds the “brother and mother” again that the master has a task at hand, yet and still… the “brother and mother” typifying our flesh still wants to consult that which is weaker…. the wants and desires of the flesh.

“We’ll just make double sure that the flesh is in agreement with the Lord” is what you see when you see a response such as, “we will call the damsel and enquire at her mouth.”

Christ’s ways are WAY above our ways because Christ’s ways are the Will of His Father. In fact, you can see this same mindset continuing in our scriptural example.

When the ship is going down, and indeed this flesh has a timestamp of expiration, we tend to fear and want to do whatever we can to survive…. even if the LAST THING we want to do it to go to the source of the problem directly and ask for deliverance. Truly, God has a different mindset.

Mat 8:22 –  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
Mat 8:23 –  And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
Mat 8:24 –  And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

When Christ tells us He has “nowhere to lay His head”, in conjunction with the statement made from our willful nature of “I will follow you Lord where ever you go”, then we can see Lord willing, that what we think we can do has nothing to do will the Truth of the situation.

Indeed, we can do nothing of ourselves and Christ cannot lay His head, His Father in the mind of Christ’s body until the time appointed of God the Father and ONLY THEN.

This mindset can be seen in that as the ship is sinking, Christ is fast asleep. While we are of our own mindset, Christ’s is a bit different in that He is “asleep” and we are “awake”. This contrast is just to show us where we usually are in our trust with God the Father.

Christ will have a place to rest His Head, and that time is now, as the God drags those to Him whom He wills.

The “key to the mystery” is that Christ is our head and He has a head and Christ dwells in US! When we know this, then we too are starting to be given rest in Christ in the rails the Lord puts us through daily.

Dwelling in the south country

Getting back to the story in Genesis, we read:

Gen 24:59 –  And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.
Gen 24:60 –  And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
Gen 24:61 –  And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
Gen 24:62 –  And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.

We see now that “even our enemies are made to be at peace with us”, we are given dominance over various giants in our lives and mindset as they are conquered by Christ in us, and we start to walk on the path the Lord has chosen out for us with Him.

Notice, this union starts in the south. Viewing this type and shadow from another angle, we can now see that we, the wife, will be our Husband in the south.

Isaac (seed of promise/ new man ) also starts his walk in the south. The wife that the Lord has chosen out for us, Rebekah (the body of Christ) is brings us into the fold of the kingdom of God by this marriage.

After all, it is the new man in us that is the result of Christ dwelling in the heavens of the temple of God…in us. I hope this is making sense to someone else out there J

Interestingly, we start off in the south and judgment (the Word of God dwelling in His people, in the kingdom of God collectively) comes for the north (north = judgment).

What does this mean for us practically and spiritually today as we live out every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God?

Mat 24:33 –  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 –  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Mar 13:30 –  Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

Luk 21:31 –  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luk 21:32 –  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Isaac comes from the WAY of the well of Lahairoi.

Gen 24:62 –  And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.

H883

be’e r la chay ro’y

Total KJV Occurrences:4

lahairoi, 2

Gen_24:62, Gen_25:11

beerlahairoi, 1

Gen_16:14

well, 1

Gen_25:11

Gen 16:11 –  And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
Gen 16:12 –  And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
Gen 16:13 –  And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
Gen 16:14 –  Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

This is the “same way” that God “found” Hagar at the well, and it was named as such. This is where God a promise to bless Hagars seed. This is the bondwoman and her sons well.

We live out our lives regularly contending with the things that come most naturally to us knowing that giving into the temptations of them is displeasing to God and down right sinful most the time.

…. and if you are getting anything out of this then you are probably noticing that God blesses both the old and the new man alike.

God has designed us this way and has caused us to err so that He can show us that He is control. He then can deliver us from our destruction and get all the glory in the process because it is all Him!

Rom 7:4 –  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Rom 7:5 –  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Rom 7:23 –  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Rom 7:6 –  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

God is telling us in Genesis that He is working all things after the counsel of His own will.

God worked Rebekah’s answer to her “mother and brother” just to show that even the last ditch efforts of our flesh to content with God and do things our way will be answered with and and things in our lives worked so that even those around us will answer us BY GOD, and FROM GOD.

Mat 5:39 –  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

There is a reason that we listen to God once we know He is “talking” to us in the scripture. We listen because we have experienced that we are BOUGHT with a PRICE and we are sent on a mission. We are sent to gather up the bride of the SON OF THE MASTER!

Didn’t Christ say a very similar thing? What sayeth Christ concerning how we treat things that pertain to our fleshly wants and desires versus how we treat and think about our spiritual needs and family?

Mat 12:45 –  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Mat 12:46 –  While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Mat 12:47 –  Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
Mat 12:48 –  But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Mat 12:49 –  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Mat 12:50 –  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

We are in service to the will of the Father in the lives of His Son’s bride. We are that church and we have an obligation to be faithful to the end to that cause…the cause of being servants to the body and filling up that which comes behind Christ. “The head first then follows the body ….”

We all know the Lord works all things, as has been stated again here in this study a few times, and we can see that here in these two seemingly separate stories to the natural mind and man.

Conclusion of Awesome Hands part 13

Gen 24:63 –  And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
Gen 24:64 –  And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
Gen 24:65 –  For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

When we have come to see how we are Rebekah in this story, sought after my the Father of our master, then we too will understand the meaning of Rebekah covering her head.

Once we have seen our Lord, we know that we too have just been given Life by the marriage He is offering to us.  From this union, we are met in the field of the world … in the eventide of the night, and our Lord shows us that we are His.

In this, we are comforted in the continual death of our old man as we experience the fiery trials in which we know will end in good for us.

Gen 24:66 –  And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
Gen 24:67 –  And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Next week, we will continue to see the kingdom of God built up in us and those who are given eyes to see and ears to hear as we look into more types and shadows contained in the next verses we see “hand” mentioned in Hebrew.

We will see how we, as a new man loved of God greatly, are given the dominance of the old man who comes first. We will grab the heel of the elder, and claim our inheritance in such.

Gen 25:26 –  And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

]]> Made Known by the Breaking of Bread https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/made-known-by-the-breaking-of-bread/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=made-known-by-the-breaking-of-bread Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:28:54 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=3385

Mike,

So how would you respond to Christ’s command, Do this in remembrance of me?

Thanks,
W____

Hi again W____,
You asked me:

“This do” is quoted from this section of scripture:

Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

This is the same “my body” and “my blood” Christ refers to in these verses:

Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Joh 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Washing the feet of His disciples is just as much a spiritual symbol as the fish and honey He ate after His resurrection, symbolizing ” the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you”.

Notice, He sits down to dine twice in the same evening, not because He is hungry, but simply to make the point that His Word is our food.

Luk 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
Luk 24:14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
Luk 24:15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Luk 24:16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Luk 24:17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
Luk 24:18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
Luk 24:19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
Luk 24:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
Luk 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Luk 24:22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
Luk 24:23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
Luk 24:24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
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?
Luk 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luk 24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
Luk 24:29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
Luk 24:30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
Luk 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
Luk 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Luk 24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
Luk 24:34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
Luk 24:35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
Luk 24:36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Later that same evening it all happens again:

Luk 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Luk 24:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
Luk 24:43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

It is “as [we] speak” of Christ, that He is ‘standing in our midst’. It is in “the breaking of bread… fish and honeycomb” that Christ is “made known” to us all, because those things all symbolize “the words I spake unto you”. It is according to Christ Himself, that “the breaking of bread” is “the words I spake unto you”. It is the same with the breaking of bread at the so-called ‘Lord’s supper’. Christ did not wash their feet just to create a new ritual to replace an old ritual. Everything Christ did, even the healings and miracles He performed, were types and shadows of “greater works than these”.

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

It is a much greater act of love to give a person spiritual insight than it is to give him physical sight. It is much better to have Christ healing us of our lame walk in this life of service to sin and giving us the strength to walk as Christ walked than it is to physically heal any man’s physically lame legs.

It is also a much greater act of love and obedience to our Lord to “break bread” in the way Christ meant us to do so. What Christ was telling His disciples and is telling us, is to live our lives as He lived His life. It was a life of service to all men. That is the only way we can share Christ’s body and blood with our brothers and sisters in Christ. That is incomparably more beneficial than physically washing their already clean feet, as a dead ritual practiced by millions of Christians whose lives show no sign of being of service to their brothers. If we give to our brothers and sisters the knowledge of how Christ lives His life within us, then we have truly ‘washed their feet’, and we will then have truly ‘eaten His body and then we will have drunken of His blood’.

Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Joh 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Joh 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

“Dwelling in Christ” and “living by Christ” is “eating His flesh and drinking His blood”. Those are Christ’s Words. Outward rituals accomplish nothing according to our Lord. Living lives of service one to another is what Christ meant by “My flesh is meat indeed and My blood is drink indeed”. “Do this as oft as you do it in remembrance of Me” has everything to do with what is within each of us, and it has nothing at all to do with dead outward rituals, which may appear to be spiritual but are nothing more than an opportunity to glory in appearances and not in changed hearts.

2Co 5:12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

Mar 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

As certainly as ‘nothing from without a man can defile him’, it is equally true that nothing from outside of a man can cleanse him spiritually:

Mat 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee [You, me, or anyone who depends on outward rituals], cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

If our hearts are clean, our feet will also be clean.

I hope this helps you to see that “as oft as we do this we do it in remembrance of Christ” has much more to do with how we live our lives as servants to our brothers and sisters than it has to do with instituting a new outward ritual that makes a man feel good and clean outwardly, while, like water baptism, changing nothing within that man. Here is what cleanses both our ‘feet’ and our way of life. Here is what the bread, the wine and Christ washing His disciples feet symbolized:

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

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

P. S. Here is a URL to an e-mail I wrote several years ago on this subject of the spiritual significance of the Lord’s supper:
http://www. iswasandwillbe.com/lordssupper.php

]]> Do Ministers Have Rule Over Us? https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/do-ministers-have-rule-over-us/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=do-ministers-have-rule-over-us Sat, 14 May 2011 04:21:03 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=2340

Hi Mike,

Heb:13:17 also has the word submit, and a teacher is an instructor. We need to be willing to submit ourselves in order to learn thereby, making you the rule over us correct?? Which is not the same as worship. Hope this is okay.

ybic,
T____

Hi T____,

Thank you for your question concerning Heb 13:7 and 17. This question offers me the opportunity to deal with a false doctrine which has afflicted the lives of all of the saints of God for over two millennium.

You say:

The first thing I want to do is to commend the teachable attitude you express with your words here. Look at the contrast between a teachable attitude, which is greatly commended by our Lord, with an envious, presumptuous and unteachable attitude which is one of the most offensive of spirits, one which is dealt with and is destroyed by our Lord.

Num 12:1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
Num 12:2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
Num 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Num 12:9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
Num 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

Just weeks later Korah and all the famous leaders of Israel repeat this same mistake, operating in the same covetous and jealous spirit against those who have “become as a little child” and are the real meek of the earth.

Num 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took [men]:
Num 16:2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
Num 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

No man of God “lifts himself up above the congregation of the Lord”, but as this story proves, they will always be accused of doing so, by those who think “the whole congregation is holy, every one of them”. Korah and company brag that they would never call anyone ‘weak in the faith’, or a ‘spiritual fornicator’, or a “heretic”. “All the congregation is holy, every one of them” is their mantra. But “weak in the faith… fornicators… and heretics” are Biblical terms describing the “leaven of the Pharisees”, which must be among us, and within the body of Christ, so that “they that are approved among us may be made manifest”.

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

This envious, rebellious spirit is in the flesh of us all, but contrast this spirit with the spirit which our Lord admonishes us to receive.

Mat 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Christ is not encouraging naivety or immaturity. His point is that we must stay “humble” and teachable, not envious of others who have endured more than we have endured and who have been given more for the moment than we have been given, as did Miriam and Aaron, and just days later, Korah and company. “These things happened to them and they are written for our admonition” (1Co 10:11).

With this all in mind, let’s take an analytical look at these verses you reference, and see what the holy spirit is really teaching us concerning the Biblical place and function of elders in the body of Christ. Here is the verse you reference.

Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.

This verse and verse 7 of this same chapter have been used by the leaders of both Catholic and Protestant ministers to lay a heavy burden on the back of those in their charge, and will not so much as raise a finger to relieve them of that burden.

Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Anyone who is familiar with the Word of God will immediately want to know how these verses can possibly be made to accord with these words of our Lord:

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

It simply is not possible to have the rule over others, expect them to obey you, and at the same time claim to be the minister of that person. “The princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion… It shall not be so among you”

So how do we make Mat 20:25-28 accord with Heb 13:7 and 17? Here is how we do that. We simply use our concordance and detect that a grievous mistranslation has taken place by paid scholars who were working for a certain King James, who believed in a doctrine known as ‘the divine right of Kings’.

It is the two words ‘obey’ and ‘rule’ in Heb 13:7 and 17 which have been mistranslated and have been used by the great harlot of Babylon to burden and enslave the unsuspecting beast and nations over which she has be granted dominion.

So let’s look at how these verses should have been translated, and when we do we will dethrone that beastly man of sin and his harlot master. We will first look at how the word ‘obey’ should have been translated. Here are all the entries in the New Testament for the Greek word translated ‘obey’ in these verses.

G3982
πειθω
peitho
Total KJV Occurrences: 58
persuaded, 16
Mat_27:20, Luk_16:31, Luk_20:6, Act_13:43, Act_14:19, Act_18:4, Act_19:26, Act_21:14, Act_26:26, Rom_8:38, Rom_15:14 (2), 2Ti_1:5, 2Ti_1:12, Heb_6:9, Heb_11:13
trust, 7
Mar_10:24, 2Co_1:9, 2Co_10:7, Phi_2:24, Phi_3:4, Heb_2:13, Heb_13:18
confidence, 6
2Co_2:3, Gal_5:10, Phi_1:25, Phi_3:3, 2Th_3:4, Phm_1:21
obey, 5
Rom_2:8, Gal_3:1, Gal_5:7, Heb_13:17, Jas_3:3
believed, 3
Act_17:3-4 (2), Act_27:11, Act_28:24
confident, 3
Rom_2:19, Phi_1:6, Phi_1:14
persuade, 3
Mat_28:14 (2), 2Co_5:11, Gal_1:10
trusted, 3
Mat_27:43, Luk_11:22, Luk_18:9
obeyed, 2
Act_5:36-37 (2)
persuading, 2
Act_19:8, Act_28:23
agreed, 1
Act_5:40
assure, 1
1Jn_3:19
friend, 1
Act_12:19-20 (2)
made, 1
Act_12:20 (2)
persuadest, 1
Act_26:28
put, 1
Heb_2:13
waxing, 1
Phi_1:13-14 (2)
yield, 1
Act_23:21

This Greek word ‘peitho‘ is found 58 times in 55 verses, and is most commonly translated as “persuaded”. Here is the first time we see this word used in the New Testament.

Mat 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

Now let’s look at Strong’s definition of this Greek word ‘peitho‘.

peitho
pi’- tho
A primary verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty): – agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) content, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield.

So it is very clear in light of all of these entries of this word as it was inspired and used by the holy spirit, that the meaning of this Greek word ‘peitho’ is to convince and persuade by evidence. It should also be clear that this Greek word ‘peitho‘, has virtually nothing to do with dominion over any of our fellow laborers in Christ.

Now let’s look at the true Biblically inspired meaning of the Greek word hegeomai, translated ‘rule’ in Heb 13:17. Here are the inspired entries for this word in the New Testament:

G2233
ηγεομαι
he geomai
Total KJV Occurrences: 28
count, 7
Phi_3:8 (2), 2Th_3:15, 1Ti_6:1, Jas_1:2, 2Pe_2:13, 2Pe_3:9
chief, 3
Luk_22:26, Act_14:12, Act_15:22
counted, 3
Phi_3:7, 1Ti_1:12, Heb_10:29
rule, 3
Heb_13:7, Heb_13:17, Heb_13:24
esteem, 2
Phi_2:3, 1Th_5:13
governor, 2
Mat_2:6, Act_7:10
think, 2
Act_26:2, 2Pe_1:13
thought, 2
2Co_9:5, Phi_2:6
account, 1
2Pe_3:15
esteeming, 1
Heb_11:26
judged, 1
Heb_11:11
supposed, 1
Phi_2:25

This word appears 28 times in 27 verses. In all but five of these entries this word is used in the sense of counting, accounting, judging, thinking, supposing and esteeming. The only two times it is translated ‘governor,’ it could just as well have been translated ‘leader’. Which is not to say that leaders cannot have authority, but it is to say that this word does not mean rule or authority as much as it is obviously concerned with accounting, supposing, thinking and highly esteeming our leaders in the body of Christ who look well to themselves and the flock over which they have been placed by the holy spirit.

Here is Strong’s definition of this Greek word ‘hegeomai’.

he geomai
hayg- eh’- om- ahee
Middle voice of a (presumed) strengthened form of G71; to lead, that is, command (with official authority); figuratively to deem, that is, consider: – account, (be) chief, count, esteem, governor, judge, have the rule over, suppose, think.

Of the 28 times this word appears in the New Testament, the only time it is translated as ‘rule’ is right here in Hebrews 13:7 and 17 and 24. Here is verse 24:

Heb 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

As we have just demonstrated this should read ‘Salute all them you highly esteem…”, not “them that have the rule over you…”

Here is a verse where this word is properly translated while speaking of the very same elders in the church, who are the subject of Hebrew 13:7, 17, and 24.

1Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1Th 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

While it is true that we ought not “fall down at the feet of the angel who shows us these things” (Rev 19:19 and 22:8-9), it is equally true that we ought to ‘highly esteem [ those messengers] for their works sake”, and acknowledge that the Lord Himself has placed them as “overseers” in His body to help protect us from the “leaven of the Pharisees”, and the jealous, and rebellious attitude of Korah, which is constantly assaulting the body of Christ.

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

You point out that the word ‘submit’ is used in verse 13, and indeed it is, but let us notice under what circumstances we are to “submit ourselves to them”.

Let’s go back to verse 7 and notice how it is that we are to ‘be persuaded of those we highly esteem’.

Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

And what is “the end of their conversation” which we are to observe and consider, if we are to highly esteem a man as an overseer and an elder within the body of Christ? It is the very next verse.

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

“The end of their conversation” is the outcome or the product of their life, and that product is “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever”. When we see the same Jesus Christ of scripture, living His life and an elder in our midst, then we need to submit to the words of Christ which that man is living, and recognize and highly esteem him as “an overseer of the Lord’s flock” placed there by the Lord Himself.
So, do I or any other man, have any dominion at all over any of God’s flock? I will let the apostle Paul himself answer that question:

2Co 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

A true Biblical “overseer of the flock of God placed there by the holy spirit” is not a man who lords it over the flock.

Heb 13:17 Be persuaded by your leaders, and be deferring to them, for they are vigilant for the sake of your souls, as having to render an account, that they may be doing this with joy, and not with groaning, for this is disadvantageous for you. (CLV)

So the proper translation of the word ‘obey’ is ‘be persuaded’. He is rather “a helper of your joy” because he is living the life of “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and for ever”.

I hope you find these words edifying.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

]]> Are Baby Dedications Scriptural? https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/are-baby-dedications-scriptural/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=are-baby-dedications-scriptural Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=1407

Hi D____,

Thank you for your questions. I will answer them all with just a couple of verses of scripture. It is true that Christ’s parents took him up to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord. But Christ’s parents and Christ himself was “made of a woman made under the law” until He began His ministry of reforming the law.

Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Heb 9:9  Which [ physical temple] was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Heb 9:10  Which [ temple and all of it’s ceremonies, like dedications] stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Carnal ordinances like dedications and baptisms are of no benefit to the inner man who must be baptized by “the washing of water by the Word” which “Word” is Christ within us. No outward “carnal ordinance” can “make him that does the service perfect.”
Here is what the holy spirit revealed to the apostle Paul concerning baptisms.

1Co 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospe l: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

This is how the new man is now baptized:

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

That is right, “the washing of water” is now “by the word” and not by the carnal ordinance of water baptism.
No baby is mature enough to have any concept of being dedicated to the Lord. All such ritual is for the benefit of the adults who perform such empty rituals. This is what Christ has to say about outward rituals.

Mar 7:14  And when he had called all the people [ unto him], he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one [ of you], and understand:
Mar 7:15  There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
Mar 7:16  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

We are not defiled by anything from without, and the scriptures make it very plain that neither are we cleansed by anything from without. The only washing that cleanses us is that of the word that enters into our hearts and minds and burns out all that will burn.

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it [ the church] with the washing of water by the word,
Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [ is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he [ is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

I hope this helps you to see that Christ came to reform the law and to make it far superior to all outward  rituals which ” cannot make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience”. That would certainly include the ritual of child baptisms and dedications.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

]]> Can A Policeman Be A Christian? https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/can-a-policeman-be-a-christian/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=can-a-policeman-be-a-christian Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:57:00 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=2022

Mike,

Thank you for your website and your dedication. Thanks be to God our father. He is using you to help lead me out of deception.

I am a police officer and always felt that Rom 13:4 is referring to me. Is the sword being referenced in this verse the sword of the word, or the sword (gun) of the police officer? I know I could be called upon to use my weapon in the performace of my duties (I pray to god that will never happen) and am currently ready to do so if need be. I can say if that does happen it would not be because I hate anyone, or consider the person I may have to shoot an enemy. I guess the real question is can I be a police officer and be in God’s will at the same time? I have always felt my calling to be a police officer was from God.

Thank you for taking the time,

S____

Hi S____,
Thank you for your question. You ask,

You also reference Rom 13:4

Rom 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Rom 13:4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

These are the verses my draft board used to try to convince me that it was my godly duty to go to Viet Nam and kill our Vietnamese enemies. They stressed verses one and two very forcefully, “There is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”
There it is, plain and simple; “Be subject to the higher powers, [ or] receive… damnation.” There is also this very persuasive verse of God’s Word:

1Pe 2:13  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

It is a very persuasive argument, and it seems so very scriptural. But is this all there is in God’s word on this subject? Rom 13 is very clear, and 1Pe 2 is very clear, but is this all there is on this subject?
Peter tells us:

2Pe 1:18  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Here is the Concordant Version of these verses:

2Pe 1:18 And this voice we hear being carried out of heaven, being together with Him in the holy mountain.”
2Pe 1:19 And we are having the prophetic word more confirmed, which you, doing ideally, are heeding (as to a lamp appearing in a dingy place, till the day should be breaking and the morning star should be rising) in your hearts,
2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation.”

Peter is telling us that even though he and James and John “heard a voice from heaven” saying “This is my Beloved son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him,” that “we have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto you do well that you take heed.”  In other words, Peter considered the words of the Bible to be “more sure” than any vision by and of itself. Peter goes on to say “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of its own interpretation.” What does that have to do with anything?

The answer is that it has everything to do with how we are to understand God’s Word. In other words, Rom 14 is not to be understood alone. It must be understood in the light of all of God’s Word, and that is exactly what we are told constitutes Truth.

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

This raises the question, ‘Does Rom 13 contradict Christ’s commandment to Peter:

Mat 26:52  Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Does Rom 13 contradict Christ’s new doctrine that we are to love our very enemies?

Mat 5:43  Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:
Mat 5:44  but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;

Contrary to what my draft board wanted me to believe, Christ did not say “Love your enemy unless he really is your enemy and means you and your family and your country bodily harm.” If our savior had understood His own advice in such a manner, then He Himself  would have called down twelve legions of angels and would not have permitted the greatest injustice ever committed; that being the unjust death of the only man who never committed a sin against anyone, the death of the Son of God. No, Rom 13 does not contradict either Mat 5 or Mat 26.

How then do we explain what appears to be a contradiction? We do so with “the sum of thy word.” Both Christ and His apostles demonstrate for us that we are indeed to “submit ourselves to every ordinance of men for the Lord’s sake,” as long as those ordinances do not require us to break the laws of God. Christ actually commands us that we are not to “resist evil” committed against us. We are to “resist the devil” and “flee fornication,” but when someone is committing evil against us we are commanded:

Mat 5:38  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

That does not sound like the calling of a police officer. Policemen are called to “smite the right cheek” of the criminal world. God’s elect are called to turn the other cheek whether it is a police officer or a criminal doing the smiting.

Here is proof of these truths:

Act 5:27  And when they had brought them, they set [ them] before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Act 5:28  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
Act 5:29  Then Peter and the [ other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

So that is “the sum of God’s Word” which keeps Christ’s words from contradicting Peter and Paul. The same Peter who said “Be subject to every ordinance of men for the Lord’s sake,” also said “We ought to obey God rather than men” when it came to disobeying a direct Biblical command to “Go and preach to the people” or “Love your enemies.”

The Truth is that “Put up again thy sword, all they that take up the [ physical] sword will be killed by the [ spiritual] sword” which says “Love your enemies… resist not evil… turn the other cheek.”
You tell me:

It is not easy for me to have to say what the scriptures actually teach. My draft board told me “All that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.” They told me that “If everyone did what I was doing we would all be communists.” But the scriptures teach “Let God be true and every man a liar,” and that is what God has placed in my heart.

I have all the respect in the world for both soldiers and policemen who believe they are where God wants them to be. “The powers that be are ordained of God” is a true and Biblical statement, but we have to acknowledge that this is true of all governments of men, Hitler included, just as it is for policemen and soldiers. Both are considered to be “avengers of evil,” as Paul put it in the verse you reference:

Rom 13:4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Are God’s elect to seek vengeance? Are God’s elect to execute wrath? What say the scriptures:

Rom 12:19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

God has placed Herod and Pilate and the high priest in the position of executing vengeance and wrath against the evils of society. Those are not the functions of an ambassador of Christ and His kingdom:

2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Christ’s ambassadors would no more join the military of any country to whom they were sent than an American ambassador would join the military of Russia or Saudi Arabia if sent there to represent the United States.

Who then, does the lord use as His sword, to punish evil doers in the kingdoms of this world? Again, what do the scriptures say? Who do the scriptures say is God’s sword at this time?

Psa 17:13  Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

God’s “sword” with which he disciplines the nations and the wicked of this world are, by God’s own Word, “the wicked.” Christ never once withstood the power of Rome. He never once resisted what were “the powers that be.” He was completely aloof from the affairs of this age, and that is how His elect must be also, if they want to be bold in the day of judgment, then they must be just as He was:

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.

There has never been a greater evil or injustice in the history of mankind than the death of Jesus Christ, the spotless and sinless Son of God. Who then was it that ordained the death of Christ? Was it the work of the devil? No, it was not. It was all ordained of God the Father even before the foundation of this world:

Act 4:26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Act 4:29  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

Does your calling to be a police officer come from God? In the sense of these verses, it certainly is. But the truth remains that “if you will enter into life [ you must] keep the commandments [ of Christ].

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

There it all is. Having said that the sum of God’s word reveals to be His mind on this matter, I feel the need to point out that John the Baptist did not ask the Roman soldiers to quit their jobs on the spot. But he did admonish even those soldiers to “Do violence to no man.”

Luk 3:14  And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

Also the apostle Paul told his followers to “remain in the calling wherein they are called.”

1Co 7:20  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

What Paul is saying is the same thing John the Baptist told the Roman soldiers. If you are called while a soldier, “do violence to no man,” but don’t immediately dishonor the contract you have with the powers that be. But look at Paul’s advice under the inspiration of the holy spirit, in the very next verse:

1Co 7:21  Art thou called [ being] a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use [ it] rather.

So don’t do anything rash. God’s elect are aware that all men are where they are at God’s pleasure, and not of their own free will. “But if you may be free, use it rather [ to serve God] unfettered and unshackled by the restraints of being obligated to “the powers that be… evil men which are your sword.”

It was the Lord who had you to write me about this. I pray He gives you the strength to receive only what is in His Word. We are living in very tumultuous times, and good jobs are hard to come by. But what is even rarer in any age is those who say Lord, Lord, and are willing to do the things which the Lord says.

It is true that the only thing needed for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. But the war we are called to fight is not an outward war. It is a war that is being waged even now in the hearts and minds of God’s elect. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal or outward:

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
2Co 10:7  Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he [ is] Christ’s, even so [ are] we Christ’s.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

]]> Can A Christian Serve In The Peace Corps? https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/can-a-christian-serve-in-the-peace-corps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=can-a-christian-serve-in-the-peace-corps Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:00:00 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=2014

Hello Mr. Vinson,

First of all thank you for your site. I have been reading IWWB and like minded material for some time now and it has opened the scriptures to me. It has been wonderful learning all these truths and I have gained some perspective.

Is it good for a Christian to volunteer with Peace Corps? I am asking this because I have been considering being a Peace Corps volunteer as a business adviser in a developing nation. My thought is that perhaps it would be a way to serve others, and if someone asked me I can mention my faith. But some of my concerns are that it’s a semi- government institution funded by taxes, I don’t want to promote consumerism and also there are homeless and povertyina city close to me (perhaps worsening due to the financial system teetering on edge.) I also think of other ways I can help.

I don’t expect personal advice or anything, but I was wondering if you could give me a scriptural viewpoint. I read the article about Christians and the military and was wondering if I risk getting yoked or something like that. I read the article about Should Christians Make the World a Better Place, but I also see the need to be the light of the world and serve others. Thanks for reading.

Sincerely,
S____

Hi S____,
Thank you for your question. You ask:

You tell me that you have read the letters Should Christians Serve In The Military at http:// www. iswasandwillbe. com/ christiansinmilitary. php and the letter entitled Should Christians Make This World A Better Place? http:// www. iswasandwillbe. com/2005032806. php

If you have read those two papers, then you know the principles which the scriptures have laid down concerning having “no other Gods before Me.” If you have read those papers then you know that Christians are to consider themselves as strangers and pilgrims on this earth, and are not called to try in any way to save or improve upon a worldly system which has been created by its Creator for the purpose of being destroyed and replaced with “a new heaven and a new earth.”

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

You say:

Personal advice is something I do not give so I am grateful that you understand that. God has each of us where He wants us at any given time. He truly “works all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph 1:11), and He does so at all times.

Not everyone is capable of bearing the truths of the meat of God’s words:

Joh 16:12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [ even] as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

When you join the Peace Corps, you sign a contract which obligates you to serve for a specified time period. During that period of time you are in the employ of the Peace Corps. I honestly do not know if one is considered to be government property in the Peace Corps as he is in the Military. If that is the case, then it is definitely not where a Christian should be.

The principle I will leave you with is the one which teaches us to be as free to serve God and obey His words as we possibly can be. Here is that scripture, and it is dealing with indenturing in any form:

1Co 7:21  Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

There were many slaves who could not be free in Paul’s day. There are, sadly today, still such situations all around the world which enslave many. If we find ourselves in such situations and we cannot change our circumstances, then we must live our convictions and accept where God has us with grace, never complaining.

Here is that same verse in the Analytical- Literal Translation:

(ALT) Were you called as a slave? Stop letting it be a concern to you, but if also you are able to become free, rather make use of it.

So there it is. The less obstructions you have between you and your Creator, the better able you are to please and to obey Him. Do you want to be of service to your fellow man? Do you want to be of service to God?

I will let Christ tell you how you can best serve Him and His Father. It will have no appeal to the flesh which wants to see the work to be done, but it will be of great value to God. Here are Christ’s own words concerning how to best do the work of His Father:

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.

“Believing on Christ” requires that we know Him and His teachings. That “is the work of God” which best pleases Him. It is not a cop out. The doctrines of Christ are a full time job, which requires more ‘guts’ than is required of any soldier, seal, ranger or officer in any military on earth. The requirements for believing on Christ are actually super human and require that Christ come into you and live His life of obedience to His Father and rejection by this world, in you.

I hope this has given you some direction in deciding whether to join the Peace Corps. You do indeed, need to live a life of service, and you must be “the light of the world,” but be careful to see to it that you are serving God and not man. A Christian should have no trouble finding ways to be of service to God without going through men and organizations which are of this world to do so:

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

]]> Types In Esther https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/types-in-esther/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=types-in-esther Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:00:01 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=5123

Mike I am trying to keep my emails to you down to a minimum. I know you have quite a load to keep up with. Lately the Lord has put on my heart to study the book of Esther. So far I think I have a pretty good understanding of the flow of the book. The Lord has shown me many spiritual applications hidden within this book. My question is this…. I had never even heard of the feast of Purim. After learning of this and using several commentaries about it, I noticed a connection between

Est 9:21  To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
Est 9:22  As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of (sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.)

and….

Rev 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and (shall send gifts one to another); because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

And then this reference from Luke….

Luk 18:12  I fast twice in (the week), [ the week of unleavened bread] I give tithes of all that I possess. Est 4:16  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

Do you think the giving gifts in this Purim feast is the same as what is referred to in Rev. 11:10? And is the fast that is referred to in Luke the same as the fast of Est 4:16? What is the significance of this gift- giving of Rev 11:10? (how do we live by this)? Your brother in the Christ,
R____

Good morning R____,
 
Thank you for your concern for my work load, but please don’t fail to share with me the things you are seeing in God’s Word. I am still so very thankful that shortly before Ray Smith “separated me from His company,” (Luk 6:22) you had written me an e- mail telling me what God had revealed to you about the spiritual significance of Christ being born in a manger. The instant I read that e- mail, the spirit of God witnessed to me that what you were saying was indeed from God and was in line with the words of God. Beasts come to a manger to get nourishment, just as men come to Christ to get the “words of life… the bread of life.”
So do take the time to continue sharing with me the revelations God gives to you. I promise I will not hoard them up for myself. I love to tell others where I have learned what God has given me, and I take every opportunity to do so.
This letter about Esther is no exception.  I had never before noticed that the decree for the destruction of the Jews in the Persian Empire was proclaimed at the time of the preparation for the Passover.

Est 3:12  Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.

Knowing this makes this whole story of Esther coming before the king, contrary to the law, a type of Christ laying down His life for us. Esther, like Abraham before her, and like Daniel and like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo, before her, had determined to obey the Lord, typified by Mordecai, and let the Lord Himself determine what would be the outcome of obedience to His Word.

Dan 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [ are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Dan 3:17  If it be [ so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [ us] out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Est 4:16  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [ is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

Abraham, we are told “received Isaac as one raised from the dead”, simply because Abraham had determined to obey God, and “sacrifice His only son.”
And so too, do Daniel coming forth from the Lion’s den and the three Hebrew children represent those who are raised from the dead as they come forth of the fiery furnace. All who lay down their lives as living sacrifices to God are being buried with Christ in His death and have been and will be raised with Him in glory.

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin.

That is just how “Christcentric” are the scriptures. (I got that word from Joe Beeler). The scriptures are ‘Christcentric’ from Genesis to Revelation. It is all the revelation of Jesus Christ, and this book of Esther is no exception to that rule. It too, is all about Christ [ Esther] and His relationship to His Father [ Mordecai].

Est 2:10  Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew [ it].

Est 2:19  And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.
Est 2:20  Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

In the sense that Ester obeyed the commandment of Mordecai, Mordecai, typifies our heavenly Father.
Now suppose that the Pharisee is speaking of fasting twice in every week? That does not change the fact that the Jews were fasting during the days of unleavened bread at the time Haman had gotten permission to destroy all Jews in the kingdom of Ahasuerus.
Yes, when we take God’s gold and appropriate it to ourselves as if it were something that had not been given to us, and we use God’s gold, His word and His doctrines, to exalt ourselves as does the Pharisee within us all, then we are taking God’s commanded fasts and His commanded gift- giving and using it to celebrate the destruction of God’s elect.
So whether the Pharisee’s “fasting twice in the week” is a direct reference to the fasting of the Jews during the days of unleavened bread in Esther or not, the Pharisees fasting while looking down on the publicans is the same as Haman looking down his nose at Mordecai and seeking the destruction of Mordecai.
Apparently the Jews were already fasting before Esther asked them to fast three days and nights for her.

Est 4:1  When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
Est 4:2  And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
Est 4:3  And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, [ there was] great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

A few verses later we read:

Est 4:5  Then called Esther for Hatach, [ one] of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it [ was], and why it [ was].
Est 4:6  So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which [ was] before the king’s gate.
Est 4:7  And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

Then we are told this:

Est 4:16  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [ is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

All if this was done during the Passover and the days of unleavened bread, in the first month, the month of Nisan.

Est 3:7  In the first month, that is, the month Nisan , in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

This was, as we noted above, all at the time of the Passover, all typifying and foreshadowing the sacrifice of Christ as our savior.
You also ask:

I had never before considered that there was any connection between the gift- giving of Esther at Purim and the gift- giving at the death of God’s elect in Rev 11, but knowing that Babylon is “that great city wherein our Lord was crucifed,” knowing that “as he is so are we in this world,” it follows that this is the only time in scripture where the Pharisees within us want to see Christ and those who are in Him, dead.
You ask “How do we live by this?” and the scriptures answer:

Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [ thee]? or thirsty, and gave [ thee] drink?
Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took [ thee] in? or naked, and clothed [ thee]?
Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Mat 25:44  Then shall they [ the wicked within us] also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

What we do and what we don’t do is all “ye did it unto” Christ. What is done to Christ’s witnesses is done to Christ, and every time you or I have ever believed a false doctrine over the word of God, though it may have been in ignorance, we were still believing a lie over the Truth, over God’s word. Babylon is, was and will always be in the majority. Babylon is always slaying God’s elect and rejoicing over their death and refusing to bury God’s elect and sending gifts of joy to one another over the fact that they have successfully separated from our company:

Luk 6:22  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

“Separating you from their company, reproaching you and casting out your name as evil for the Son of Man’s sake is the fulfillment of this verse:

Rev 11:9  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Rev 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

 I know that you are aware that we “keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” I know also that you are aware that God’s Word is, was and will be “at hand.” Knowing this gives us the knowledge that we all, at our appointed time “see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another;”

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.
Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them. (ASV)

So in review, the fasting may not be a the exact same number of days in Esther and in Luke, but both are fasting under the law, and I have no doubt that there is a connections between the gift- giving of Esther and Rev 11. Those who kill God’s elect, just like Haman, always think they are serving their king:

Est 3:8  And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws [ are] diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.

Babylon does not know that it is Babylon. They actually perceive themselves as God’s elect.
I hope this is of some help as you try to see the hidden things of the spirit, behind the letters of God’s Word.
Your brother in the Christ,
Mike

]]> Giving, and Public Prayer https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/giving-and-public-prayer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=giving-and-public-prayer Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=2622 Audio Download

Hi P____,
It is good to hear from you. Thank you for your questions. Your first question is:

No, you have no obligation to let a user use you. Yes, Christ did say:

Mat 5:42  Give to him that asketh thee , and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

So if a known drunken bum asks you for the money to buy a hamburger, you ought never to use the fact that you know this man is an addict as an excuse to avoid giving him a hamburger.  But Matthew 5:42 is not the sum of God’s Word on this subject. There are those who think it is, but it is not.

Mary’s alabaster box of ointment teaches us that we must also be selective with our charity. Here is the message of that story:

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Contrary to what Christ’s own apostles thought, Mary was commended for putting the body of Christ ahead of the poor:

Mat 26:6  Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
Mat 26:7  There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat [at meat].
Mat 26:8  But when his disciples saw [it], they had indignation, saying, To what purpose [is] this waste?
Mat 26:9  For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
Mat 26:10  When Jesus understood [it], he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
Mat 26:11  For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
Mat 26:12  For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
Mat 26:13  Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Christ’s whole life was dedicated to serving His ‘body.’ This story is in God’s Word for this very reason. The “memorial to Mary” is remembered when we help those who are a part of the body of Christ.

Am I denying that we ought to help those outside the body of Christ? Absolutely not. Am I saying that the body of Christ should come first? Yes I am, simply because that is what Christ taught us.

If you want to read more on this subject just type the words ‘alabaster box’ into the search box at the upper right corner of the iswasandwillbe. com home page.

Your second question was:

As always, Christ is our pattern. What did He do?

Mat 15:36  And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

This is not the exception with Christ. It was the rule:

Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

As politically incorrect as it is to give thanks, it is nevertheless very scriptural. Look at what the apostle Paul did in the presence of nonbelievers:

Act 27:33  And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them[ the sailors and prisoners] all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
Act 27:34  Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
Act 27:35  And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
Act 27:36  Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
Act 27:37  And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

This was not a public display on the part of Paul, it was rather a witness and encouragement to all 276 souls that this whole event was an act of God. This very public prayer was followed by Paul shaking off a serpent into the fire. Again a witness to all these Romans and prisoners that this Christian was indeed a man of God. This situation called for a public prayer. Paul was actually given charge of this situation by the Roman captain who had the charge of all those going to Rome as prisoners.

Parents ought to always “give thanks” at a meal. It is especially needed as an example for children, and there is nothing at all unscriptural about asking God to bless the food.

Look at what the churches were doing with Paul’s blessing:

1Co 10:30  For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

Again:

1Co 14:16  Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
1Co 14:17  For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

Jas 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Jas 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

None of this is in opposition to Christ’s warning against praying long prayers for the purpose of being seen of men. Neither is there any contradiction with Christ’s admonition to do our personal prayers in our closets. Asking God’s blessing on our food and fellowship at meals and giving Him thanks for His daily bounty toward us is good, and it is scriptural.

I hope this helps you to see, in the answers to both of these questions, that what is in our hearts is what makes the difference in whether our actions or our prayers are received of God. God knows whether we are withholding help for the good of His glory or if we give help for the purpose of glorifying Him. He also knows whether we are praying as a humble and grateful son or daughter or whether we are praying to be seen of men.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

]]> Do Ministers Have Authority Over Us? https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/do-ministers-have-authority-over-us/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=do-ministers-have-authority-over-us Wed, 25 Jul 2007 05:00:01 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=2338

Hello,

First of all let me tell you I love your site.  I am stuck in a nondenominational church.  What do I mean by stuck?  I want out, but my husband doesn’t.  So to keep the peace in our home, I go with him.  There are many things being taught in this church that are totally wrong.

One of the things that concerns me most is the spiritual authority issue.  My pastor teaches that he is the divine authority, and if he doesn’t agree with something, then don’t ask any questions.  He told my husband that he could not go and preach in any other churches without asking him first, and if he says no, then it is no.
They also teach that if the pastor does not have certain spiritual gifts, then you don’t have them either.  It flows from the head down.  So we should pray that he receives the gifts first, then we will be able to receive.

He also does and says a host of other crazy things that I just can’t stand.  I know for a fact that he does not like me because deep down he knows that I know he is wrong!  I don’t kiss up to him, ask his advice or permission, and I know that he thinks that I am just being rebellious.  I hate that there are people in the church (including my husband) that allow this type of control.  They will not do what they know they are called to do because of fear.

Where in the bible does it say that we are under the pastor?  I have never found it.  I thank God that He opened my eyes to the truth.  Please pray along with me for my husband and the others.  God bless you all!  A___

Hi A____,

You are so very right. I feel that God has given me a great blessing in being able to see the Spirit in His Word. But I have no illusions about thinking of myself as being over anyone. This is exactly what Christ warns His followers against:

Mat 20:25  But Jesus called them [His disciples] unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

This verse tells us who is the true spiritual Gentile and who is the true servant of God. This entire “from the top down” doctrine has not one verse in its support. If there were anything to it, then Paul would have had to have consulted with those in Jerusalem before he could have done anything. And he certainly would have been out of line when he corrected Peter at Antioch. But even Paul understood the truth of what Christ taught His disciples in Matthew 20. Here is how Paul debunks the false doctrine of church leaders having physical authority:

2Co 1:24  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

“Not that we have dominion over your faith” means ‘we have not dominion over your faith.’  “It shall not be so among you…” I pray that God will open your husband’s eyes to these and many other scriptures.

In the meantime, you are doing well in submitting to his placing by God as your head. But acknowledging your husband as your head is no different than me acknowledging that God has also placed physical authority in the physical government to which I, too, must submit. Yet none of us are ever told to obey men rather than God. So be careful to submit to your husband in all things, and at the same time remember these words:

Act 5:29  Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

There is a time when we are tested to see if we truly put God ahead of every thing in this earth. I pray that God will give you the grace and the wisdom to know when to obey your husband and when to put God and His word first.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

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