“The glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter” Part 2

(Know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God) (Pro 25:5-16)

[Study Aired January 29, 2026]

Pro 25:5  Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Pro 25:6  Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Pro 25:7  For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
Pro 25:8  Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
Pro 25:9  Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Pro 25:10  Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Pro 25:11  A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Pro 25:12  As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Pro 25:13  As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Pro 25:14  Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Pro 25:15  By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Pro 25:16  Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

God has called the elect to “know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1Ti 3:15). It is the longsuffering spirit of God working within the body of Christ (Rom 8:9) that is required in order for us to become overcomers, or “a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out”(Rev 3:12). It is the glory of God to conceal this process of overcoming from the world, and it is the honour of kings to search out this matter, this unsearchable matter by the spirit of God, the Comforter that is able to lead us into all truth that will set us free if we are granted to continue in it (Joh 16:13, Joh 8:31-32).

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

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.

Solomon’s prayer for the physical temple found in (1Ki 8:22-36) is a type and shadow event that describes what God is answering for the temple of God that we are today (1Co 3:16, Luk 22:31-32).

1Ki 8:27  But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
1Ki 8:28  Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:
1Ki 8:29  That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.

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

In order to become part of “the pillar and ground of the truth” or “a pillar in the temple of my God”, we must go through this longsuffering process ordained of the Master Potter, and not despise it (Rom 2:4), seeing it is the way by which the bride will be made ready (Rev 19:7). This section of proverbs gives some very instructive and clear reminders to the body of Christ as to “how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

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

Before we read the verses for our study today, let’s look at the prayer in Solomon’s dream (1Ki 3:5-10), and the prayer that Solomon was inspired to make for the temple itself (1Ki 8:22-36). What we’ll see is that, in type and shadow, Solomon is praying for the church, the temple which we are and asking God to know how we ought to walk in the midst of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The first thing to notice is that we will not ask anything amiss (Jas 4:3, Mar 11:24) if we are granted to be dead to sin and alive in Christ, which is typified by Solomon’s being asleep when God inspired his selfless prayer for the nation of Israel who represents the Israel of God [Luk 8:52-53, Rom 6:11, Gal 6:16].

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

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

“Know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God”
“which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth”

1Ki 3:5  In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
1Ki 3:6  And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
1Ki 3:7  And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. [these words of (1Co 1:26) symbolized by “and I am but a little child”]
1Ki 3:8  And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. [Our calling is ultimately for the multitudes who will be saved (Rev 7:9 , Oba 1:21)]
1Ki 3:9  Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?(1Co 2:16)
1Ki 3:10  And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

David is a type of Christ and Solomon a type of the body of Christ who will do greater works than Christ (Joh 14:12), by way of building the temple, which is symbolic of converting the life of those that God draws to the body of Christ, represented by Solomon. Solomon is asking, in old covenant letter of the law terms, to teach me that I may “know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth”

“Know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God”
“which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth”

1Ki 8:22  And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: [It is before the altar which is the cross where we must stand if we are going to be pillars of our God in his temple]
1Ki 8:23  And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:
1Ki 8:24  Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.
1Ki 8:25  Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; (Mat 22:14) so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me. (1Co 11:1)
1Ki 8:26  And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.
1Ki 8:27  But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
1Ki 8:28  Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:
1Ki 8:29  That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.
1Ki 8:30  And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive. (Joh 17:20)
1Ki 8:31  If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house:
1Ki 8:32  Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
1Ki 8:33  When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:
1Ki 8:34  Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers. (Rom 2:4)
1Ki 8:35  When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:
1Ki 8:36  Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, [“know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God”] and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance. (Rom 2:4)

Pro 25:5  Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Pro 25:6  Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Pro 25:7  For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

These first three verses give the critical message of identifying the wicked within ourselves (Pro 16:4, 1Co 11:31-32) and the need to take it away from before Christ “the king”, and then shall His throne within us be established. We must not put “forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great” (1Co 10:12), which is accomplished by resisting the devil and cleaving unto God, humbling ourselves under His mighty hand (Jas 4:7, Mat 23:12). If God will permit us this spirit then we will hear His voice telling us “Come up hither” (Rev 11:12). If we are to be raised in heavenly places today (Eph 2:6) we must be lying dead in the streets of that great city (Rev 11:11). If we are boasting in our flesh we will be “put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen” in the lake of fire, great white throne judgement. Judging ourselves today will result in our being chastened of the Lord abasing us in this age so that we can be exalted in the next (Rev 20:6).

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

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Pro 25:8  Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

If we are going in the way that seems right to us in our flesh we will end up being put to shame by those who see that we tried to build something by our own strength that never came to fruition in the first resurrection (Psa 127:1, Php 3:9). Only God can give us the power to stop trusting in our flesh (Eph 1:11-12) and to continue to rely on Him for everything, which is what will happen when we stop going “forth hastily to strive”. It takes the ongoing trial of our faith in order to make that a reality in the lives of God’s elect (Act 14:22, Pro 3:5, 2Co 1:9, 2Ti 2:24-26, Php 4:4-7).

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

2Co 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

2Ti 2:24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Php 4:5  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Pro 25:9  Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Pro 25:10  Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

In other words, don’t be a talebearer, go to  your brother and him alone (Mat 18:3-4, Mat 18:10, Mat 18:15).

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.

Mat 18:10  Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

If we gossip and don’t cover each other’s sins by going to our brother, the Lord will expose that immature spirit within us and it will humble us in one manner or another, “Lest he who hears should embarrass you When your gossip cannot be retracted” (CLV).

Pro 25:11  A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

How we go to our brother who is ensnared of the devil with a spiritual sin is with a humble and contrite heart (Isa 66:2, Jas 5:20, 1Pe 4:8), and then our words will be “fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver”. The gold represents the tried word of God that is framed with silver that represents someone who has a humble and contrite heart and knows they are the chief of sinners and capable of any sin, but for the grace of God go we (Mal 3:2-6).

Mal 3:2  But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
Mal 3:3  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver (Pro 25:11, Jer 5:14), that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (Isa 33:14-15)
Mal 3:4  Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
Mal 3:5  And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

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

Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1Pe 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Pro 25:12  As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Pro 25:13  As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

Our goal in going to our brother is to be “a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters”, which is another way of saying we are winning our wayward brother by “pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” of (Jud 1:23).

Jud 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Jud 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

If God permits, “an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold” will be found in both parties, the one being led and listening to the voice of the shepherd who leads us  to be our brother’s keeper (Gen 4:9, 1Ti 4:16), and God permitting the brother will be granted ears that hear Christ’s message to repent, represented by one who has an “obedient ear”, an ear that has been anointed and able to receive correction (Rev 3:18-22).

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The love and care we show to each other by going to our brother is interestingly connected with the snow and winter, when there is nothing happening in our lives spiritually, yet God says because we are sent as faithful messengers as Christ was sent into our lives, our actions will be “As the cold of snow in the time of harvest”, the harvest being the time of judgement when the wheat is separated from the tares (Mat 13:30) and where “the cold of snow” is the refreshing water in the heat of the Day (2Pe 3:9-12, Act 3:19)

Pro 25:13  (ERV) A messenger that can be trusted is worth much to the people who send him. He is like cool water during the hot days of harvest.

Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Act 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Pro 25:14  Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Pro 25:15  By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Pro 25:16  Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

There is a warning in these verses that speaks about swallowing down this honey, these riches he gifts us with (Job 20:15), to become “waxen fat and turn unto other gods” (Deu 31:20), leaning unto our own understanding with this knowledge that we can get puffed up with (1Co 8:1-2).

Job 20:15  He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

Deu 31:20  For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

1Co 8:1  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
1Co 8:2  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

This whole section of proverbs that we’ve looked at today has been very centered around humility and repentance, and how that is an integral part of how we walk in the house of God. It is with that humble and contrite spirit, a gift from God that we learn to bear long with the infirmity of our brother, and in God’s perfect timing, “By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone”, which breaking of bones symbolizes a turning of our stony hearts to repentance (Eze 11:19, Eze 36:26, 2Co 3:3, Rom 2:5). Once we see it in ourselves, we are able to help our brother.

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;

If we do not operate in the measure of faith that God gives us, we will be operating in our flesh, which is as one “Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain”, the rain representing the spirit of God, the gift of faith that comes with that spirit.

This last verse, “Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it”, is also speaking about the measure of faith that we need, and being grateful for what God supplies, knowing that He knows our needs and is teaching us to be content whether we have a little or a lot (2Co 8:15, Exo 16:18, Rom 12:3, Php 4:12).

2Co 8:15  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Exo 16:18  And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

God will always provide what each joint needs to supply (Eph 4:16) so that we learn how a many-membered body works together for the church to grow (1Co 12:18), in order that we may “know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (Joh 13:35).

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

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

Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

[Study Aired June 3, 2021]

These verses we’ll look at describe the inspired plan of action (Amo 3:7) that Nathan the prophet shared with Bathsheba in order to preserve the lineage of king David. It was all of the Lord that Adonijah, who represents our old man, wanted to exalt himself in the manner he did, as he attempted to sway the masses into believing he was the rightful heir to the throne (2Th 2:4, Dan 11:36). This approach is brightly contrasted with the humility demonstrated through both Nathan and Bathsheba toward king David, seen in how they approached before his presence; and all of these events were written for our sakes upon whom the ends of the ages are come (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11).

Amo 3:7  Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

The sins of the Amorites are being fulfilled in this earth in this age both inwardly and outwardly (2Ti 3:13, Gen 15:16), and we will see this pattern of self-exaltation in the world just like Adonijah who became more bold and self-exalted in the earth. This spirit will persist until the outward return of Christ (2Ti 3:1-8). As God’s elect fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ in our flesh for His body’s sake which is the church, we will be able to then circumvent all such uprisings, especially within ourselves, to the glory of God (Col 1:24, Heb 12:15, Act 20:28). Ultimately, God is not preserving our flesh but our spirits through His power, as He has determined from the foundation of the world that the bride will be made ready, and not a hair of our head will be hurt (Rev 19:7, Luk 21:18).

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 3:8  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready [by overcoming through Christ all that we just read in 2Timothy 3:1-8)].

Luk 21:18  But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

When God humbles us through our trials and much tribulation in this life, along with afflictions that we bear in our bodies, it is for the express purpose of getting our flesh out of the way so that we can be among those who are the first to trust God unto the saving of our souls (Eph 1:12-13, Heb 3:14, Heb 7:25, Heb 10:39, 1Pe 1:9). It is in this humbled and broken state of mind that God causes for His people (Isa 66:2) to experience His power resting upon us, which is how the gates of hell will not prevail against our stance in the Lord, who is our defence as we go forward not shunning to declare “all the counsel of God” (Mat 24:14, Act 20:27).

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world [1Jn 2:16] for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved [Php 4:13].
Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Act 20:27  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

At this section of the study we will see God’s servant, Nathan the prophet, who we know we are to look to as an example of “suffering affliction, and of patience” (Jas 5:10), doing exactly what the Lord would have him do as he brings to the attention of Bathsheba, who represents the church, the inspired actions they must take (1Th 5:20-23) in order to stay the hand of Satan who is represented by Adonijah.

Jas 5:10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 
1Th 5:20  Despise not prophesyings.
1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1Th 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil. 
1Th 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is through the brightness of Christ’s coming via His word sent forth from God’s servant that this destruction will occur (2Th 2:8). This story is a type and shadow event of how God works in the body of Christ today to preserve the spiritual seed of Christ through right judgment in the midst of our earth that will edify, exhort and comfort us  (Mat 24:27,  Gal 3:16, Isa 26:9, 1Co 14:3).

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: 

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.

Gal 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth [Jer 22:29], the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 

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

We must transition from being the foolish virgin to being the wise virgin who watches and prays so we can hear the word of the Lord which tells us, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mat 26:41, Jer 22:29) God has assured the bride of Christ that regardless of grievous wolves who will be as ravening beasts trying to enter into the body, those plans, just as Adonijah’s were, will not prevail against Christ’s body (Act 20:29, Mat 7:15) because “the word of God is not bound” and the gates of hell will not prevail against it, and where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty (2Co 3:17). “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets”, and those secrets are the great and precious promises which have been given to the body of Christ to fill us with hope at this very moment (2Ti 2:9-10, Mat 16:18, 2Pe 1:4).

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2Ti 2:9  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even  unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
2Ti 2:10  Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

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

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

1Ki 1:13  Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? 
1Ki 1:14  Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words. 

Nathan is telling Bathsheba “go and get thee in unto king David“, and his testimony to her is a shadow of the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophesy (Rev 19:10). We are being shown a parable here where Bathsheba, who is a type of the church, is able to be comforted by Nathan, who represents the spirit of God (Joh 16:13) which gives us the ability to come boldly before the throne of God to “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). God’s mercy and grace are found in this time of need when the kingdom of God, or the lineage that would lead to the King of that kingdom, is being physically restored by the spirit of God coming via the words of the prophet which gave Bathsheba the boldness she needed to come before the throne of King David to state her case.

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 

Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Bathsheba has come to save her life and the life of her son Solomon (a type of our spiritual salvation through Christ – 1Ki 1:13) by putting the king in remembrance of this oath that represents the promise of God’s elect ruling and reigning under Christ. She is instructed to ask “Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly  Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?” To further show us this was a witness from God, this is what is to happen next: “Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words“. The dream is one (Gen 41:26), and the confirmation is important as it tells us that these things are being established by God (Rom 13:1, 2Pe 1:12, Dan 4:17) and was not a power grab, as was the case with Adonijah whose only witness was against himself. Adonijah^H138 whose name means “my Lord is Jehovah” was not established in the truth, typifying Babylon in us before we are called out of her and given new raiment and food that represent His righteousness (Isa 4:1, Gen 43:34).

God is establishing His righteousness in us through wise counsel, and that counsel which we receive today and share with one another is given to us so we can wholly give ourselves to these things, so that we can be established in Christ (1Ti 4:15-16), which is what the Lord is doing with each of his children.

1Ti 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them [Joh 8:31-32]: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 

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. 

2Pe 1:12  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established^G4741 in the present truth.

G4741  
στηρίζω  
stērizō  
stay-rid’-zo 
From a presumed derivative of G2476 (like G4731); to set fast, that is,
(literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm: – fix, (e-) stablish, stedfastly set, strengthen.

Dan 4:17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

It was God’s decree or intention from the foundation of the world to show all of mankind, all of the living starting with God’s first fruits who are alive in Christ (Rom 8:9, Gal 2:20) and dead to sin (Rom 6:11) “that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (1Co 1:26). It is only when we are truly alive in Christ as “the living” (Gal 2:20) that we can be blessed to see this order of salvation which starts with the first fruits (1Co 15:23) and has its consummation in the great white throne judgment where Christ will put all things under God so that He may be all in all (1Co 15:28).

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

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

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

As we will see with these confirming verses, God is going to establish^G4741 His purposes in the earth and “no flesh will glory in his presence” (1Co 1:29-31)

1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence. 
1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 
1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

establish G4741 Rom 16:25; 1Th 3:2; 1Th 3:13; 2Th 2:17; 2Th 3:3; Jam 5:8; 1Pe 5:10

1Ki 1:15  And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. 
1Ki 1:16  And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

Notice there is a chamber, a room, a separation from us and our Lord. In other words, because we see through a glass darkly (our flesh), when we approach Christ (1Co 13:12), we are commanded to come boldly through this weak veil of flesh to obtain grace in time of need (Heb 4:16). We ought to let our words be few before one who is “very old“, a symbol, in the positive sense, of being very wise (Ecc 5:2). David, in type and shadow, already knows in his heart what is needed as he will eventually attest, just as Christ knows what we need before we ask Him (Mat 6:8). What is most instructive for us is the manner in which Bathsheba approaches the king in order to sort out this controversy with Adonijah. She is met with “Abishag the Shunammite” who is ministering “unto the king” and this does not threaten Bathsheba, but rather she, as a type of a mature member of the body of Christ, humbles herself in the presence of “the king” and “did obeisance unto the king“. After she humbled herself she was exalted by the only one who can exalt us, our Lord, typified by David, who says “What wouldest thou?” That comment is a very parallel thought to what the two witnesses heard “Come up hither” after their dead bodies lay in the street of Jerusalem for three days and a half (Mat 6:33-34, Jas 4:2-3, Rev 11:11-12).

Ecc 5:2  Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

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.

Rev 11:11  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 
Rev 11:12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

1Ki 1:17  And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.
1Ki 1:18  And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

Bathsheba had confidence that this was not going to be a fruitless endeavour, seeing the issue at hand was not that David would have ever approved of anything that Adonijah was doing, but simply that “my lord the king, thou knowest it not” was something that had to be addressed. This plea to king David was also accompanied with the words “thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne“, which is a shadow of these promises in John (Joh 10:28, Joh 18:9):

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Joh 18:9  That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Bathsheba knew that David was now a man of his word having seen him be crushed to powder vis-a-vis the circumstances with their infant son dying. Nathan the prophet was in the midst of that event as well, and again was used to bring witness to the reality of what God was doing in David’s life, which is a parable of our own lives in Christ. This parable once again is something that reveals to us how our adulterous relationship with Babylon will bring forth no children or doctrine, but regardless of our past indiscretions, if we are God’s elect, nothing shall separate us from the love of God (2Sa 12:15-20, Rom 8:35-39).

2Sa 12:14  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child [the doctrine] also that is born unto thee shall surely die [God’s sword was going to destroy in type and shadow all adulterous doctrine represented by this child – it is significant that no name is ever given of this child (2Sa 12:10)].
2Sa 12:15  And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
2Sa 12:16  David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth [type and shadow of this verse (Gen 17:18)].
2Sa 12:17  And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
2Sa 12:18  And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died [a type of this event of cleansing (Lev 14:6-7)]. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? 
2Sa 12:19  But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead [David’s heightened perception is a type of our being spiritually awake and alert after the death of those things that were false in our heavens]: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
2Sa 12:20  Then David arose from the earth [Act 9:8, Joh 9:41], and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, [His doctrine, his hope was now in the living word of God in type and shadow] and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped [Joh 4:23]: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

David has been greatly humbled through this trial, and now he is in “his own house” and asking for bread which is symbolic of how, after we have been crushed through the trials God brings our way, we then hunger and thirst and become zealous because of the bread that God gives us after we have been afflicted and come to our senses leading us to our “own house” which is our Father’s house (2Co 7:11, Luk 15:17-19)]

2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Luk 15:17  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s “own house” have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luk 15:18  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luk 15:19  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets”, and as we have seen in this section of the book of Kings, when God has purposed something, as He has all things according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11), the end result of those who are called, chosen and faithful is that we will know “that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). This story of how Solomon’s and the subsequent lineage of King David which would be preserved by grace through the faith of Christ is what this story in Kings is encouraging us, as the elect, to see (Joh 15:16, Rev 20:6).

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

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Awesome Hands – part 54

“Darkness over the land of Egypt”

Jan. 22, 2013

In this study today, we are going to be looking at the ninth plague of the “great judgments” of God which are poured out from God on Egypt.

If we look at the meaning of words and particularly the meaning of the number nine, then we will know through study that this number represents God’s judgments, spiritually speaking. If you haven’t read them, please look over and read the “numbers in scripture” series posted on Is, was and will be.

Given we have been studying the various types and shadows contained in these plagues; I wanted to apply this same pattern to this plague of darkness.

“Darkness which may be felt”

Exo 10:20  But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.
Exo 10:21  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

The premise of this study, as has been mentioned many times in this series, is to see what admonitions and lessons we are being taught through the Lord working His hands in our lives and in the lives of the “enemies of the cross”.

Starting with the plague of hail (7th plague), the Lord has instructed Moses and Aaron to use their rods to bring forth things from the heavens. First it was hail, then it was locusts and now we see them being instructed to, “Stretch your hands toward heaven” to call darkness to the Pharaoh and Egypt.

In this, we can see a type and shadow of the progression of the intensity of what the Lord works in our lives as He works with us spiritually speaking.

First He works with the earthy and then He works with the spiritual (the heavens).

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Being that we are discussing the ninth plague, we know that the tenth plague is just around the corner. The tenth plague ends the plagues with death.

We know that this is the death of the physical first born for the Egyptians, so what leads up to death? The simple answer is judgment leads to death.

Exo 10:22  And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:
Exo 10:23  They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

When we see very particular numbers or words used in scripture and then repeated two or three times in a very short time, it is then that we know we are being told to “listen up, he that has ears”.

The darkness that was sent to Egypt had to be something that was very impression on the minds of those it was sent to. Since the other plagues have all progressed in their intensity towards the Egyptians, we know that this plague too was nothing to sneeze at.

In English, the word translated as “thick” doesn’t fully convey the thought in the Greek, so I will attempt to get my shovel out and dig a little deeper to see if we can determine more precisely what the Holy Spirit inspired to be written.

Exo 10:22  And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick(H653) darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

H653

‘ăphêlâh
af-ay-law’

Feminine of H651; duskiness, figuratively misfortune; concretely concealment: – dark, darkness, gloominess, X thick

H653
‘ăphêlâh
BDB Definition:

1) darkness, gloominess, calamity
2) wickedness (figuratively)

Part of Speech: noun feminine

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H651

Same Word by TWOT Number: 145c

This word is from the root word H651, so what is that word?

H651

‘aphêl
aw-fale’

From an unused root meaning to set as the sun; dusky: – very dark.

H651
‘aphêl

BDB Definition:

1) gloomy, dark
Part of Speech: adjective

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from an unused root meaning to set as the sun

Same Word by TWOT Number: 145b

And where are these words used at?

H651

‘aphêl
Total KJV Occurrences: 2
dark, 1

Amo_5:20

very, 1

Amo_5:20 (2)

Amo 5:18  Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
Amo 5:19  As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
Amo 5:20  Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark (H651), and no brightness in it?

The “cruel wrath and fierce anger” of the day of the Lord is spoken about as not a very good thing for the old man.

Isa 13:9  Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

Isa 34:8  For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.

Joe 1:15  Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

Joe 2:31  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

Zep 1:18  Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

The thought is that there is darkness then there is VERY DARK. However, since this is the root, how is H653 actually used in comparison?

Joe 2:2  A day of darkness and of gloominess(H653), a day of clouds and of thick darkness(H6205 meaning to droop down), as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Zep 1:15  That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess(H653), a day of clouds and thick darkness,

I could list the six times it is also listed as simply “darkness” in Hebrew, but those times don’t really convey this adjective form of this type of darkness. What is important to take away from this is that this darkness happens at a very particular time.

The reason you know that there is a slight difference is that the same word “darkness” listed in Zep 1:15 is listed the same way in Exodus 10:21-22.

Exo 10:21  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
Exo 10:22  And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

We see that there was a very gloomy darkness called to Egypt but it is also mentioned twice that they had this gloomy darkness with them for THREE days such that they didn’t see one another or get up from where they were contrasted with Israel having LIGHT in their dwellings.

Exo 10:23  They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

So, what are we being told with this? Three is the number of the process of spiritual completion. We also know that what we are learning about are physical and very real things that happened to Egypt as admonitions for us in the spiritual lessons we can and are to take away from this story.

Given that this is the ninth plague (God’s judgment) and we see a process of 3 days happening, what then does this plague usher in? This is a type of the bringing of the death of the OLD MAN and the judgment that leads up to it!

The ninth plague is the very gloomy and ominous darkness which is so impactful that we can do nothing but “stay in place where we are.” This is to say that we know something deadly is on the horizon.

Egypt must have their firstborn sons die in order for the work of the judgments of the wrath of God to bring about the new man.

Hos 11:1  When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

This is a very compelling look into why the Lord has brought these plagues on the Pharaoh and the Egyptians and why He brings this same judgment to us spiritually speaking.

Mat 2:13  And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Mat 2:14  When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
Mat 2:15  And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Hosea in context had no idea that what was happening to Israel and the others was going to be an admonition that would be used to later speak about Christ.

Herod must DIE before “the young child Israel can be called out of Egypt”. Herod, the “old man” type in us all, must also suffer the same fate.

For all of Egypt, this event will happen after this ninth plague of darkness has been used to usher in this death of the firstborn i.e. the old man.

“Only let your flocks and herds be stayed”

Each and every time a plague becomes too grievous for the Pharaoh and his people, the Pharaoh sends for Moses and Aaron to try and reason with them to give them some of what the Lord has commanded but also to not give up EVERYTHING that the Lord has commanded.

The Pharaoh, the old man, the carnal mind and the flesh always want to keep a little something to not FULLY obey the Lord.

Exo 10:24  And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.
Exo 10:25  And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God.
Exo 10:26  Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.
Exo 10:27  But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.

You can also see this in how king Saul wanted to keep a little something back and not obey the commandments of the Lord which were delivered via Samuel.

1Sa 15:13  And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
1Sa 15:14  And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

And a few verses later:

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

The Lord wants obedience and not our own way of sacrificing to Him what we think is appropriate.

When the Lord calls us out of Egypt, He does so commanding that we follow Him fully. Of course, none of us are up to this task initially and we still must be converted to His mind and via the Holy Spirit.

Still, this pattern must be followed because we see it all throughout the scripture. We must be told not to do something, then we break the commandments of the Lord and do what He says not to, then we are judged and then we are finally set on the right path Lord willing.

Mat 10:36  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

I know that “a man’s foes shall be they of his own household” is speaking about those in our physical homes and families, but it is also speaking primarily about those foes in our own SPIRITUAL HOUSEHOLDS.

Mat 12:43  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Mat 12:44  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
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.

Just like the Pharaoh is telling Moses he needs to “give something to Egypt”, that Moses needs to “leave something behind,” we too must in spirit answer in kind with Moses that we “shall not leave a hoof behind”.

Now, am I proclaiming that we WONT have a backsliding heart towards God and accurse Moses and want to go BACK to Egypt? No I am not, not at all.

What I am saying is that when we put our hand the plough we are not to look back. When we pick up the cross, we are not follow Christ a little bit to the cross until the burden becomes too heavy and then just drop the cross we picked up and run away back to where we have been called from.

Luk 9:61  And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
Luk 9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

We are told these things by Christ because He knows that when we are first called and chosen, we WILL look back.

Peter told Christ he would never betray Him, but as soon as the rubber hit the road Peter denied Christ to attempt to go back to what He knew he was before Christ came in the picture. In other words, Peter tried to escape what it truly meant to “die with Christ” as we all do.

When we do this denying of Christ, we are not fit for the Kingdom of God, but in our walk with Jesus we will come to the point where we are truly converted and will speak the Truth in love and with boldness, Lord willing. This is true for any and all elect.

For Pharaoh, this last insult to his flesh and rule of law will be too much for him to contain himself. Even after witnessing time and again the power of God in Moses and Aaron hands, he goes on to threaten Moses!

Exo 10:28  And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.
Exo 10:29  And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.

The flesh, in type the Pharaoh here in Exodus, will do and say anything for us to just “leave your flocks behind,” “leave something for your flesh to joy in,” don’t give EVERYTHING to God and put an end to  the reign of the old man.

In not so many words, this is the Steven Crook in me that wants something of Steven Crook to remain.

If you look at what happens with the Israelites as they are called up out of Egypt, you will see a very good examples of what we all do in our appointed time.

Exo 14:11  And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
Exo 14:12  Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Exo 14:13  And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Exo 14:14  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exo 14:15  And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
Exo 14:16  But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

The death we think we are going to receive because of our obeying the Lord is not what ends up happening. Just like with the red sea, the Lord uses our fear of what we think will happen to show us His salvation.

We think we are certain to die at the red sea, but the Lord uses this type of baptism to bring forth life.

Sure the Egyptians die, but the Israelites REMAIN. There is one taken and one left as is said in the new testament.

The truth is that the death that is to follow is that of BAPTISM and not of physical death.

We see the firstborns die in Egypt then we see a later progression of this type happen to the Egyptians themselves by dying in the red sea.

This is all to show us that what happens in the ninth plague is the gloominess and the darkness which can be felt and it is that of despair and our utter lack of ability to do anything about it but doubt and fear.

Num 21:4  And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
Num 21:5  And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

The Lord will provide an escape by His power alone, but death must come first before life is reached on the “other side of the sea.”

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]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/building-spiritual-wealth/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=building-spiritual-wealth Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:36:32 +0000 http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=1992

Dear Mike,

I recently came to a point where I felt a need to fast and seek God to understand why he seemed to be withholding physical blessings. For the past several years, it seemed that no matter what I did, my efforts were not rewarded. It was just plain weird! No matter the variety of seed nor the extent to which I cast it, nothing grew.
My wife likened our fruitless efforts to progress financially to bouncing a ball against a wall, yet the ball defies physical law and does not bounce back. It has felt as if God was actively preventing the expected results of work, i. e. cause and effect was not working normally in our universe. I needed to know what God wanted from me – why was this happening?
I began fasting and intended to devote the day to prayer and study. Immediately, things began to go wrong. The car wouldn’t start when my wife wanted to leave for work. The situation was resolved after several trips back and forth to the auto supply to get the matter fixed. All of this took up a couple of hours.
I resumed my intentions and began reading Zephaniah. Why? I don’t know. I had been reading Habakkuk before that and just kept going. Zephaniah yielded no meaningful insights. Once I finished Zephaniah, I began reading Haggai. All of a sudden I was struck by what I was reading. Haggai had never revealed any great truths to me before, but given my current concerns it was like the light had come on and I could see for the first time what was happening.
Reading Haggai in the past was nothing more than reading an historical account of the remnant of Judah returning to Jerusalem. There was no personal connection to it; Thursday, there was. While I recognize that this is a prophecy of Act 2, verses 3-11 of Chapter 1 described my situation:

“This is what the Lord Almighty says; ‘These people say, “The time has not yet come for the Lord’s house to be built.”’ Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.’ This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,’ says the Lord. ‘You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands.’”

I knew that I was guilty of trying to build my house (my personal wealth) not just for months, but for years. I had not ignored God, but I had not always put him first in everything! We had not considered that we were simply committing the ultimate sin of idolatry.
The amazing thing was that it was not some sort of blatant transgression –we have never earned a lot of money and purchased the trappings of wealth. In fact, we have always lived very modestly and have very little to show for 30 years of marriage and work. Yet, when it came to physical aspirations, we both wanted freedom from having to worry about money because we hoped to develop streams of income through both business and investment vehicles.
In spite of my personal study, I finally recognized that I had stopped worshiping God in prayer and that my study had started to become mechanical and lifeless. The inspiration that I had experienced daily in the past had simply stopped. It all occurred so subtly that I didn’t even notice it until I prayed during my fast and remembered the way it used to be. This was reflected in Hag 2:3 where God told Haggai to ask his people:

“Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?”

That’s where I was. The temple existed, but it was only a shadow of a former glory. There was no life in it, only a shell. The Lord continued (v. 4-9):

“Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,” declares the Lord, “and work. For I am with you,” declares the Lord Almighty. “This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,”says the Lord Almighty. “The silver is mine and the gold is mine,”declares the Lord Almighty. “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,”says the Lord Almighty, “And in this place I will grant peace,”declares the Lord Almighty.

God then made clear that no matter what, their efforts were not enough, and it was simply his mercy that would make them acceptable to him, and he would bless because he chose to do so (v. 14b – 19):

“Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled. Now give careful thought to this from this day on – consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple. When anyone came in a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,” declares the Lord. “From this day on, from this twenty- fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.

From this day on I will bless you.”

I don’t know the significance of the references to the specific days mentioned in these passages, but it is clear that there is an importance attached because God speaks to them for a second time on the same day (v. 20 – 23):

The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty- fourth day of the (ninth) month: “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdom. I will overthrow the chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.

On that day,” declares the Lord Almighty, “I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,” declares the Lord, “and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,” declares the Lord Almighty.

I recognize that all of this is spiritual, reflecting God’s intention to pull down the strongholds that have dominated our lives and kept us from experiencing the full relationship with Christ that he intends for all of us to eventually have. It is exciting to also understand that this is being done in spite of our infidelity (being defiled). I know that our lives are about to change in a dramatic way and I give God the glory for it!

J____

Hi J____,

Wow, what an “open heavens” this is!
I have seen for some time that “man shall… live by every word of God,” but it is so exciting to see how this same truth is being revealed to others in the body of Christ.
I cannot tell you how encouraging it is to read this. I have often told the story of how the WWCG taught us that we were expected by God to leave an inheritance to our “children’s children.”

Pro 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

For many long years, I just like you, saw only the letters in that verse. It appeared to be plainly saying that if I were a good man I would leave an inheritance for my children and grandchildren. Besides that I would also inherit the wealth of the sinners. How true the last part of this verse proved to be:

2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

It is good to be dying daily in Christ, but it is sad to be a walking dead man and be completely unaware that we are the walking dead.

Mat 8:21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Mat 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

It is only after we give up our lives that there is any hope of salvation. Christ was very clear on this subject.

Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

So our physical lives are to be considered as being offered in sacrifice to God. Unlike all we have been taught while in Babylon, this does not necessarily result on physical blessings which inevitably steal away our hearts again. Just look at the context of “let the dead bury their dead.”

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

That is very plain language coming from the man in whose steps we are to follow as we seek to “seek first the kingdom of God.”

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Even in Haggai the blessings are pronounced on their efforts to build God’s house first. Only then are any blessings promised:

Hag 1:9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.

“God’s house” is the same thing as His kingdom, and both are within those with whom He is now working. We will all be struck down until everything we once valued, and the recognition of men which we have all coveted, is realized for the absolute dung that it is.

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

Don’t think for one moment that the revelation of these truths means this is now all behind you. As we weather one battle it is but a preparation for an even harder battle ahead. Just witness the life of our example, Christ and the life of the apostles Paul, Peter and John. Then look at the opening of the seven seals resulting in the blowing of the seven trumpets, which culminate in the seven last plagues of God’s wrath upon the ungodliness and unrighteousness which is in the flesh of every man who has ever lived. We are both Job and Christ. While we are the light of the world, we are also a spectacle to the world.

Luk 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
1Co 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

We really do “live by every word” and we “keep the things written therein”. Not just the good and positive, but “every word.”

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.

The natural man universally considers “the things therein” to be cataclysmic and apocalyptic. Yet the spirit calls it all “The wonderful works of God to the children of men”, and we are admonished to be grateful for all these our trials.

Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psa 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

This experience is four times repeated under differing circumstances in this 107th chapter of Psalms, because it is common to all men.

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

For all who can receive it, the scriptures reveal that the “way of escape” is through the fiery sword that guards the way of the Tree Of Life. It is through the flood of Noah, through the Red Sea, through the Jordan, through Babylonian captivity, through the fiery furnace, through the lion’s den, and finally through the death of the cross. These are the “wonderful works of the Lord” of which King David declares, “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” These are the very same works for which we are to rejoice.

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.
1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

You remain in my prayers. You are beginning to lay up true treasures in heaven, which will be given to your children and your children’s children.
Thanks again for sharing your revelation with me. It is truly a blessing to me.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Mike,

Thanks for sharing your experience. I do believe when a spirit has been tried, a brother does well to let his siblings know of what sort a spirit it is. Yes, I have met quite a few Preterists in the last few days, and I have been responding to their exchanges with what I know to be truth!
Mike, just like a physical family, I believe in a spiritual family. There are elder brothers, and younger brothers, and while I do “look up to you” as an elder brother, ultimately I look up to “CHRIST” in you. I assume that being elder or younger has nothing to do with age, I am sure that God can take a physically younger brother and exercise his senses without the passage of time, although I do believe age and wisdom work together. I do not think I have looked to you as “the authority” but I DO look to you as an ELDER and I would point out any heresy or question any teaching as I felt lead. I think Respect and Love would be the Christ- like way to handle that.
May I ask your insight on Facebook fellowship? Almost all of these new “Facebook Friends” requested that I be their friend, I feel that through this solicitation I should accept that as an invitation. I do not want to be guilty of a transgression by being in fellowship or breaking bread with the wrong crowd. Do I remember correctly that after the second admonition I should “wipe the dust off of my feet” and no longer cast pearls after swine?
So far there appears one or two sincere searchers have responded well to the “Lake of Fire” truths, which I believe are a major dividing line. As long as these searchers appear to be hungry, I think it is expedient to share all the loaves and fishes that Jesus has given me. I always understood the loaves and fishes parable to mean that no matter how much God’s faithfuls give out, the baskets will not run empty.
Yes, I would always remove a recanted teaching or any other post at your request. Like you I do not worry about plagiarism, because no body wants to buy this. Go figure!
Again, it really is amazing to see the worst of humanity right in the midst of those who actually do see Universal Reconciliation.
I do diligently pray that God keeps granting me sight!

In Christ,
M___

Hi M____,
Thanks for your question.
You ask about accepting Facebook invitations.

Almost all of these new “Facebook Friends” requested that I be their friend, I feel that through this solicitation, that I should accept that as an invitation. I do not want to be guilty of a transgression by being in fellowship or breaking bread with the wrong crowd. Do I remember correctly that after the second admonition I should “wipe the dust off of my feet”, and no longer cast pearls after swine?

It is good that you consider these invitations as an invitation for fellowship in Christ and yes, you do “remember correctly”, “a man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition reject.”

Tit 3:10  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Tit 3:11  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

It does not say “third, fourth, or one hundreth”, but first and second. Christ said the same thing in Mat 18.

Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear [ thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [ it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

You and I should always give a person we have never met the benefit of the doubt at first, and assume that he is sincerely seeking only to know what the scriptures teach. But once you have presented the scriptures and it has become clear that this person is not in fear of the Word of God and isn’t even fazed by the scriptures you present to him or her and is simply pushing an unscriptural agenda, you are to determine whether this brother or sister has heard the truth from another brother or sister, and if he has, then you are commanded to witness to the Truth twice, and then you are to “got to the church” and let them know that this brother is teaching heresy. That is what the scriptures teach is necessary to keep unity in the body of Christ. That is what is rejected by the so- called ecumenical movement which pervades all orthodox Christians in today’s world.
These Biblical instructions concerning heretics can all be done over the internet, but it is important that “your brother” hear your witness “from one or two other brothers”, whether that is via the internet, the phone or in person once you know that the person with whom you are communicating has heard the same witness from another brother in Christ, and you have personally witnessed to him “the… second” time, then you and I are commanded to “tell it to the church, and if he neglects to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen man and a publican.” What that means is “have no company with that man.”

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

2Th 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

“Have no company” is not a command to be uncivil toward anyone. Rather it is a command not to let that person into your spiritual house to discuss spiritual matters with him, and what it is, is a command against bidding Him god- speed, or placing your blessing on his false doctrines.

2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

These are the words of Jesus Christ. These words essentially deputize all Christians to become what all heretics call “heresy hunters.” Anyone who dares to “try the spirits to see whether they are of God” and then dares to “go to his brother” about a sinful doctrine is only doing what God commands us to do. Nevertheless, that person is invariably labeled “divisive, elitist, cold hearted and a heresy hunter” by those who despise having their doctrines exposed and contrasted with what the scriptures teach.
This is all being done via the internet. The Lord has given us this medium of communication, and Facebook is part of the internet, but like the rest of the internet it can be abused. Some children share pornography, while others are harassed to the point that it drives them to commit suicide.
Some people use Facebook to keep from having to actually communicate one on one. In other words, they use Facebook on a daily basis, sort of like some people send out an annual letter to let all their family and friends know how they are faring on a daily basis. You go to the computer, and there it is: “So- and- so is playing tennis today at 10 A. M.” That is fine for those who do that, but others simply don’t have time to do that, and it really is just a matter of personal preference.
On the other hand I have received and answered many sincere questions concerning scripture on Facebook. So Facebook does serve to keep many people connected, but for my purposes of sharing the gospel, it simply is not ideal because scriptural answers generally require more space than the box on Facebook provides. I often answer Facebook inquiries in e- mail, if I have that person’s e- mail address.
But again, that is a personal preference, and Facebook can be and is good for those who want to use it.
I hope I have answered your question about using face book invitations as a means of witnessing and also your question about “trying the spirits and rejecting a heretic after the first and second admonition.”

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Hi Mike and all of you at your link to truth;

We have many friends of the called, but we find none of the chosen in our area. Your talk on the priests helps us to deal with the rejection of called. It is very difficult to converse about the word with people who refuse to read the word. It is not given to them to understand, and makes no difference when we try to explain. When we do they reject us as heretics. They ask but then do not listen. This situation sometimes makes us wonder if we really do have the truth. Your talk on the priests reassures us in the word. Our fellowship, at least for the present will have to be by email and listening to your teachings with the Word open.

Thanks again and may God bless you and yours.
In love, R____

Thank you for your encouraging words.

I dealt with the struggle you two are enduring at our conference in Dallas. Being so isolated and seeing so many others claiming to be the seed of Abraham, is one of the greatest hurdles we must all conquer. Look at this verse of God’s Word and accept the Truth of the revelation of Jesus Christ found in this verse:

Gen 37:2  These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, [being] seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

Joseph represents Christ in us. His brothers were “Abraham’s seed” just as was Joseph, but they still wanted to kill Joseph:

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Joh 8:37  I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

This is the experience we all have. We have all preferred the fellowship of our brothers and participation in the things which bring  an “evil report to our Father,” to being separated from our brothers who “are Abraham’s seed.” It was true even of Christ’s own apostles when they all fled from Him and left Him to his fate.

Joseph placed unity with His Father above unity with His brothers, “Abraham’s seed.”  That is the trial we all live out for we will, at our appointed time, be both Joseph’s brothers, and then with the mercy and grace of God, we will one day be Joseph, and be willing to be separated from and hated by our own spiritual brothers.

That is the essence of the two begettals of which Christ told Nicodemus, in John 3.

Please take the time to listen to Steve Crook’s talk on Godly Love. [Link here.] Who displays Godly Love? Is it those who tolerate their brothers heresies, or is it those who “Bring their Father their brothers’ evil report?” Christ made the answer to that question super clear:

Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Our greatest enemy is within our own hearts, but the next greatest enemy is also within the house of God, and is our own brothers and sisters in Babylon, “Our own [spiritual] household.”

Ours is a lonely calling, and that is why, earlier in this same chapter, we are told that it is only those who “endure to the end” who will be saved.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Every time we ignore “our brothers evil report ,” and place unity ahead of the Truth, we are denying Christ, and this is what the very next verse deals with; the fact that those who side with Christ and His Word are His Christ:

Mat 10:40  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Continue to put the Word of God above the doctrines of our ten brothers who are Abraham’s seed, and you will not be denying Christ. Christ’s Words really are the Truth. Let Him be true and every man a liar.

Rom 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Your brother in “the Christ,”
Mike

“will be held responsible (No, not responsible but “accountable.” The word ‘responsible’ is nowhere to be found in the scriptures.) by God for any and all teachings, responses, etc. that you post.”

If we, as God’s elect fail, from fear of rejection by the majority, to be faithful to these verses of scripture, then we might find that instead of “iron sharpening iron” we are rather being dulled by the clay and the dust of Satan’s ministers who appear as sincere seekers of Truth.

2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world [ church], who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

To all of those who think that it is such a dastardly thing to separate oneself from heretics, I want to know what you think of this verse. Are you going to simply call John an ‘Armstrongite?’ Was John a cult member? Do you “bid heretics God speed?” Do you “bid them into your spiritual house?” When you do, you are “partaking of their evil deeds.” Wake up and familiarize yourselves with “the doctrine of Christ” or this delusion will deceive you also. Separate yourself from them. Bid them not into your spiritual house. Don’t even eat with them. Don’t bid them God speed. Know how to discern the spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. Know the voice of the Good Shepherd, and be able to distinguish that voice from the voice of a stranger.

Joh 10:3 To him [ the good shepherd] the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee [ separate] from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
Gen 49:26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors [ our brothers in Christ] unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Can you, or any other detractor, repeat these words with John? If not, then there is no way for you to distinguish Truth from error! You are more concerned with being considered a cult than you are with pleasing Christ. That “glass darkly,” that “prophecy in part,” is not “another Jesus.” It is all “The doctrine of Christ.” It may become clearer “from glory to glory”, but it will never be clearer from lie to lie or from heresy to heresy. You will indeed hear more from that voice tomorrow than you have heard today. But you will have no doubt about whose voice you are hearing. “My sheep know My voice and a stranger they will not follow.”

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Are you the ‘we’ of 1Jn 4:6? Are you the ‘us?’ Are your words Gods litmus test for Truth? Are you “abiding in the doctrine of Christ” or are you afraid to admit to that doctrine? Are you afraid of being separated from all of your friends on the forum or in other parts of Babylon?

Luk 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant.

I hope that you have grown as a result of this exchange. But this is a spirit which must be dealt a death blow in all of us. It was only yesterday that this was my own heresy. It took years to burn this spirit out of me. This is all given in love. But God is love and “He chastens every son He receives.” I for one appreciate every stripe I have been blessed with. Where the sin of heresy abounds, chastening grace does much more abound. Thank God for His fiery “chastening grace” and for His patience! Thank God for the litmus test of “abiding in the doctrine of Christ,” so we can know the spirit of Truth and distinguish that voice from the voice of a stranger.

Mike

The exchange Mike refers to is posted below.

T____ wrote:

Have you read any of the posts on the bible- truths website? I was directed there, but haven’t had a good experience just because I don’t agree with all there. The question had come up there regarding a statement that you raise people from the spiritual death. Where is God in this? T____

Mike Vinson wrote: Hi T____, Thank you for your question. Tell me now, to whom you think this statement by our Lord is addressed?

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.

What are these “greater works” which you and I should be doing? If we are doing greater works than Christ, then I would say we are obeying Him. And you ask “where is God in this?” I am not the only one who can raise the spiritually dead. You could too, were you willing first to separate yourself from that “defiling dead body,” that “unclean thing” and all those death- dealing doctrines of Babylon. Mike

T___ wrote: Mr. Vinson, I meant no offense, just a question regarding the site many are directed to. The verse you quoted in this e- mail is Jesus Christ speaking to us. Our belief in Jesus does indeed give us powers or abilities others may not have . We love the unlovable (by the world’s standards), we put others first and so on. The world’s view of things may tell us we are crazy, but we do these things with the Holy Spirit in us. Please go to the site and read the quote that was made. I ask this not to be difficult but because it is really troubling me.

Thanks for your time.

T____

Mike wrote:

Hi T____, You are right. Joh 14:12 is speaking to us.

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.

But you apparently overlooked the fact that Christ said “Greater things shall ye do.” What are these “greater things?” I went to the forum, and the only person I saw who agreed with the twisting of words to make them appear to say that only I am capable of raising the spiritually dead, was someone named T____:

“I have to admit… it does sound prideful. I don’t think it is wise to judge a t. v. preacher, a pastor or anyone else. We are not God and we should be humble. Jesus shows us a picture of humility when He did the lowest task of the day… washing the disciples’ feet.”

Does a humble person who is “the picture of humility” refrain from calling a hypocrite a hypocrite? Is it a ‘lack of humility’ to point out where the ministers of Satan are “appearing as angels of light?” And yet you admit: “The verse you quoted in this e- mail is Jesus Christ speaking to us.” Now perchance this ‘T___’ is not you, are you able to concede that Christ has indeed told “us” that we are to do “greater things than these” things which our Lord Himself accomplished? If you are able to agree with our Lord, that we are to accomplish “greater things than” the things which He did, what exactly could possibly be any greater than raising the physically dead? What are “greater things than these?” ‘Truth seeker ‘S____’ saw right through the rhetoric. I have cut and pasted his entry below. I don’t know him from Adam, but I do know that he has three fingers pointing to himself. ‘Hillsbororiver’ also got the point of Ray’s e- mail. There is nowhere on my site where I claim to have a corner either on having a relationship with Christ or on the persecution that such a relationship necessitates. You too, can raise the spiritually dead if you are faithful to Christ and to His word. But when you are faithful to Christ and to His Word, then this twisting of your words is what you will encounter. If you do not encounter this, then either you are not being faithful to Christ and to His Word, or else His Word is not true:

Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all [ church] men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

And from whom will this hatred always proceed?

Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they [ who is this ‘they?’ but the people of God’s own church?] have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? [ So thank you ‘Steved.’]
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own [ spiritual] household.

Luk 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of [ spiritual] Jerusalem.

I do not hate any of the false prophets of spiritual Jerusalem. Christ did not hate the scribes and the Pharisees, yet He labeled them as the hypocritical, blind serpents which they were. Whenever you read the word ‘Pharisee’, you should be understanding that Christ is speaking of today’s “historical orthodox Christian” ministers who, to this very day, teach contrary to the doctrine of Christ:

Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven [ the “doctrine of Christ] against men: for ye neither go in [ yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Mat 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses [ with your unscriptural doctrine of tithing], and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Mat 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Mat 23:16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
Mat 23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
Mat 23:18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Mat 23:19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Mat 23:20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
Mat 23:21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
Mat 23:22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Mat 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Mat 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Mat 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [ men’s] bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Mat 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,
Mat 23:30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Mat 23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Mat 23:32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Mat 23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

Are we to ignore the same spirit of the scribes and Pharisees which has been enthroned in the church since the days of the apostles?

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

Satan’s throne is in the church. We cannot ignore it when the teaching of the Adversary are the doctrines of the church. Twelve times Christ calls the ministers of His day “blind… fools [ and] Pharisaical hypocrites” and concludes with this question: “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Tell me if you think we are doing anything greater than Christ who physically healed multitudes of people, yet He never even converted one person while still in the flesh.

I hope this is all of some help to you. Mike

T___ wrote:

Dear Mr. Vinson, We should all keep in mind that judgment of others is not our job, that belongs to God alone. I don’t have a website or anything like you do. I do believe that you will be held responsible by God for any and all teachings, responses, etc. that you post simply because you are leading many. So I think you bear a greater responsibility to the outcome. From things I have read , there is a great deal of defensiveness towards anyone who disagrees or questions anything on the sites. There are many hurting people who come across your site. You have the opportunity to reach out to people in the love of Christ instead of coming across in a less than loving manner. Sincerely,

T____

Mike Vinson wrote:

Hi T____, It is in love that I take the time to share with others what God is showing me in His word. I have taken of my time to do this with you. It takes time to “study to show oneself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed but rightly dividing the word of truth.” You are yet to respond to one single scripture I have pointed out to you in love. You whole mission is to make anyone who is serious about God’s word appear to be “unloving.” To your mind, chastening is a lack of love. Look closely at this verse:

Pro 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

The love of which you speak is nothing more than the “kisses of an enemy” who wants to direct the eyes of God’s people away from all of the scriptures I have been showing you because I am your “faithful friend.” So unless you are willing to comment on these two verses at the very least, then please do not be wasting our time with each other. You have made it clear :

“And regardless of any argument, I don’t think we should judge and categorize people”

“Regardless of any argument?” Does that include all the scriptures I have sent to you telling us to try the spirits and :

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your [ spiritual] house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Who is judging people? I don’t know you from Adam. But I am very familiar with your “kisses of an enemy” doctrine. What I do is to “try spirits because many false prophets have gone out into the world [‘s churches]. Do you despise these verses of God’s Word? If you are not willing to carry on a dialogue “regardless of any argument” and answer these questions and comment on these very applicable scriptures, then please don’t bother with any more of your “kisses of an enemy.” These are faithful words of love though you no doubt consider them to be simply “wounds.’

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?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

All of the chastening I have ever received from the Lord has been through the agency of my fellow man. I never enjoyed it at the time, but I am thankful to God for every stripe. Your faithful friend, Mike

T____ wrote:

Not really helpful. If you read what I wrote you will see that it “sounds prideful,” not that I am saying you raise people from the dead. And regardless of any argument, I don’t think we should judge and categorize people. You don’t know me any more than I know you. You may judge me as a heretic because I attend a church. Should I judge you as a heretic because you don’t attend a church? and by the way, if you gather in the name of Jesus with even 2 or 3, He is there. That is what makes a church. If I have people to my house for Bible study and we are sincere in our worship and education… there is the church. Good Evening to you, T____

Mike wrote:

Hi T____,

Thank you for your concern for my spiritual welfare. But the Truth is that I do not judge you. All of God’s people “come out of Babylon.” That is where I came from. I do “try the spirits” of Babylon and have discovered that according to God’s Word, “many false prophets have gone forth into the [ church] world.” Where do these verses belong in the life of God’s elect? Where and how would you ever apply these verses of scripture? Answer that question and we will go from there:

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [ spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Is the apostle John full of a…

“great deal of defensiveness towards anyone who disagrees or questions anything [ in his epistles?]”

How do you “know the spirit of truth as opposed to the spirit of error?” Do you “try the spirits”? Who is the ‘they’ of verse 5? Who is the ‘we’ and the ‘us’ of verse 6? Is that you? How do you know the spirit of truth from the spirit of error if you are unwilling to even try the teaching of the ministers of “historical orthodox Christianity” against the “doctrines of Christ?” Christ taught “love thine enemies”. Christ taught that He spoke in parables to keep the multitudes of Christians from understanding His message. Christ taught that many would be called and do many wonderful works in His name and yet never know Him. Christ taught that billions would be called, but that very few would be chosen. Christ asks us this question?

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? [“Love thine enemies etc.?”]

Who do you know who teaches these doctrines? Who?

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
1Jn 4:6 (b) Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Don’t worry about what I think of you. And don’t impute to me what you think I think of you. Here is all you or I need concern ourselves with:

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words [“the doctrine of Christ”], hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken [“the doctrine of Jesus Christ”], the same shall judge him in the last day.

I will close by repeating a verse I mentioned above:

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the [ church] world.

When you have tried the spirits and have found them wanting, it is incumbent upon you and me to:

Isa 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Are you unwilling to do this? If you are, then please don’t criticize and categorize me because God has given to me this commission. Israel’s greatest sin is not physical fornication. Witness how conciliatory Christ was toward the “woman caught in the very act of [ physical] adultery.” “Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more.” But who is it that the scriptures portray as the real villains in this story? It is those who are accusing Christ of thinking that He is guilty of being less than loving. It is those who are accusing Christ of thinking that He has a special relationship with His father. It is those who hate a doctrine which proclaims that “many are called [ to be saints] but few are chosen” to be elect. It is always those who are more than willing to accommodate the heresy which teaches that a lack of toleration of heresy is really a lack of love. I pray that God will give you ears to hear the voice of the true shepherd and deliver you and all who read my page from this lie of the Adversary.

2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
1Jn 4:6 We [ who abide in the doctrine of Christ] are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Mike