Tag: spiritual

Articles

The Sons of Aaron

Ronel

Sons of Aaron, notes compiled from prior teachings

Introduction

Christ speaks to us today spiritually and as always as we have seen in all of our previous studies on the milk doctrines and Offerings, the OT shadows points to the spiritual realities for us today in order to know the Father, Christ and those whom He is sending Luk 17:3). This is age abiding life.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

The tribe of Levi

The Levites who served and are serving that cannot touch the holy things of the temple, are from the same tribe as the priests. Who then are Aaron and his sons, and why were they chosen as priests? Aaron and his sons are Levites but they form the priesthood and are set apart to God to minister and serve. Christ is our High Priest and we are like Him. Aaron which typifies Christ ministers in the Holy of Hollies.

Exo 28:35 And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when He goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.

Exo 28:36 And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

When we love, i.e. keep the commands and teach others to do so, we, serve each other as His priests.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Priests, sons of Aaron, come out of the Levites, like we, are coming out of spiritual Babylon. In other words, spiritual Levites, represent hearers only before our Day of the Lord versus sons of Aaron, sons of Christ, BEING MADE into His Image through our baptism of fire. Levites have not been tested and tried yet.

  • Priests are hallowed
  • Priests are anointed

The Lord establishes Aaron and his sons as priests for the purpose 0f ministering to God and His people by hallowing them for the job.

Exo 29:1 And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest’s office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish,

The primitive root for H6942: to be (causatively make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally): – appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify (-ied one, self), X wholly

Priests are BEING washed with water first (our first BAPTISM).

Exo 29:4 And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.

Then, priests are being anointed with oil, baptized into His DEATH, a process.

Exo 29:7 Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

God, the Father uses Christ and His Christ, those with wisdom to ordain His ministers.

Exo 28:41 And thou shalt put them uponH3847 (H853) (H853) AaronH175 thy brother, H251 and his sonsH1121 withH854 him; and shalt anointH4886 them, and consecrateH4390 (H853) H3027 them, and sanctifyH6942 them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s officeH3547

What does it mean to be anointed, consecrated and sanctified in the priest’s office?

Anoint – H4886

mâshach
maw-shakh’
A primitive root; to rub with oil, that is, to anoint; by implication to consecrate; also to paint: – anoint, paint.
Total KJV occurrences: 71

Consecrate – H4390 with H3027
mâlê’  /  mâlâ’
BDB Definition:
1) to fill, be full
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be full
1a1a) fulness, abundance (participle)
1a1b) to be full, be accomplished, be ended
1a2) to consecrate, fill the hand
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be filled, be armed, be satisfied
1b2) to be accomplished, be ended
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to fill
1c2) to satisfy
1c3) to fulfil, accomplish, complete
1c4) to confirm
1d) (Pual) to be filled
1e) (Hithpael) to mass themselves against

Sanctify – H6942

qâdash
kaw-dash’
A primitive root; to be (causatively make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally): – appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify (-ied one, self), X wholly.
Total KJV occurrences: 171

The first appointments to any office with Christ in His tabernacle was done with the laying on of hands of Moses to Aaron and his sons. For us this has a spiritual meaning, found in Timothy.

1Ti 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1Ti 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
1Ti 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
1Ti 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
1Ti 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
1Ti 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

The Hebrew concept of consecration is to “fill the hands” with the one you are placing yours hands on. In other words, in order to ordain anyone to an office of the Lord, one must give their full confidence to the one being appointed and also recognize that by doing so they too will have their “hands full” and be able to lay hands on others.

Ministry of the sons of Aaron

Num 18:1 And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father’s house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
Num 18:2 And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
Num 18:3 And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.
Num 18:4 And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.
Num 18:5 And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be NO WRATH ANY MORE upon the children of Israel.
Num 18:6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 18:7 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for everything of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Num 18:8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance forever.

The priests of God were and are BEING anointed so that they can be set aside and consecrated to SERVE the Lord, and by SERVING the Lord they are being used so that NO MORE WRATH comes upon the children of Israel WITHIN first and then without. For us today, it means we are being made into kings and priests, being saved if we endure.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

MINISTERING to the people, within first, we judge ourselves and love our brethren without. Remember love is the bond of perfection.

Act 5:25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are STANDING IN THE TEMPLE, and TEACHING THE PEOPLE.

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

1Co 9:13 Do ye not know that they which MINISTER ABOUT THE HOLY THINGS live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

And here is what the priests of God, who have been ORDAINED by the Lord, speak and preach about the temple among other things:

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God uses the FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING to spread His Word and to confound/confuse those who are “wise in their own hearts” within and without.

1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Being saved is a continuous process just like preaching and teaching is. “Spiritual priests” in this role are given to train up other kings and priests who will all be joined together in the fullness that is to come later after the 1st resurrection. Priests have no dominion over anyone’s faith but rather persuade and declare all the counsel of God Acts 20:27 – 30).

Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Heb 13:17 Obey (better translation be persuaded) them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Spiritual priests feed the church and declare, with the Words of God, the counsel of God to the flock of God, because they are overseers. As women, first looking within and then without, we do not teach in the church but rather apart from prophesying do this:

1Ti 5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

The iniquity of the priesthood

 The iniquity of the priesthood falls on us all, to learn and be raised up as kings and priests. However, it is God, via His Spirit, who anoints those in whom He would have serve the TEMPLE, the body of Christ, by being overseers NOW in this present age. Think spiritually, it is the man child within that oversees the old man. Without, the Lord appoints elders and overseers of the flock and we as women prophesy and do not teach our elders.

1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

We no longer know no man after the flesh, and just as Christ was a son of man and the Son of God, we must recognize that the Lord still has us all living in temporary tabernacles that we must endure with the guidance and counsel of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Head and anyone following Him will always be pointing to Him in all things. God set some in the church in different functions with different gifts and that includes those that today fill the role of being chosen, anointed and given to “bear the iniquity of the sanctuary” being in service to “bear the iniquity of the priesthood” without in the Body. What is the iniquity of the priesthood? Remember those spiritual words we are to speak?

Teaching, being overseers, speaking the Truth about Life and the Way and pronouncing the commandments of God are all roles which are fulfilled by those given to fill the spiritual function of being a priest in the temple and ministering to the people of God, speaking words of truth and soberness.

Act 26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Act 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

The honor of being part of the priesthood is found in these Scriptures and that is to be part of the holy first resurrection, when the fullness of times has come, we experience it now in down payment form (2 Cor 1:22).

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

Suffering for Christ

 As the sons of Christ, sons of Aaron in type and shadow, we suffer with Christ. This is the calling of all kings and priests, there is a price we are paying:

2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him, if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

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

High priest

Christ is our High Priest and we are being made into His sons. As He is, so are we (1 John 4:17).

Heb 3:1 (ESV) Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Understanding the connection between Christ and His sons, the Christ, always entails knowing how the High Priest is chosen.

Heb 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
Heb 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
Heb 5:3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
Heb 5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.

The body is made up of “many members in particular”, those members are given gifts, not of themselves but given by God.

1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Like Joseph in type and shadow, priests are called out from their brothers and are given special clothing and placed and 1) anointed above their brothers. 2) Priest are to teach their brothers. 3) Priests bear the ark. 4) Priests are to blow the seven trumpets of judgment, and 5) Priests are to blow the two trumpets of witness.

1) Priests are anointed “above their fellows.”

Psa 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed [mashach – #4886] thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, [even] thy God, hath anointed [chrio -5548] thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

2) Priests are faithful teachers:

1Sa 2:35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

2Ki 17:27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.

Mar 8:31 And he [Christ] began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

3) Priests bear the ark;

Jos 3:8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.

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

Priests stands firm on the doctrine of Christ:

Jos 4:10 For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
Jos 4:11 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people. [Or to put this in New Testament terms:]

Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

4) Only the priests blow the seven trumpets:

1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Jos 6:13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rearward came after the ark of the LORD, [the priests] going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

Jos 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. …….. Rev 8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

5) Only the priests blow the two silver trumpets. These trumpets announce general gatherings, alarms for journeys, special gatherings, and to go to war in our land Num 10:1 – 7,9).

Num 10:8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance forever throughout your generations.

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

Conclusion

God’s anointed priests who live in “the day of small things”, are those who are being made faithful to His Words.

1Co 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Jesus Christ IS making holy garments for His prophets so that they too can be used to show the glory and beauty of the work of the Lord.

Exo 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

Moses as type and shadow of Christ, will do the making by “speaking to the wise hearted who have the spirit of wisdom (Christ)” so that they can make these garments of consecration. We are prophets the Lord uses to minister to others. Priests wear holy garments to approach the Lord properly. We see six different items being made: A breastplate, and ephod, a robe, a broidered coat, a mitre and a girdle.

Exo 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

Priests, sons of Aaron, have been ordained by God and are being clothed with items that the children of Israel are using to create to give God all the glory. We, the spiritual Jews, the Bride of Christ, come together to represent all the many membered functions and gifts of the body of Christ. The image of the items given to the priests to wear and what they represent tells us that Christ takes His judgments seriously. Sons of Aaron, minister inside the vail and are the covering cherubs guarding the Words of Life (John 6:63), doers of His Word, coming out of the Levites who coming behind in no gift are yet carnal. We are all spiritual Levites and sons of Aaron in our seasons and times because we live by every Word of God (Matt 4:4). Look inwardly is, was and will be as the Lord is working with us through Christ and His sons (Heb 13:21).

Spiritual Levites have the appearance of godliness but the sons of Christ have the POWER of Life which are ……. the Words that I am speaking (John 6:63). They continue to abide in Christ and is being made faithful.

Sincere comments and questions are always welcome. You can also email us directly at peterjwilson56@gmail.com

Studies

Baptisms Part Two

Ronel

Click Here for Part 1 of this study

Notes by the elders

  RECAP, WATER BAPTISMS, FIRST BAPTISMS:

There are two types of baptisms, the first baptism (water) is always the SHADOW of the TRUE spiritual baptism into Christ, into His DEATH. We are to move beyond this first baptism to move unto maturity being baptized by Christ Himself. Shadows of the first baptism in the OT include; the flood of Noah; the crossing of the Red Sea; the crossing of the river Jordan. Crossing the Jordan, is the same as crossing the flood of Noah or crossing the Red Sea. The typical baptism of the OT (shadows) is done with water and do nothing to change our hearts within. Being baptized into Moses is being likened to “the festival of Passover” where we accept Christ, as the Son of God, as our Passover Lamb, and accept that He died for us. We still do NOT know that we have to die WITH HIM, bearing our cross daily.

Just on a side note, the Holy days or Festivals of the Jews are also spiritual shadows which points to “good things to come” and although all of these festivals are being fulfilled in Christ, it is wonderful “looking back” to see how they are being fulfilled in different stages of our walk and are still being fulfilled in our lives today as we mature towards the mind of Christ.

This first baptisms are a necessary baptism because we live by every Word of God (Matt 4:4) and all righteousness IS and must be fulfilled in us.

The baptism of John, the Baptist in the NT, is preparing the way to Christ. It is the baptism of repentance and is also a shadow pointing us to Christ whilst still under the schoolmaster. It is accompanied by signs and wonders (outward gifts) and have the appearance of a “spiritual baptism” but we still have many idols of the heart and our “tongue and doings” are against the Lord. It is likened as the “festival of unleavened bread “as we start putting sin, whether physical sins (our doings) or in our minds (our tongues) out of our lives but we still have many things we are not being able to hear and Christ IS NOT come yet.

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner (barn); but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The doctrine of water baptisms whether it be the OT shadows as mentioned above or the baptism of John is: …… after we accepted Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, we begin to put sin out of our lives, our tongues and our doings. So we see that the festivals of Passover and the Days of unleavened Bread are being fulfilled during this season of our walk. These baptisms point to and prepare the way for Christ to come.

Later in the study, we will see how we MATURE/MOVE ON to “die with Christ”, our Passover Lamb and keep the “festival of unleavened” bread with sincerity and Truth from the HEART.

1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

THE SECOND BAPTISM/THE FESTIVAL OF PENTECOST:

This baptism/washing cleanses the threshing floor of the HEART from all its secret, hidden faults and great transgressions within. It enters our hearts and judges us and change us from within.

Psa 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Isa 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

“The festival of Pentecost”, namely the feast of firstfruits, is the day we are being born again (ongoing) and is the beginning of the Church “is, was and will be” WITHIN and without. Pentecost typify us, who are the spiritual first fruit seed (Jas 1:18).

When the Holy Spirit is being given to us within, the work of Truth and grace begins. We are now progressing to the point where we are being capable to receive the chastening and tribulations which are being endured by every mature son of God (Heb 12:6-8).

It is the beginning of THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT in the lives of all who is being part of this “firstfruits of His harvest”.

Judgement begins at us and we are being matured through FIRE. This is the shadow of the “festival of trumpets”. We are being judged first out of our own mouths according to our idols (Ezekiel 14) since our “Day” begins and ongoing until the end.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

We are the “seven priests blowing the seven trumpets” in the battle against Jericho (Jos 6, Rev 8:11). Trumpets is calling us to make war, it is a spiritual battle against the man of sin within and without at the appointed time. It is the judgement of sin in our daily lives, we are the first to go to war., a struggle between life and death. The beginning of judgement is what this festival signifies.

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Jer 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

Upon hearing the trumpets, we afflict our souls which is typically the next festival, the “day of atonement”, presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice dying daily being impaled with Christ. It is a fast and our souls are afflicted because as He is so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). Our afflictions are for the Church (Col 1:24), His Body, and also for all of humanity.

2Co 1:6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

The death of the cross is being borne by both Christ and “His Christ” as an atonement for the people. Dying daily with Christ is the Good News and the message of the Gospel. It is the man child (Truth of Christ’s doctrine) within us that “is seated with Christ in the heavens”. This is symbolic of the first resurrection in down payment form.

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

As we mature and Christ increases in us, all of these festivals are being fulfilled in CHRIST. We start obeying immediately from the HEART as we gain dominion over our sins but at first, we also have the “festival of tabernacles” within us which is a spiritual shadow for the millennium where we are not obedient, knowing the Truth, our obedience is lip service. Satan is bound at this time, but yet we have hardened hearts and stiff necks, trying the Lord. It is the occasion the Lord seeks to judge us, the mixed multitudes of nations within and without at the appointed times. This festival symbolizes the millennium.

Jer 17:23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

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.

As Satan is getting released to deceive us for a short period of time, we are typically trying to wrest the judgement of Christ away, this is typically the “last great day” following the feast of tabernacles and Christ COMES “is, was and will be” and destroys the man of sin with the brightness of His coming and destroys “death (state of disobedience)” within “is, was and will be”, a process until the end for us now and a future event for the world out there.

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:

2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

When the Father is “all in all”, we are in the Lord’s REST and we enjoy the fruit of the Spirit which is:

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

As the Lord increases and we decrease, we OBEY from the Heart as being mature children in Christ. All shadows are being fulfilled in Christ as we move unto maturity.

We will Lord willing, look at these festivals in detail in weeks to come. We know we keep the spiritual Sabbath which is Christ (Heb 4) when we are DOERS of His Word.

WHO WILL BE DOING THIS BAPTISM OF FIRE?

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

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

As He IS, so are WE (1 John 4:17). We are doing this baptism of fire.

WHAT TYPE OF SINS IS BEING WASHED/CLEANSED FROM THE HEART?

Mar 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Mar 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us … [what sins?]

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

ALL men will be cleansed and be baptised by the Lord in due time and in order (1Jn 2:2). Very few people are the chosen elect of God undergoing this baptism in the Spirit “this day”. If we are not being washed by the Lord at this time, He has no part with us, and we will not be heirs and partakers of His FRUIT or His RIGHTEOUSNESS until the appointed time of judgement to come.

Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

WHAT IS THE CLEANSING?

Soaps and hyssop are some of the Old Testament Words used to tell us of what washes and cleanses us (Lev 14:3-4, Jer 2:22). These are all pointing to the Holy Spirit of God, Fire, and Living Water, that is, the WORD of God.

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner (barn); but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

This prophetic Word from the mouth of John the Baptist is nothing but exaltation and edification [Luk 3:18] of the Spirit to those it is given to understand.

WHAT IS THE UNQUENCHABLE FIRE?

Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; [fiery baptism!] and what will I, if it be already kindled (happening now)?

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

Jer 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

WHAT FORM ARE “MY WORDS”?

Christ Words are SPIRIT.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth (gives live); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

“My Words” are also WATER by which all is being made clean and white as snow.

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water [… by physical water? No… but…] by the word,

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

 THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY WE ARE BEING CLEANSED:

Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

This Word is symbolic of His BLOOD, His Spirit, by which WE are being cleansed from our self-righteous filthiness of the flesh and spirit.

Heb 9:14 (NKJV) how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

HOW IS THIS BAPTISM OF THE LORD ACHIEVED?

It is the forsaking of all things of the flesh. This is the cleansing process, a death of the flesh process: the vessel that contains all sins, the BODY OF SIN is done away with, and we are attaining freedom from sin as He increases and we decrease.

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

As babes IN Christ, we become partakers of the Lord’s own baptisms. We saw earlier that in order that all righteousness be fulfilled, the Lord was first baptised by John the Baptist. The Lord however does not regard this as baptism in the Spirit, and HE later shows us His TRUE baptism, which we are being baptised with in “our day of the Lord”.

Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with? They say unto him, We are able.

Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

The drinking of the CUP of baptism is seen in the deep distress and agony prior to the eventual death of the flesh of Christ:

Mat 26:37 (NKJV) And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

Mat 26:38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

Mat 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup [of baptism with Fire] pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Luk 22:42 (NKJV) saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup [of baptism with Fire] away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Luk 22:43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

Luk 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Being “baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with” is what is scripturally known as “being baptised into His death. BAPTISM LEADS TO THE DEATH OF THE FLESH.

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

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

As we learned in our second study “Faith towards God”, this death process is not an instantaneous event in our lives that happens in a few seconds but is a “dying daily” process of baptism. Through this process, a new nature is being birthed and raised in us, a newness of life and we are being caused to come out of the dominion of inward, secret sins and many false doctrines so that the inside (our hearts and minds), and the outside (our works) are being cleansed day by day.

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

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

END PURPOSE OF BAPTISM

As Peter came to see after the issue with Simon, the Sorcerer, being physically water baptized does not convert the heart of any man. Simon was still as carnal as any Gentile of the land after John’s baptism. Peter came to see that true baptism that converts the heart is when “fiery trials” come upon us, the unquenchable consuming FIRE of God, the pure WATER, the Holy Spirit of God, all one and the same WORD OF GOD.

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; [his baptism by fire] that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

This is the only baptism which saves us from our sins and produces a good conscience toward God.

1Pe 3:18 (MKJV) For Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, indeed being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit;

1Pe 3:19 in which also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,

1Pe 3:20 to disobeying ones, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared (in which a few, that is, eight souls were saved through water);

1Pe 3:21 which figure now also saves us, baptism; not a putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

CONCLUSION

It is by means of death that the life of Christ is being manifested in us. This baptism from heaven is fulfilled in us by dying daily. It is the Spirit that profits. All earthly baptisms “without a man” (Mar 7:15-23) are of no value in the conversion of the heart and producing the fruit of the Spirit in us. The Father has no pleasure in those carnal ordinances imposed until Christ comes to us in the Spirit. The first earthy/ shadow in the wisdom and tradition of men is taken away so that the spiritual baptism by the Spirit of God can be established (1Co 15:46). The first has and produces no glory because there is a spiritual baptism which is more excellent in the sight of God. For this reason, in keeping the singleness and unity of the Spirit, there is only ONE BAPTISM:

Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Eph 5:26 That he [Jesus Christ] might sanctify and cleanse it [the church, his Body/ wife… you!] with the washing of water by the word,

The end purpose of that one baptism is …………

Eph 5:27 That he might present it [the church, his Body/ wife… you!] to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Unless we are mature we are not able to bear the “meat” of the Word.

Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

SUMMARY:

Physical water is “without a man”, and does nothing to a man’s heart, either good or bad. This is what Christ tells us concerning things that “are without a man”:

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

Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Likewise, “there is nothing from without a man” that can cleanse a man, but “the things that come out of a man, the fiery Word of God “from the heart” (Mat 18:35)], those are they that [cleanse] the man”. Here is how God’s fiery Words cleanse us from within:

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The fire are the trials that God puts us through to cause us to obey His Word, which is also symbolized by fire.

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

Jer 23:29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

The Spirit of God is given to us that we may understand the Truth of God through our daily TRIALS and His WORD.

Joh 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

It is only through God’s Spirit opening our eyes to the Truth that we come to see the Truth. It is God’s Spirit that makes us a “spiritual man” and gives us the mind of Christ more and more as we mature in the Spirit.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man

1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

BEARING MUCH FRUIT IN THE DAY OF THE LORD:

Maturity is not being achieved when we hear the Word of God only. Our old man has to continue to decrease, and Christ in us has to continue to increase. This is by the will of the Father (Eze 36:30).

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

1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Our understanding has to bear fruit, but we are not able to do this unless we abide in Him. We abide in Him by meditating on His Words day and night (Jos 1:8).

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

We also abide in Him through fellowship with His Body (1 John 1:3).

Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

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

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

Knowing the members of the Body of Christ and serving them is the same as knowing and serving the Lord Himself (Joh 13:20).

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

No matter how much we know, or how much fruit the Lord has produced through us, as long as we are in this flesh and blood which cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Co 15:50) and we should never think that we are already perfected, we are being perfected.

Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

We are only given the down payment of the Spirit unlike Christ, who has been given the Holy Spirit without measure (Joh 3:34). We still live in this corruptible body (1Co 15:53) that we need to die to daily, enduring to the end, “being saved”.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

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

Growing up into Him includes the growth of our love for His Body (Joh 13:34).

1Th 3:12 (GNB) May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow more and more and become as great as our love for you.

1Th 3:13 In this way he will strengthen you, and you will be perfect and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all who belong to him.

Hos 6:1 “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. Hos 6:2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

 

 

Studies

Judging Righteous Judgment

Pete

Judging Righteous Judgment

Making judgments is essential for the people of God.  The Scriptures command us to be vigilant and diligent to guard our way.  That means making judgments constantly as we must strive to stay on the narrow way and separate from the world and all things unclean.

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

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

The Elect of God otherwise known as the Body of Christ will in fact be the judges of all mankind and will usher in salvation to all men in the appointed times.

1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

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

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

Lest we forget, judgment is the process by which all men are saved.  There is no other way.

Exo 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

The promise given to Abraham, a type of God’s Elect, is that we and our households would do justice and judgment.

Gen 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Gen 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. (i.e. Salvation)

So knowing these truths combined with a God-given zeal for the House of the Lord, we should run towards these judgments knowing they hasten the formation of Christ in us.  The day of the Lord for each of us is a wonderful day for the new man but a terrible day for the old man.  Such is the conundrum that the carnal world and orthodox Christianity cannot see.

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?

It is those of us who follow the Lord in the “regeneration”, the process of being born again by the Spirit of God, and washed in the water of the Word; that will sit on the throne of His glory judging Israel.

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

This statement of the Lord, of course, applies both inwardly and outwardly in an “is, was and will be” manner.  Inwardly the Christ in us replaces the beast sitting on the Lord’s throne and brings salvation to the nations within us.

Psa 47:8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

Judging Israel applies to those in the Body right now who are sitting in down payment form judging the twelve tribes of Israel right now.  We are the lake of fire to one another and it is by abiding with and in Christ, in the Word, that we are judged now.

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.

The Elect of God are in training for their future roles to be the saviors of all men which will be preceded by their reigning with Christ during the Millennium.  Those given this role will have lost their carnal mindedness (been beheaded) now in this life in the clay.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

The only way we learn to do anything including becoming the judges of the world is by experience.  This is why we are given these trials and caused to fall down so we can learn true righteousness through this judgment process.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

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

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

We best be becoming of full age now, getting lots of experience judging and being judged as that is how we become the mature man (Heb 5:14) learning how to discern good and evil (Gen 3:22).

This is the upward call of God also called the prize by Paul (Php 3:14) that hopefully we have been given the zeal to run and finish the race so we may attain to the first resurrection.

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

Babylonian Ditches on Both Sides

There are Babylonian ditches on both sides of the narrow way.  Most of us have been in both places and either not judging or making judgments after the flesh.  The sleazy grace mentality that says the Lord did it all for us on the cross and all we need to do is say a ten second sinners prayer for salvation encourages lasciviousness and causes us to wrest away the judgment of God and stay worldly.

Exo 23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

Generalizing Babylonian lies, there is another ditch on the other side of the way.  This ditch is one I would define as legalistic, condemning, blaming others with a mindset that always denies the Lord and makes man responsible for his own salvation and accountable for his own behavior.  Of course, that is a lie as the Lord truly is the Potter and we merely are the clay and everything we do is His work in us (Isa 64:8).

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

The insidiousness of all these false doctrines and both generalized ditches is that there is always some truth connected.  Yet the leaven or lies renders the doctrines spiritual poison and points to another “jesus”.  It is indeed a very narrow road with error and ditches on both sides of the road.  The people of God do not walk after the flesh but after the Spirit.  And if we do so, we are commanded to be judging ALL THINGS.

1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Yet the people of the Lord who are to judge all things, judge them spiritually.  That is what righteous judgment is all about.  It is based on the WORD and not the ways of this world.

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

 Lev 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

We judge all things but not according to the flesh and the ways of the world.  When we are carnal we will judge after the flesh.

Joh 8:15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

Joh 8:16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

This parable of Christ says He judges no one but then tells us how He judges.  This tells those with ears to hear that Christ, us, His Body, are to only judge according to the Scriptures.  We are not judged of any man because it is the WORD, the plumb line that is the measuring stick of judgment.  This is “the way” by which Christ in us arises.

Amo 7:5 Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

Amo 7:6 The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.

Amo 7:7 Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.

Amo 7:8 And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:

Amo 7:9 And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.

Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

How we judge that determines whether or not we are on the narrow way.  Our judgments must be according to the WORD.

1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Judging Without Vs Within

Those without the Body of Christ we are not to be judging.  The reason for this is those outside the faith do not have spiritual ears to hear the Word now.  It is the Word that shall judge all men, but only in the last day of the carnal age for every man.  That day is today for the very few but for the rest of mankind that will come in the Lake of Fire at the Second Resurrection.  It is our speaking the Words of fire that brings judgment (Jer 5:14) but if someone cannot hear, they cannot now be judged.

Joh 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

We are commanded not to keep company with spiritual fornicators and not even share a spiritual meal with them (1 Cor 5:9-11).  The reasons are many fold.  First, we can easily be corrupted by keeping bad spiritual company (1 Cor 15:33) and allowing even a little leaven into our spiritual house.

1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Secondly, we are working against the Lord in trying to impart Truths on one who has not been prepared to hear.

1Ti 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

Pro 20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

If the Lord has not opened one’s ears to hear we will know it quite readily.  His sheep do hear His voice that we speak.

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.

We are not to judge those people; we are to turn them over to the Lord who will use His instruments including Satan to destroy their flesh in due time.  We are to judge OURSELVES and those within THE BODY OF CHRIST ONLY.

1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

This is why we are told to put out those that bring heresy and openly live in sin.  We should not need to speculate over the Lord’s sovereignty and hopefully will believe taking such a seemingly harsh act is actually the manifestation of what loving our neighbor actually entails.  Let the Lord have vengeance, only He can destroy the flesh and humble His little ones to return to their first love.

This is very difficult, a narrow road indeed especially when involving our physical families and loved ones.  It can seem so unloving to the natural man to not get engaged in the affairs of the world.

2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Ezr 6:21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,

How do we obey the commands and take seriously our doctrines and purge out the leaven from our midst and stay on the narrow road? How do we be that ambassador for Christ yet be a watchman over the house of Israel? We are first and foremost to be examining ourselves and making sure we are walking in the faith and clinging to sound doctrine.

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

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

God’s chosen people, His Elect, will be making judgments and meditating on the Word of God constantly and making the necessary judgments to strive to stay on the narrow road and avoid the spiritual diseases that plague Babylonians.

Exo 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Deu 7:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments,and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:

 “Doing what is right in his sight” includes keeping leaven out of our spiritual house.  The narrow way requires that we make many judgments and admonish one another.  Unless we are willing to speak up, be honest with ourselves first and also be willing to go to brothers and sisters as faithful watchman we are not trusting fully in the Lord.  We are here to watch over the flock of God and must learn to be obedient to those commands now.  Otherwise, how can the Lord use us in the ages to come if we don’t move on to maturity now?  Here is how the body is to operate and to heal itself as we are the sum of our parts in the Body of Christ.

Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

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

There is a reason we have Matthew 18 and Leviticus 13-14 and many other Scriptures.

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.

A witness from the Old Testament would include the processes of dealing with leprosy in Leviticus.

Lev 13:2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:

Lev 13:3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.

The Lord does not want us chopping off literal body parts, but in order to keep our walk clean and the entire Body of Christ pure, we are given commands that require us to put our trust in Him and the work He will do in the heart of His creation.  We must be willing to chop off those unhealthy parts and cast them out less the entire body be impacted.

Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Preaching the Word to one another, the only ones with ears to hear and the focus of Christ’s ministry, brings rebuke and reproof to our sins and ungodly ways.  This is a good thing!

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Not being faithful watchmen is a recipe for disaster and spiritual stagnation as Paul continues the instruction to Timothy.  This is speaking of what will happen within the Body of Christ.

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Thankfully the Lord is faithful to make His Elect watchmen who have a responsibility to oversee the flock and to warn, rebuke and discipline when we are led astray or living in error.  If we fail to warn and fail to blow the trumpet we will bear stripes for such disobedience.

Eze 33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

God’s Elect will be on this narrow road which will include blowing the trumpet, warning the people but how we do this is essential.

Jer 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

We need to walk softly and carry a big stick!  But that stick is the WORD and that is what does the work.  We just need to bring these Truths to others and stand and let the Lord give the increase.  There is no place in the kingdom of God for harshness.  We must learn to be meek and gentle in Spirit but strong in the Words of fire that we speak.  I have failed miserably in trying to do right by being harsh, seemingly mean and looking down upon others and being an accuser of my brethren who ultimately is all men.

Judging men by the spirit means to recognize that no man is responsible for the behavior, that the Lord is indeed working ALL THINGS for the counsel of His will. Very few are given the faith to believe this truth and thus judge like Christ judged.

Joh 8:15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh

We stop judging men after the flesh and do it by the spirit of Truth, when we properly apply the sovereignty of God and learn to not even think above what is written.  If we are truly God’s people, we better be making judgments. The whole of Matthew seven tells us how to judge.  We will reap what we sow and that applies to judgment as well.

 Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

When we judge in the flesh we will be judged in the flesh.  It comes back to us.

Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

If we truly love the Lord, we will want the same measure of Truth to be meted out to us in judgment.  There is no darkness that shall not be revealed and brought to the light (Luk 8:17).  So with this mindset, it is a good thing when we are judged and we should be thankful for a brother or sister to point out leaven in our doctrine or sin in our walk.

The pride of man and the deceitfulness of sin that lies in our hearts is an easy snare and cause of stumbling until we learn to judge righteously. Before we go showing others the mote in their eyes, we had best learn to examine ourselves first and make sure we are not castaways (1 Co 9:27).  We can’t help anyone spiritually if we ourselves have poor spiritual eyesight.

 Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye (by making spiritual judgments, trying spirits).

We must learn to let God judge those without. Before we judge within the Body we must first judge ourselves.  If we cannot learn to judge and do it righteously in this age, we will have NO PART in being God’s judges during the Millennium Reign or at the Great White Throne Judgment. This is just how important it is that we learn to judge righteous judgment.  We must know when to judge and how to judge using the Scriptures as our plumb line.  The whole purpose of the Lord having an Elect is to make ready the remnant of His people through which all men shall enter into the city.

 Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

 Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

 Many times we are too hasty to judge things and do not wait on the Lord.  Another criterion of judging is to wait on the Lord to work His work in others and give the trees time to bear fruit.

1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

 We will always know things by the fruit on the trees (Mat 7:16-20).

Loving our brothers includes pulling specks out of their eyes, judging all things, and judging righteous judgment. The doctrine that says judge nobody or nothing is not love. It is actually the spirit of a harlot church aka Spiritual Babylon that has NO JUDGMENT in it.

Isa 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers (hating the doctrines of Christ).

But the Lord is faithful even when we are not.  A day will come when He will restore judgment to the House of Israel.  Today is that day of salvation for the Elect of God.

Isa 1:26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.

The judgment of God by HIS WORD is what sanctifies us. It is how we are redeemed, it is what causes the death of the old man by the sword and fire of God.

Isa 1:27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

Loving you neighbor as yourself is our commandment.  The mercy of the Lord is living thru the trials that bring forth salvation in due time.  Mercy will rejoice and triumph over judgment and we must trust in those promises and become obedient to the perfect law of liberty.

Jas 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Jas 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Bringing this judgment by the words we speak is how the mercy of the Lord is made manifest in our lives and how we give spiritual food, clothing and housing to our brethren who need it to sustain themselves. These are the greater works that bring salvation. Our faith without doing the works of judgment within the house of God are dead.

Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

All of us who have come through the door of “The Christ” are a shepherd of the sheep.

Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

Those who will be abiding in everlasting burnings will be God’s Elect who abide in the fire of the Word judging righteous judgment.

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

This calling comes with a duty to be the watchman on the wall and admonish and edify one another through the speaking of the Word and sharing of communion.  We must not neglect or take lightly such a high calling.  We need one another to be saved.  It is the only way we will learn to judge and be judged now.  Hence we are reminded of the importance of being connected.

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

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

Comments and sincere questions are welcome.  You can also email me at peterjwilson56@gmail.com

 

Studies

All Things Are For Your Sakes

Pete

All Things For Your Sakes 

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

It is a real blessing when we come to realize that all things we have and do and experience in life; with no exceptions, are the work of the Lord.  We really begin to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord when we are given to understand and to trust in that immutable fact.  This is the hidden wisdom the world cannot see or hear.

1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

What a mind boggling concept this is to the natural man.  Everything that happens in your life, everyone you meet, every word spoken, every response given, whether good or bad or indifferent is for YOUR SAKE.  Only fools would believe such a doctrine and that is exactly what we must be to become wise in the ways of the Lord.

1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

This truth is shown in scores of powerful verses those without ears to hear and eyes to see cannot see much less apply in their walk.  We that have such capacity are indeed a blessed little flock.  Here is the extent of the working of the Lord in the affairs of every man.

Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Coming to see the sovereignty of God in ALL THINGS is essential for us to grow and mature in the faith.  This understanding to me is what maturing is really all about.  Until we get the knowledge of this doctrine into our walk (our actions) we will struggle in bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Love is mentioned first in the list of the FRUIT of the Spirit in Galatians 5 and for very good reason.  Lest we confuse what love truly is we are told point blank what the love of God is that represents this fruit of the Spirit.

2Jn 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

We most often seem to cite 1 Joh 5:3 but here is a second black and white witness to what the definition of AGAPE or love is.

2Jn 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

As we hopefully are learning as we abide now with Christ; living with true doctrine is not enough.  We must become doers of the Word to walk in the Spirit (Jam 1:22-23).  It is when we show respect of persons and judge things in the flesh that we are not living by the truth that all things are for our sakes.  When we are not content with what the Lord is doing, we are walking in the flesh and acting double minded.  When we whine, complain, criticize, stay angry, look down upon others and have any other reaction than THANK YOU LORD, we are judging in the flesh.

We must come to know and trust in the Lord and His promises that He is working all things for the greater good.  That is how the scourging grace of the Lord, the very thing that saves us by transforming us rebounds with thanksgiving to the glory of the Lord.

Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

How often have we failed at doing this?  Many times we will fall down before we learn.  It is beyond this study to cover “judging righteous judgment” but we had best learn to make judgments but to make them according to the Word of God and not the logic of this world or the carnal mind.

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

1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

There are many witnesses of the old and new to judging the right way vs the wrong way.  I used to think of respecting persons as simply respecting their worldly economic standing but it has a much wider meaning.  Respect for persons is judging them in the flesh and not attributing what they do to the Lord and His absolute sovereignty.  Doing so is the opposite of faith.  When we put the cause and the blame on any individual, even ourselves, we are having respect of persons and judging in the flesh.  We are commanded to do no such thing.

Deu 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

Pro 24:23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

The Elect of God are in training now for our roles in the ages to come (1 Cor 6:2, Mat 19:28).  Those roles are to rule with Christ in the Millennium and to be the judges through which all men shall be saved in the end.  We best learn how to judge righteous judgment and get past having respect of persons now. When we judge people in the flesh we are forgetting that ALL THINGS are for our sakes and were caused of the Lord.

Once we come to understand what the grace of God is and realize it is that grace that chastens us then we begin to mature.  We mature when we accept the things the Lord is causing (working in our lives) without bitterness and receive it all with joy trusting in what the Lord is doing in our remaking process.  It is so easy to be led astray by the deceitfulness of sin and the pulls of this carnal world.  Peter warned the church and warns us to beware lest we ourselves fall.

2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

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

The fail safe way of not falling is to learn to apply this principle in our walk and in all of our judgments of people, actions, events and situations.

1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

When we think above what is written we will get puffed up and will soon find ourselves doing what the adversary does which is being an accuser of the brethren.

As we grow, we learn to apply all things being for our sakes.  We may not outwardly receive the chastening with joy but our inward man will receive it and we will grow in our ability to endure the trials the Lord has put before us in this age.

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?

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, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

The new man “Christ in us” will be called out of the darkness that is the old man.  Look at this verse again and notice why all things are for our sakes as God’s Elect and where are eyes are to be focused.

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

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

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The grace of God that is poured out upon His Elect comes back to God with thanksgiving and praises to the Lord.  This is what occurs as we become mature men and the will of the Lord is being accomplished in our life more and more.  This is the will of God for all men….

1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

1Th 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

1Th 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

When these things happen, the Lord will get all the glory and we will learn to rejoice in our trials knowing they are what is working the fruit of righteousness in us and accomplishing the Lord’s will in our lives.  We must learn to be patient and to wait on the Lord to bring it to pass.

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening (Grace) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Relatively speaking our trials are considered a light affliction considering the honor we are being prepared in service to our Lord, if we endure.

Isa 54:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Isa 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

 In the same way Jesus Christ in the flesh cried out to God and His Father while on the cross, we too if we God’s Elect feel the same at times.  And this is why we must be connected to the Body and be ministered to and strengthened by the angels of the Lord through our trials.

We can’t be reminded often enough of the sovereignty of the Lord and the endless extent to which it applies.  It takes many repetitions to drill this truth into the fiber of our every thought and action.  The sermon on Mars Hill defined the limitless boundaries of the Lord in the affairs of mankind.

Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

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

All things that happen in our lives, ALL THINGS, are the direct work of the Lord.    Those things, be they good or evil have already been determined by God and He has already declared what shall be from the very beginning.  We know but forget to apply these powerful Scriptures in a carnal and immature way. The sooner we get them into our walk and not just head knowledge the quicker the fruit will come.

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Our natural mind only wants to give the Lord credit (and the glory) for the good things that happen.  Even knowing the truth of His sovereignty our carnal mind will want to blame ourselves and others for their actions.  While we certainly have to learn from our mistakes the fact is the Lord is working all things, even the dark things when they happen.

Psa 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee

Lam 3:37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

Lam 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

No man can enter into Christ (the temple) until they live through the judgments of the Lord against their flesh and carnal mind.  Contrary to the doctrines of man’s religion there is no other way in.  The redemption of the Lord’s people is with judgment.

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

Isa 1:27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

Nobody’s unrighteousness is going to get a pass, there is no respect of persons with the Lord either.

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

 So we learn the truth and are given the garment of salvation by experiencing that judgment.

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 (the fiery trials) are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

 Judgment is us being crucified, a living sacrifice and losing our life through the death of the old man.  Yes it hurts, it is very painful to be crucified with Christ.  Yet if we are given faith to believe we can say this about the judgment of God.

Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

The new man is being saved by the destruction of the old man within us.  Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God and was never intended to (1 Cor 15:50).  The Lord is merciful in that He only gives us to understand things when we are also given to bear them (Joh 14:12, 1 Co 10:13).  It is only as we mature that the Lord will give us greater understanding of His processes and truths.  With that understanding comes a greater expectation.

Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

The grace of God will be dialed up perfectly for us to bring the trials and tribulations preordained for each of us to enter into the kingdom of God and be in that first resurrection Lord willing.  Here is just a small sampling of treasures from the old and the new that confirm this wonderful work of trials and suffering in our lives. This is also known as the wonderful works of the Lord to the children of men.

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and thatwe must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

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

1Pe 4:12-13  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  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.

Isa 48:10  Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Jas 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

The Lord is going to work all things in your life to bring about the tribulation, suffering, fiery trials and heat that furnace of affliction to the perfect temperature.  I hope all of us will grow in the knowledge of the Lord’s grace and move on to maturity.  This comes about by experiencing good and evil and learning the lesson and true righteousness of the Lord through that process.  I hope this study has reminded us all to stand on our faith and the word of God in discerning the truth of any situation and that the Lord has caused that situation for your very sake.  How we respond to these situation and circumstances is the best measure of our maturity rather than our head knowledge of Scriptures.

Rom 2:13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

What should our response to be to these “works of the Lord” in our lives?  We could write pages to answer that, but let me just share Paul’s words to the Philippians to summarize it.

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 everything 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.

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Comments and sincere questions are welcome.  You can also email me at peterjwilson56@gmail.com