After Israel was supernaturally delivered from the bondage of Egypt by
the mighty hand of God we see something very notable that took place at
their departure. "He (God) also brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among His tribes." (Psalm 105:37) Not only did they leave Egypt with great wealth but their was not one person lacking in physical or mental strength and vigor.
While Israel made their way through the wilderness, God not only led
them, but provided for their every need. Finally, they reached the
wilderness of Paran where the Lord instructed Moses to send out twelve
spy's, one from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. (Numbers 12:16,
13:1-3) Upon the return of the twelve spy's we see that the report of
ten was, "...we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants)..."(Numbers
13:33) These giants were giants in the physical sense. But God has
raised up other giants. Men and women who were giant (so to speak) in
the spirit.
Looking back at the
history of man in the Old Testament, we see the Lord revealing Himself
supernaturally through frail, imperfect people. The earth walk of Jesus
reveals God the Father's will again through the supernatural. The
gospels reveal numerous miracles through Jesus that, like in the Old
Testament, it was God the Father's way of revealing Himself. Also,
during His earth ministry He gave this supernatural power to His
Apostles as well as seventy other disciples. Finally, the earth ministry
of Jesus ended, but it was not over. In the Book of Acts and on the Day
of Pentecost the ministry of Jesus continues to be carried out in the
church. We get to see some of these spiritual giants such as, the
Apostles Peter and Paul as well as Stephen and Philip. We also see the
supernatural power of God working through them. Men who were by no means
perfect in the natural sense, but who were being perfected through
their faith, love and desire to serve the Lord Savior, Jesus Christ.
From the Day of
Pentecost and continuing to present (until the return of Jesus), we find
documented evidence of men and women who decided one day to believe the
Scriptures rather than the doctrines of man and were used of God in the
realm of the supernatural. These spiritual giants were no different
than those in the early church. They also were frail and imperfect, but
they also had an affinity for God above all else. Like their
predecessors, they also lived with persecution, not just from the world,
but unfortunately, from the religious within the church. Some finished
their course well and others not so well. Yet the impact that they had
globally, especially in the church still lives today.
Church history reveals
many of these giants of faith were raised up by God to bring reformation and
restoration to the church which also impacted the world. Shortly after
the civil war, once again God raised up many of these giants of the faith.
The impact they they brought is what we call revival. Millions gave
themselves to the Lord. Countless numbers received miracles and some
raised from the dead, just like the ministry of Jesus and the early
church and yet they were greatly criticized by the faithless religious.
Some of these giants are, John Alexander Dowie, Marie Woodworth-Etter,
Evan Roberts, Charles F. Parham, John G. Lake, William J. Seymour, Smith
Wigglesworth and Aimee Semple McPherson.
The Lord used these
believers and others to usher in one of the greatest moves of the Holy
Spirit since the Day of Pentecost. In fact, this move of God was named
the Pentecostal movement. It was a reflection of the daily activities of
the early church with the glory, presence and power of God manifesting,
which brought much of the church, in a sense, back to its beginnings.
Unfortunately, ignorance, unbelief and complacency has once again crept
back into the church to where the supernatural works of God are once
again downplayed, despised and rejected by another generation of the
religious in the church. But the good news is, the supernatural has not
left the church. The Apostle Peter tells us, "Repent
therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that
times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom
heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which
God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world
began." (Acts 3:19-21)
The times of
refreshing and restoration will come to the church before the Master
returns. He is coming back for a church filled with faith,
fully dedicated to Him. A church that is sanctified and cleansed by His
Word (not mans doctrine). A glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle
or any such thing, but a church that is holy and without blemish.
(Ephesians 5:26-28) So, if need be, let us repent from our lack of faith and be like
John the Baptist and prepare the way of the Lord.
Monday, August 15, 2022
God's Giants
Monday, August 8, 2022
The Battle Is Ours
The Bible makes it quite clear, that the church is in a battle against darkness. However, it is important for believers to see their position in Christ so that they can "fight the good fight of faith." (1 Timothy 6:12) Typically, there are three views that believers have of the church…
The Defeated Church: This view is based on experience, on what the five senses can comprehend and assimilate. Even though the Bible says it to be true, if I don’t experience it, then no matter what happens, good or bad, it must be God’s will. It comes out of ignorance of the believer’s position in Christ. When a believer does not know their position in Christ, their faith is neutralized.
The Militant Church: This view depicts the church as still battling and trying to gain our victory over an enemy. It acts as though the enemy has not been fully defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ. This view comes by taking Matthew 11:12 out of context and producing an unscriptural meaning or interruption.
The Triumphant Church: This view is the Biblical view of the church. Believers know their position in Christ; that they are seated with Christ in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (Ephesians 1:20-21, 2:6) The believer who knows their position in Christ is not defeated nor do they need to be militant. They simply uphold and enforce their redemptive rights and privileges in Christ.
To some, this may be easily said, but most often difficult to carry out. Believers need to be fully convinced that what God’s Word says is absolutely true now and forever. "My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips." (Psalm 89:34) "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89) "The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)God's Word is just as powerful today as it was when it was first spoken. However, Satan does not want the church to know this fact. So, he uses the same tactic today as he used in the Garden of Eden, “Did God Say?” (Genesis 3:1) His tactic is for believers to question the integrity of God’s Word by getting them to reason, “Did God really say…Is it really God’s Will…You do not deserve God’s promises…If God really loved you this would not have happened…No matter what the devil says or how he says it, it is always an attacked against the integrity of God’s Word.
With all the demonic activity that goes on, it is vital that believers know what their redemption in Christ entitles them to. Believers need to be fully convinced that they have been given the same authority over all the works of the devil in the same manner and level that Jesus had when He walked this earth. "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19) Matthew tells us what Jesus said after His resurrection and before His ascension. "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18) If all authority has been given to Christ, then it stands to reason His church also has authority because we are His body.
The Bible lists 30 names given to Satan which reflects his nature, such as…
The adversary (1 Peter 5:8); A Thief (John 10:10); A murderer and liar (John 8:44); The accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10); The ruler of this world (John 12:31); The prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2); The god of the world system (2 Corinthians 4:4) It is Satan who is the author of all sin, all sickness and disease and all manner of evil, not God! Unfortunately, many believers have accused God of being the author of evil based on one verse of scripture."I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7 KJV) This tells us that God directs judgments, disappointments, trials, and calamities; he presides over adversity as well as prosperous events. The passage does not prove that God is the author of moral evil or sin, and any teaching that promotes such attacks the character and nature of a Holy God.
The Bible tells us that God is…
The God who sees (Genesis 16:13); God Almighty (Genesis 17:1); The Lord who provides (Genesis 22:13-14); The Lord who heals (Exodus 15:26); The Lord our Banner (Exodus 17:15); The Lord who Sanctifies (Exodus 31:13); The Lord who does not lie (Numbers 23:19); The Lord is Peace (Judges 6:24); The Lord who does not afflict (Job 37:23); The Lord our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1); The Lord who is good (Psalm 34:8); The Lord our deliverer (Psalm 34:17); The Lord who is merciful and gracious (Psalm 103:8); The Lord who is full of compassion and good to ALL (Psalm 145:8-9); The Lord our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6); The Lord who does not change (Malachi 3:6); The Lord who gives good things (Matthew 7:11); The Lord of life (John 10:10); The conqueror of Satan (Colossians 2:15); The Lord who is faithful (Hebrews 10:23); The God of love (1 John 4:16)…The conqueror of death and hell (Revelation 1:18)… To name a few…
Jesus said, "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)
The church has the keys; the church has the authority; the church has the name above all names, Jesus; the church has been endued with the power of the Holy Spirit; and the church has God's Word that is living and powerful. So, let’s take our position as the triumphant church and uphold and enforce all that Jesus did. Let us never again give Satan even an infinitesimal amount in our lives, our families nor the church and take our position in Christ as the triumphant church that we are…
Monday, July 25, 2022
Sanctified By Truth
The Bible tells us that man is a triune being. "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify
you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians
5:23) However, most people tend to find this difficult. They can accept a
dual nature, that is, the body and soul (mind, will and emotions)
because these entities are obvious and easily recognizable.
Nevertheless, the scriptures do not reveal man as a dual being, but a
triune being like God Himself. (1 John 5:7)
What the
Apostle Paul is talking about in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 is sanctification.
As defined by Noah Webster, sanctification is, "The act of making holy.
In an evangelical sense, the act of God's grace by which the affections
of men are purified or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to
a supreme love to God. The act of consecrating or of setting apart for a
sacred purpose; consecration." One of the issues that many believe find
when looking at the subject of sanctification is
that in the common translation of our English Bible, there is very
little distinction made between soul and spirit. However, the Apostle
Paul in his letter to the church at Ephesus reveals the fine distinction
of the soul and spirit. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "For the word of God is
living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing
even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and
is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
Until one is born again, the human spirit lies dormant and under the sway of the soul and body. "And the Lord
said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed
flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis
6:3) The Apostle Paul reveals the works of the flesh and shows us the
war between the flesh (the five senses) and the recreated human spirit. "For the flesh (senses) lusts
against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are
contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." (Galatians 6:17)
But, when the human spirit is touched by the Spirit of God, a
quickening immediately takes place. The dead human spirit comes alive
and begins to operate within. It begins to discerns the things in this
present life like never before, but even more exciting, it reaches
beyond this life and becomes the avenue by which the believer touches
God and God moves upon the believer. This gives the believer the ability
to comprehend and know heavenly things. PTL "But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding." (Job 32:8)
The believers sanctification
is a process of God working in us our entire life which began the
moment of becoming born again. It is a real conversion that awakens the
unbeliever to a consciousness of the Fatherhood of God through faith in
Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16)
However, in order to become more aware of this beautiful union with
God, it is necessary that everything be removed that hinders this new
consciousness and dulls the understanding and knowledge of God. It is
sin in the life that hinders the process of sanctification. "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)
Notice that Paul tells us, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify
you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23) God is at work in the believer (Philippians 2:13) transforming us into
the image of Christ from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the
Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18) The Apostle Paul tells us how we can askew
sin and let the work of God prevail in our lives. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And
do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and
perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)
Believers
are to dedicate their body to the service of God as well as renew their
mind (with the Word of God) so their recreated spirit dominates their
life. This has absolutely nothing to do with rules and regulations, but
the believers continuous response to God's grace. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12)
The
greatest struggle that the believer faces is not one with Satan, Jesus
defeated him and gave authority to the church to uphold and enforce that
defeat, (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:17-18; Luke 10:19; Ephesians
1:19-23; Colossians 2:15), no, it is the believers mind where the
greatest struggle exists. This is why we are to renew our mind with
God's Word. Our minds must stay fixed on Christ, so that we reflect His
glory, show forth His love and evidence His power.
It should be a wonderful thing for believers to know that if we are willing to sell out to God and let Him complete the work (sanctification) that He started in us the day we were born again, He will purge and
drive out every particle of evil and every sensuous or lustful thing in
our thoughts so that we become on earth, what Jesus was on earth. We
should think on terms that sin soils and defiles us. It is an unholy
thing that waits at the door and has a desire to keep us from fellowship
with God. So, let us take a stand and know that "...we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Monday, July 18, 2022
The Greatest Is Love
The idiom, "water off a duck's back" refers to any criticism or
something similar that is spoken by one person and directed at another. If the person to whom the criticism is directed does not let it
affect them in the slightest, it would be like water off a duck's back.
Unfortunately, many in the church today have given the world ammunition
with which to mock Christianity. Due to the wrong example that many
Christians have set, it has opened the door for many people of the world
to be harsh in their criticism of the church. Sadly, many in the world
have witnessed believers, lying, backbiting, gossiping, speaking negatively and even evil against another believer or
congregation. This is in direct violation of the command that Jesus gave
to us, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;
as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will
know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
The world is not impressed with believers confessions of faith when they see
believers mistreat one another, especially when the world looks at the church and sees the many
denominations that keep it divided. When you think about it, there would
never have been splits in the church, if ALL believers would love one
another with the God kind of love that
has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who dwells in the
believer. (Romans 5:5) By not operating in love, believers have opened
the door to the accuser of the brethren, Satan and in all honesty, he
has capitalized on it. Also, by not operating in the God kind of love,
it reveals just how carnal many believers are. When the world cannot see
the difference between the Body of Christ and other non-Christian organization,
it is truly a poor testimony of the Love of Christ.
One of the big reasons why many believers become so easily offended, is because they are too focused on the things of the world. Instead of doing what the Apostle Paul tells us, "Finally,
brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever
things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there
is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8) and "If
then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on
things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2), their is an acceptance of the ways of the world. Unfortunately like the world, they
are always concerned about what someone else may say or do to them;
what they think someone thinks about them; and or they are so hurt, they
are always looking for someone to offend them no matter what they may
say or do. They unknowingly live in constant torment and bondage because
they have not received healing for their soul.
One of the greatest examples in the Bible of this, is found in the life of Israel's first king, King Saul. "Now
it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from
the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the
cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with
tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang
as they danced, and said: Saul has slain his thousands, and David his
ten thousands. Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him;
and he said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they
have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?
So Saul eyed David from that day forward. And it happened on the next
day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he
prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at
other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the
spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped
his presence twice." (1 Samuel 19:6-11)
Jealousy was the root of King Saul's offense against David. David the
shepherd boy had defeated Goliath the giant and had been promoted to
commander of the army. David's only crime was his faith in the Lord who
gave Goliath into his hands. When David returned from battling the
Philistines, the women were singing songs about him due to his military
accomplishments. When King Saul heard it, he chose to be offended. To
him, he was no longer number one in the eyes of Israel. Due to this, he
gave himself over to jealousy, anger and destructive behavior. Though
David fled from King Saul's presence, King Saul chose to pursue David in
the wilderness. David was now constantly on the run to avoid King Saul
from killing him. Now let's look at how David chose to handle the
offense.
"Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the
Philistines, that it was told him, saying, take note! David is in the
Wilderness of En Gedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all
Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild
Goats. So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave;
and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were
staying in the recesses of the cave.) Then the men of David said to him,
This is the day of which the Lord said to you, behold, I will deliver
your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to
you. And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now
it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut
Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, the Lord forbid that I should do
this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand
against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. So David restrained
his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against
Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way. David also
arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying,
My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with
his face to the earth, and bowed down. And David said to Saul: Why do
you listen to the words of men who say, Indeed David seeks your harm?
Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today
into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye
spared you, and I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my lord,
for he is the Lord’s anointed. Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the
corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your
robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor
rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt
my life to take it. Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the
Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. As the
proverb of the ancients says, Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But
my hand shall not be against you. After whom has the king of Israel come
out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? Therefore let the Lord be
judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and
deliver me out of your hand.” (1 Samuel 24:1-15)
As we see, David refused to retaliate. He chose to walk upright before
the Lord and let the Lord be the judge. The Apostle Peter tells us, "Finally,
all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as
brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or
reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you
were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For he who would
love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and
his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the
righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the
Lord is against those who do evil." (1 Peter 3:8-12)
Like David, we are all faced with choices when it comes to offenses. We
can chose to let them be like water off a ducks back or we can let them
become a root of bitterness that promotes the works of the flesh.
(Galatians 5:19-21) The Apostle Paul warns us, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For
he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who
sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (Galatians 6:7-8) So, if someone offends you, let us do what Peter said, "...but on the contrary blessing..." or in other words, let the offense be like water off a ducks back and make the God kind of love our greatest aim. Amen? (See 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Monday, July 11, 2022
Promises That Are Sure
Many times we hear of the promises of God. Many in the church are
divided as to whether the promises revealed in scripture are for the
church (every believer) today, if they were only for the start of the
church, or if they are for the believer when they get to heaven. Well,
let's face it, when believers leave this life for the next, they
certainly will not need any of the promises that are revealed in the
scriptures. Why? The Apostle John tells us, "And he showed me a pure
river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of
God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of
the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree
yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the
healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne
of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve
Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun,
for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and
ever." (Revelation 22:1-5) Believers will not need the promises of
God in eternity. They are all insignificant and useless because we will
be in the presence of God basking in His glory. PTL
Did the promises of
God fade away when the apostles of the early church went on to glory?
In a sense, we can say that His promises are gifts. Therefore, the
Apostle Paul tells us, "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
(Romans 11:29) The gifts of God are not revoked, changed or undone.
What He has given to the church He does not take back. Also, "Abraham, being fully convinced that what He (God) had promised He was also able to perform." (Romans 4:21) Even Balaam's report to Balak points this out, “God
is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should
repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He
not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19)
So, the promises of God are for every believer today because, "But
now He (Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is
also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better
promises." (Hebrews 8:6) When looking in the Old Testament, we find numerous examples of God making promises to Israel, especially in Deuteronomy 28:1-14. The only condition of walking in these promises was they would have to "...do what is right in the sight of the Lord, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes..."
(Exodus 15:26) Today, through faith in Jesus Christ, the believer is
made righteous. This means that do to God's amazing grace and through
faith in Christ the believer fulfills the law. It is the believers faith
that releases the promises of God in their life. This being so, then it
stands to reason the the believer today can also receive the same
promises and even greater based on Hebrews 8:6.
Think about it. Under the Old Covenant, by doing what is right in the
sight of the Lord, giving ear to His commandments and keeping all His
statutes, Israel had the potential of living in the promises of God continually. Well, if the promises that God gave to Israel are
not for us who are under a new and better covenant, then it would mean
that we lost benefits (promises) when the new covenant was established
through Jesus Christ. But that is not what the Bible says. It does not
say that we have a worse covenant established on worse promises. No, it
say that we have a better covenant established upon better promises. PTL
So, "Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23) and receive the promises that God has for us through faith in Jesus Christ. "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." (2 Corinthians 1:20)
Monday, July 4, 2022
Free Indeed
One of the highlights of summer in the USA is the celebration of
Independence Day. From 1776 until the present day, Independence Day has
been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical
festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual
family gatherings and barbecues. Although the United States celebrates
Independence Day as a day of freedom from Great Britain's oppression,
there is a freedom that is far superior, far greater than any freedom
that man can provide. This freedom only comes as one confesses with the
mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him as Savior.
It has been said, "To be born free is a privilege; to die free is an
awesome responsibility," yet freedom is never free. It always and only
comes at great price. The greatest price ever paid for freedom,
was paid
at Calvary nearly two thousand years ago by Jesus Christ, the Son of
God. So, let's take a moment and look at some of the events that took
place to purchase mans true freedom. We begin in the Garden of
Gethsemane where Jesus is arrested and taken down to the hall of
Caiaphas the High Priest. He is then blindfolded and spit upon, insulted
and struck in the presence of the very High Priest of God, and then you
witness the long, cold, weary hours until He is taken before Pilate and
then eventually to Herod to be mocked and jeered, to be clothed with
the mock garment of kingly authority, a mock crown of thorns placed upon
His brow, the mock badge of kingly authority placed within His hand,
and then the long weary march back to Pilate, where He faces the trial,
proceeding with bitterness and jealousy.
We then find Jesus standing calm and quiet with no part in this
unnatural scene, except that of the innocent victim of jealousy and
hate. We see Him scourged, His back laid open by the awful Roman lictor.
Blood flows, and flesh is torn as the cruel blows fall mercilessly upon
His bare back. Then His clothes are thrown roughly about Him, and He is
started out for Golgotha, staggering beneath His cross. We see Him fall
under its weight, and Simon of Cyrene is compelled to bear it. Then we
see Him staggering up the mountain side, surrounded by soldiers. He is
laid roughly down upon the cross on His back, and the Roman soldiers
with cruel hate drive the spikes into His hands and feet; then He is
lifted up naked, and the cross is dropped into the socket in the rock.
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified!
We watch the mob as it surges backward and forward about the cross. We
hear the High Priest hurling his bitter taunts at Jesus, as He suffers
unmercifully nailed to the cross suspended between heaven and earth. We
hear the mob in their bitter denunciation, led on by their religious
leaders, the very priesthood that was looking for their Messiah. It was a
hideous and horrific thing that was taking place. The Son of God
hanging on the cross was not a sight for angels, nor for men, but for
demons only.
However, the vision I want you to have is not of the physical suffering
of Jesus, not what man has done as that is only a means to an end, but
come behind the scenes and see the agony of the Son of God, and see Him
smitten by God, His Father. The Apostle Peter tells us on the day of
Pentecost that He was delivered up by the determinate counsel and the
foreknowledge of God. (Acts 2:23) It is here that we see Father God
taking our sin nature and spiritual death, and placing it all upon
Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus has taken man's place, and the whole
human race is now represented in Him, as He hangs there under judgment
on the accursed tree. God takes your sin and mine, yes, the sin of the
whole world and lets it fall upon His Son and as God turns His back to
Him, He cries out, "My God, Mu God why have you forsaken Me." (Matthew 27:46) Not only did Jesus go to the cross to acquire mans freedom,
but also descend into hell itself to pay the penalty of Man's high
treason. He took upon Himself the awful guilt to pay man's penalty,
because God could not, nor would not pardon man until an adequate
sacrifice had been made. (Romans 3:21-26)
He died as Jesus our Substitute, the Lamb of God who bore the sin of the world. But Peter tells us, (quoting David) "For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." (Acts 2:27) After three days and nights in hell, Jesus arose as Lord, as Master of death, of hell and of the grave. He speaks to the Apostle John, "I was dead and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Hades and of Death."
(Revelation 1:18) The matchless, mighty Christ had gone into the strong
mans house and plundered his house and his goods. (Matthew 12:29; Luke
11:21-22) He had conquered Satan completely in honorable combat; He had
taken from him his authority, his dominion; He brings it back and offers
it to fallen man through His matchless name and grace.
What does this mean to us? It means that every person who confesses Jesus
Christ as Lord and takes Him as his Savior, stands legally acquitted in
the presence of God. It means Satan is defeated, and man can be free.
This is independence, this is freedom
and there is no other freedom from the foundations of the world that
has or will ever surpass the freedom the our Heavenly Father has
provided for all men through Jesus Christ. "For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17) PTL...
Monday, June 27, 2022
Gifts For The Church
Christianity is not a mere philosophy, obedience to commandments nor the
acceptance of God's promises. It is much more. Christianity is the
appearance of God to man in time and space. The significance of Jesus'
death, not only His physical death on the cross, but what He
accomplished for man in the spiritual realm especially in the regions of
death, which is beyond what we could ever comprehend. He took death captive.
The reality of His death is this. When death slew Him, death slew
itself. "Inasmuch
then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself
likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who
had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14) "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Revelation 1:18)
Jesus liberated those, who in death, waited His coming. Jesus took them
from the control of Satan and in His triumphant victory over sin, death
and Satan, transferred them to glory. David the king prophesied this
very thing one thousand years before it came to pass. "You have
ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received
gifts among men, even from the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell
there." (Psalm 68:18) The Apostle Paul reiterated the same and then tells us the gifts that Jesus gave to men, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers." (Ephesians 4:11)
Jesus is not only the founder of the church, "...I will build My church..." (Matthew 16:18) but He is the foundation of the church, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1
Corinthians 3:11). The Bible gives a further revelation that Jesus
wanted His followers to understand concerning Himself and the foundation
of the church. "...the household of God (the church) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:19-20)
Most in the Protestant Church, from seminary to the pulpit, have been taught that the apostles and prophets
were only given to get the church started and after that, they were no
longer needed. That once the New Testament was completed and accepted by
the church, the foundational role of the apostles and prophets was
completed. Therefore, all biblical references to apostles and prophets
should be understood as a historical record rather than a continuing
reality for the church. Any teaching today contrary to such is to be
considered heretical. But, is this kind of teaching consistent with
scripture or is it presumption?
First, there is not one verse of scripture that can support the the departure of either the apostle or prophet
from the church because they were only needed to start the church.
Think about this from this perspective. When a builder builds a house,
the foundation is the first and most important part for the structural
integrity of the entire house. Is there any builder that would build the
foundation, complete the rest of the construction on the house, and
once it has been accepted by the building inspector and the owner as
completed, remove parts of the foundation? Absolutely not! If the
foundation loses structural integrity then whatever is placed on top is
in jeopardy of failure and even collapse. It is the same with everything
that is build, even the church. Jesus warns, "Therefore whoever
hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise
man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods
came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall,
for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of
Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his
house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the
winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27)
The Apostle Paul tells us, "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (Romans
11:29) In other words, the Lord is not going to revoke, change, undo or
alter the gifts that He has given to the church. Paul also tells us, "And God has appointed
these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers,
after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations,
varieties of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:28) Notice, "God has appointed
these in the church" not man. If God appointed, then how can man un-appoint without any scriptural foundation to do so?
Also, notice in this verse, the absence of evangelist and pastor and
yet today the church has placed a higher premium upon them than the
Lord. Also, and equally unfortunate, a greater portion of the church has
also un-appointed "...miracles, gifts of healings, and
varieties of tongues."
Now, let us look at the following passage of scripture to see the reason why these gifts were given to the church.
"And He (the Lord) Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,
some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of
the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to
and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery
of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking
the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the
head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what
every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every
part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of
itself in love." (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Notice, "till we all (the entire church) come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect (mature, complete) man." Very
few, if any Christian leaders would dare claim that the Body of Christ
has reached the stage of perfection described in this passage. This
being true, not only would it be right, but it would also be logical
that there is still a need for apostles and prophets in the church until
Jesus returns. Could the rejection of the apostle and prophet in most sectors of the church be one of the main reasons why the church
is so fragmented with its numerous denominations and doctrinal
differences? Could this be why the church is not knitted and working
together? Could this be why there is a lack of growth of the Body of
Christ? Could this be why the church lacks in loving one another as
brethren? Maybe it is time for those who reject the gift of the apostle
and prophet to reconsider their position and let the Lord do what He
said He would do, "...I will build my church..." The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you...