Our Spiritual Richness

Today I am continuing with the theme of the LORDSHIP of Christ and our need for more Grace to accomplish GOD's purposes and plan. Which are His Will for all of mankind and especially those called out to be His agents in whom HE is the agency and through whom HE works, by faith. This being accomplished only after we realize that we are as Esaus, for that reason I want to share from Hebrews 12, making use of the ESV in the following statement, before looking at Pastor Hoekstra and my targeted subject for today.


Hebrews 12:1-2, 3-11, 12-13, 14-17, 18-24 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely to us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of GOD.

Consider Him Who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Or have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the LORD disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. For it is GOD treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? For "If," you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but HE disciplines us for our good, that we may share His Holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

Therefore Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the LORD. (Amos 3:3) See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of GOD; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned." Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear (extreme reverence and awe)." But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living GOD, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to GOD, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."


"More on the Boldness of Grace"
by Pastor Hoekstra


"I have written more boldly to you on some points . . . because of the grace given to me by God . . . Great is my boldness of speech toward you." (Romans 15:15 and 2Corinthians 7:4)


"When the Grace of GOD is at work in the lives of His people, spiritual boldness is a common result. This was clearly the testimony of the early church. "They spoke the word of GOD with boldness ... ... And great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:31, 33).


The Apostle Paul experienced this same boldness, as he ministered by the Grace of GOD. "I have written more boldly to you on some points . . . because of the grace given to me by GOD." Paul's letters often display the boldness of grace. Romans was no exception. As he applied the radical truths of the Gospel of Grace (given in the earlier chapters of Romans), he spoke with characteristic boldness. His exhortation to lay our lives on GOD's altar is a prime example. "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, I made this my daily prayer for many years now as it sanctifies me and rededicates me every morning in the coolness of the day dawning). His call to be clothed in Christ, leaving no room for fleshly tendencies, is another notable instance. "Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the LORD, Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13:13-14). His pronouncement concerning the LORD's ownership of our lives is one more illustration. "For if we live, we live to (for) the LORD; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the LORD's" (Romans 14:8).


When Paul wrote to the saints at Corinth, the boldness of grace was again evidence. "Great is my boldness of speech toward you." Just prior to this confession of boldness, he had given a radical request concerning godly separation from the defilements of the world. "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of GOD with idols? For you are the temple of the living GOD" (2Corinthians 6:14-16)."
For years I did not understand the separation that is demanded here, from the worlds religious forms but once this fact sank in we came out from among them. This took place back in 2007 after the LORD asked the hidden question of Matthew 11:27-30 and gave me the visual revelation of Galatians 2:20. What an impact this had on our lives.


Christ's LORDSHIP,


Luke 6:1-5 and Mark 2:23-28 "On a Sabbath, while He was going through the grain fields, His disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?" To this Jesus answered them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of GOD and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?" Then He said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."In Mark 2:23-28 we find this in verses 27-28, "Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."


Then in Peter's sermon to the heads of Judah and those of Jerusalem in Acts 2 in verses 29-36, we find this statement,
"Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that GOD had sworn with an oath to him that HE would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus GOD raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of GOD, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, HE has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but He Himself says, "'The LORD said to My Lord, "Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool."' Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that GOD has made Him both LORD and Christ, this Jesus Whom you crucified."  


Then Acts 5 Peter states this in verses 27-32, "When they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey GOD rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. GOD has exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, Whom GOD has given to those who obey Him."


Then Paul states this in Romans 10 in verses 5-13, "Moses writes about the righteousness that is based out of the Law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But righteousness is based on faith and says this, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead) [Deuteronomy 30:12]. But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart [Deuteronomy 30:14]" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe within your heart that GOD raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame. [Isaiah 28:16]" For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is LORD of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."


1Corinthians 8:4-6 "Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one." For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"— yet for us there is one GOD, the Father, from Whom are all things and for Whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things and through Whom we exist."


1Corinthians 12:1-3 and Ephesians 3:20-4:6 "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of GOD ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit."
Ephesians 3:20-4:6 "Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. I therefore, a prisoner for the LORD, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one LORD, one faith, one baptism, one GOD and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all."