I am looking again at the secrets and mysteries of GOD hidden from mans understanding until the end of days took place at the death of the Prophet spoken of in Deuteronomy 18:15-22 which I looked at again in the last post. By way of refreshing I want to look again at Deuteronomy 29:29 in the ESV which states this, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." And again there are within this passage several subtopics for our learning as we have already seen, these areas are, of those left; revelation, divine teaching and the less favorite obedience. So my target is revelation which may well be a stand alone study with many related sub areas of interest. We must bear this in mind while we the record of the New Witness of Christ in Jesus, 'I and the Father are One.' (John 10:30 and 17:11, 21 in the LORD's Prayer of John 17)
Divine Revelation, some general references;
Daniel 2:17-23 "Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light* dwells with Him. To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king's matter." *Light means, Divine wisdom given to men of GOD's approval.
Amos 3:1-8 "Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. "Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet? Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing? Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing? Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it? "For the Lord GOD (YHWH) does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets. The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD (YHWH, usually render LORD) has spoken; who can but prophesy?"
John 15:12-17 and Romans 16:26 (Jesus is speaking) "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, HE may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another."
Romans 16:25-27 "Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal GOD, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! The Amen."
1Corinthians 2:6-13, 14-16 "Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom (light), although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. For none of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the LORD of glory. For, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor entered the heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love Him"— For these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit (divine or evil) of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit (the evilness) of the world, but the Spirit who is (Divine) from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
For the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. And the spiritual person judges (discerns) all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the LORD so as to instruct Him?" For we have the mind of Christ."
Ephesians 1:1-14 and 3:5, Colossians 1:26 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the LORD Christ in Jesus. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as HE chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love HE having predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose (kind intention, good pleasure) of His will, for the praise of His glorious grace, with which HE has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which HE lavishes upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will (plan and purpose), according to His purpose, which HE set forth (in motion) in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His (plan and purposes of) will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation (not of your redemption but rather our salvation), and believed Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 3:1-13 "For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery (secret) of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of His (that is to say Christ's) power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light (divine wisdom) for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold (militia faceted) wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that HE has realized in Christ Jesus our LORD, In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory."
Colossians 1:24-29 "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, (family) the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that HE (GOD) powerfully works within me."
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Monday, October 2, 2017
The Secrets and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 2
We are again recapping what is at the heart of this blog, the secret things hidden within the Bible's scriptures. They are there for our learning of all things concerning the LORD God, later to be known as the anointed in Hebrew as Messiah in Daniel 9:25-26, in Greek as Christ in Matthew 1:1 and 1:16. The name given to Jesus as an anointing which He received at the time of His baptism by John, in the imbuing (Webster's II New Riverside Dictionary says this for imbue: to saturate, to permeate or pervade: install with power, to absorb His revolutionary spirit [look at John 6:53 and other related passages]) from on high (spoken of in Isaiah 44:3 by way of vailed language as the Spirit given and by Jesus after His resurrection in Luke 24:49) and that which He shared by way of revelation to His disciples. Which He revealed as the name of GOD, this we can see in John 1:12 and John 20:31 where we find these statements beginning at: John 1:9-13, 20:30-31 "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.....Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." The Bible tells us that this name was hidden within scriptures as the term Messiah and other such terms and passages of the Prophets and the Law (the books) of Moses. And as stated in part one, being the base passage of Deuteronomy 29:29 as a stand alone passage with many related hidden teachings and it is here that I am picking up with this post, with knowledge withheld and ignorance in reference to the further as a hidden secret. This is also part of the study done on Deuteronomy 18:15-22 where in verses 18-19 we have this statement, Deuteronomy 18:18-19 "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put My words in His mouth, and He shall (will) speak to them all that I command Him. And whoever will not listen to My words that He shall (will) speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him."
Knowledge Withheld from man;
Because Perilous,
Genesis 2:15-17 "The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die*." *The ancient Hebrew (Strong's H4191) reveals this to mean a mark of water and chaos as a length of time that something exists. From which in the chess game we get check mate meaning the death of the king, "the king is dead". This passage is cross referenced to our base root of Deuteronomy 29:29.
Inability to Apprehend Truth,
John 3:4-8 "Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Human Weakness Necessitates,
John 16:12-15 (Jesus is speaking) "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is Mine; therefore I said that He will take what is Mine and declare it to you."
Earthly Limitations Fetter,
1Corinthians 13:8-14:5 "Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Therefore pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding (spiritual training, education) and encouragement (exhortation) and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up."
Gradual Revelation, the Divine Plan,
Ephesians 2:11-3:13 "Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the Uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, In whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the LORD. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for GOD by the Spirit. For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our LORD, In (through) whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory."
To give Opportunity for Faith,
1John 3:1-3 "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure."
Ignorance in reference to Future (hidden);
Proverbs 27:1-7 "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both. Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet."
Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 and 6:12, 8:7 "Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is (limited sight) the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit (breather) of the beast goes down into the earth? So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
Ecclesiastes 6:10-12 "Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?"
Ecclesiastes 8:5-9 "Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him. For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt."
Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 "Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them."
Ecclesiastes 10:8-20 and 11:2 "He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city. Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness! Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter."
Ecclesiastes 11:1-5 "Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything."
Matthew 24:42-44 (Jesus is speaking) "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
Acts 20:17-24 "Now from Miletus he (Paul) sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
James 4:13-17 "Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."
Knowledge Withheld from man;
Because Perilous,
Genesis 2:15-17 "The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die*." *The ancient Hebrew (Strong's H4191) reveals this to mean a mark of water and chaos as a length of time that something exists. From which in the chess game we get check mate meaning the death of the king, "the king is dead". This passage is cross referenced to our base root of Deuteronomy 29:29.
Inability to Apprehend Truth,
John 3:4-8 "Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Human Weakness Necessitates,
John 16:12-15 (Jesus is speaking) "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is Mine; therefore I said that He will take what is Mine and declare it to you."
Earthly Limitations Fetter,
1Corinthians 13:8-14:5 "Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Therefore pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding (spiritual training, education) and encouragement (exhortation) and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up."
Gradual Revelation, the Divine Plan,
Ephesians 2:11-3:13 "Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the Uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, In whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the LORD. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for GOD by the Spirit. For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our LORD, In (through) whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory."
To give Opportunity for Faith,
1John 3:1-3 "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure."
Ignorance in reference to Future (hidden);
Proverbs 27:1-7 "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both. Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet."
Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 and 6:12, 8:7 "Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is (limited sight) the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit (breather) of the beast goes down into the earth? So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
Ecclesiastes 6:10-12 "Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?"
Ecclesiastes 8:5-9 "Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him. For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt."
Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 "Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them."
Ecclesiastes 10:8-20 and 11:2 "He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city. Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness! Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter."
Ecclesiastes 11:1-5 "Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything."
Matthew 24:42-44 (Jesus is speaking) "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
Acts 20:17-24 "Now from Miletus he (Paul) sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
James 4:13-17 "Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."
Sunday, October 1, 2017
The Secrets and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 1
I have been sitting on this for sometime now to make sure that I am to do this and to make sure that I am hearing correctly. As I told someone the other day, if you take the time to read through all of this blog and my other blog connected to this one. through to the present you will notice a change in the knowledge of Christ and spiritual growth, at the heart of the mysteries and secrets of GOD. This will also be your own outcome while reading and absorbing the material as one does while eating food or drinking in of water, by the power of the Holy Spirit within you. This being revealed by Jesus and spoken of by John in his synoptic gospel of John 6:51 where we find this statement starting at, John 6:47-51 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh."
My base scripture in the beginning was Deuteronomy 29:29 is a stand alone passage, which has hidden in it such topics as: secret things, knowledge withheld, revelation, the divine teacher and obedience, these I will look at over the course of the next few days the LORD willing. Here is how it reads using the ESV translation: "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law (the ancient Hebrew has this meaning for law, the direction of life one is to take)."
Secret things,
Deuteronomy 29:29.
Proverbs 25:2-7 "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of a noble."
Daniel 12:5-13 "Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, "How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?" And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, "O my Lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?" He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he (they) who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."
Mark 13:28-32 (Jesus is speaking) "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
Revelation 5:1-5 "Then I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals."
Revelation 10:1-7 "Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down." And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, "the mystery of God* would be fulfilled," just as He announced to His servants the prophets." *The secrets counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from the ungodly and wicked men but plainly given to the godly. Taken from Thayer's Greek dictionary definitions.
My base scripture in the beginning was Deuteronomy 29:29 is a stand alone passage, which has hidden in it such topics as: secret things, knowledge withheld, revelation, the divine teacher and obedience, these I will look at over the course of the next few days the LORD willing. Here is how it reads using the ESV translation: "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law (the ancient Hebrew has this meaning for law, the direction of life one is to take)."
Secret things,
Deuteronomy 29:29.
Proverbs 25:2-7 "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of a noble."
Daniel 12:5-13 "Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, "How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?" And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, "O my Lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?" He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he (they) who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."
Mark 13:28-32 (Jesus is speaking) "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
Revelation 5:1-5 "Then I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals."
Revelation 10:1-7 "Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down." And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, "the mystery of God* would be fulfilled," just as He announced to His servants the prophets." *The secrets counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from the ungodly and wicked men but plainly given to the godly. Taken from Thayer's Greek dictionary definitions.
Friday, September 8, 2017
Continuing with, The Seven Spirits of GOD
Todays study looks at redeemed mans responsibility in relation to GOD's Spirit of Christ restored to him, known as the "Seven Figures" in my Thomason Chain-Reference Bible. I was going to look at the old testament witnesses of the future coming of Christ in Jesus as a completion in "Seven Times," its completion took place within Proverbs 24:16, Daniel 3:19-25 and Matthew 18:21-22's explanation. But seeing as how it is completed there seems to be no need to do so here. Using the ESV translation with the LORD's help I will look at the targeted passages. All these things tie to Deuteronomy 18:15-22 and the true LORD's Prayer of John 17. At the end of this study I will add a post that I shared on my Facebook page dealing with king David's obedience of faith.
The Seven Figures, used to express Christian Influence and Responsibilities, once having entered into GOD's rest (Genesis 2:1-2) or His Salvation:
Witnesses (testimony) in Isaiah 43: 8-13, "Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears! All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and show us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right, and let them hear and say, It is true. "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me. I, I am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior. I declared and save and proclaim, when there was no strange god among you; and you are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "and I am GOD. Also henceforth I am He; there is none who can deliver from My hand; I work, and who can turn it back?"
Salt (a preservative) in Matthew 5: 13, (Jesus speaking) "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."
Light (illumination or revelation) in Matthew 5: 14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good (love) works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Branches (bearing fruits of GOD's character) in John 15: 1-11, (Jesus is speaking) "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit HE takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit HE prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I love you. Abide in My love. If you keep My commandments (instructions), you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments (instructions) and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy (in peace and rest) may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
Epistles (instructions) in 2Corinthians 3: 1-3, "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living GOD, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."
Ambassadors (personal representatives of GOD within you) in 2Corinthians 5: 20-6:10, "Therefore, we are ambassadors of Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to GOD. For our sake HE made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of GOD. Working together (as in a marriage of agreement) with Him, that, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of GOD in vain. For HE says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants (and stewards) of GOD we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and by the power of GOD; with the weapons of righteousness for the right and for the left hand; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything."
Stewards (distributers of the secret of GOD restored to indwelling man) in 1Peter 4: 1-11, "Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh (of Jesus), arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will (plain and purposes) of GOD. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles (the unsaved, unregenerate of this world) want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living (those redeemed) and the (those who remain) dead (as in separation from GOD). For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in their spirit the way God does. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of GOD; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that GOD supplies—in order that in everything GOD may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. The Amen."
The next three in this section have to do with all things that belong in and through Christ's revelation within us, they deal with the completion of Christ in days, years and last sayings of Christ.
Today's meditation is a strong one, so if you are one with a faintness of heart think twice before reading this.
"King David's Urging Others to Trust in the LORD God"
By Pastor Hoekstra
"Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:3-5)
"Those who live by grace trust GOD to work in their lives. We can see David's heart to live this way, as he urges others to trust in the LORD. "Trust in the LORD . . . feed on His faithfulness . . . Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him."
GOD wants His people to be characterized by righteous goodness. Yet, David affirmed that no one does good on their own. "There is none who does good, No, not one" (Psalm 14:3). So, for anyone to do good, the LORD God must do His good work in and through their lives. Those who place their trust in the LORD find the will and the strength to do that which is pleasing in the sight of God. "Trust in the LORD, and do good." To be faithful in doing good, God's people must be nurtured by God's faithfulness. "Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness." Those who place their hope and trust in a faithfulness of GOD become increasingly faithful servants and stewards of GOD.
Of course, the work of GOD in lives is centered in the heart of man. David prayed for an undivided heart of reverential trust in the LORD. "Unite my heart to fear Your name" (Psa 86:11). Everyone who is willing to let the LORD God be the captivating joy of their inner man will have GOD Himself undertakes the planting of His godly desires within their heart. "Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall (will) give you the desires of your heart." These implanted desires are then worked outward unto godly living.
As this godliness is developing, we desire that the LORD's path in our lives would become increasingly evident. We have a growing interest in walking in the ways of the LORD. David had such a desire in his heart toward the LORD. "Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me" (Psalm 25:4-5). The LORD's Spirit teaches those who are willing to entrust their lives into His directing. "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall (will) bring it to pass." Those who place their lives in the sovereign care of GOD enjoy the great privilege of having the LORD God almighty governing their very step that they take day by day."
Heavenly Father, I want to trust You that I might see Your goodness developing in me. I want to have You as the ultimate joy of my heart that You might have free rein to plant Your desires deep within me. I place my trust and life into Your hands that I might have You controlling my daily path, through the ascended LORD God, Christ Jesus my LORD, for this my freewill request I Thank You and say the Amen.
The Seven Figures, used to express Christian Influence and Responsibilities, once having entered into GOD's rest (Genesis 2:1-2) or His Salvation:
Witnesses (testimony) in Isaiah 43: 8-13, "Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears! All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and show us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right, and let them hear and say, It is true. "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me. I, I am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior. I declared and save and proclaim, when there was no strange god among you; and you are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "and I am GOD. Also henceforth I am He; there is none who can deliver from My hand; I work, and who can turn it back?"
Salt (a preservative) in Matthew 5: 13, (Jesus speaking) "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."
Light (illumination or revelation) in Matthew 5: 14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good (love) works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Branches (bearing fruits of GOD's character) in John 15: 1-11, (Jesus is speaking) "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit HE takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit HE prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I love you. Abide in My love. If you keep My commandments (instructions), you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments (instructions) and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy (in peace and rest) may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
Epistles (instructions) in 2Corinthians 3: 1-3, "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living GOD, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."
Ambassadors (personal representatives of GOD within you) in 2Corinthians 5: 20-6:10, "Therefore, we are ambassadors of Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to GOD. For our sake HE made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of GOD. Working together (as in a marriage of agreement) with Him, that, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of GOD in vain. For HE says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants (and stewards) of GOD we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and by the power of GOD; with the weapons of righteousness for the right and for the left hand; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything."
Stewards (distributers of the secret of GOD restored to indwelling man) in 1Peter 4: 1-11, "Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh (of Jesus), arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will (plain and purposes) of GOD. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles (the unsaved, unregenerate of this world) want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living (those redeemed) and the (those who remain) dead (as in separation from GOD). For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in their spirit the way God does. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of GOD; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that GOD supplies—in order that in everything GOD may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. The Amen."
The next three in this section have to do with all things that belong in and through Christ's revelation within us, they deal with the completion of Christ in days, years and last sayings of Christ.
Today's meditation is a strong one, so if you are one with a faintness of heart think twice before reading this.
"King David's Urging Others to Trust in the LORD God"
By Pastor Hoekstra
"Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:3-5)
"Those who live by grace trust GOD to work in their lives. We can see David's heart to live this way, as he urges others to trust in the LORD. "Trust in the LORD . . . feed on His faithfulness . . . Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him."
GOD wants His people to be characterized by righteous goodness. Yet, David affirmed that no one does good on their own. "There is none who does good, No, not one" (Psalm 14:3). So, for anyone to do good, the LORD God must do His good work in and through their lives. Those who place their trust in the LORD find the will and the strength to do that which is pleasing in the sight of God. "Trust in the LORD, and do good." To be faithful in doing good, God's people must be nurtured by God's faithfulness. "Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness." Those who place their hope and trust in a faithfulness of GOD become increasingly faithful servants and stewards of GOD.
Of course, the work of GOD in lives is centered in the heart of man. David prayed for an undivided heart of reverential trust in the LORD. "Unite my heart to fear Your name" (Psa 86:11). Everyone who is willing to let the LORD God be the captivating joy of their inner man will have GOD Himself undertakes the planting of His godly desires within their heart. "Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall (will) give you the desires of your heart." These implanted desires are then worked outward unto godly living.
As this godliness is developing, we desire that the LORD's path in our lives would become increasingly evident. We have a growing interest in walking in the ways of the LORD. David had such a desire in his heart toward the LORD. "Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me" (Psalm 25:4-5). The LORD's Spirit teaches those who are willing to entrust their lives into His directing. "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall (will) bring it to pass." Those who place their lives in the sovereign care of GOD enjoy the great privilege of having the LORD God almighty governing their very step that they take day by day."
Heavenly Father, I want to trust You that I might see Your goodness developing in me. I want to have You as the ultimate joy of my heart that You might have free rein to plant Your desires deep within me. I place my trust and life into Your hands that I might have You controlling my daily path, through the ascended LORD God, Christ Jesus my LORD, for this my freewill request I Thank You and say the Amen.
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Continuing with, The Seven Spirits of GOD
I am still looking into the Seven Spirits of God as mentioned in Revelation 4:5 and spoken of in Isaiah 11:1-5, this number speak of perfection as being GODS number for redeemed man. Who by the Holy Spirit begins to walk in agreement by regeneration and then by entry into the narrow pathway. Enters His, "so great a Salvation," wherein mans perfection begins. Whereas the number eight is for completion, and six is for all things of the world under unredeemed mans influence, such as religion, government, and finance. These areas are subject to the influence of the evil one, who rules through the agent of mans flesh, as the prince of the powers of the air and false prophet or anti-Christ. We are to encourage and thereby strengthen one another to stay the course of faith as victors of our former way of separation life to resist all evils of this worlds influence upon us. Paul speaks of gifts given redeemed men, which also lends itself to our study. Now for the "Seven things Opened," to Redeemed man, redeemed from mans fallen nature of slavery and heavy bondage to an evil task master.
Seven things Opened:
Hands, for benevolence in Deuteronomy 15:7-11, "If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'"
Eyes, for vision in 2Kings 6:15-19, "When the servant of the man (Elisha) of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So He struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria."
Ears, for hearing in Psalm 40:6-8, "In sacrifice and offering You have not delighted, but You have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of Me: I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart." (John 4:34; Hebrews 10:5-7)
Lips, for testimony in Psalm 51:14-17, "Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
Windows, for prayer in Daniel 6:10-13, "When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, "O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." Then they answered and said before the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."
Hearts, for God's message in Acts 16: 10-15, "When Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The LORD opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the LORD, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us."
Doors, for service in 2Corinthians 2:12-13, "When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the LORD, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia."
The LORD willing I will look next into, "Seven Things, indicating perfection and then, Seven Figures, used to express Christian Influence and Responsibilities."
Seven things Opened:
Hands, for benevolence in Deuteronomy 15:7-11, "If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'"
Eyes, for vision in 2Kings 6:15-19, "When the servant of the man (Elisha) of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So He struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria."
Ears, for hearing in Psalm 40:6-8, "In sacrifice and offering You have not delighted, but You have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of Me: I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart." (John 4:34; Hebrews 10:5-7)
Lips, for testimony in Psalm 51:14-17, "Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
Windows, for prayer in Daniel 6:10-13, "When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, "O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." Then they answered and said before the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."
Hearts, for God's message in Acts 16: 10-15, "When Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The LORD opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the LORD, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us."
Doors, for service in 2Corinthians 2:12-13, "When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the LORD, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia."
The LORD willing I will look next into, "Seven Things, indicating perfection and then, Seven Figures, used to express Christian Influence and Responsibilities."
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Continuing with, The Seven Spirits of GOD
In the last post we looked at seven attitudes of spiritual life and the things opened for the spiritual person of receptive humanity, in an abbreviated form. In this post I will look at look at each a little deeper by way of using the complete thought form as is my usual custom of practice, with the use of the ESV translation.
Seven Attitudes of the Spiritual Life:
Lying down, for spiritual rest in Psalm 23:1-3, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Sitting, for instruction in Luke 10:38-42, "Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Standing, for warfare in Ephesians 6:10-17, "Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Walking, for fellowship in 1John 1:5-10, "This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
Running, for progress in Hebrews 12:1-2, "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, 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.
Leaping, for ecstasy in Acts 3:1-10, "Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms from them. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."
Mounting up, for exaltation in Isaiah 40:27-31, "Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
The LORD willing I will look into "Seven Spiritual things Opened," to us next.
Seven Attitudes of the Spiritual Life:
Lying down, for spiritual rest in Psalm 23:1-3, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Sitting, for instruction in Luke 10:38-42, "Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Standing, for warfare in Ephesians 6:10-17, "Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Walking, for fellowship in 1John 1:5-10, "This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
Running, for progress in Hebrews 12:1-2, "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, 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.
Leaping, for ecstasy in Acts 3:1-10, "Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms from them. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."
Mounting up, for exaltation in Isaiah 40:27-31, "Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
The LORD willing I will look into "Seven Spiritual things Opened," to us next.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
The Seven Spirits of GOD
Over the past few weeks I have been seeking the LORD on what to share or look at next. The only thing so far is dealing with the seven spirits of God as seen in Revelation 4:5-7 which states this from the ESV: "From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight."
Upon looking into this phrase I found that the Thomson chain-reference Bible referred to two areas dealing with redeemed man, like seven attitudes of spiritual life and seven things opened to man, others just showed old testament references such as Isaiah 11:1-5 from the ESV, which states this: "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. For His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what His eyes see, or decide disputes by what His ears hear, but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His waist, and faithfulness the belt of His loins."
For this study I will call on the Thomason chain-reference and its rendering on "the seven attitudes of spiritual life" and "the things open" to redeemed man. Then if the LORD expands on these I will look a little farther as He leads, for each deals with those called of GOD as stewards and servants. From which we have this spoken by Paul in Acts 27:21-26 and Romans 1:8-15 using the ESV: "Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.' So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island." and then this; "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome."
And this spoken of as stewards again by Paul in 1Corinthians 4:1-5 and 8-13 which states this: "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the LORD Who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the LORD comes, Who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God......Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things."
From here we find the following dealing with, "seven attitudes of spiritual life:"
Lying down, for spiritual rest in Psalm 23:2.
Sitting, for instruction in Luke 10:39.
Standing, for warfare in Ephesians 6:14.
Walking, for fellowship in 1John 1:7.
Running, for progress in Hebrews 12:1.
Leaping, for ecstasy in Acts 3:8.
Mounting up, for exaltation in Isaiah 40:31.
Then for "the seven things opened:"
Hands, for benevolence in Deuteronomy 15:8.
Eyes, for vision in 2Kings 6:17.
Ears, for hearing in Psalm 40:6.
Lips, for testimony in Psalm 51:15.
Windows, for prayer in Daniel 6:10.
Hearts, for God's message in Acts 16:14.
Doors, for service in 2Corinthians 2:12.
Upon looking into this phrase I found that the Thomson chain-reference Bible referred to two areas dealing with redeemed man, like seven attitudes of spiritual life and seven things opened to man, others just showed old testament references such as Isaiah 11:1-5 from the ESV, which states this: "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. For His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what His eyes see, or decide disputes by what His ears hear, but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His waist, and faithfulness the belt of His loins."
For this study I will call on the Thomason chain-reference and its rendering on "the seven attitudes of spiritual life" and "the things open" to redeemed man. Then if the LORD expands on these I will look a little farther as He leads, for each deals with those called of GOD as stewards and servants. From which we have this spoken by Paul in Acts 27:21-26 and Romans 1:8-15 using the ESV: "Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.' So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island." and then this; "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome."
And this spoken of as stewards again by Paul in 1Corinthians 4:1-5 and 8-13 which states this: "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the LORD Who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the LORD comes, Who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God......Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things."
From here we find the following dealing with, "seven attitudes of spiritual life:"
Lying down, for spiritual rest in Psalm 23:2.
Sitting, for instruction in Luke 10:39.
Standing, for warfare in Ephesians 6:14.
Walking, for fellowship in 1John 1:7.
Running, for progress in Hebrews 12:1.
Leaping, for ecstasy in Acts 3:8.
Mounting up, for exaltation in Isaiah 40:31.
Then for "the seven things opened:"
Hands, for benevolence in Deuteronomy 15:8.
Eyes, for vision in 2Kings 6:17.
Ears, for hearing in Psalm 40:6.
Lips, for testimony in Psalm 51:15.
Windows, for prayer in Daniel 6:10.
Hearts, for God's message in Acts 16:14.
Doors, for service in 2Corinthians 2:12.
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