GOD, in His infinite wisdom may choose to use with each of us a different way to bring us to the same result and outcome our transformation to the identity that is Christ in you and me. In each of us Christ is renewed and restored as He was in the beginning the very essence that man lost in Genesis 3 where mankind became the nature of the evil one which is hostility, even resentment of GOD. When we come to grips with this which for many takes place at redemption when we receive GOD Spirit. It is then the Spirit Who begins to open our spiritual eyes and ears by teaching us as a young child is taught. With each new lesson there comes a life crisis a trail or tribulation in our learning to get GOD's truths or the pattern of Christ's image and likeness deep into our being, again. As shown in Jeremiah 31:33-34 and elsewhere throughout scripture by GOD's prophets who were given Grace in His righteousness. Here the word "law" is used for Christ, for the LORD-Christ is the very personification of law. Pastor Hoekstra uses Josiah as another example of this action of GOD's doing. From there I will look at the restraining of mans appetites as my targeted subject area for today. And as has become my habit of following Christ in me, the LORD of Glory and Righteousness, and making use of the ESV translation I will get into the subject.
"Josiah Humbling Himself before the LORD"
"Then Hilkiah answered and said . . . "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD" . . . Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes . . . [and said] ". . . great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD." (2Chronicles 34:15, 19 and 21)
"When Nebuchadnezzar and Manasseh humbled themselves before the LORD, our great GOD poured out amazing Grace upon these formerly godless and prideful kings. Of course, it is not necessary to first be rebellious [because that is the evil nature within each of us because of one mans action and by that action took on the personification or persona, his very nature and character of the evil one] in order to be humbled and to become a recipient of further Grace from GOD. This truth is illustrated in Josiah's humbling himself before the LORD.
Josiah began to reign in Jerusalem at a very young age. "Josiah was eight years old when he became king" (2Chronicles 34:1). When he was yet in the teen years, he began to pursue the LORD. "For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the GOD of his father David" (2Chronicles 34:3) His quest for GOD led him to serve the LORD faithfully and courageously by destroying the implements of idolatry in the land. "In the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images. They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and the incense altars which were above them he cut down" (2Chronicles 34:3-4).
Later, he ordered the temple to be repaired. "Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the temple, he sent . . . [various leaders] . . . to repair the house of the LORD his God" (2Chronicles 34:8). There, they found copies of GOD's word, which had been neglected for many years. "Then Hilkiah answered and said . . . 'I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD'." Immediately, they took these precious writings to King Josiah. "Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes." Signifying a contriteness of heart.
The LORD had instructed His leaders to rule by the truth of His word. "It shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this Law in a book . . . And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this Law and these statutes" (Deuteronomy 17:18-19). Josiah was humbled with intense grief [the significance of his tearing of his kingly cloths], knowing this had been neglected and that severe judgment was in order. "Great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD." Today we find this to be at the heart of all worldly problems in this Age of the everlasting Blood Covenant of GOD the gospel in Christ. For it is the Power of His Blood that all of mankind has been set free from the bondage of mans former slave master. Who replaced Christ essence with his own by encapsulating Christ seed in man.
Self-denial by Restraint of Appetites,
Proverbs 23:1-3 "When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food."
Proverbs 23:17-21 "Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.
Luke 12:22-32 "Jesus said to His disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet GOD feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if GOD so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will HE clothe [in His righteousness] you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Luke 21:34-36 (Jesus is speaking) "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man [being an overcomer by His Grace and faith in us....ie clothed in His righteousness]."
1Corinthians 9:24-27 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
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