Can two walk as one, has been my theme and looks like it will continue to be so. Today I will be looking at GOD's knowledge of His called out ones, you know those who walk as being One with Him as in the beginning. These people by no means stand out in the crowd in fact they for the most part are not even known by any one. They do all things with the LORD and GOD the Father of spirits blessings in righteousness. They are the true anointed ones who live with transparency and dependency on earth because they do nothing to draw attention to themselves. They pray is the LORD directs and their results are known by all because they with the LORD intercede for mankind against the works of darkness and its accompanying evils. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace and Moses the man of GOD. Then making use of the ESV translation and with the LORD's help and directions I will look at GOD's knowledge of His Saints.
"Moses' Parents Acting Courageously, by Faith"
"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command." (Hebrews 11:23)
"Our present study reveals another strategic illustration of the extensive consequences of walking by faith. Fear is one of the major threats to living as GOD intends. Faith in GOD brings the courage that is needed to overcome fear. Moses' parents are outstanding examples of acting courageously, by faith.
Moses' parents ("Amram . . . Jochebed" — Exodus 6:20) faced a dreadful dilemma. Jochebed had just given birth to Moses. Pharoah, who was fearful of the rapidly growing slave population, had previously ordered the death of all male Jewish newborns. "The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives . . . and he said, 'When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live' " (Exodus 1:15-16). However, the midwives had faith in the LORD and spared the male babies at birth. "The midwives feared GOD, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive" (Exodus 1:17). Proving that the Spirit of GOD was both among them and in them as an active being.
Moses' parents had a similar, courageous faith in GOD. "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents . . . and they were not afraid of the king's command." Nevertheless, their baby was still in danger, since Pharoah had also commanded all the Egyptians to destroy any male babies that they might discover. "Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, 'Every son who is born you shall cast into the river' " (Exodus 1:22). When they could no longer effectively hide Moses, Jochebed put him in a simple ark in a place where he might be rescued. "When she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank" (Exodus 2:3). GOD honored the faith of these courageous parents, allowing the Pharoah's daughter to discover Moses' floating basket and to respond with mercy. "And when she had opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him" (Exodus 2:6).
Moses' parents courageously risked their lives in order to do that which would be pleasing to GOD. Their action was based upon their faith in GOD. Whenever necessary, we too can act courageously, if we rely upon our great GOD. "In GOD I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 56:11).
GOD's Knowledge of the Saint's, saint's are known,
In Times of Trouble,
Nahum 1:2-8 "The LORD is a jealous and avenging GOD; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries and keeps wrath for His enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; He dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon withers. The mountains quake before Him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before Him, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him. The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue His enemies into darkness."
At every day Tasks,
John 1:43-51 "The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of GOD! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of GOD ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Their Individual Names,
John 10:1-10 (Jesus is speaking) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear His voice, and He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
Intimate Acquaintanceship,
John 10:11-18 (Jesus is speaking) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep (this restricts to a few those who are called out from among them, these He owns, they walk as One). He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father."
True Love Recognized,
1Corithians 8:1-3 and Galatians 4:8-11 "Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves GOD, he is known by GOD."
Galatians 4:8-11 "Formerly, when you did not know GOD, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know GOD, or rather to be known by GOD, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain."
The Sure Foundation of Christian Hope,
2Timothy 2:14-19 "Remind them of these things, and charge them before GOD not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to GOD as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk [false words] will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. For GOD's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The LORD knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."
Monday, October 31, 2016
Our Divine Spiritual Richness
Can two walk as one, has been my theme and looks like it will continue to be so. Today I will be looking at GOD's knowledge on His called out ones, you know those who walk as being One with Him as in the beginning. These people by no means stand out in the crowd in fact they for the most part are not even known to any one. They do all things with the LORD and GOD the Father of spirits blessings in righteousness. They are the true anointed ones who live with transparence on earth because they do nothing to draw attention to themselves. They pray is the LORD directs and their results are known by all because they with the LORD intercede for mankind against the works of darkness and its accompanying evils. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace and Moses the man of GOD of renown. Then making use of the ESV translation and with the LORD's help and directions I will look at GOD's knowledge of His Saints.
"Moses' Parents Acting Courageously, by Faith"
"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command." (Hebrews 11:23)
"Our present study reveals another strategic illustration of the extensive consequences of walking by faith. Fear is one of the major threats to living as GOD intends. Faith in GOD brings the courage that is needed to overcome fear. Moses' parents are outstanding examples of acting courageously, by faith.
Moses' parents ("Amram . . . Jochebed" — Exodus 6:20) faced a dreadful dilemma. Jochebed had just given birth to Moses. Pharoah, who was fearful of the rapidly growing slave population, had previously ordered the death of all male Jewish newborns. "The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives . . . and he said, 'When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live' " (Exodus 1:15-16). However, the midwives had faith in the LORD and spared the male babies at birth. "The midwives feared GOD, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive" (Exodus 1:17). Proving that the Spirit of GOD was both among them and in them as an active being.
Moses' parents had a similar, courageous faith in GOD. "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents . . . and they were not afraid of the king's command." Nevertheless, their baby was still in danger, since Pharoah had also commanded all the Egyptians to destroy any male babies that they might discover. "Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, 'Every son who is born you shall cast into the river' " (Exodus 1:22). When they could no longer effectively hide Moses, Jochebed put him in a simple ark in a place where he might be rescued. "When she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank" (Exodus 2:3). GOD honored the faith of these courageous parents, allowing the Pharoah's daughter to discover Moses' floating basket and to respond with mercy. "And when she had opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him" (Exodus 2:6).
Moses' parents courageously risked their lives in order to do that which would be pleasing to GOD. Their action was based upon their faith in GOD. Whenever necessary, we too can act courageously, if we rely upon our great GOD. "In GOD I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 56:11).
GOD's Knowledge of the Saint's, saint's are known,
In Times of Trouble,
Nahum 1:2-8 "The LORD is a jealous and avenging GOD; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries and keeps wrath for His enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; He dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon withers. The mountains quake before Him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before Him, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him. The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue His enemies into darkness."
At every day Tasks,
John 1:43-51 "The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of GOD! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of GOD ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Their Individual Names,
John 10:1-10 (Jesus is speaking) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear His voice, and He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
Intimate Acquaintanceship,
John 10:11-18 (Jesus is speaking) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep (this restricts to a few those who are called out from among them, these He owns, they walk as One). He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father."
True Love Recognized,
1Corithians 8:1-3 and Galatians 4:8-11 "Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves GOD, he is known by GOD."
Galatians 4:8-11 "Formerly, when you did not know GOD, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know GOD, or rather to be known by GOD, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain."
The Sure Foundation of Christian Hope,
2Timothy 2:14-19 "Remind them of these things, and charge them before GOD not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to GOD as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk [false words] will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. For GOD's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The LORD knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."
"Moses' Parents Acting Courageously, by Faith"
"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command." (Hebrews 11:23)
"Our present study reveals another strategic illustration of the extensive consequences of walking by faith. Fear is one of the major threats to living as GOD intends. Faith in GOD brings the courage that is needed to overcome fear. Moses' parents are outstanding examples of acting courageously, by faith.
Moses' parents ("Amram . . . Jochebed" — Exodus 6:20) faced a dreadful dilemma. Jochebed had just given birth to Moses. Pharoah, who was fearful of the rapidly growing slave population, had previously ordered the death of all male Jewish newborns. "The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives . . . and he said, 'When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live' " (Exodus 1:15-16). However, the midwives had faith in the LORD and spared the male babies at birth. "The midwives feared GOD, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive" (Exodus 1:17). Proving that the Spirit of GOD was both among them and in them as an active being.
Moses' parents had a similar, courageous faith in GOD. "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents . . . and they were not afraid of the king's command." Nevertheless, their baby was still in danger, since Pharoah had also commanded all the Egyptians to destroy any male babies that they might discover. "Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, 'Every son who is born you shall cast into the river' " (Exodus 1:22). When they could no longer effectively hide Moses, Jochebed put him in a simple ark in a place where he might be rescued. "When she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank" (Exodus 2:3). GOD honored the faith of these courageous parents, allowing the Pharoah's daughter to discover Moses' floating basket and to respond with mercy. "And when she had opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him" (Exodus 2:6).
Moses' parents courageously risked their lives in order to do that which would be pleasing to GOD. Their action was based upon their faith in GOD. Whenever necessary, we too can act courageously, if we rely upon our great GOD. "In GOD I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 56:11).
GOD's Knowledge of the Saint's, saint's are known,
In Times of Trouble,
Nahum 1:2-8 "The LORD is a jealous and avenging GOD; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries and keeps wrath for His enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; He dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon withers. The mountains quake before Him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before Him, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him. The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue His enemies into darkness."
At every day Tasks,
John 1:43-51 "The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of GOD! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of GOD ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Their Individual Names,
John 10:1-10 (Jesus is speaking) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear His voice, and He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
Intimate Acquaintanceship,
John 10:11-18 (Jesus is speaking) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep (this restricts to a few those who are called out from among them, these He owns, they walk as One). He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father."
True Love Recognized,
1Corithians 8:1-3 and Galatians 4:8-11 "Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves GOD, he is known by GOD."
Galatians 4:8-11 "Formerly, when you did not know GOD, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know GOD, or rather to be known by GOD, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain."
The Sure Foundation of Christian Hope,
2Timothy 2:14-19 "Remind them of these things, and charge them before GOD not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to GOD as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk [false words] will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. For GOD's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The LORD knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Our Divine Spiritual Richness
What is man that You, O GOD are mindful of him? Is the phrase that was in my mind while turning on my lap top this morning. For what purpose I have at this moment no idea, as I am still tuned into, can two walk together without they being in agreement and in the beginning, GOD. This morning I have targeted the ways of man are know to GOD, as there is nothing about us that comes as a surprise to Him regarding our ways be they for evil or for good. HE knows of them before we do, so with each we are to measure or weigh their out come before we take any actions required on our part. For we along carry the burden for the out come and in all we are not alone as we think and reason. Matters not if I am a criminal or a murderer by words or in deeds or even a good person, in my own opinion of myself. My conscience being burned with a hot iron, or soft and in agreement with the LORD and His ways. Then we are counted among the righteous. The Master is still the Master as we play the chest game known as life, HE never ever leaves us, we just are not aware of His presents within. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace and faith as seen in the person of Joseph. And then with the use of the ESV translation I will look at all of mans ways known to GOD.
"Joseph Also Viewing the Future, by Faith"
"By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones." (Hebrews 11:22)
"When Isaac and Jacob pronounced blessings upon their posterity, they exemplified viewing the future, by faith. When Joseph requested that his bones some day be buried in the land of promise, he was also viewing the future, by faith.
Joseph's journey to leadership in Egypt was marked with alternating battles and blessings. His brothers had betrayed him and sold him into slavery. "Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers . . . sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt" (Genesis 37:28). Soon, Joseph found blessing under the care of Potiphar, an Egyptian captain who purchased him. "And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put in his hand" (Genesis 39:3-4).
Yet, another battle arose. Joseph was imprisoned by the lies of Potiphar's wife, who resented Joseph's refusal of her sensual advances. " 'He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice' . . . Then Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison" (Genesis 39:14, 20). More blessing came as the LORD in Joseph granted Joseph favor with the prison keeper. "And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners . . . because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper" (Genesis 39:22-23). Another battle ensued, as one of Pharoah's servants forgot Joseph's kindness to him in prison. "The chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream" (Genesis 40:23-41:1). Two years later, Joseph's interpretation of Pharoah's dream, this would bring Joseph to his position of authority in Egypt. "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you" (Genesis 41:40).
Faith in the LORD certainly sustained Joseph and brought him to GOD's desired place of service and opportunity. Yet, our present verse reveals that Joseph's basic interest was not his own blessing and advancement. Revealing the presence of the LORD, the Spirit within him. Joseph had a heart for the plans and purposes of GOD. As he viewed the future, he was convinced that the LORD would some day bring His people back to the land of promise. His request to have his bones buried in the land of promise was an expression of his faith in the promises of GOD. "GOD will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here" (Genesis 50:25).
All the Ways of Man are Known to GOD,
Job 34:21-30 "For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves. For GOD has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before GOD in judgment. HE shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place. Thus, knowing their works, HE overturns them in the night, and they are crushed. HE strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see, because they turned aside from following Him and had no regard for any of His ways, so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and HE heard the cry of the afflicted— When HE is quiet, who can condemn? When HE hides His face, who can behold Him, whether it be a nation or a man?— that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people."
Psalm 1:1-3, 4-6 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
Sin and Shin.
Psalm 119:161-168 "Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words. I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous rules. Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble. I hope for Your salvation, O LORD, and I do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before You."
Psalm 139:1-6 "O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it."
Psalm 142:1-4, 5-7 "With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD. I pour out my complaint before Him; I tell my trouble before Him. When my spirit faints within me, You know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul.
I cry to You, O LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to Your name! The righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me."
Proverbs 5:15-23 "I drink water from Your own cistern, flowing water from Your own well. Should Your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for Yourself alone, and not for strangers with You. Let Your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and HE ponders all his paths. The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray."
Jeremiah 16:16-18 "Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the LORD, and they shall catch them. And afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks. For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from Me, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes. But first I will doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted My land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and have filled My inheritance with their abominations."
Jeremiah 32:16-25 "After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I (Jeremiah) prayed to the LORD, saying: 'Ah, LORD GOD! It is You Who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You. You show steadfast love to thousands, but You repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty GOD, whose name is the LORD of hosts, great in counsel and mighty in deed, Whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for Yourself, as at this day. You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror. And You gave them this land, which You swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. And they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law. They did nothing of all You commanded them to do. Therefore You have made all this disaster come upon them. Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What You spoke has come to pass, and behold, You see it. Yet You, O LORD GOD, have said to me, "Buy the field for money and get witnesses"—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.'"
"Joseph Also Viewing the Future, by Faith"
"By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones." (Hebrews 11:22)
"When Isaac and Jacob pronounced blessings upon their posterity, they exemplified viewing the future, by faith. When Joseph requested that his bones some day be buried in the land of promise, he was also viewing the future, by faith.
Joseph's journey to leadership in Egypt was marked with alternating battles and blessings. His brothers had betrayed him and sold him into slavery. "Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers . . . sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt" (Genesis 37:28). Soon, Joseph found blessing under the care of Potiphar, an Egyptian captain who purchased him. "And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put in his hand" (Genesis 39:3-4).
Yet, another battle arose. Joseph was imprisoned by the lies of Potiphar's wife, who resented Joseph's refusal of her sensual advances. " 'He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice' . . . Then Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison" (Genesis 39:14, 20). More blessing came as the LORD in Joseph granted Joseph favor with the prison keeper. "And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners . . . because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper" (Genesis 39:22-23). Another battle ensued, as one of Pharoah's servants forgot Joseph's kindness to him in prison. "The chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream" (Genesis 40:23-41:1). Two years later, Joseph's interpretation of Pharoah's dream, this would bring Joseph to his position of authority in Egypt. "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you" (Genesis 41:40).
Faith in the LORD certainly sustained Joseph and brought him to GOD's desired place of service and opportunity. Yet, our present verse reveals that Joseph's basic interest was not his own blessing and advancement. Revealing the presence of the LORD, the Spirit within him. Joseph had a heart for the plans and purposes of GOD. As he viewed the future, he was convinced that the LORD would some day bring His people back to the land of promise. His request to have his bones buried in the land of promise was an expression of his faith in the promises of GOD. "GOD will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here" (Genesis 50:25).
All the Ways of Man are Known to GOD,
Job 34:21-30 "For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves. For GOD has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before GOD in judgment. HE shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place. Thus, knowing their works, HE overturns them in the night, and they are crushed. HE strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see, because they turned aside from following Him and had no regard for any of His ways, so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and HE heard the cry of the afflicted— When HE is quiet, who can condemn? When HE hides His face, who can behold Him, whether it be a nation or a man?— that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people."
Psalm 1:1-3, 4-6 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
Sin and Shin.
Psalm 119:161-168 "Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words. I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous rules. Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble. I hope for Your salvation, O LORD, and I do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before You."
Psalm 139:1-6 "O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it."
Psalm 142:1-4, 5-7 "With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD. I pour out my complaint before Him; I tell my trouble before Him. When my spirit faints within me, You know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul.
I cry to You, O LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to Your name! The righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me."
Proverbs 5:15-23 "I drink water from Your own cistern, flowing water from Your own well. Should Your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for Yourself alone, and not for strangers with You. Let Your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and HE ponders all his paths. The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray."
Jeremiah 16:16-18 "Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the LORD, and they shall catch them. And afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks. For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from Me, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes. But first I will doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted My land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and have filled My inheritance with their abominations."
Jeremiah 32:16-25 "After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I (Jeremiah) prayed to the LORD, saying: 'Ah, LORD GOD! It is You Who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You. You show steadfast love to thousands, but You repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty GOD, whose name is the LORD of hosts, great in counsel and mighty in deed, Whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for Yourself, as at this day. You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror. And You gave them this land, which You swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. And they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law. They did nothing of all You commanded them to do. Therefore You have made all this disaster come upon them. Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What You spoke has come to pass, and behold, You see it. Yet You, O LORD GOD, have said to me, "Buy the field for money and get witnesses"—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.'"
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Our Divine Spiritual Richness
Over the past few days and maybe weeks I have been looking into knowledge and its many and varied forms and aspects as they relate to man or the sons of Adam. Todays post is no different but with a slight twist which may surprise some as it looks at Christ's ability to know what is in mans heart or what is at the center and core of mans being could be another way of putting it. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace and faith as our resource for this walk of life, this time looking at Isaac and Jacob. Then I will venture into the knowledge of mans secrets of the heart making use of the ESV translation. For my load and burden is not heavy nor is my task burdensome as we learn of Him with Whom I have to do.
"Isaac and Jacob Viewing the Future, by Faith"
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph." (Hebrews 11:20-21)
"Since we have previously considered Abraham's offering of Isaac (again, in the section on GOD's promises), let's move on to consider Isaac and Jacob. Being men of grace and faith. While pronouncing prophetic blessings upon their descendants, these two men became examples of viewing the future, by faith.
The first example given is, Isaac, actually occurred in the midst of a deceitful plot by one of his own sons. Isaac wanted to pass on a blessing to his oldest son, Esau. "Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him . . . 'Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die' " (Genesis 27:1, 4). Jacob (the supplanter or "schemer") disguised himself and lied to his father, attempting to steal the blessing. "And Jacob said to his father, 'I am Esau your firstborn . . . sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me' . . . And he did not recognize him . . . so he blessed him" (Genesis 27:19, 23). Although Esau later was given a blessing as well, the blessing for Jacob passed on the headship of the family to this younger son. "Be master over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down to you" (Genesis 27:29). When informed of the deceit, Isaac let the blessing stand. The LORD indicating this was an act of faith in the purposes and plan of GOD.
The second example given, Jacob, also occurred in an unusual setting. Joseph was bringing his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to his father for a family blessing. "Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them" (Genesis 48:10). Joseph brought Ephraim (the younger) toward Jacob's left hand and Manasseh (the firstborn) toward his right hand. However, Jacob crossed his hands, thereby switching the primary blessing. "And Joseph said to his father, 'Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.' But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he' " (Genesis 48:18-19).
These actions may not seem significant to us. Yet, the LORD orchestrated His plan and purposes this fashion and then lists them as notable steps of faith in Him. These blessings reflected and instituted aspects of GOD's sovereign plans, in spite of inappropriate scheming and established traditions of Adams sons."
The Secrets of the Heart, read by Christ,
Proverbs 15:5-14 "A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to Him. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but He loves him who pursues righteousness. There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man! A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly."
Jeremiah 20:7-13 "O LORD, You have deceived me, and I was deceived; You are stronger than I, and You have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, "Violence and destruction!" For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, "I will not mention Him, or speak any more in His name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! "Denounce him! Let us denounce him!" say all my close friends, watching for my fall. "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we can overcome him and take our revenge on him." But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. O LORD of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You have I committed my cause. Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For He has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers."
Matthew 12:23-24, 25-30 "All the people were amazed, and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons."
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of GOD that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of GOD has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters."
Matthew 22:15-22 "Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle Him in His words. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put Me to the test, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin for the tax." And they brought Him a denarius. To this Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to GOD the things that are GOD's." When they heard it, they marveled. And they left Him and went away."
Mark 2:1-12 "When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And He was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but GOD alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—He said to the paralytic— "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified GOD, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
Luke 6:6-11 "On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched Him, to see whether He would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse Him. But He knew their thoughts, and He said to the man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" And after looking around at them all He said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus."
Luke 11:14-23 and 16:14-15 "Jesus was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons," while others, to test Him, kept seeking from Him a sign from heaven. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of GOD that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of GOD has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters."
Luke 16:14-15 "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed Him. And Jesus said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but GOD knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of GOD."
John 2:23-25 and Acts 15:6-11 "Now when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs that He was doing. But Jesus on His part did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for He Himself knew what was in man."
Acts 15:6-11 "The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days GOD made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And GOD, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as HE did to us, and HE made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting GOD to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
"Isaac and Jacob Viewing the Future, by Faith"
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph." (Hebrews 11:20-21)
"Since we have previously considered Abraham's offering of Isaac (again, in the section on GOD's promises), let's move on to consider Isaac and Jacob. Being men of grace and faith. While pronouncing prophetic blessings upon their descendants, these two men became examples of viewing the future, by faith.
The first example given is, Isaac, actually occurred in the midst of a deceitful plot by one of his own sons. Isaac wanted to pass on a blessing to his oldest son, Esau. "Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him . . . 'Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die' " (Genesis 27:1, 4). Jacob (the supplanter or "schemer") disguised himself and lied to his father, attempting to steal the blessing. "And Jacob said to his father, 'I am Esau your firstborn . . . sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me' . . . And he did not recognize him . . . so he blessed him" (Genesis 27:19, 23). Although Esau later was given a blessing as well, the blessing for Jacob passed on the headship of the family to this younger son. "Be master over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down to you" (Genesis 27:29). When informed of the deceit, Isaac let the blessing stand. The LORD indicating this was an act of faith in the purposes and plan of GOD.
The second example given, Jacob, also occurred in an unusual setting. Joseph was bringing his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to his father for a family blessing. "Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them" (Genesis 48:10). Joseph brought Ephraim (the younger) toward Jacob's left hand and Manasseh (the firstborn) toward his right hand. However, Jacob crossed his hands, thereby switching the primary blessing. "And Joseph said to his father, 'Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.' But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he' " (Genesis 48:18-19).
These actions may not seem significant to us. Yet, the LORD orchestrated His plan and purposes this fashion and then lists them as notable steps of faith in Him. These blessings reflected and instituted aspects of GOD's sovereign plans, in spite of inappropriate scheming and established traditions of Adams sons."
The Secrets of the Heart, read by Christ,
Proverbs 15:5-14 "A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to Him. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but He loves him who pursues righteousness. There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man! A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly."
Jeremiah 20:7-13 "O LORD, You have deceived me, and I was deceived; You are stronger than I, and You have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, "Violence and destruction!" For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, "I will not mention Him, or speak any more in His name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! "Denounce him! Let us denounce him!" say all my close friends, watching for my fall. "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we can overcome him and take our revenge on him." But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. O LORD of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You have I committed my cause. Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For He has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers."
Matthew 12:23-24, 25-30 "All the people were amazed, and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons."
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of GOD that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of GOD has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters."
Matthew 22:15-22 "Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle Him in His words. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put Me to the test, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin for the tax." And they brought Him a denarius. To this Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to GOD the things that are GOD's." When they heard it, they marveled. And they left Him and went away."
Mark 2:1-12 "When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And He was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but GOD alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—He said to the paralytic— "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified GOD, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
Luke 6:6-11 "On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched Him, to see whether He would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse Him. But He knew their thoughts, and He said to the man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" And after looking around at them all He said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus."
Luke 11:14-23 and 16:14-15 "Jesus was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons," while others, to test Him, kept seeking from Him a sign from heaven. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of GOD that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of GOD has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters."
Luke 16:14-15 "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed Him. And Jesus said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but GOD knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of GOD."
John 2:23-25 and Acts 15:6-11 "Now when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs that He was doing. But Jesus on His part did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for He Himself knew what was in man."
Acts 15:6-11 "The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days GOD made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And GOD, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as HE did to us, and HE made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting GOD to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
Friday, October 28, 2016
Our Divine Spiritual Richness
In my post yesterday I opened by talking a bit about the voice heard but no one visible is to be seen or known by observation with our eyes. Then I stated that this voice may even come from deep within our soul and consciousness. Then some time ago I shared about the little ball of light that came from the center of my being grow some what in size and then return to been seen again some 20 or so years later. With each of these all I have to say is welcome to my spiritual world as sojourner on this earth that many call home. It has been said that your home is where your heart is, for me and my wife ours is looking heaven ward, even our rented house is uneasy and not in a state of being settled. And though we have peace and rest in GOD there are still seasons of uncomforting and direst caused by our humanness. Okay enough of that, now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace as experienced by Abraham and his families sojourning. Then I will look at man's heart being searched and known by the LORD making use of the ESV translation, both being part of my e-Sword program. I must warn you that in this search of our study topic, there are portions of heavy warnings against those who are of another belief and persuasion.
"More on Abraham's Patient, Heavenly Pilgrimage, by Faith"
"And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:15-16)
"Abraham (and his family) lived as "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13). He lived as an obedient sojourner here on earth, trusting GOD to lead them about as one who was in the world, but not of the world. He also lived as a patient, heavenly pilgrim, trusting GOD to lead him eventually to the eternal homeland that awaits all who have saving faith in the LORD. We have a similar calling from the LORD. "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1Peter 2:11).
Abraham understood that spiritual sojourners and heaven-bound pilgrims must stay away from earth-bound cravings that undermine one's godly quest. "And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return." Abraham and his seed had many tests and trials in their pilgrimage with the LORD. If they had set their attention on the country they forsook, they would have been tempted to return there. The enemy of our souls wants to wage war against us by ensnaring us again in the world that we have forsaken: "in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2). Everyone is vulnerable to such attack. Even one of Paul's early associates in ministry fell prey to this enticement. "Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2Timothy 4:10). Thus, the LORD warns us to stay away from any indulgent relationship with the world. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1John 2:15).
Instead, we are to desire the priorities of Abraham and his family. "But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country." Even though the land of promise was in their inheritance that will come about, they hungered for the ultimate realities of heaven above. Such heaven-focused faith is pleasing to our heavenly Father. "Therefore GOD is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." In this heavenly city ("the city of the living GOD — Hebrews 12:22), we will dwell forever with our glorious LORD!" This where we have our answer to, can two walk together except they be in agreement? Wherein we have taken on the character of Abraham as part of the nations of promise. (Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 22:18, 26:4, 28:14, 30: )
Man's Hearts Searched by the LORD,
1Chronicles 28:9 and Psalm 44: "And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.
Psalm 44:20-26 "If we had forgotten the name of our GOD or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not GOD discover this? For HE knows the secrets of the heart. Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. Awake! Why are you sleeping, O LORD? Rouse Yourself! Do not reject us forever! Why do You hide Your face? Why do You forget our affliction and oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground. Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of Your steadfast love!"
Jeremiah 17:9-11 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch, so is he who gets riches but not by justice; in the midst of his days they will leave him, and at his end he will be a fool."
Amos 9:1-4 "I saw the LORD standing beside the altar, and He said: "Strike the capitals until the thresholds shake, and shatter them on the heads of all the people; and those who are left of them I will kill with the sword; not one of them shall flee away; not one of them shall escape. "If they dig into Sheol, from there shall My hand take them; if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down. If they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will search them out and take them; and if they hide from My sight at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them. And if they go into captivity before their enemies, there I will command the sword, and it shall kill them; and I will fix My eyes upon them for evil and not for good."
Zephaniah 1:7-13 "Be silent before the LORD GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated His guests. And on the day of the LORD's sacrifice— "I will punish the officials and the king's sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire. On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master's house with violence and fraud. "On that day," declares the LORD, "a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills. Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! For all the traders are no more; all who weigh out silver are cut off. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good, nor will HE do ill.' Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them."
Romans 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning's too deep for words. And HE Who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the Will of GOD."
"More on Abraham's Patient, Heavenly Pilgrimage, by Faith"
"And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:15-16)
"Abraham (and his family) lived as "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13). He lived as an obedient sojourner here on earth, trusting GOD to lead them about as one who was in the world, but not of the world. He also lived as a patient, heavenly pilgrim, trusting GOD to lead him eventually to the eternal homeland that awaits all who have saving faith in the LORD. We have a similar calling from the LORD. "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1Peter 2:11).
Abraham understood that spiritual sojourners and heaven-bound pilgrims must stay away from earth-bound cravings that undermine one's godly quest. "And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return." Abraham and his seed had many tests and trials in their pilgrimage with the LORD. If they had set their attention on the country they forsook, they would have been tempted to return there. The enemy of our souls wants to wage war against us by ensnaring us again in the world that we have forsaken: "in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2). Everyone is vulnerable to such attack. Even one of Paul's early associates in ministry fell prey to this enticement. "Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2Timothy 4:10). Thus, the LORD warns us to stay away from any indulgent relationship with the world. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1John 2:15).
Instead, we are to desire the priorities of Abraham and his family. "But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country." Even though the land of promise was in their inheritance that will come about, they hungered for the ultimate realities of heaven above. Such heaven-focused faith is pleasing to our heavenly Father. "Therefore GOD is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." In this heavenly city ("the city of the living GOD — Hebrews 12:22), we will dwell forever with our glorious LORD!" This where we have our answer to, can two walk together except they be in agreement? Wherein we have taken on the character of Abraham as part of the nations of promise. (Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 22:18, 26:4, 28:14, 30: )
Man's Hearts Searched by the LORD,
1Chronicles 28:9 and Psalm 44: "And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.
Psalm 44:20-26 "If we had forgotten the name of our GOD or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not GOD discover this? For HE knows the secrets of the heart. Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. Awake! Why are you sleeping, O LORD? Rouse Yourself! Do not reject us forever! Why do You hide Your face? Why do You forget our affliction and oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground. Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of Your steadfast love!"
Jeremiah 17:9-11 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch, so is he who gets riches but not by justice; in the midst of his days they will leave him, and at his end he will be a fool."
Amos 9:1-4 "I saw the LORD standing beside the altar, and He said: "Strike the capitals until the thresholds shake, and shatter them on the heads of all the people; and those who are left of them I will kill with the sword; not one of them shall flee away; not one of them shall escape. "If they dig into Sheol, from there shall My hand take them; if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down. If they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will search them out and take them; and if they hide from My sight at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them. And if they go into captivity before their enemies, there I will command the sword, and it shall kill them; and I will fix My eyes upon them for evil and not for good."
Zephaniah 1:7-13 "Be silent before the LORD GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated His guests. And on the day of the LORD's sacrifice— "I will punish the officials and the king's sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire. On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master's house with violence and fraud. "On that day," declares the LORD, "a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills. Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! For all the traders are no more; all who weigh out silver are cut off. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good, nor will HE do ill.' Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them."
Romans 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning's too deep for words. And HE Who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the Will of GOD."
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Our Divine Spiritual Richness
In my writings and wonderings about the country side as a sojourner in a strange land, I have often wondered how many others have heard a voice that speaks out of no where and with no person seen or known to be near by. How many have actually heard a voice speaking to them as if it were from no where but from the very core of their being, seems to be what questions me. Todays post will look at GOD's knowledge in a general way. But first for Pastor Hoekstra's pen and teaching on Grace while looking at Abraham to whom and through whom GOD promised His restoration to the nations, this being the same promise made to Adam in Genesis 3:15. But in Genesis 12:3 and elsewhere takes on even more meaning as it seems to be solely directed to a people, when in fact it is for all mankind. When that mankind has acquired a faith like that of Abraham's. This being available through GOD's knowledge and His Son when He is heard as a voice coming from no where, even our conscience. Getting back to that voice that seems to come from no where, Samuel as a young lad heard such a voice. And it was for that reason it is recorded for our own learning should this happen to us as well. Now I will be again using the ESV translation for our study.
"Abraham's Patient, Heavenly Pilgrimage, by Faith"
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland." (Hebrews 11:13-14)
"We looked at Sarah's testimony here in Hebrews previously (in the meditations on God's promises). Consequently, we will press on to consider a strategic extension of Abraham's testimony concerning his obedient, earthly sojourn, by faith. Therein, we saw him traveling through life on earth as an alien, a stranger (in the world, but not of it). Now, we will see Abraham's patient, heavenly pilgrimage, by faith. His previous testimony (witness) concluded with this pilgrimage theme: "For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is GOD" (Hebrews 11:10). Early in the present continuing testimony, the two themes are coupled. "They were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." A stranger (sojourner) is one who does not belong to the given locale. The pilgrim is one who is marching toward a given spiritual destination. Marching to the beat of a different drummer if you will.
Abraham and his family (Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob) were promised the land flowing with milk and honey. "These all died in faith, not having received the promises." They did not personally experience the possessing of the promised land. Yet, they lived with a sense of guaranty that GOD would fulfill His promises: "but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them." They fully accepted the certainty that the LORD would some day give that land to their seed. Meanwhile, they confessed that they were content to live as strangers concerning this world and as pilgrims anticipating the world to come: "and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
Now, the pilgrimage aspect of Abraham's testimony (and his family's) is emphasized. "For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland." As the years passed and the promised land was not given to them, their hearts yearned for a true, lasting, eternal homeland. "For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland." GOD wants to develop this perspective of heavenly pilgrimage in our hearts as well. "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1Peter 2:11). The LORD wants us to set our daily course toward heaven, rejecting earthly cravings that diminish and weaken our spiritual vitality."
GOD's Knowledge,
1Samuel 2:1-10 and Psalm 69:5-12, 139:1-6 "Now Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. "There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides You; there is no rock like our GOD. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a GOD of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorned. The LORD kills and brings to life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and on them He has set the world. "He will guard the feet of His faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by [mans] might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them He will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed."
Psalm 69:5-12 "'O GOD, You know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from You. Let not those who hope in You be put to shame through me, O LORD GOD of hosts; let not those who seek You be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. For it is for Your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. For zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me."
Psalm 139:1-6 "O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it."
Isaiah 40:27 "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."
Daniel 2:17-23 "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."
Matthew 6:7-8 (Jesus is speaking) "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."
1Corinthians 3:18-23 and 1John 3:13-22 "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with GOD. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," (Job 5:13) and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." (Psalm 94:11) So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is GOD's."
1John 3:11-12, 13-22 "For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.
Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has Eternal Life abiding in him. By this we know love, that He laid down His (earthy) life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does GOD's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the Truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, GOD is greater than our heart, and HE knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before GOD; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him."
"Abraham's Patient, Heavenly Pilgrimage, by Faith"
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland." (Hebrews 11:13-14)
"We looked at Sarah's testimony here in Hebrews previously (in the meditations on God's promises). Consequently, we will press on to consider a strategic extension of Abraham's testimony concerning his obedient, earthly sojourn, by faith. Therein, we saw him traveling through life on earth as an alien, a stranger (in the world, but not of it). Now, we will see Abraham's patient, heavenly pilgrimage, by faith. His previous testimony (witness) concluded with this pilgrimage theme: "For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is GOD" (Hebrews 11:10). Early in the present continuing testimony, the two themes are coupled. "They were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." A stranger (sojourner) is one who does not belong to the given locale. The pilgrim is one who is marching toward a given spiritual destination. Marching to the beat of a different drummer if you will.
Abraham and his family (Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob) were promised the land flowing with milk and honey. "These all died in faith, not having received the promises." They did not personally experience the possessing of the promised land. Yet, they lived with a sense of guaranty that GOD would fulfill His promises: "but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them." They fully accepted the certainty that the LORD would some day give that land to their seed. Meanwhile, they confessed that they were content to live as strangers concerning this world and as pilgrims anticipating the world to come: "and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
Now, the pilgrimage aspect of Abraham's testimony (and his family's) is emphasized. "For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland." As the years passed and the promised land was not given to them, their hearts yearned for a true, lasting, eternal homeland. "For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland." GOD wants to develop this perspective of heavenly pilgrimage in our hearts as well. "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1Peter 2:11). The LORD wants us to set our daily course toward heaven, rejecting earthly cravings that diminish and weaken our spiritual vitality."
GOD's Knowledge,
1Samuel 2:1-10 and Psalm 69:5-12, 139:1-6 "Now Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. "There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides You; there is no rock like our GOD. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a GOD of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorned. The LORD kills and brings to life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and on them He has set the world. "He will guard the feet of His faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by [mans] might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them He will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed."
Psalm 69:5-12 "'O GOD, You know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from You. Let not those who hope in You be put to shame through me, O LORD GOD of hosts; let not those who seek You be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. For it is for Your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. For zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me."
Psalm 139:1-6 "O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it."
Isaiah 40:27 "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."
Daniel 2:17-23 "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."
Matthew 6:7-8 (Jesus is speaking) "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."
1Corinthians 3:18-23 and 1John 3:13-22 "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with GOD. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," (Job 5:13) and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." (Psalm 94:11) So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is GOD's."
1John 3:11-12, 13-22 "For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.
Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has Eternal Life abiding in him. By this we know love, that He laid down His (earthy) life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does GOD's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the Truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, GOD is greater than our heart, and HE knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before GOD; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him."
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Our Divine Spiritual Richness
Can two be in agreement as one when they walk together. In my quest for the ultimate answer we have looked into many areas with that theme in the back ground of our awareness. Well again today I will look at another area in that quest, today I will look at Knowledge being the means of preparing man for the duty of life. But first Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace as the means of Abraham's journey as it is also ours when we have come to faith like Abraham's. In this way we fulfill the promise given to him in Genesis 12:3, then to Isaac in Genesis 22:18, then to Jacob in Genesis 28:14 and rehearsed in Acts 3:25. As the means of bring this promise forward into this Age of GOD's Grace and the promised new Covenant of this Gospel of hope and comfort, which operates by the law of love and faith. As opposed to that of self-works designed to bring about mans obedience, in which we also journey as in a dark place where our own Egypt is the world all around us. Egypt being made up of many lesser gods of mysteries as it's history has revealed. I will make good use of the ESV translation to do my search and quest for knowledge but here is the stinger my quest is the knowledge of GOD and Christ as our only means of Salvation which requires a life time of spiritual growth once coming out of Egypt and its many false religions. Once we have come to this understanding we also could say that we have father Abraham as our father in faith. But as we have also seen, we operate by Jesus' faith, a much stronger force. Because it operated by GOD's Love in and through Him, the secret of Christ our anointing, if we have indeed the Spirit of Christ and become as One walking in agreement.
"Abraham's Obedient, Earthly Sojourn, by Faith"
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Hebrews 11:8-10)
"Abraham provides one of the most profound studies concerning the extensive consequences of walking by faith. One lesson he offers is that trusting God enables us to obediently leave familiar settings to follow the LORD into new, uncertain situations. Beyond this, Abraham's example sheds light on how to face our entire journey on earth. We see this in Abraham's obedient, earthly sojourn, by faith.
GOD called Abraham to leave his familiar homeland and to follow Him to a new land that the LORD would give him. "Now the LORD had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you' " (Genesis 12:1, for today look at 2Corinthians 6:11-7:3). Abraham obeyed the LORD by stepping out into this monumental change. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance." He trusted the LORD to lead him, even though he was given no indication of where this land would be. "And he went out, not knowing where he was going." When he arrived in the land, his faith again was exercised by having to sojourn there, as if he were an alien in a foreign land. "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country." Year after year, he moved about in tents with his son and grandson, who were also promised this same land: "dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise."
There certainly are times when the LORD calls us to follow Him into monumental rearrangements. Only trusting our LORD, as Abraham did, will sustain us. Still, whether circumstances are shifting or stable, we are to face all of life's journey as he did. This world is promised to GOD's children some day. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). Until the LORD makes it so, we sojourn here as visitors (in the world, but not of it), walking with our GOD and being used by Him. Meanwhile, like Abraham, we are waiting by faith for an everlasting city that man cannot produce. "For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is GOD."
Knowledge, Prepares men for the Duties of life:
Fitted Israel to Sympathize with Strangers,
Exodus 23:9 "You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt."
Prepared the Demoniac to Witness,
Mark 5:14-20 "The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged Him that he might be with Him. And He did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the LORD has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled."
Christ's Message grounded in Experience,
John 3:9-15 "Nicodemus said to Jesus, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak of what We know, and bear witness to what We have seen, but you do not receive Our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly (purely spiritual) things? No one has ascended into heaven except He Who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes Him may have eternal life."
Qualified the Blind man to Testify,
John 9:24-34 "For a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give glory to GOD. We know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether He is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that GOD has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that GOD does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of GOD and does His Will, GOD listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from GOD, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out."
Fitted Paul for a Ministry of Comfort,
2Corinthians 1:3-7 "Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and GOD of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by GOD. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort."
Enabled the Apostles to Speak with Authority,
2Peter 1:16-18 "We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from GOD the Father, and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is MY beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain."
"Abraham's Obedient, Earthly Sojourn, by Faith"
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Hebrews 11:8-10)
"Abraham provides one of the most profound studies concerning the extensive consequences of walking by faith. One lesson he offers is that trusting God enables us to obediently leave familiar settings to follow the LORD into new, uncertain situations. Beyond this, Abraham's example sheds light on how to face our entire journey on earth. We see this in Abraham's obedient, earthly sojourn, by faith.
GOD called Abraham to leave his familiar homeland and to follow Him to a new land that the LORD would give him. "Now the LORD had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you' " (Genesis 12:1, for today look at 2Corinthians 6:11-7:3). Abraham obeyed the LORD by stepping out into this monumental change. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance." He trusted the LORD to lead him, even though he was given no indication of where this land would be. "And he went out, not knowing where he was going." When he arrived in the land, his faith again was exercised by having to sojourn there, as if he were an alien in a foreign land. "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country." Year after year, he moved about in tents with his son and grandson, who were also promised this same land: "dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise."
There certainly are times when the LORD calls us to follow Him into monumental rearrangements. Only trusting our LORD, as Abraham did, will sustain us. Still, whether circumstances are shifting or stable, we are to face all of life's journey as he did. This world is promised to GOD's children some day. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). Until the LORD makes it so, we sojourn here as visitors (in the world, but not of it), walking with our GOD and being used by Him. Meanwhile, like Abraham, we are waiting by faith for an everlasting city that man cannot produce. "For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is GOD."
Knowledge, Prepares men for the Duties of life:
Fitted Israel to Sympathize with Strangers,
Exodus 23:9 "You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt."
Prepared the Demoniac to Witness,
Mark 5:14-20 "The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged Him that he might be with Him. And He did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the LORD has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled."
Christ's Message grounded in Experience,
John 3:9-15 "Nicodemus said to Jesus, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak of what We know, and bear witness to what We have seen, but you do not receive Our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly (purely spiritual) things? No one has ascended into heaven except He Who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes Him may have eternal life."
Qualified the Blind man to Testify,
John 9:24-34 "For a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give glory to GOD. We know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether He is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that GOD has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that GOD does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of GOD and does His Will, GOD listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from GOD, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out."
Fitted Paul for a Ministry of Comfort,
2Corinthians 1:3-7 "Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and GOD of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by GOD. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort."
Enabled the Apostles to Speak with Authority,
2Peter 1:16-18 "We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from GOD the Father, and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is MY beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain."
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Our Divine Spiritual Richness
Do not forget that we are still looking into Amos 3:3's statement of, can two walk together accept they be in accord having agreed, paraphrased. Todays targeted area is still within our acquiring knowledge of Christ, today I am putting the shoe on the other foot. I will look into Jesus' knowledge of the Father, as our example. And then example's of man receiving knowledge of GOD. But first Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace as seen in Noah's faith to do as he was directed in the building of the ark. Then I will move on into the knowledge of the Father as expressed by Jesus using the ESV translation. All being done under the hand of my LORD and Savior Who is my Salvation.
"Noah Building an Ark, by Faith"
"By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." (Hebrews 11:7)
"At times, the LORD asks His people to engage in assignments that seem to make no sense at all. Perhaps, it is a task that we have never undertaken. Perhaps, it is preparation for a problem that we have never encountered previously. One of the most profound examples from such categories was Noah building an ark, by faith. His example is profound both in the circumstances that he faced, as well as the extent of the impact of his faithful response.
The extreme wickedness of humanity was the setting. "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). A worldwide flood would be man's deserved judgment. "So the LORD said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth . . . I Myself am bringing the flood of waters on the earth' " (Genesis 6:7, 17). Noah was an upright man who lived in close fellowship with the LORD. He would be graciously delivered. "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. . . . Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with GOD" (Genesis 6:8-9).
To build an ark for a monumental flood must have appeared absurd in a world that had never experienced such a phenomenon. Nonetheless, Noah fully accepted this divine admonishment, even though he had never witnessed what GOD was warning about. "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen . . . prepared an ark." His faithful obedience was motivated by holy respect for the LORD and for all of His pronouncements: "moved with godly fear." What is not revealed is the name to Noah's grandfather, Methuselah, as the revealing of what was to take place shortly after his death. We as restored by light spiritual beings have these things revealed to us by the Holy Spirit as promised, in the teachings of all things concerning Christ.
The consequences of his labor of faith were far-reaching. His own family was saved: "prepared an ark for the saving of his household (of which there were 8 persons)." By Noah's godly trust, the rest of the world was condemned for their ungodliness and unbelief: "by which he condemned the world." Noah himself became numbered among those who illustrate that the LORD's righteousness is received by trusting Him: "and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." Additionally, he became a reminder of being ready for the return of the LORD. "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:37).
Christ's Knowledge of the Father,
Matthew 11:25-27 "Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, LORD of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious Will. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him."
John 7:25-31 "Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, "Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? Here He is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to Him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where He comes from." So Jesus proclaimed, as He taught in the temple, "You know Me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of My own accord. He Who sent Me is true, and Him you do not know. I know Him, for I come from Him, and HE sent Me." So they were seeking to arrest Him, but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. Yet many of the people believed in Him. They said, "When the Christ appears, will He do more signs than this man has done?"
John 8:31-33, 34-38 "Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered Him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill Me because My word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."
John 10:11-18 (Jesus is speaking) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father."
John 17:25-26 "O righteous Father, even though the world does not know You, I know You, and these know that You have sent Me. I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
Examples of men learning and taking Possession of,
Daniel 1:17 "As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."
Acts 7:17-29 "But as the time of the promise drew near, which GOD had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in GOD's sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house, and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds. "When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that GOD was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?' But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons."
Acts 22:3-5 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the Law of our fathers, being zealous for GOD as all of you are this day. I persecuted those of the Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished."
"Noah Building an Ark, by Faith"
"By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." (Hebrews 11:7)
"At times, the LORD asks His people to engage in assignments that seem to make no sense at all. Perhaps, it is a task that we have never undertaken. Perhaps, it is preparation for a problem that we have never encountered previously. One of the most profound examples from such categories was Noah building an ark, by faith. His example is profound both in the circumstances that he faced, as well as the extent of the impact of his faithful response.
The extreme wickedness of humanity was the setting. "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). A worldwide flood would be man's deserved judgment. "So the LORD said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth . . . I Myself am bringing the flood of waters on the earth' " (Genesis 6:7, 17). Noah was an upright man who lived in close fellowship with the LORD. He would be graciously delivered. "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. . . . Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with GOD" (Genesis 6:8-9).
To build an ark for a monumental flood must have appeared absurd in a world that had never experienced such a phenomenon. Nonetheless, Noah fully accepted this divine admonishment, even though he had never witnessed what GOD was warning about. "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen . . . prepared an ark." His faithful obedience was motivated by holy respect for the LORD and for all of His pronouncements: "moved with godly fear." What is not revealed is the name to Noah's grandfather, Methuselah, as the revealing of what was to take place shortly after his death. We as restored by light spiritual beings have these things revealed to us by the Holy Spirit as promised, in the teachings of all things concerning Christ.
The consequences of his labor of faith were far-reaching. His own family was saved: "prepared an ark for the saving of his household (of which there were 8 persons)." By Noah's godly trust, the rest of the world was condemned for their ungodliness and unbelief: "by which he condemned the world." Noah himself became numbered among those who illustrate that the LORD's righteousness is received by trusting Him: "and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." Additionally, he became a reminder of being ready for the return of the LORD. "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:37).
Christ's Knowledge of the Father,
Matthew 11:25-27 "Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, LORD of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious Will. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him."
John 7:25-31 "Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, "Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? Here He is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to Him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where He comes from." So Jesus proclaimed, as He taught in the temple, "You know Me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of My own accord. He Who sent Me is true, and Him you do not know. I know Him, for I come from Him, and HE sent Me." So they were seeking to arrest Him, but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. Yet many of the people believed in Him. They said, "When the Christ appears, will He do more signs than this man has done?"
John 8:31-33, 34-38 "Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered Him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill Me because My word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."
John 10:11-18 (Jesus is speaking) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father."
John 17:25-26 "O righteous Father, even though the world does not know You, I know You, and these know that You have sent Me. I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
Examples of men learning and taking Possession of,
Daniel 1:17 "As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."
Acts 7:17-29 "But as the time of the promise drew near, which GOD had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in GOD's sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house, and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds. "When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that GOD was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?' But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons."
Acts 22:3-5 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the Law of our fathers, being zealous for GOD as all of you are this day. I persecuted those of the Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished."
Monday, October 24, 2016
Our Divine Spiritual Richness
We are on our way to finding what it takes to have two of differing thoughts of mind come into agreement in order to walk as one in agreement. They being GOD and stubborn rebellious man. Man being GOD's focal point, as he was lost to GOD since the fall of spiritual separation. The same separation the Lord Jesus Christ suffered while suspended between heaven and hell [darkness] of this earth. (Matthew 27:45, Luke 23:44; John 12:35, 46) Man being the weaker one of two spirits in this case. As a way of expressing this, I have encountered many a person along my own walk that do not know or even believe that man is a spirit being, (being three in one, composed of spirit, mind and body) housed in a body suit of clay. I to this day do not know whether these people were serious or just funning me. But after watching and listening to people at large I would have to say that many are indeed ignorant of this part of reality. That being so, I want to turn our attention again to knowledge and it's seven verities that maybe known. But first comes Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace as seen by Enoch a man who walked with GOD before the flood of Noah. And then I will look into my targeted subject matter making use of the ESV translation, all the while under the watch eyes of my LORD the Savior and Salvation of man.
"More on Enoch's Pleasing Walk with God, by Faith"
"By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death . . . for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:5-6)
"Before Enoch was taken to heaven, he walked with GOD in a manner that pleased the LORD. Enoch's faith in GOD is what was pleasing to Him. "Before his translation he had this testimony [witness], that he pleased GOD. For without faith it is impossible to please Him." Pleasing GOD, as Enoch did, should be our most strongest of desires. What does it take for this desire to come upon us? That is build up within us, a true perception of Him by receiving of His light, love and life within us.
Many people waste their lives by aiming at pleasing themselves. Their lives are choked with self-indulgences. "And the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity" (Luke 8:14). They have ignored the fact that pleasing self cannot lead to spiritual growth and Christlikeness. "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves . . . For even Christ did not please Himself" (Romans 15:1, 3). Others live in carnal bondage of human opinions. Their consistent priority is to please people. This was part of King Saul's downfall. "Then Saul said to Samuel, 'I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice' " (1Samuel 15:24). We cannot aim to please man and still serve GOD. "Do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10). Here Paul blends Christ with GOD as being One for that is exactly Who they are, they are One. For this is the answer of the Lord's Prayer of John 17.
Living to please GOD, or God if that is what you require, is what we were created for. This can never happen apart from His faith, in receptivity, actively at work within us, as a law works. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." Coming to the LORD in true biblical faith begins with a conviction that GOD exists. "For he who comes to GOD must believe that HE is." Additionally, God-pleasing faith eagerly anticipates the LORD's gracious response to all who truly seek Him. "He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Although there are many blessings that result from pursuing the Lord, the ultimate reward is GOD Himself. GOD, as LORD told this to Abraham. "After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.'" (Genesis 15:1)
Knowledge's, Seven Great Verities that May be known by the Believer,
Job 19:23-29 with Isaiah 50:4-11 "Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock [of mans heart] forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth [again]. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see GOD, Whom I shall see for myself [HE is on my side], and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within [my loins] me! If you say, 'How we will pursue Him!' and, 'The root of the matter is found in Him,' be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment."
Isaiah 50:4 "The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning He awakens; HE awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The LORD GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the LORD GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He Who vindicates, vindicated me as HE is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the LORD GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on His GOD. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from My hand: you shall lie down in torment."
John 4:39-42 "Now it was that many Samaritans from the town believed in Him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."
Romans 8:28-30 "We know that for those who love GOD all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom HE foreknew HE also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom HE predestined HE also called, and those whom HE called HE also justified, and those whom HE justified HE also glorified."
2Corinthians 5:1 "For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from GOD, a house (a new body) not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by Life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is GOD, Who has given us the (His) Spirit as a guarantee."
2Timothy 2:8-14 "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. For the word of GOD is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful— for He cannot deny Himself. Remind them of these things, and charge them before GOD not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers."
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 does 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 shall see Him as HE is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure."
1John 3:13 "Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, GOD is greater than our heart, and HE knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before GOD; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him."
"More on Enoch's Pleasing Walk with God, by Faith"
"By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death . . . for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:5-6)
"Before Enoch was taken to heaven, he walked with GOD in a manner that pleased the LORD. Enoch's faith in GOD is what was pleasing to Him. "Before his translation he had this testimony [witness], that he pleased GOD. For without faith it is impossible to please Him." Pleasing GOD, as Enoch did, should be our most strongest of desires. What does it take for this desire to come upon us? That is build up within us, a true perception of Him by receiving of His light, love and life within us.
Many people waste their lives by aiming at pleasing themselves. Their lives are choked with self-indulgences. "And the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity" (Luke 8:14). They have ignored the fact that pleasing self cannot lead to spiritual growth and Christlikeness. "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves . . . For even Christ did not please Himself" (Romans 15:1, 3). Others live in carnal bondage of human opinions. Their consistent priority is to please people. This was part of King Saul's downfall. "Then Saul said to Samuel, 'I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice' " (1Samuel 15:24). We cannot aim to please man and still serve GOD. "Do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10). Here Paul blends Christ with GOD as being One for that is exactly Who they are, they are One. For this is the answer of the Lord's Prayer of John 17.
Living to please GOD, or God if that is what you require, is what we were created for. This can never happen apart from His faith, in receptivity, actively at work within us, as a law works. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." Coming to the LORD in true biblical faith begins with a conviction that GOD exists. "For he who comes to GOD must believe that HE is." Additionally, God-pleasing faith eagerly anticipates the LORD's gracious response to all who truly seek Him. "He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Although there are many blessings that result from pursuing the Lord, the ultimate reward is GOD Himself. GOD, as LORD told this to Abraham. "After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.'" (Genesis 15:1)
Knowledge's, Seven Great Verities that May be known by the Believer,
Job 19:23-29 with Isaiah 50:4-11 "Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock [of mans heart] forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth [again]. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see GOD, Whom I shall see for myself [HE is on my side], and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within [my loins] me! If you say, 'How we will pursue Him!' and, 'The root of the matter is found in Him,' be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment."
Isaiah 50:4 "The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning He awakens; HE awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The LORD GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the LORD GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He Who vindicates, vindicated me as HE is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the LORD GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on His GOD. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from My hand: you shall lie down in torment."
John 4:39-42 "Now it was that many Samaritans from the town believed in Him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."
Romans 8:28-30 "We know that for those who love GOD all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom HE foreknew HE also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom HE predestined HE also called, and those whom HE called HE also justified, and those whom HE justified HE also glorified."
2Corinthians 5:1 "For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from GOD, a house (a new body) not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by Life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is GOD, Who has given us the (His) Spirit as a guarantee."
2Timothy 2:8-14 "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. For the word of GOD is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful— for He cannot deny Himself. Remind them of these things, and charge them before GOD not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers."
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 does 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 shall see Him as HE is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure."
1John 3:13 "Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, GOD is greater than our heart, and HE knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before GOD; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him."
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Our Divine Spiritual Richness
This morning I discovered some thing that amazed me, there could actually be a strong reason why so many seem to walk in darkness. And the for that reason I want to look at why knowledge maybe withheld from some. Do not take this wrong, because I believe that if one truly seeks to gain understanding of the secret things, that they will. So I will take a short side road break from my course. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace within a man I have read, Enoch. And then I will look into Knowledge Withheld making use of the ESV translation while doing so.
"Enoch's Pleasing Walk with God, by Faith"
"By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death, "and was not found because God had translated him;" for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him." (Hebrews 11:5-6)
"It is the will of GOD that we learn to walk in a manner pleasing to the LORD: "that you may have a walk worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing Him" (Colossians 1:10). Again, such godly living can only be developed by faith. Much helpful insight into such a life is provided in Enoch's pleasing walk with GOD, by faith.
Enoch was one of our earliest forefathers. "Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah"
(Genesis 5:21). After the birth of Methuselah (who became, at 969 years, the oldest man ever on earth), Enoch began a three hundred year long journey of close fellowship with GOD. "After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with GOD three hundred years" (Genesis 5:22). After three centuries of spiritual intimacy, during this period he wrote of the kind of things he saw and heard in heaven each he called a book, Enoch was taken into heaven without experiencing death. "And Enoch walked with GOD; and he was not, for GOD took him" (Genesis 5:24). Enoch's intimacy with GOD and his unique homegoing were related to a life of reliance upon the LORD. "By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death . . . for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased GOD." Of course, what was so pleasing to GOD about Enoch's walk was his trust in the LORD. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him."
Enoch is a wonderful reminder of what life is all about — walking with GOD by faith throughout our days on earth, then walking right on into the presence of GOD in heaven when HE calls homeward. Many will eventually do this, like Enoch, without facing death. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of GOD. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1Thessalonians 4:16-17). Others may face death, but the key ingredient of communication and fellowship on earth right on into heaven is the same. "I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory." (Psalm 73:23-24)
Knowledge Withheld from man:
Reasons for Withholding, knowledge,
Genesis 2:15-17 and Deuteronomy 29:29 "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."
Deuteronomy 29:29 "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."
Inability to Apprehend Truth,
John 13:1-11 "Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from GOD and was going back to GOD, rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. He then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. When He came to Simon Peter, Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." Then Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." For He knew who was to betray Him; that was why He said, "Not all of you are clean."
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. But 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 13:8-13 "Love never fails. 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."
Gradual Revelation, the Divine Plan,
Ephesians 3:1-13 "For this reason [having Peace with GOD reestablished, we have through Christ, we both have access in One Spirit to the Father, no longer being strangers and aliens, we are now of GOD's Household] 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 this our 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 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 does 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 shall see Him as HE is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as HE is pure."
"Enoch's Pleasing Walk with God, by Faith"
"By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death, "and was not found because God had translated him;" for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him." (Hebrews 11:5-6)
"It is the will of GOD that we learn to walk in a manner pleasing to the LORD: "that you may have a walk worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing Him" (Colossians 1:10). Again, such godly living can only be developed by faith. Much helpful insight into such a life is provided in Enoch's pleasing walk with GOD, by faith.
Enoch was one of our earliest forefathers. "Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah"
(Genesis 5:21). After the birth of Methuselah (who became, at 969 years, the oldest man ever on earth), Enoch began a three hundred year long journey of close fellowship with GOD. "After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with GOD three hundred years" (Genesis 5:22). After three centuries of spiritual intimacy, during this period he wrote of the kind of things he saw and heard in heaven each he called a book, Enoch was taken into heaven without experiencing death. "And Enoch walked with GOD; and he was not, for GOD took him" (Genesis 5:24). Enoch's intimacy with GOD and his unique homegoing were related to a life of reliance upon the LORD. "By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death . . . for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased GOD." Of course, what was so pleasing to GOD about Enoch's walk was his trust in the LORD. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him."
Enoch is a wonderful reminder of what life is all about — walking with GOD by faith throughout our days on earth, then walking right on into the presence of GOD in heaven when HE calls homeward. Many will eventually do this, like Enoch, without facing death. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of GOD. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1Thessalonians 4:16-17). Others may face death, but the key ingredient of communication and fellowship on earth right on into heaven is the same. "I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory." (Psalm 73:23-24)
Knowledge Withheld from man:
Reasons for Withholding, knowledge,
Genesis 2:15-17 and Deuteronomy 29:29 "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."
Deuteronomy 29:29 "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."
Inability to Apprehend Truth,
John 13:1-11 "Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from GOD and was going back to GOD, rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. He then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. When He came to Simon Peter, Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." Then Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." For He knew who was to betray Him; that was why He said, "Not all of you are clean."
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. But 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 13:8-13 "Love never fails. 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."
Gradual Revelation, the Divine Plan,
Ephesians 3:1-13 "For this reason [having Peace with GOD reestablished, we have through Christ, we both have access in One Spirit to the Father, no longer being strangers and aliens, we are now of GOD's Household] 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 this our 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 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 does 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 shall see Him as HE is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as HE is pure."
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