Day 11
We are looking into our ability to enter GOD'S promised Rest as Jesus is the Way, the Life and Love that opened it and paved the way into it for us. Pardon me for taking a short cut to the subject matter of today for I have again chosen to take from Pastor Hoekstra's works. I will as the Spirit leads me edit this as needed. I might note that in Gen. 1:1 is found the identity of Elohiym in the following Strong's numbering system: H410, H430 and H433, This explained in 1John 5:4, in 7 of 5-12 we find the power, authority and right of GOD established, this the law of GOD, which is His Grace at work.
Coming to the Lord for Edifying Grace:
Coming to Jesus as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men (men's religious systems), but chosen by GOD a precious commodity, we also, are living stones (the petros of Peter in Mat. 16:18), are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to GOD through Jesus Christ. (1Peter 2:4-5)
Our coming to Jesus habitually (by way of the personal taking up of our cross) for the grace that we need daily is at the heart of growing in His Grace. The closing verses of our Day 10's meditation provide a profound example of this personal relational emphasis in the Christian life. The spiritual impact in view there is edification: "being built up." As we saw earlier, GOD'S Grace is to be the edifying resource for our lives. "And now, brethren, I commend you to GOD our Father and to the word of His Grace, which is able to build you up" (Acts 20:32). Now, we will look at the relational path that GOD has designed for accessing this edifying grace.
Jesus is likened here to "a living stone." He is solid and reliable, like a rock. Yet, a rock is lifeless, insensitive, unresponsive. Jesus is a "living stone." Jesus is alive, tender, lovingly responsive. The LORD wants to build us up to be like Himself (solid and stable, yet loving and caring filled with His mercies). The LORD'S way (Isaiah 48:17, Joshua 23:14; John 14:6) to build us up "as living stones" is to call us to an ongoing process of coming to Himself: "Coming to Him as to a living stone... you also, as living stones, are being built up." In order to practically grow "as living stones," we must be coming to the one who already is innately intimately one with us, what He wants us to become. He alone can provide what is needed in our lives.
How do we come to Jesus in this manner? Again, it is a matter of our eternal and abiding relationship that relates to Him. When we get into the word of GOD, we are not merely looking for more biblical information. Jesus is the one we are to be seeking. When we are praying, we are not merely "saying our prayers." Jesus is the one in whose name we are praying and whose Will and work we are seeking. When we are worshiping, we are not merely singing songs, we are singing to the LORD Himself. When we are going forth in ministry, we are not merely carrying out a valid task. We are looking to the LORD for enablement, while desiring to please and honor Him.
The more we come to Jesus in this way, to that extent His edifying Grace will be building us up "a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Father GOD through Jesus Christ." Day by day in Grace, by Pastor Bob Hoekstra
I had it in mind to list the referenced passages in the last few posting, so here goes:
Matthew 16:18 of 13-20 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Whom do men say that I the Son of man is?' And they said, "Some say that You are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets." He said to them, 'But whom say you that I am?' And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living GOD." And Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed art you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but My Father which is in heaven. And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock (revelation, a piece, a chip off of the bigger rock*) I will build my church; And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.' Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ. (*This rock relates to the "Rock of Ages." (Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a GOD of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He....2Samuel 22:3 The God of my rock; in Him will I trust: He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; You save me from violence...Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My GOD, my strength, in whom I will trust; My buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower....Psalm 28:1 A Psalm of David. Unto You will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if You be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.)
Isaiah 48:16-17 'Come near to Me, hear this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From before time that it was, there am I: and now the LORD GOD, and His Spirit, has sent me. Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD God which teaches you to profit, which leads you by the way that you should go.'
Joshua 23:14-15a of 13-16 reveals who is the Judge of the snared of man's religions: 'Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; For they shall be snares and traps set for you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land of promised rest which the LORD your God has given you. For, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you; All are come to pass in you, and not one thing has failed thereof. Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until I have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you by way of promise. When you have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; Then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which He has given unto you.'
John 14:6 of 1-7 Jesus is speaking here: 'Let not your heart be troubled: you believe GOD, believe also Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself (no time limit imposed here); that where I am, there you may be also (Eph. 1:10, 20, 2:6, 3:10, 15, Col. 1:16, 20.) And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith to Him, "Lord, we know not where You go; And how can we know the way?" Jesus said him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me. If you had known Me, you should have known My Father also: and from henceforth you shall know Him, and have seen Him.'
Now for the added passages as the zeal of the LORD often over takes me:
Ephesians 1:10, 20, 2:6, 3:10 and 15
Ephesians 1:9-10 Having made known to us the mystery of His Will, according to His good pleasure which He had purposed in Himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; Even in Him: In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who works all things after the counsel of His own Will: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trust in Christ.
Ephesians1:20 of 15-23 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the LORD Jesus, and love for all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; That you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and having put all things under His feet, and given Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, Christ, the fullness of Him that fills all in All.
Ephesians 2:6 of 1-10 And you has He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past we walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience (this being man's many religious forms and systems of deception and bewilderment among us): Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; And were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But GOD, Who is rich in mercy, for His great Love wherewith He loves us, even when we were dead (unknowing) in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace we are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His Grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by His Grace are we saved through His faith; That not of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD: Not of the Mosaic Law of self works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which GOD had before ordained (predestinated, this being before the earth's foundation was established, Gen. 1:26-28) that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 3:10, and 15 of 3:1-13, 14-4:6 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of GOD which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, to this I can say dido!) Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed in His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same Body, and partakers of His promises in Christ by our gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the Grace of GOD given to me by the effectual working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this Grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in GOD (Deu. 29:29), Who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of GOD, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our LORD: In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him. Wherefore I desire that you faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Ephesians 3:14-4:6 For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our resurrected and ascended LORD Jesus Christ, Of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named (identified), that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man (restored within us); That Christ may dwell in your hearts (Lev. 17:11) by His faith; That we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that we might be filled with all the fullness of GOD. Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. The living an abiding Amen. I therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you that you walk (live) worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. There is one Body, and one Spirit, even as we are called in one hope of our calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One GOD and Father of us all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Now for Colossians 1:16, 20 of 15-20, 21-23 Now for The Preeminence of Christ:
Col 1:15-20, 21 Who is the image (found in Gen. 1:26-28)of the invisible (found in Lev. 17:14) GOD, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. He is the head of the Body, His Church: Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; That in all things He now having the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things to in Himself; For by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Colossians 1:21-23 You, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works (of a man's religion), yet now having been His, He has reconciled in the Body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: If you'll continue in His faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven.
1John 5:4, 7 of 5-12 For whatsoever is born of GOD overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, His faith placed in us.....Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; Not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is Truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of GOD is greater: for this is the witness of GOD which He has testified of His Son. He that believe the Son of GOD has this witness in himself: he that believes not GOD has made himself a liar; Because he believes not the record that GOD gave of His Son. And this is the record, that GOD has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son has His Life; and he that has not the Son of GOD has not the redeemed life. (And I might add has no salvation.)
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