Just how precious to us is wisdom is the topic of my next inquiry but before I get to it lets hear from Pastor Hoekstra and Grace in the Life of the Lord Christ Jesus in His daily walk. Then I will use again the ESV translation and if the LORD gives an utterance I will break in and add it then and then.
"Living as Jesus Lived"
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father Who dwells in Me does the works . . . As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me." (John 14:10; 6:57)
"We are to live by trusting in the goodness of the LORD. "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8). Jesus is the ultimate example of living by such Trust. When we think of being like Jesus (or we ask, "What would Jesus do?"), the biblical perspective is far more profound than prevailing opinion might provide.
Jesus lived by depending upon the Intimate Relationship He had with the Father: "I am in the Father, and the Father in Me." When Jesus spoke or took action, it was not on His own initiative or by His own resources. In many cases throughout scripture, if they are in their proper perspective we realize that men like Enoch, Noah, Seth, Abram who became Abraham, Elijah, Benjamin, Joseph, king David and others walked life in a divine relationship with the Father and the LORD. But it was not until Jesus that we hear such words as these, "The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father Who dwells in Me does the works." Although Jesus was GOD coming to earth as a man, He did not live by exercising His deity. "Who, being in the form of GOD, did not consider it robbery to be equal with GOD, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus lived as a dependent human servant, Trusting in the Father to work in and through Him. The prophets of old predicted this path, as they recorded the confessions Messiah would make about His ministry here on earth. "For I [that is, the Messiah, Christ Jesus] shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and My GOD shall be My strength . . . The LORD GOD will help Me [that is, the Messiah, Christ Jesus]; therefore I will not be disgraced" (Isaiah 49:5; 50:7). Jesus would depend solely upon the Father in the person of the Holy Spirit after He day of washing, baptism.
Jesus eventually applies this kind of dependent relationship to us. The structure of His teaching was "As . . . so." As it was between Jesus and the Father, so it is to be between Jesus and us. Jesus lived His life by depending upon the Father in the person of the Holy Spirit. Without ceasing to be GOD, He lived as a man, showing us how man is to live. And this again bring us back to those of earlier days who walked out their lives with GOD such as Joseph. But it was Jesus who spoke, "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father." Jesus lived by Trusting in the Faithfulness of the Father to work in and through Him. We are to look to Christ Jesus to do the same through us. "So he who feeds on Me will live because of Me." Jesus taught that feeding on Him involved coming to Him Trust. "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes Me shall never thirst" (John 6:35)."
The Preciousness of Wisdom,
Job 28:12-22 "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living. The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with me.' It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. "From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air. Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'"
Proverbs 3:13-26 "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She, Wisdom is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding HE established the heavens; by His knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught."
Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 "So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. Then I said in my heart, "What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?" And I said in my heart that this also is vanity. For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool! So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind."
Ecclesiastes 7:19-22 "Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others."
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Wisdom)
I have embarked on a course to find GODS Wisdom. The thing that so many believe and is not to be had or understood remains a secret to them. If that were so, then the Bible which is the revealing of GODS Will and law restored within man, once his spirit has been awakened and united to GOD again, is not in error. For if mans remains in that state, knows not that from that place on GODS Wisdom becomes ours as is scene in Genesis 2. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his writing on Grace and the legacy of our inheritance in Christ the Promise of all Promises, one of which is wisdom in the true Knowledge of Him. I will again use the ESV translation and when the LORD gives me utterance I will add it to the mix.
"Experiencing the Lord's Goodness"
"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8)
"The scriptures clearly declare that the Knowledge of the LORD is for developing a Relationship, not merely cataloging correct information about Him. Grace and peace are to be "multiplied to" us (2Peter 1:2), not just memorized by us. "All things that pertain to Life and Godliness" (2Peter 1:3) are to be drawn upon for Godly Living, not merely listed to validate our orthodoxy. As we get to know the LORD, His goodness is to be experienced in our lives. As we personify His presence within our being. Which is GOD in us as in Genesis 2.
Our present verse is quite forthright concerning this point. "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good." The LORD is good. He is merciful, kind, gracious, and patient. The scriptures abound with declarations of GOD's goodness. "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever" (Psalm 107:1). This goodness of GOD is to be experienced by GOD's people. "My people shall be satisfied with My goodness" (Jeremiah 31:14). We are to "taste and see" GOD's goodness, not only to hear of it and talk about it. But live it out as seen in those of the old testament such as those listed in Hebrews 11. This understanding is quite different than is taught in today's churches. They teach and promote mans slavery to sin death and the deceiver that gives to him more credit than it does to GODS indwelling us. So man has more knowledge of sin than it does of GODS presence restored in the soul of man, as promised to man in Genesis 3:15. And the Oath of GOD as we have seen in Hebrews and Paul's many other revelations of the secret things of GOD.
How does a person experience the goodness of the LORD? "Blessed is the man who Trusts in Him!" GOD's goodness is available for our personal experience whenever we Trust Him. "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear (worship in spirit and truth) You, which You have prepared for those who Trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! " (Psalm 31:19). When we rely upon the LORD, His goodness brings forth peace in our lives. "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he Trusts in You" (Isaiah 26:3). When we depend upon the LORD, His goodness brings forth rejoicing in our lives. "Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His Holy name" (Psalm 33:20-21).
It should not be surprising to us that faith in the LORD is the pathway to experiencing His goodness. We have noted in a number of these meditations that faith is one of the Relational Realities that allow a child of GOD to live by His Grace. Faith accesses Grace (Romans 5:2). "The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:25).
We Trust in the LORD the more we get acquainted with Him. We Trust in the LORD the more we allow Him to demonstrate His faithfulness. "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You" (Psalm 9:10).
True Wisdom:
The Fear (reverence) of GOD Constitutes,
Job 28:23-28 "God understands the way to it, and He knows its place (wisdom). For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When He gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure, when He made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, then He saw it and declared it; He established it, and searched it out. And He said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"
Experience Augments,
Job 32:6-10 and Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:20 "And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: "I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to You. I said, 'Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.' But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. Therefore I say, 'Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.'"
Psalm 111:7-10 "The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever. Holy and awesome is His name! The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!"
Proverbs 1:20-33 "Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at My reproof, behold, I will pour out My Spirit on you; I Will make My words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out My hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all My counsel and would have none of My reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon Me, but I will not answer; they will seek Me diligently but will not find Me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear (reverence or respect) of the LORD, would have none of My counsel and despised all My reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to Me Will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."
The Supreme Acquisition,
Proverbs 4:1-9 and 9:1 "Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake My teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, HE taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast My words; keep My commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of My mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."
Proverbs 9:1-12 "Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" To him who lacks sense she says, "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight." Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by Me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it."
Apprehend Divine Truth,
Hosea 14:8-9 "O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from Me comes your fruit. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them."
Lays an Immovable Foundation,
Matthew 7:24-27 and 1Corinthians 2:6, 12:8 (Jesus is speaking) "Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
1Corinthians 2:6-13 "Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of GOD, which GOD decreed before the Ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the LORD of Glory. But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what GOD has prepared for those who love Him"— these things GOD has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of GOD. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of GOD except the Spirit of GOD. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from GOD, that we might understand the things freely given us by GOD. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting Spiritual Truths to those who are spiritual."
1Corinthians 12:4-11 "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same LORD; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same GOD Who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by One and the same Spirit, Who apportions to each one individually as HE Wills."
The Scriptures, the Source of Wisdom,
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 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. But 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."
Full of Spiritual Fruits,
James 3:13-18 and 1John 2:20 "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the Truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
1John 2:18-25 "Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have Knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the Truth, but because you know Him, and because no lie is of the Truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that HE made to us—Eternal Life."
"Experiencing the Lord's Goodness"
"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8)
"The scriptures clearly declare that the Knowledge of the LORD is for developing a Relationship, not merely cataloging correct information about Him. Grace and peace are to be "multiplied to" us (2Peter 1:2), not just memorized by us. "All things that pertain to Life and Godliness" (2Peter 1:3) are to be drawn upon for Godly Living, not merely listed to validate our orthodoxy. As we get to know the LORD, His goodness is to be experienced in our lives. As we personify His presence within our being. Which is GOD in us as in Genesis 2.
Our present verse is quite forthright concerning this point. "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good." The LORD is good. He is merciful, kind, gracious, and patient. The scriptures abound with declarations of GOD's goodness. "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever" (Psalm 107:1). This goodness of GOD is to be experienced by GOD's people. "My people shall be satisfied with My goodness" (Jeremiah 31:14). We are to "taste and see" GOD's goodness, not only to hear of it and talk about it. But live it out as seen in those of the old testament such as those listed in Hebrews 11. This understanding is quite different than is taught in today's churches. They teach and promote mans slavery to sin death and the deceiver that gives to him more credit than it does to GODS indwelling us. So man has more knowledge of sin than it does of GODS presence restored in the soul of man, as promised to man in Genesis 3:15. And the Oath of GOD as we have seen in Hebrews and Paul's many other revelations of the secret things of GOD.
How does a person experience the goodness of the LORD? "Blessed is the man who Trusts in Him!" GOD's goodness is available for our personal experience whenever we Trust Him. "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear (worship in spirit and truth) You, which You have prepared for those who Trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! " (Psalm 31:19). When we rely upon the LORD, His goodness brings forth peace in our lives. "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he Trusts in You" (Isaiah 26:3). When we depend upon the LORD, His goodness brings forth rejoicing in our lives. "Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His Holy name" (Psalm 33:20-21).
It should not be surprising to us that faith in the LORD is the pathway to experiencing His goodness. We have noted in a number of these meditations that faith is one of the Relational Realities that allow a child of GOD to live by His Grace. Faith accesses Grace (Romans 5:2). "The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:25).
We Trust in the LORD the more we get acquainted with Him. We Trust in the LORD the more we allow Him to demonstrate His faithfulness. "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You" (Psalm 9:10).
True Wisdom:
The Fear (reverence) of GOD Constitutes,
Job 28:23-28 "God understands the way to it, and He knows its place (wisdom). For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When He gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure, when He made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, then He saw it and declared it; He established it, and searched it out. And He said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"
Experience Augments,
Job 32:6-10 and Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:20 "And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: "I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to You. I said, 'Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.' But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. Therefore I say, 'Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.'"
Psalm 111:7-10 "The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever. Holy and awesome is His name! The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!"
Proverbs 1:20-33 "Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at My reproof, behold, I will pour out My Spirit on you; I Will make My words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out My hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all My counsel and would have none of My reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon Me, but I will not answer; they will seek Me diligently but will not find Me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear (reverence or respect) of the LORD, would have none of My counsel and despised all My reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to Me Will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."
The Supreme Acquisition,
Proverbs 4:1-9 and 9:1 "Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake My teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, HE taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast My words; keep My commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of My mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."
Proverbs 9:1-12 "Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" To him who lacks sense she says, "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight." Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by Me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it."
Apprehend Divine Truth,
Hosea 14:8-9 "O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from Me comes your fruit. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them."
Lays an Immovable Foundation,
Matthew 7:24-27 and 1Corinthians 2:6, 12:8 (Jesus is speaking) "Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
1Corinthians 2:6-13 "Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of GOD, which GOD decreed before the Ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the LORD of Glory. But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what GOD has prepared for those who love Him"— these things GOD has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of GOD. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of GOD except the Spirit of GOD. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from GOD, that we might understand the things freely given us by GOD. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting Spiritual Truths to those who are spiritual."
1Corinthians 12:4-11 "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same LORD; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same GOD Who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by One and the same Spirit, Who apportions to each one individually as HE Wills."
The Scriptures, the Source of Wisdom,
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 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. But 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."
Full of Spiritual Fruits,
James 3:13-18 and 1John 2:20 "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the Truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
1John 2:18-25 "Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have Knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the Truth, but because you know Him, and because no lie is of the Truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that HE made to us—Eternal Life."
Monday, April 18, 2016
Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Wisdom)
I am looking at Wisdom as I and the world around you and me seems to lack any resemblance of GODLY wisdom these days. It has the appearance of gross darkness, where good is called evil and evil is called good. Then we have the words of the Lord Jesus where He stated that evil would abound as in the days of Noah. It was this very same grossness of evil that brought GODS Judgment by the flood which destroyed all flesh of man, at that time except the eight who were in the arch. The grossness had become so far spread that it had even effected the animal kingdoms, as they were also destroyed in the flood, except those little ones called into the arch. Now for the writings of Pastor Hoekstra on Grace and Wisdom as we saw yesterday. I will also use the ESV translation and the LORDS utterance should He give insight to me.
"Fully Supplied through Knowing God"
"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." (2Peter 1:2-3)
"Our lives are blessed whenever the LORD adds any of His blessings to our experience. Yet, there are times when we sense a need for GOD's blessings to be multiplied to us. Well, GOD desires to Intensify His working in us. "Grace and Peace be multiplied to you." Drop after drop of refreshing water may encourage the thirsty soul. However, our hearts' true need may be for fountains of living water. GOD loves to give forth in Abundance. "I have come that they may have Life, and that they may have it more Abundantly" (John 10:10). GOD's Grace (His undeserved resource for living) is available in multiplied measures. GOD's Peace (His heaven-sent spiritual tranquility) can be partaken of in magnified portions.
The process for partaking of these multiplied provisions simply involves growing in Knowing our Lord, Who is LORD and GOD. "Grace and Peace be multiplied to you in the Knowledge of GOD and of Jesus our LORD."
Another astounding Truth about believers in Jesus Christ is that we have already been given everything needed for Abundant Christian living: "His Divine Power has given to us all things that pertain to Life and Godliness." This is not to say that we are aware of what is ours, or that we are experiencing all that is ours. Nonetheless, GOD has already given us every spiritual provision needed to live as He desires ("all things that pertain to Life") and to grow in Christ-likeness as He Wills ("all things that pertain to . . . Godliness").
The writer of Hebrews states this in Hebrews 9:10 beginning at verse 6 through 10, "These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the Holy place is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age), (this being written before the city and temple were leveled by the Romans during the 65-70 ADE campaign which killed the citizens and priesthood in judgement as spoken of by the Daniel and the prophets and the Lord Jesus). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation." (Thayer's Greek Dictionary says this about the word reformation: in a physical sense, a making straight, restoring to its natural and normal condition something which in some way protrudes or has got out of line, as broken or misshapen limbs. And Daniel Webster's 1828 Dictionary says this, The act of reforming; correction or amendment of life, manners, or of any thing vicious or corrupt; as the reformation of manners; reformation of the age; reformation of abuses.) This GOD has done as a mystery or secret thing under the nose of Israel and mankind who remain in darkness.
The process for accessing these comprehensive resources also involves getting to know the Lord better: "His Divine power has given to us all things that pertain to Life and Godliness, through the Knowledge of Him."
It is by Grace that we initially come to know the LORD. As we get to know Him better, Grace is then multiplied into our lives. When we first met the LORD, He gave us everything that we needed to live as He intended. As we grow in Knowing Him, we access for living all that He has already given to us in Christ."
Here is another passage of scripture that agrees with this, found in Matthew 11 at verse 29, beginning at verse 27 through 30 which states this, "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. Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I Will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
The Wisdom of GOD or GOD's Wisdom:
Job 12:13-25 "With God are Wisdom and might; HE has counsel and understanding. If HE tears down, none can rebuild; if HE shuts a man in, none can open. If HE withholds the waters, they dry up; if HE sends them out, they overwhelm the land. With Him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His. He leads counselors away stripped, and judges HE makes fools. He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waist-cloth on their hips. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty. He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders. He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong. He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. He makes nations great, and HE destroys them; He enlarges nations, and leads them away. He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste. They grope in the dark without light, and HE makes them stagger like a drunken man."
Psalm 104:24-26 and Jeremiah 10:7 "O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom have You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan, which You formed to play in it."
Jeremiah 10:6-10 "There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and Your name is great in might. Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like You. They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood! Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men. But the LORD is the true GOD; HE is the living GOD and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure His indignation."
Daniel 2:17-23 "Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the GOD of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery (secret) 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."
Romans 11:30-32, 33-36 and 16:27 "For just as you were at one time disobedient to GOD but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For GOD has consigned all to disobedience, that HE may have mercy on all.
Oh, the depth of the riches and Wisdom and Knowledge of GOD! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! "For who has known the mind of the LORD, or who has been His counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?" For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. The Amend"
Romans 16:25-27 "Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery (secret things of Deuteronomy 29:29) that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal GOD, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise GOD be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! The Amend!"
1Corinthians 1:18-25 "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of GOD. For it is written, "I Will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not GOD made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of GOD, the world did not know GOD through wisdom, it pleased GOD through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews (the elitist's of the Hebrews) demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews (the goats and even wolves of the Hebrews, Hebrews are the sheep) and Greeks, Christ the power of GOD and the wisdom of GOD. For the foolishness of GOD is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
"Fully Supplied through Knowing God"
"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." (2Peter 1:2-3)
"Our lives are blessed whenever the LORD adds any of His blessings to our experience. Yet, there are times when we sense a need for GOD's blessings to be multiplied to us. Well, GOD desires to Intensify His working in us. "Grace and Peace be multiplied to you." Drop after drop of refreshing water may encourage the thirsty soul. However, our hearts' true need may be for fountains of living water. GOD loves to give forth in Abundance. "I have come that they may have Life, and that they may have it more Abundantly" (John 10:10). GOD's Grace (His undeserved resource for living) is available in multiplied measures. GOD's Peace (His heaven-sent spiritual tranquility) can be partaken of in magnified portions.
The process for partaking of these multiplied provisions simply involves growing in Knowing our Lord, Who is LORD and GOD. "Grace and Peace be multiplied to you in the Knowledge of GOD and of Jesus our LORD."
Another astounding Truth about believers in Jesus Christ is that we have already been given everything needed for Abundant Christian living: "His Divine Power has given to us all things that pertain to Life and Godliness." This is not to say that we are aware of what is ours, or that we are experiencing all that is ours. Nonetheless, GOD has already given us every spiritual provision needed to live as He desires ("all things that pertain to Life") and to grow in Christ-likeness as He Wills ("all things that pertain to . . . Godliness").
The writer of Hebrews states this in Hebrews 9:10 beginning at verse 6 through 10, "These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the Holy place is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age), (this being written before the city and temple were leveled by the Romans during the 65-70 ADE campaign which killed the citizens and priesthood in judgement as spoken of by the Daniel and the prophets and the Lord Jesus). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation." (Thayer's Greek Dictionary says this about the word reformation: in a physical sense, a making straight, restoring to its natural and normal condition something which in some way protrudes or has got out of line, as broken or misshapen limbs. And Daniel Webster's 1828 Dictionary says this, The act of reforming; correction or amendment of life, manners, or of any thing vicious or corrupt; as the reformation of manners; reformation of the age; reformation of abuses.) This GOD has done as a mystery or secret thing under the nose of Israel and mankind who remain in darkness.
The process for accessing these comprehensive resources also involves getting to know the Lord better: "His Divine power has given to us all things that pertain to Life and Godliness, through the Knowledge of Him."
It is by Grace that we initially come to know the LORD. As we get to know Him better, Grace is then multiplied into our lives. When we first met the LORD, He gave us everything that we needed to live as He intended. As we grow in Knowing Him, we access for living all that He has already given to us in Christ."
Here is another passage of scripture that agrees with this, found in Matthew 11 at verse 29, beginning at verse 27 through 30 which states this, "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. Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I Will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
The Wisdom of GOD or GOD's Wisdom:
Job 12:13-25 "With God are Wisdom and might; HE has counsel and understanding. If HE tears down, none can rebuild; if HE shuts a man in, none can open. If HE withholds the waters, they dry up; if HE sends them out, they overwhelm the land. With Him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His. He leads counselors away stripped, and judges HE makes fools. He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waist-cloth on their hips. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty. He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders. He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong. He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. He makes nations great, and HE destroys them; He enlarges nations, and leads them away. He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste. They grope in the dark without light, and HE makes them stagger like a drunken man."
Psalm 104:24-26 and Jeremiah 10:7 "O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom have You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan, which You formed to play in it."
Jeremiah 10:6-10 "There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and Your name is great in might. Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like You. They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood! Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men. But the LORD is the true GOD; HE is the living GOD and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure His indignation."
Daniel 2:17-23 "Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the GOD of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery (secret) 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."
Romans 11:30-32, 33-36 and 16:27 "For just as you were at one time disobedient to GOD but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For GOD has consigned all to disobedience, that HE may have mercy on all.
Oh, the depth of the riches and Wisdom and Knowledge of GOD! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! "For who has known the mind of the LORD, or who has been His counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?" For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. The Amend"
Romans 16:25-27 "Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery (secret things of Deuteronomy 29:29) that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal GOD, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise GOD be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! The Amend!"
1Corinthians 1:18-25 "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of GOD. For it is written, "I Will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not GOD made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of GOD, the world did not know GOD through wisdom, it pleased GOD through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews (the elitist's of the Hebrews) demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews (the goats and even wolves of the Hebrews, Hebrews are the sheep) and Greeks, Christ the power of GOD and the wisdom of GOD. For the foolishness of GOD is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Wisdom)
I through the LORD of Grace and Truth have advanced us to the point that we have talked about GODS Wisdom on more than one occasion and hinted of it in others. So I want to spend some time looking into the Promise of our acquiring Wisdom and not the earthy kind but of the spiritual kind. But that assumes that we have become One with Christ the LORD. For it is required of us to have reached this point in our spiritual knowledge of HIM which is the path that I have been on since I began this operation. And of looking at the Promises of GOD. Now before getting into Wisdom I will turn to Pastor Hoekstra and his writing on Grace and Christ. And as has become my habit I will use the ESV translation for my studies and if and when the LORD gives me insight I will edit what ever it is that flowing at that point.
"Spiritual Insight for Knowing the Lord"
"Making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:16-17)."
"The New Covenant of Grace by which we relate to GOD and HE relates to us is designed to bring us a growing, Intimate Knowledge of our new lord ascended the LORD. However, this growing in Knowing GOD requires that He reveals Himself to us. This is why Paul prayed for other believers to this end: "Making mention of you in my prayers: that the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, or the Father of spirits may give to you the "spirit of wisdom" and revelation in the Knowledge of Him."
In order to increase in the Knowledge of GOD, one must be given heaven-sent spiritual insight: "that . . . GOD . . . may give to you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation." GOD cannot be seen by natural sight. "Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable Light, Whom no man has seen or can see" (1 Timothy 6:16).
GOD cannot be known by natural wisdom. "The world through wisdom did (does) not know GOD" (1Corinthians 1:21). The things of GOD must be revealed to us by the Lord, Whom is LORD. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which GOD has prepared for those who love Him. But GOD has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of GOD" (1Corinthians 2:9-10).
Jesus rejoiced in the divine wisdom of this plan. "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, 'I praise You, Father, LORD of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight'" (Luke 10:21). Jesus also encouraged those who humbly received GOD-given insight into Spiritual Realities. "And Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living GOD.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven'" (Matthew 16:16-17).
Jesus taught His followers to rely upon the teaching, revealing ministry of the Holy Spirit to know the things of GOD. "However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all Truth . . . He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you" (John 16:13-14).
Wisdom Promised:
Proverbs 2:1-22 "My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of GOD.
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come Knowledge and Understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.
So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.
So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it."
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 "There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases Him GOD has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner HE has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases GOD. This also is vanity and a striving after wind."
Daniel 2:17-23 "Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the GOD of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night.
Then Daniel blessed the GOD of heaven. Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of GOD forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. To You, O GOD of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king's matter."
Luke 21:10-11, 12-19 (Jesus is speaking) "Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives."
James 1:5-9 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask GOD, Who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the LORD; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation."
"Spiritual Insight for Knowing the Lord"
"Making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:16-17)."
"The New Covenant of Grace by which we relate to GOD and HE relates to us is designed to bring us a growing, Intimate Knowledge of our new lord ascended the LORD. However, this growing in Knowing GOD requires that He reveals Himself to us. This is why Paul prayed for other believers to this end: "Making mention of you in my prayers: that the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, or the Father of spirits may give to you the "spirit of wisdom" and revelation in the Knowledge of Him."
In order to increase in the Knowledge of GOD, one must be given heaven-sent spiritual insight: "that . . . GOD . . . may give to you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation." GOD cannot be seen by natural sight. "Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable Light, Whom no man has seen or can see" (1 Timothy 6:16).
GOD cannot be known by natural wisdom. "The world through wisdom did (does) not know GOD" (1Corinthians 1:21). The things of GOD must be revealed to us by the Lord, Whom is LORD. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which GOD has prepared for those who love Him. But GOD has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of GOD" (1Corinthians 2:9-10).
Jesus rejoiced in the divine wisdom of this plan. "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, 'I praise You, Father, LORD of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight'" (Luke 10:21). Jesus also encouraged those who humbly received GOD-given insight into Spiritual Realities. "And Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living GOD.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven'" (Matthew 16:16-17).
Jesus taught His followers to rely upon the teaching, revealing ministry of the Holy Spirit to know the things of GOD. "However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all Truth . . . He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you" (John 16:13-14).
Wisdom Promised:
Proverbs 2:1-22 "My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of GOD.
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come Knowledge and Understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.
So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.
So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it."
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 "There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases Him GOD has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner HE has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases GOD. This also is vanity and a striving after wind."
Daniel 2:17-23 "Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the GOD of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night.
Then Daniel blessed the GOD of heaven. Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of GOD forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. To You, O GOD of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king's matter."
Luke 21:10-11, 12-19 (Jesus is speaking) "Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives."
James 1:5-9 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask GOD, Who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the LORD; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation."
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Spiritual Heritage)
I will conclude this area of study with the GOD Who is Faithful or the Divine Faithfulness of GOD. But before doing so I will turn again to Pastor Hoekstra's writings on Grace and the Knowledge of Christ that we are all required to obtain spiritual. And as has become my habit of late I will use the ESV translation and when the LORD gives me utterance I will edit what ever I am doing without hesitation.
"Pressing on to Know the Lord"
"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)
"We have noted that Humility is one of the relational realities that GOD wants or more pointedly demands, to develop in our lives so we can live daily by the Grace of GOD. "God resists the proud, but gives Grace to the Humble" (James 4:6). Here we see evidence of the godly humility that had developed in the Apostle Paul through the years. "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended." When these words were written, Paul had been walking with the LORD for 25 to 30 years. And I whether I knew it or not have been walking with the LORD Christ now for well over 50 years myself. I can say that because of what the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of GOD in Christ has revealed to over the years I am farther along than Paul writes here. Yet, he admits that he has not "fully arrived." He confesses that he did not know the LORD so completely that his entire life was a demonstration of Resurrection Living. Consequently, he had one great goal that directed his life and service: "one thing I do." His all-consuming passion was to get to know the Ascend LORD more and more: "that I may know Him" (Philippians 3:10). Today we should all be more advanced than Paul with the power of the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Grace and Truth working in the Authority of GOD within us. And not being held back as youngster in school is held back a grade or even two. But that is exactly what mans religion does as Satan an angle of light has successfully infiltrated the camp of the church and fostered all kinds of division among and within its member's. Which has the effect of retarding their growth and learning.
One of the significant issues that keeps believers in Christ from knowing the LORD better is their past. Many Christians focus their attention on their past. Failures of the past plague them with condemnation. Wrongs done to them or even by them in the past tempt them to self-pity or bitterness. Past successes give false assurance that things must go well today. Past blessings distract them from seeking the LORD's fresh work in their lives now. Paul gives us all a wonderful example of how to deal with the past: "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead." Things of the past need not dominate our present. GOD's Grace can cover past failures and pains. Today, we need to look forward to the next work of Grace that He wants to bring forth as we walk on with Him. We must seek ask and knock for the understanding of the different crisis' of life that we are to past through for our learning and gaining a working Love relationship with the GOD of Love.
GOD wants us to move forward, looking upward. "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of GOD in Christ Jesus." The goal is to get to Know the ascended LORD better. As we are seated within Him at the Father right hand the place of power and Glory as One being in the heavenliest Holiest place, even while our lives and His are lived out here on earth. This is and remains a secret of GOD. We are to press toward that goal, exerting all of the spiritual strength and energy that GOD's Grace supplies. This is our reply to GOD's heavenly call to seek Him, to know Him. Along the way, we will partake of the prize that comes with that goal. The prize is every blessing that results from getting to know Him better. Let's press on to know the risen LORD!"
GOD of Divine Faithfulness:
Deuteronomy 7:7-11 and 9:5 "It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set His Love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD Loves you and is keeping the Oath that HE swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and Redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (a type of the worlds worldly flesh ruled religions and churches) Know therefore that the LORD your God is GOD, the faithful GOD Who keeps covenant and steadfast Love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations, and repays to their face those who hate Him, by destroying them. He Will not be slack with one who hates Him. He Will repay him to his face. You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today."
Deuteronomy 9:4-5 "Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you, 'It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,' whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you. Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is driving them out from before you, and that He may confirm the word that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (keep in mind always that Jacob is the second son not the first on whom the blessing is usually and customarily laid upon. This is of the greatest importance to us all who have come to trusting faith as Abram awaken to, before he became Abraham, one who walked with the LORD GOD in righteousness)."
1Kings 8:56-61 "Blessed be the LORD Who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that HE promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promises, which HE spoke by Moses His servant. The LORD our God be with us, as HE was with our fathers. May HE not leave us or forsake us, that HE may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His rules, which HE commanded our fathers. Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, and may HE maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is GOD; there is no other. Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in His statutes and keeping His commandments, as at this day."
Psalm 36:5-9 "Your steadfast Love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your Faithfulness to the clouds. Your Righteousness is like the mountains of GOD; Your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast You save, O LORD. How precious is Your steadfast Love, O GOD! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of Life; in Your Light do we see light."
Psalm 89:1-4 and Psalm 105:8 "I will sing of the Steadfast Love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known Your Faithfulness to all generations. For I said, "Steadfast Love will be built up forever; in the heavens You will establish Your Faithfulness." You have said, "I have made a covenant with My chosen one; I have sworn to David My servant: 'I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.'"
Psalm 105:8-15 "He remembers His covenant forever, the word that HE commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that HE made with Abraham, His sworn promise to Isaac, which HE confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance." When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, HE allowed no one to oppress them; HE rebuked kings on their account, saying, "Touch not My anointed ones, do M prophets no harm!"
1Corinthians 1:4-9 "I give thanks to my GOD always for you because of the Grace of GOD that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. GOD is faithful, by Whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our LORD."
Hebrews 6:13-7:3 "For when GOD made a promise to Abraham, since HE had no one greater by whom to swear, HE swore by Himself, saying, "Surely I Will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when GOD desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, HE guaranteed it with an Oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for GOD to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High GOD, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of GOD HE continues a priest forever."
1Peter 4:12-19 "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His Glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of Glory and of GOD rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify GOD in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the Household of GOD; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of GOD? And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" Therefore let those who suffer according to GOD's Will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good."
"Pressing on to Know the Lord"
"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)
"We have noted that Humility is one of the relational realities that GOD wants or more pointedly demands, to develop in our lives so we can live daily by the Grace of GOD. "God resists the proud, but gives Grace to the Humble" (James 4:6). Here we see evidence of the godly humility that had developed in the Apostle Paul through the years. "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended." When these words were written, Paul had been walking with the LORD for 25 to 30 years. And I whether I knew it or not have been walking with the LORD Christ now for well over 50 years myself. I can say that because of what the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of GOD in Christ has revealed to over the years I am farther along than Paul writes here. Yet, he admits that he has not "fully arrived." He confesses that he did not know the LORD so completely that his entire life was a demonstration of Resurrection Living. Consequently, he had one great goal that directed his life and service: "one thing I do." His all-consuming passion was to get to know the Ascend LORD more and more: "that I may know Him" (Philippians 3:10). Today we should all be more advanced than Paul with the power of the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Grace and Truth working in the Authority of GOD within us. And not being held back as youngster in school is held back a grade or even two. But that is exactly what mans religion does as Satan an angle of light has successfully infiltrated the camp of the church and fostered all kinds of division among and within its member's. Which has the effect of retarding their growth and learning.
One of the significant issues that keeps believers in Christ from knowing the LORD better is their past. Many Christians focus their attention on their past. Failures of the past plague them with condemnation. Wrongs done to them or even by them in the past tempt them to self-pity or bitterness. Past successes give false assurance that things must go well today. Past blessings distract them from seeking the LORD's fresh work in their lives now. Paul gives us all a wonderful example of how to deal with the past: "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead." Things of the past need not dominate our present. GOD's Grace can cover past failures and pains. Today, we need to look forward to the next work of Grace that He wants to bring forth as we walk on with Him. We must seek ask and knock for the understanding of the different crisis' of life that we are to past through for our learning and gaining a working Love relationship with the GOD of Love.
GOD wants us to move forward, looking upward. "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of GOD in Christ Jesus." The goal is to get to Know the ascended LORD better. As we are seated within Him at the Father right hand the place of power and Glory as One being in the heavenliest Holiest place, even while our lives and His are lived out here on earth. This is and remains a secret of GOD. We are to press toward that goal, exerting all of the spiritual strength and energy that GOD's Grace supplies. This is our reply to GOD's heavenly call to seek Him, to know Him. Along the way, we will partake of the prize that comes with that goal. The prize is every blessing that results from getting to know Him better. Let's press on to know the risen LORD!"
GOD of Divine Faithfulness:
Deuteronomy 7:7-11 and 9:5 "It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set His Love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD Loves you and is keeping the Oath that HE swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and Redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (a type of the worlds worldly flesh ruled religions and churches) Know therefore that the LORD your God is GOD, the faithful GOD Who keeps covenant and steadfast Love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations, and repays to their face those who hate Him, by destroying them. He Will not be slack with one who hates Him. He Will repay him to his face. You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today."
Deuteronomy 9:4-5 "Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you, 'It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,' whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you. Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is driving them out from before you, and that He may confirm the word that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (keep in mind always that Jacob is the second son not the first on whom the blessing is usually and customarily laid upon. This is of the greatest importance to us all who have come to trusting faith as Abram awaken to, before he became Abraham, one who walked with the LORD GOD in righteousness)."
1Kings 8:56-61 "Blessed be the LORD Who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that HE promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promises, which HE spoke by Moses His servant. The LORD our God be with us, as HE was with our fathers. May HE not leave us or forsake us, that HE may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His rules, which HE commanded our fathers. Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, and may HE maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is GOD; there is no other. Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in His statutes and keeping His commandments, as at this day."
Psalm 36:5-9 "Your steadfast Love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your Faithfulness to the clouds. Your Righteousness is like the mountains of GOD; Your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast You save, O LORD. How precious is Your steadfast Love, O GOD! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of Life; in Your Light do we see light."
Psalm 89:1-4 and Psalm 105:8 "I will sing of the Steadfast Love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known Your Faithfulness to all generations. For I said, "Steadfast Love will be built up forever; in the heavens You will establish Your Faithfulness." You have said, "I have made a covenant with My chosen one; I have sworn to David My servant: 'I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.'"
Psalm 105:8-15 "He remembers His covenant forever, the word that HE commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that HE made with Abraham, His sworn promise to Isaac, which HE confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance." When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, HE allowed no one to oppress them; HE rebuked kings on their account, saying, "Touch not My anointed ones, do M prophets no harm!"
1Corinthians 1:4-9 "I give thanks to my GOD always for you because of the Grace of GOD that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. GOD is faithful, by Whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our LORD."
Hebrews 6:13-7:3 "For when GOD made a promise to Abraham, since HE had no one greater by whom to swear, HE swore by Himself, saying, "Surely I Will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when GOD desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, HE guaranteed it with an Oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for GOD to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High GOD, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of GOD HE continues a priest forever."
1Peter 4:12-19 "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His Glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of Glory and of GOD rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify GOD in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the Household of GOD; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of GOD? And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" Therefore let those who suffer according to GOD's Will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good."
Friday, April 15, 2016
Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Spiritual Heritage)
I have been delving into GOD our Heritage in a slightly different approach to our being One in Christ. Because as we have seen when we do finally come to the Perfection that God was and is in Christ making Christ GOD which brings about HIS Divine being One within us and our being One in HIM. The next area that I want to look at are actually two but which one to do first, I have just looked at the GOD of Truth and so it is fitting to keep in the same thought. So I will do GODS being Absolutely Trustworthy before HIS being Faithful. Now with that settled I will move on to Pastor Hoekstra's writing on Grace and Christ. And has become my pattern I will use the ESV translation and as the LORD within me gives utterance I will add it as lead.
"The One Necessary Thing"
"That I may know Him . . . Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do . . . one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." (Philippians 3:10, 13, and Luke 10:42)
"Paul's goal in life was to grow in ever more in Intimacy with the LORD "That I may know Him." He wanted to know the LORD so well that his life would be transformed into "resurrected living" in this spiritually lifeless world. Even though one could say with relative certainty that even the negative side is spiritual, being that darkness and lawlessness are spiritual as the deceiver is a spirit. But with Paul he humbly admitted that he had not yet reached such spiritual maturity. "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended." Thus, in light of his own need to grow, coupled with the excellency of that goal, he had a single focus in his life: "one thing I do." This one thing was his ongoing quest to know the Lord Jesus more fully as the LORD more and more. Having only known Him as the ancient LORD from the old witness accounts of HIM. He did not yet have the New Witness understanding the transforming within him.
This focused quest is similar to the heart that Mary demonstrated, as recorded in the synoptic gospel of Luke. When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, Mary "sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word" (Luke 10:39). Martha was functioning as a busy hostess, desiring to bless her Lord. However, her busy labors distracted her from the one she was attempting to serve. "But Martha was distracted with much serving" (Luke 10:40). The solution was obvious to Martha. She would insist that Jesus send her sister to help. "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me" (Luke 10:40).
How startled Martha must have been when Jesus indicated she was the problem, not Mary. "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things" (Luke 10:41). The many concerns of Martha's ministry were causing anxiety and inner turmoil. Her desire to serve the Lord had deteriorated to self-pity and irritation. Then, Jesus offered an astounding revelation that put everything into perfect spiritual perspective. "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42).
What an amazing Truth: "one thing is needed." That one necessary matter is Jesus. Mary chose Jesus. She was at the feet of her Master, getting to know Him, listening to His words of Truth and Grace. This was Paul's heart: "one thing I do . . . that I may Know Him.""
GODS word is sure , Absolutely Trustworthy:
1Kings 8:56-61 and Psalm 93:5 "Blessed be the LORD Who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that HE promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promises, which HE spoke by Moses His servant. The LORD our God be with us, as HE was with our fathers. May HE not leave us or forsake us, that HE may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His rules, which He commanded our fathers. Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, and may HE maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, that all the peoples of the earth may Know that the LORD is GOD; there is no other. Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in His statutes and keeping His commandments, as at this day."
Psalm 93:3-5 "The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty! Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits Your house, O LORD, forevermore."
Psalm 111:7-9 "The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent Redemption to His people; HE has commanded His covenant forever. Holy and awesome is His name!"
Ezekiel 12:21-25 and Daniel 9:12 "The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, 'The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing'? Tell them therefore, 'Thus says the LORD GOD: I Will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.' But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision. For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the LORD; I Will speak the word that I Will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I Will speak the word and perform it, declares the LORD GOD."
Daniel 9:7-14 "To You, O LORD, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which You have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against You. To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in His law, which HE set before us by His servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, refusing to obey Your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of GOD have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against HIM. HE has confirmed His words, which HE spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by Your Truth. Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is Righteous in all the works that HE has done, and we have not obeyed His voice."
Matthew 5:17-19 (Jesus is speaking) "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Luke 21:29-33 and Romans 4:16 "He told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."
Romans 4:16-5:5 "That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on Grace and be Guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the GOD in Whom he believed, Who gives Life to the dead (spiritually separated from HIM) and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of GOD, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to GOD, fully convinced that GOD was able to do what HE had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as Righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in Him Who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our Justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this Grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because GOD's Love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us."
"The One Necessary Thing"
"That I may know Him . . . Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do . . . one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." (Philippians 3:10, 13, and Luke 10:42)
"Paul's goal in life was to grow in ever more in Intimacy with the LORD "That I may know Him." He wanted to know the LORD so well that his life would be transformed into "resurrected living" in this spiritually lifeless world. Even though one could say with relative certainty that even the negative side is spiritual, being that darkness and lawlessness are spiritual as the deceiver is a spirit. But with Paul he humbly admitted that he had not yet reached such spiritual maturity. "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended." Thus, in light of his own need to grow, coupled with the excellency of that goal, he had a single focus in his life: "one thing I do." This one thing was his ongoing quest to know the Lord Jesus more fully as the LORD more and more. Having only known Him as the ancient LORD from the old witness accounts of HIM. He did not yet have the New Witness understanding the transforming within him.
This focused quest is similar to the heart that Mary demonstrated, as recorded in the synoptic gospel of Luke. When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, Mary "sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word" (Luke 10:39). Martha was functioning as a busy hostess, desiring to bless her Lord. However, her busy labors distracted her from the one she was attempting to serve. "But Martha was distracted with much serving" (Luke 10:40). The solution was obvious to Martha. She would insist that Jesus send her sister to help. "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me" (Luke 10:40).
How startled Martha must have been when Jesus indicated she was the problem, not Mary. "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things" (Luke 10:41). The many concerns of Martha's ministry were causing anxiety and inner turmoil. Her desire to serve the Lord had deteriorated to self-pity and irritation. Then, Jesus offered an astounding revelation that put everything into perfect spiritual perspective. "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42).
What an amazing Truth: "one thing is needed." That one necessary matter is Jesus. Mary chose Jesus. She was at the feet of her Master, getting to know Him, listening to His words of Truth and Grace. This was Paul's heart: "one thing I do . . . that I may Know Him.""
GODS word is sure , Absolutely Trustworthy:
1Kings 8:56-61 and Psalm 93:5 "Blessed be the LORD Who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that HE promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promises, which HE spoke by Moses His servant. The LORD our God be with us, as HE was with our fathers. May HE not leave us or forsake us, that HE may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His rules, which He commanded our fathers. Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, and may HE maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, that all the peoples of the earth may Know that the LORD is GOD; there is no other. Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in His statutes and keeping His commandments, as at this day."
Psalm 93:3-5 "The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty! Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits Your house, O LORD, forevermore."
Psalm 111:7-9 "The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent Redemption to His people; HE has commanded His covenant forever. Holy and awesome is His name!"
Ezekiel 12:21-25 and Daniel 9:12 "The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, 'The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing'? Tell them therefore, 'Thus says the LORD GOD: I Will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.' But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision. For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the LORD; I Will speak the word that I Will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I Will speak the word and perform it, declares the LORD GOD."
Daniel 9:7-14 "To You, O LORD, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which You have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against You. To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in His law, which HE set before us by His servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, refusing to obey Your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of GOD have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against HIM. HE has confirmed His words, which HE spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by Your Truth. Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is Righteous in all the works that HE has done, and we have not obeyed His voice."
Matthew 5:17-19 (Jesus is speaking) "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Luke 21:29-33 and Romans 4:16 "He told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."
Romans 4:16-5:5 "That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on Grace and be Guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the GOD in Whom he believed, Who gives Life to the dead (spiritually separated from HIM) and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of GOD, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to GOD, fully convinced that GOD was able to do what HE had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as Righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in Him Who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our Justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this Grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because GOD's Love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us."
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Spiritual Heritage)
Yesterday I looked at the GOD of Truth and today with that thought still actively at work in my mind I want to look at our Truthfulness as a duty of our being, Truth in GODS sight. But before I do I will again turn to Pastor Hoekstra and his revealing Grace and our restored Relationship with GOD in and through Christ the Spirit of both Grace and Truth and much more as we have already seen. And again I will use the ESV translation and if and when the LORD reveals to me illumination I will without hesitation edit the material being looked at, there and then.
"The Excelling Value of Knowing Christ"
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ... that I may know Him." (Philippians 3:8, 10)
"We can easily underestimate the great value of getting to know the LORD Christ Jesus. Other concerns from the world, or even within the church world, of mans religion, gain our interest and allegiance. Paul clearly saw the precious treasure of Knowing Christ. Sadly because the world of the church as it is today does not in most cases measure up to the standards of the former Church as the Family of GOD. In other words it has fallen from Grace much the same way that Israel as a Nation did. Old habits are hard indeed to break away from.
Paul had advanced greatly in the religious culture of Israel's Jewish community of the elite. In today's language they were the religiously politically correctness, high and lofty minded of the day. He was "a Hebrew of the Hebrews" (Philippians 3:5). He was a prominent Pharisee, a leader among the nation of Israel. Nevertheless, he forsook all of that cultural and religious advantage in order to follow, become One with Christ. "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ." He considered Knowing the LORD Christ Jesus a far greater thing than his privileged personal position as a mere Jew. You see being a Jew is no different than being and remaining a person in rebellion and disobedience, even as a religious person today. there is no relationship with GOD in Christ while we are in that status and if we think otherwise we deceive ourselves. As there is no Truth or Grace within us at all.
Furthermore, Paul continued to consider other matters as loss, as compared to the supreme value of knowing his LORD better. "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the Excellence of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD." Now that Paul had a remarkable Relationship with the LORD, is without question. For he considered any thing that would interfere with or diminish that Relationship as being a spiritual loss. This is the same kind of attitude that we must require of ourselves to acquire without question. Sometimes, we are tempted to engage in matters that seem to bring some blessing or advantage. Yet, when we see the impact it might have on our Relationship with the LORD, the apparent gain is actually a loss. Our mental perception must be changed by acquiring the mind of Christ. In other words how do we discern the things of life and the world that we are just passing? Do we only see the materialism of man or do see and hear the spirit that is driving man and men and even nations as the Lord Jesus Himself did.
Paul knew Jesus as his personal LORD and Savior, Christ. Still, he was aware that more of the blessings of Christ were yet to be experienced, if his Relationship were to develop into more depth and Intimacy: "that I may gain Christ." Thus, he repeats his two-fold renouncement of anything that might interfere with this desire. First, a look at the past: "I have suffered the loss of all things." Then, a confession of the present: "and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ." This term ("rubbish") refers to garbage, to waste, to dung. Is this our own attitude? If not why not?
These convictions left Paul with one great goal is his life: "that I may Know Him." Paul realized that this goal was the excelling value in all of the universe: "the Excellence of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD.""
The duty of Truthfulness:
Proverbs 12:16-23 and Zephaniah 3:13 "The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy. No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are His delight. A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly."
Zephaniah 3:7, 8-13 "I said, 'Surely you will fear Me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.' But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt.
"Therefore wait for Me," declares the LORD, "for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation, all My burning anger; for in the fire of My jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. "For at that time I Will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him with one accord (shoulder to shoulder). From beyond the rivers of Cush My worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering. "On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against Me; for then I Will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in My Holy mountain. I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid."
Zechariah 8:14-17 "For thus says the LORD of Hosts: "As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of Hosts, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD."
Malachi 2:1-9 and 2Corinthians 12:6 "And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to My name, says the LORD of Hosts, then I Will send the curse upon you and I Will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I Will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that My covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of Hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he (greatly reverenced) feared Me. He stood in awe of My name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with Me in Peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of Hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep My ways but show partiality in your instruction."
2Corinthians 12:1-10 "I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the LORD. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, GOD knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, GOD knows—and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the Revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the LORD about this, that it should leave me. But HE said to me, "My Grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Ephesians 4:25-32 "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the Truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give Grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of GOD, by Whom you were sealed for (on the day of your) the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as GOD in Christ forgave you."
Ephesians 6:10-17 "Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole (Light as the) armor of GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of Truth, and having put on the breastplate of Righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the Gospel of Peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of GOD."
"The Excelling Value of Knowing Christ"
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ... that I may know Him." (Philippians 3:8, 10)
"We can easily underestimate the great value of getting to know the LORD Christ Jesus. Other concerns from the world, or even within the church world, of mans religion, gain our interest and allegiance. Paul clearly saw the precious treasure of Knowing Christ. Sadly because the world of the church as it is today does not in most cases measure up to the standards of the former Church as the Family of GOD. In other words it has fallen from Grace much the same way that Israel as a Nation did. Old habits are hard indeed to break away from.
Paul had advanced greatly in the religious culture of Israel's Jewish community of the elite. In today's language they were the religiously politically correctness, high and lofty minded of the day. He was "a Hebrew of the Hebrews" (Philippians 3:5). He was a prominent Pharisee, a leader among the nation of Israel. Nevertheless, he forsook all of that cultural and religious advantage in order to follow, become One with Christ. "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ." He considered Knowing the LORD Christ Jesus a far greater thing than his privileged personal position as a mere Jew. You see being a Jew is no different than being and remaining a person in rebellion and disobedience, even as a religious person today. there is no relationship with GOD in Christ while we are in that status and if we think otherwise we deceive ourselves. As there is no Truth or Grace within us at all.
Furthermore, Paul continued to consider other matters as loss, as compared to the supreme value of knowing his LORD better. "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the Excellence of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD." Now that Paul had a remarkable Relationship with the LORD, is without question. For he considered any thing that would interfere with or diminish that Relationship as being a spiritual loss. This is the same kind of attitude that we must require of ourselves to acquire without question. Sometimes, we are tempted to engage in matters that seem to bring some blessing or advantage. Yet, when we see the impact it might have on our Relationship with the LORD, the apparent gain is actually a loss. Our mental perception must be changed by acquiring the mind of Christ. In other words how do we discern the things of life and the world that we are just passing? Do we only see the materialism of man or do see and hear the spirit that is driving man and men and even nations as the Lord Jesus Himself did.
Paul knew Jesus as his personal LORD and Savior, Christ. Still, he was aware that more of the blessings of Christ were yet to be experienced, if his Relationship were to develop into more depth and Intimacy: "that I may gain Christ." Thus, he repeats his two-fold renouncement of anything that might interfere with this desire. First, a look at the past: "I have suffered the loss of all things." Then, a confession of the present: "and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ." This term ("rubbish") refers to garbage, to waste, to dung. Is this our own attitude? If not why not?
These convictions left Paul with one great goal is his life: "that I may Know Him." Paul realized that this goal was the excelling value in all of the universe: "the Excellence of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD.""
The duty of Truthfulness:
Proverbs 12:16-23 and Zephaniah 3:13 "The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy. No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are His delight. A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly."
Zephaniah 3:7, 8-13 "I said, 'Surely you will fear Me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.' But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt.
"Therefore wait for Me," declares the LORD, "for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation, all My burning anger; for in the fire of My jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. "For at that time I Will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him with one accord (shoulder to shoulder). From beyond the rivers of Cush My worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering. "On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against Me; for then I Will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in My Holy mountain. I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid."
Zechariah 8:14-17 "For thus says the LORD of Hosts: "As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of Hosts, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD."
Malachi 2:1-9 and 2Corinthians 12:6 "And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to My name, says the LORD of Hosts, then I Will send the curse upon you and I Will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I Will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that My covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of Hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he (greatly reverenced) feared Me. He stood in awe of My name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with Me in Peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of Hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep My ways but show partiality in your instruction."
2Corinthians 12:1-10 "I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the LORD. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, GOD knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, GOD knows—and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the Revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the LORD about this, that it should leave me. But HE said to me, "My Grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Ephesians 4:25-32 "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the Truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give Grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of GOD, by Whom you were sealed for (on the day of your) the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as GOD in Christ forgave you."
Ephesians 6:10-17 "Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole (Light as the) armor of GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of Truth, and having put on the breastplate of Righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the Gospel of Peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of GOD."
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