“Ye are my witnesses,
saith the Lord, and my servants whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe
me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither
shall there be after me. I, even I am the Lord; and beside me there is no
Savior. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no
strange god among you: therefore, ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I
am God.” Isaiah 43:10-12.
As we study God’s ultimate
intentions for his entire creation beginning in Genesis, one thing stands out
very clearly: even before time began, God had set in place the building blocks
to his kingdom and his ultimate residence with man; and within man. In the
process, as we shall see in this study, from the very “get-go” the Creator
placed man as the major player in his grand design. Instead of building a wall
of separation between himself and man, God constructed man within the framework
of himself. DO NOT LET THIS TRUTH SLIP AWAY FROM YOU!! To teach our oneness with
God in religious circles is to ask for trouble: and to be castigated by
mainstream religion. We grew up being made to understand that God is holy: in
fact, so holy that he dares not look upon sin; and as sinners, we must come to
him pleading for mercy, confessing our unworthiness.
As I like to say, that
mindset is a false humility that is designed to rob you of your power and
victory. No father is appreciative of a son who comes to him daily with his head
bowed low, confessing how unworthy a son he is. One day the father is likely to
grab the son by the collar, shake him a few times, look him directly in the eyes
and ask: “What is your problem son? Why are you engrossed with overwhelming
inferiority complex? But what is the real story of who we are and why we are
here? In the very beginning, we are told that God made man in his image, and
after his likeness. We did invent that status for ourselves. That was God’s
choice, and there was a profound reason behind it. He tells the end from the
beginning, and before the foundation of the world, he placed the building blocks
in place.
Even the name Adam
carries certain connotation that impacts the ever-unfolding workings which are
his predestinated will for us and for creation at large. The Hebrew word for
Adam, is ad’-um or aw-dawn: It means to show blood in the face, to
flush, to turn rosy, and of low degree. Remember that David wrote saying that
man was made a little lower than the angels which means a little lower than
el-o-heem which is plural meaning lower than the Gods. This fits the
announcement: “Come let US make man in OUR IMAGE and after OUR LIKENESS. After
man disobeyed God’s command, the Lord said: “Behold, the man is become as one
of US, to know good and evil.” Genesis 2:22. The word image is tsch’-lem
and it means to shade, resemblance, a representative, a figure. The word
likeness is dem-ooth and it means resemblance, model, manner, similitude.
We know that God is Spirit, but from the words used in the creation of man, we
see a precursor, or a harbinger of things to come.
Let us look at the
fact that God breathe into man, the breath of life, and he became a living soul.
That breath of life that is in every man is the God-part of all of us. And we
know that at death the spirit returns to God who gave it, while the body returns
to the dust. The apostle John puts it this way: “In him (the Word)
was life; and the life was the light of men. That was the true Light which
lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:3,9. Thus, it is
clear that God has placed himself in every person that comes into this world. We
often remind ourselves that Paul referred to the words of certain of their own
prophets who said: “For we are also his offspring (meaning his offshoot
or next of kin) much like your son or daughter. If this statement be true,
“forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we
ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone,
graven by art and man’s device.” Acts
17:28,29. To put in bluntly—in the
light of scripture—IF YOU WANT TO SEE GOD—look in the mirror. Why? How? Because
Christ had promised that: “If a man love me, he will
keep my words: and my Father will love him, and make our abode with him or “in
him.” John 14: 23.
Also, Paul wrote in
one of his pastoral letters to remind the saints: “As God hath said, I will
dwell IN THEM, and WALK IN THEM; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people.” 2nd Corinthians 6: 16. Israel’s call to be God’s
witnesses was not based upon, or tempered with the components as seen in the New
Testament. What was lacking in them is spelled out in the biblical narrative.
“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word
preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard
it.” Hebrews 4:2. We have a better calling for us to be his witnesses as
instituted by Christ himself, just prior to his ascension up into heaven. He
appeared into the room where the disciples had gathered, and we read:
“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week,
when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the
Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me,
even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and
saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are
remitted unto them; and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained.” John
20:19-23.
So far, as religious
practices go, it is only the Catholic Church that systemically practice the
forgiveness of sins. I remember one of my Chinese cousins in Kingston, Jamaica,
telling me how much money he had to pay to the church, to remove his wife from
purgatory to heaven. Something on that premise! But for this study, let us pay
careful scrutiny to what Jesus said. As my Father hath sent me, even so
send I you. What is abundantly clear, is that the disciples
were given the same mandate as Christ himself, who made that announcement. The
mandate that Christ placed upon the disciples, included all that Jesus did in
his earthly ministry. Don’t forget the term “EVEN SO SEND I YOU.” The disciples
were now involved into the same equation with Christ himself. Jesus did say at
one time: “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me.” Matthew 11:29. So
then, from Christ walking the shores of Galilee to this very day, we, as his
disciples are still called upon to LEARN JESUS CHRIST.
This places the
impetus on us to observe how Christ started to preach and teach and do many
wonderful things. We begin at his baptism, when the Holy Ghost in the form of a
dove descended and sat upon him, and the Father speaking his approval of the
Christ. (It was at his baptism that he became the Messiah, or the anointed one.
We are told that he received the Holy Ghost without measure: but for what ever
that was worth, Jesus did not gather together his disciples and set out to
establish the “Church of the New Age—or the First Church of God’s Kingdom.”
Instead, he was led
into the wilderness to be on fasting and to be tested forty days and forty
nights. During my years in the ministry, I marvel how many young converts I met
who were in a hurry to “start a church” saying “God has called me to preach.” O
yea? Let’s follow the unfolding of Christ’s ministry. “And he came to
Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and as his custom was, he went into the
synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read (in other words this
was his regular practice) And there was delivered unto him the book of the
prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was
written, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor; (this is the priority of the
preaching of the gospel—TO THE POOR) he hath sent me to
heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering
of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the
acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the
minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were
fastened on him.
So far, Jesus did all
the right things! He came to church on the right day: “the sabbath day” and he
went to the right place “the synagogue.” He read from the right book “the
prophet Esaias” and so far, everything worked well for Jesus, but not for long,
because in his next statement he blew it. He literally blew away the sentiments,
beliefs, and practices of the old system and stirred the wrath of the
congregation. “And he began to say unto them, THIS DAY is the
scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bear him witness and wondered at the
gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this
Joseph’s son? And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were
filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust him out of the city.” Luke
4:16-22,28,29. Now we have Jesus ministering in the power of the Holy
Spirit; and this was echoed and witnessed by the apostles. In due time,
Jesus went some distance with his disciples and at this crucial moment, perhaps
with the disciples sensing the imminent departure of Jesus, they asked about the
timing of the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. Instead of giving a direct
answer to the disciples’ question about the restoration of the kingdom to
Israel, Jesus puts them on notice for an event that could not be matched
anywhere, anytime.
“And he said unto them, It
is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in
his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:6-8. This grand event that would
happen in another 10 days with the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the day of
Pentecost, marked the new dynamics of the witnesses of Christ, and the birth of
what we call ‘The Apostolic Church.” It did not take long for the disciples to
publicly bear witness of the resurrection, and that Christ was indeed alive from
the dead. In their defense before the council of what God had done, Peter
addressed the situation saying: “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom
ye hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be Prince and
as Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are
his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God
hath given to them that obey him.” Acts 5:30-32. Notice that Peter was not
serving as a witness by himself: he was not standing alone, for we read again:
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom
God hath given to them that obey him To be like Jesus, and to serve as he
served, we must take into account what the records in scripture speaks of him.
Here is a status that tops everything that pertains to the preaching of
gospel—to have a ministry that heaven has approved.
“Ye men of Israel,
hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among
you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you,
as ye yourselves also know.” Acts 2:22 There can be no
improvement or stream-lining or modernizing of a ministry that is already
approved of God: and may we add, a ministry that is not approved by God, will no
doubt fall into the category to whom Christ will say: “Depart from me, I never
knew you.” Matthew 7: 23. Let us look at another biblical account of the person
and ministry of Jesus Christ. “How God anointed Jesus
of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and
healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we
are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews and
in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God raised up the
third day and shewed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses
chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose
from the dead.” Acts 10:38-41.
It a pivotal moment in time;
Jesus assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not
depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he,
ye have heard of me. The disciples had a concern of their own. “When they
therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this
time restore the kingdom again to Israel? The disciples were no doubt
thinking of an Old Testament prophecy that said: “In that day will I raise
up the tabernacle of David that is fallen down, and close up the breaches
thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of
old.” Amos 9:11. Jesus’ reply did not directly answer their question:
rather, he inserted a separate dynamic designed to serve a present cause.
“And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times
and the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive
power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8.
Amos 9:11 can easily be used
as a foundation scripture to those who teach many prophesies in a literal sense,
especially those relating to the restoration of natural Israel upon a literal
throne that is deemed to be David’s throne. But we have a scenario in which
Peter went to the house of Cornelius a Gentile, and while speaking the Holy
Ghost fell upon all in the room, and as Peter testified “for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Acts10:
45,46
Peter was later
brought before the council in Jerusalem to offer the reason for his visit and
ministry to Gentiles that were gathered in the house of Cornelius. Peter gave a
true account of all that transpired among the Gentiles, especially how God who
placed no difference between Jews and Gentiles poured out his Spirit upon all
those Gentiles gathered with Cornelius.
Peter declared that
he could not withstand God in his effort to baptize those gathered, with the
Holy Ghost as he did upon them at the beginning at Pentecost. Once again, we
reiterate the fact that Amos 9:11 serves as a classic statement of truth for the
future rise of Israel as a nation to once again sit upon the throne of David.
But after Peter delivered his account of his visit to Cornelius’s house, how,
and what he spoke, and how the Holy Ghost fell upon everyone in the house: Peter
reaffirming that he could not withstand God, James, the chief apostle and
seemingly the chairman over the council in Jerusalem offered his observation,
and his assessment of the whole case against Peter. He had paid close attention
to Peter’s testimony, marking the importance of every word, and the big picture
mirrored in the before them. James did not equate the call of the Gentiles with
the rebuilding of Israel. After things had calmed down, James offered his
address and his conclusion.
“And after they
had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Simeon hath declared how God at first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of
them a people for his name (note carefully the connection that James made to
Peter’s account of what happened.. He did not link the Peter’s account to the
restoration of natural Israel to become the top above all other nations) James
continued: And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
after this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is
fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
that the residue (the remainder of men) of men might seek after the Lord,
and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord that doeth all
these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”
Acts 157-18. So then, taken in the truth that it was written in, Amos 9:11
has no connection with the future building of a reestablished Israeli State.
Alas! The rebuilding of David’s tabernacle and the ruins thereof relates
entirely to the Gentiles receiving salvation, and a process that reaches out to
the residue of me. Beating the drum of David’s throne being rebuilt in Jerusalem
might sound good to ears that are tuned in to the big futuristic picture. But
the truth in scripture can easily lead us out of darkness and misguided
interpretations.
We are called by the
Father, to be his witnesses, not merely by what we say about our personal
salvation. It is based upon what we have become in our union with Christ. That
union is so real that we are told this truth: “For we are members of his
body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” Ephesians 5:30. Paul explained it
even further: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the
members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 1st
Corinthians 12:12. From this vantage point, we can see very clearly how
different we are as witnesses of Christ, than Israel of old. We have
said this before in previous writings, but we will repeat it since it fits in
perfectly with the thoughts being considered i.e. “oneness with Christ.”
Saul of Tarsus was on
the Damascus road, bearing letters of authority to pursue, capture, and bring
back to Jerusalem in chains, those Christians with whom he fought a pitched
battle. On his way, he was suddenly accosted by the risen Christ in a blaze of
brilliant glory, in so much that he was thrown to the ground face down and
suddenly with blinded eyes. The Lord was the first to speak: he asked why Saul
was persecuting him, to which Saul asked: “who art thou Lord that I persecute?”
Bear in mind that Saul was persecuting Christians (although at this point in
time, the word Christian had not been coined and introduced into the daily
conversation about the followers of Christ.) But in answering the question about
the person Saul was persecuting, the Lord replied: “I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
To put this thought
in its proper perspective, let us speculate that Jesus could have said: “why
persecute my followers?” or “Why persecute those who are preaching my
resurrection, saying that I am alive from the dead?” Jesus could have referred
to the second or third person: but he answered in the first person: “I am
Jesus!” Paul wrote, as we quoted above, that we are members of his body, of his
flesh and of his bones. There is no need to speculate, to wonder and to ponder
the truth in this lesson. Jesus is saying that the people you are persecuting
are my body—THEY ARE ME!! We have heard the term” the mystical body of Christ.”
I personally do not subscribe to that philosophy. The church is not his mystical
body—we are actually, in reality—his body—his flesh—and his bones; thus,
becoming his perfect witnesses in the earth empowered by the Holy Spirit, as we
speak as the oracles of God. Yes! As he is, so are we in this world. 1st
John 4: 17. It is because of this truth, this dynamic, why we are exhorted by
the Apostle Paul, that we should be conformed to the image (the likeness and
personality) of Jesus Christ. That is why our conversion (born again) experience
is designed for us to be made partakers of the divine nature—to be like him. 2nd
Peter 1:4.
To be continued...
