"ON EAGLES' WINGS MINISTRIES"
“See how I bare you on eagles’ wings and brought you unto myself.” Exodus 19: 4.
Royce Kennedy, 909 Whistling Duck Drive, Largo, MD 20774, U. S. A.
Website: www.godfire.net/kennedy: Email: Rkenn909@hotmail.com***
"CALLED TO BE WITNESSES" Part 3. SEPTEMBER 2019
“Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant 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 read the contents of this passage of scripture, many thoughts can be garnered and placed deep in our hearts.
The most profound and provocative sentiment is the call for Israel to be witness that God is who he said he is. From our vantage point of salvation by the blood of Jesus, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, being made partakers of the divine nature (2nd Peter 1:4) we can safely assume that what Israel was called upon to do, could only be a type. As we delve more deeply into the major components of what God seemingly is saying, we will no doubt discern the real message and purpose and personage to whom the call to be God’s witnesses really applies.
Going back to the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Deuteronomy, we learn very clearly that the promises and high calling of God made to ancient Israel were only given as types of that which would unfold in the midst of God’s chosen people—called the church. Before long, we will see how impossible it was for those to whom the prophecy was spoken could not possibly demonstrate to the world the personality and divine nature of God himself. We cited the following in previous writings, but it seems appropriate to rehearse the lessons in which Israel was used as a point of contact or a reference point, that was intended for a bigger picture.
God recalls his word: “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” Exodos 19:5,6. These words—much like a covenant between God and Israel were spoken by the Lord himself. He spoke to a people then present; and yet in all fairness, the standard that God provided and laid before Israel like a challenge in all fairness could hardly be brought into reality in the lives of those to whom the words were spoken. But as we can see from their history to this very day, Israel never attained the lofty measures that God pronounced on their behalf, and required of them.
Here are what the facts tend to teach us. The word of being called to be witnesses unto God—THAT HE IS GOD—was spoken by the prophet in about the year B.C.712. We previously explained that in those 712 years before Christ, thousands of generations were born, lived and died without seeing the prophecy fulfilled in their time. Until today, it stands to reason that prophecies, spoken in any time frame will only be understood on the basis of “When the fulness of time is come.” Galatians 4:4. Generations living in their own time frame are not likely to see the fulfilment of the prophecies, without understanding to whom, or to what people the prophecies referred.
It is likely that each generation felt sure that the words spoken by the prophets meant they themselves. Each ensuing generation most likely placed themselves in line to see the fulfilment of prophecies (especially the Messianic prophecies) but in the meantime, God already had set the time and circumstances under which his word, spoken by the prophets would come to fruition. To get the full understanding of what we are talking about, we need to rehearse God’s words spoken to Israel by Moses. In about the year 1491, the year Israel departed Egypt the Lord promised them an elevated place among all nations upon the
therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” Exodus 19:5,6. But as we observed in a previous letter, natural Israel did not meet the requirements of the Divine process; but the words spoken by Moses are carried to New Testament times and fulfilled within the context of the Church of Jesus Christ.
We learn from an apostle to the New Testament Church: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, (removing the concept of an holy calling from Israel of old), a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1st Peter 2: 9. Here, we see that the wording of the text is almost exactly as that which was spoken by Moses back in B.C. 1491. But in this case, the apostle Peter applied those original words, spoken nearly 2,000 earlier to a natural people, but now applied to a spiritual people—namely, the Church at large—and the collective body of Christ. Based upon this scripture alone, it proves that Peter was not the first Pope as falsely claimed by the Roman Catholic Church. The concept above, taught by Peter, clearly highlights the priesthood of all believers in Christ.
As we have said time and again, to gain the full understanding of biblical prophecies, we must determine what was spoken, to whom it was spoken, what were the determining circumstances, and what time frame did the prophetic words allude to. Let us look at a few examples of how it takes a closer look and a broader understanding to fully understanding of prophecy. The most important factor mentioned above is the essence of time. Let us remember that about 740 years elapsed between the promise of a child born, and a son given, during which many generations were born, lived and died, who never saw the reality of the promise.
The main thrust, the everlasting plan of salvation, was put in place IN GOD, before the ages were formed—before time began, or in eternity. Away back then, each one of us were registered in God’s manual “of things to do.” To many, their salvation began when they walked to the front and stood before the altar where they repeated “the sinners prayer” and went on the be baptized that same hour, and after a change of clothes they were given the right hand of fellowship into that local Assembly. That moment around the altar when “they found Jesus” becomes the actual beginning of their salvation experience; when they met Jesus and began to learn him in future bible classes.
But what is our Father’s condition and terms where our salvation is concerned. This also refers to us becoming true witnesses of our Heavenly Father and of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Bear in mind that so far, we have seen how God began the process of redemption through people like Adam, a type of Christ, Abraham, Moses, Isaac, and many others. The call of Moses, Abram, and a host of others was putting into real time, and with real people, that which was already established before the world began. But consider this! God’s plan of the salvation of mankind was set in motion, long before man ever set his foot on this terrestrial plane. Yes! Man’s redemption got on the way in his absence and without his involvement at any level. To view this dramatic truth, we must stand on the edge of time, where time shadows, or borders on eternity.
Mortal man, even those who claim Jesus as Savior, counts time and his redemption based upon what he can understand as it relates to his mortal life on earth. But the Lord God who is Spirit, began interacting with man in his unborn state. He spoke to a child saying: “Before I formed in the belly I knew thee; (because he was actually alive and was known to God in a positive way) and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1”5. I can still remember when the Lord spoke to me back home in Kingston, Jamaica, saying: “Before your mother knew what she would have, I ordained thee to this ministry, and thou shalt go to whom I shall send thee.” This was repeated in exact words in Birmingham, England, some 5,000 miles away from Kingston, and by people who were perfect strangers to me.
The young child rebuffed God somewhat by saying: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. In the midst of this dialogue between a mighty God and a little child, he moved to consolidate with this child the ministry to which he was called. “Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee (a simple little boy) over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:9,10. Don’t forget that all of this happened before the child was born, and him being yet unborn had no impact or relevance to the ministry that God had already ordained for him. His ordination was enacted and confirmed while he was still in the womb.
But we are forced to ask if the case of Jeremiah was unique to himself; and was an event that would not be replicated in others. David in the Psalms offered a candid narrative that captures the reality of God’s dealings with mankind before the ages were formed. He wrote: “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect; (or being undeveloped) and in thy book, all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:13,15,16. Thus, we see that the process of God dealing with mankind before their actual birth, was not unique to the child Jeremiah.
Paul expanded on the subject of God’s dealings with us before time began, as he wrote candidly in this letter. “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:4-7. Another great witness is offered by Paul in his letter to his son in the gospel Timothy. In this letter, he emphasized the origin of our salvation, in that it was sealed and signed long before time began, as we just read in Ephesians.
“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; who hath saved us , and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 2nd Timothy 1:8,9. What are we being offered in these scriptures? Both Ephesians and second Timothy are endorsing the truth of the origin of our salvation, which process, and principles were set in place before time began: and to emphasize this truth, John in the Revelation saw a Lamb as one that has been slain before the foundation of the world. “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” Revelation 5:6.
These New Testament scriptures serve to pull the curtains back and escort us from the corridors of time to the very edge of eternity. From an open door, we are allowed to see God’s major plan, not only to those who believe in his Son Jesus Christ, but the ultimate prospect of the entire creation. His major plans are set in stages or segments of time; in which each segment must run its course to it completion, before the ensuing segment is allowed to fill in what would be a void if allowed to remain dormant and stagnant. Against the background of what seemed to be an unfulfilled promise, Paul told the Galatians: “But when the fulness of time was come.”
This means that a thousand generations could have claimed that the prophecy was meant for them, when in truth, it was not meant for them at all. Look at the intricacies and required process needed to correctly understand biblical prophecies. Phillip was taken by an angel out of what could have been called “revival time” in Samaria. He ended up on the road that would take a goodly man from Jerusalem back to Ethiopia. From his perch atop his chariot, this man was reading from the book of Isaiah. As Philip drew near and joined this noble man, he noted that the man was reading from Isaiah 53. Soon he enquired of Philip; I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man? Acts 8:27-34.
We have another candid example of how many in olden times dealt with prophecies that would likely impact peoples and nations in ensuing years. Let us walk through the door and join Peter as he explained to us the matter of a truth, yet to be revealed in a time frame that differed from those who spoke those ancient prophecies. Thus, we read: “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified before hand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us did they minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desired to look into. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1st Peter 1:8-13. Please notice the dramatics involved in this process! After the prophets spoke by the Holy Spirit of this particular glory of a salvation at that time was still hidden in Christ, they went back in prayer earnestly seeking to know to whom they were speaking.
But there is another essential component that belongs in the mix. Let us look at the facts that are woven into this aspect of the biblical chronology. Peter alludes to the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” This begs for a further search by us, to determine what time frame was Peter referring to, because he did say: “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, BUT UNTO US did they minister the things, which are now reported unto you…” 1st Peter 1:11,12. Peter did not stand aloof as he referred the truth to another set of disciples in Christ. He affirmed that the glory would come to us (including himself) at the revelation of Jesus Christ. But let us look at this matter from a chronological point of view, in that Peter included himself to be a participant who would share in the glory to be revealed at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Look at the facts, and their allocated timeline. To understand this, is to acknowledge that all that God does is exactly “ON TIME” for the people involved.
Royce O. Kennedy
Please be reminded to make your gifts payable to Royce Kennedy and not to the ministry.
Royce Kennedy
909
Whistling Duck Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774-7134