|
14pt Printer friendly (8 pages) | 20pt Printer friendly (16 pages)
“See how I bare you on eagles’ wings and brought you unto myself.”
Exodus 19: 4.
Email: Rkenn909@hotmail.com
PART 3 AUGUST 2020
Back home, as a young Christian, and even before I accepted Christ as Savior, there was a song that was popular in the local Assembly, which I still enjoy today: and it goes like this: “let’s talk about Jesus, the King of kings is he, the Lord of lords supreme through all eternity: the great I am the way, the truth, the life, the door: let’s talk about Jesus, more and more.” The song holds true even today, and so we continue to sing, to write, and to talk about Jesus, the true King of kings, and the eternal Lord of lords. The four gospels present their individual narrative of the man Jesus, with each gospel offering its own version of the events of the man’s life and his earthly ministry. Since they were not written at the time the incidents occurred, but many years later, each narrative does not correspond exactly with the others. With that preponderance in mind, we will bring the man Christ Jesus into focus, and have him speak on his own behalf. From time to time, Jesus asked his disciples what they thought about him; about his person and personal details about the man himself: “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. What Jesus said in another response is of vital importance, that can lead us forward, all the way to the book of Revelation. “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 16: 13-17. Let us go on a little biblical safari to highlight the influence and changing power of the Holy Spirit. First of all, Jesus is saying in this dialogue with Peter, that it was his Father (the eternal Spirit) that revealed this truth to him. With this thought in the fore-front of our minds, we can connect with Paul when he wrote: “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more (after the flesh.) 2nd Corinthians 5:16. We can safely infer that after receiving the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost, from henceforth, they ceased from recognizing Christ as the “flesh man” (a mere human) of ten days ago. Everything changed for them, and within them, by Christ returning to dwell IN THEM in the form of the Holy Ghost. Let us step back in time to look in again upon a story that is well known, and now preached regularly in our Sunday morning or afternoon services. The amazing truth that the lesson conveys is worth our while to revisit the story and see the Holy Spirit at work as promised by a prophet: “And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, and go seek the asses. (I will need to condense part of the story to save time and space: I will paraphrase portions). In his search, Saul encountered a prophet named Samuel. After the proper introduction and “small talk” both men got down to a serious discussion in which Samuel entered upon a divine interlude that would change the life of the man Saul. The message from the prophet contained some specific instructions as follows: “Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plane of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: and they shall salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands. "After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy. And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shall be turned into another man. And when they came hither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them." 1st Samuel 9:3;10:2-10. This incident was so unique concerning Saul that we read: “And it came to pass, when all that knew him before time saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" Verse 11. We are given a view of what we can call “instantaneous change” without the intervention or participation of a human being. As a matter of practice and what has become an integral part of the Christian Doctrine, the ongoing concept is that “...they cannot believe on whom they have not heard, and they cannot hear without a preacher.” But we should by now, understand that God is not confined to the “norm of things.” He makes the rules and when his purpose requires it, he breaks the rules by introducing other rules that render some rules null and void. God has proposed a time when he will work his work of grace by himself, bypassing all human help and intervention. We have mentioned this before, but it seems prudent for us to refer to it once more. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.” Hebrews 8: 10, 11. We must rest assured that indeed, God will perform his will in our midst, and at that time all shall know his will, because he will work from the inside out, while we labor the old way, by working from the outside in, as we try to convert man’s soul from sin to grace. Let us read the full account of the contact Saul had with the prophet Samuel. Let us recap the story in short order, that demonstrates how God brought a spontaneous change, in a moment of time, when the man in question did not seek change, other than seeking his father’s asses that were lost. Saul was told by the prophet Samuel that he would meet a band of prophets along the way; and at that point in time, the Spirit of the Lord would come upon him, and he would prophesy and be changed into another man: “And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.” 1st. Samuel 10: 6-9. Notice that two creative acts occurred at the same moment. Number one is that the Spirit came upon Saul; and in that same moment, God gave him another heart. Let us take note that in this transaction of dramatic change that occurred in a moment of time, God worked alone on his own behalf. As I have remarked in sermons from time to time, God will work with, or without us, and that is why I make myself available to him and indeed become a worker together with him. 1st Corinthians 3:9. 2nd Corinthians 6:1. This, as in a capsule, demonstrates how mighty the Holy Spirit is in changing a person in the nick of time. In fact, after Saul of Tarsus was prayed for and was baptized, he began preaching the gospel (which he knew very well and was persecuted). The term we love to employ in the lesson of Saul, is that he was told specifically that as the Holy Spirit envelops his entire being, he would be turned into another man. That is what transpired among the 120 souls at Pentecost. Upon receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit each person was changed into another man. By the power of their transformed selves, they turned the city upside down and three thousand souls were added to the church in that single day. Take note of the result of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned (not having received religious training) and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13. The transforming power of the Holy Ghost is on display throughout the book of Acts as demonstrated in the ministry of the early apostles. After his resurrection, Jesus spent forty days with his disciples as recorded here: “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Unfortunately, we have no record of what those things were that Jesus shared with his disciples. But after those forty days, Jesus led his disciples as far as to Bethany; and at that point they asked him: “Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:3-6. It is obvious that even at this point in time, they had no real concept of the nature and the unfolding of the kingdom of God. But ten days later, after the Holy Ghost fell upon them on the day of Pentecost (the feast of tabernacles) Peter, along with the eleven stood to deliver the first sermon of the newly born “Apostolic Church.” Now, being filled with the Holy Ghost, he reached back into kingdom truths and brought David back, as it were, alive from the dead. He opened up in plain language the dynamics of God’s unfolding kingdom, of which, ten days ago, they had no idea of the dynamics of the same kingdom that Peter was about to preach. The following is another passage of scripture that has become my favorite. Peter opened his mouth and began to say: “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ (from the dead) to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ (not the second coming of Christ, but his resurrection from the dead to sit upon David’s throne). This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. "For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Acts 2: 29-36 (and we can add KING to the narrative). Peter, being filled with the Holy Ghost reached back into Israel’s ancient history and brought David to the forefront, setting the records straight concerning the unfolding realm of God’s kingdom upon the earth. That message on the kingdom of God, and how David is figured into it, knowing that King David hath not ascended into heaven, but Jesus had, and in all seriousness and truth from the right hand of the Father, Christ was now seated upon the throne of David eternal in the heavens. Hallelujah! Yes indeed! Christ has been seated upon the throne of David ever since he ascended up on high; and Paul wrote in compliance with this truth, that he (Christ) must reign from where he is seated at the Father’s right hand, until all things are put under his feet. (Thank you Jesus!!) It is worthwhile for us to remind ourselves of this continued truth that is woven into time as we know it: “For every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God (by the way, he is not building mansions as some would have us to believe) From henceforth (from where he is seated) expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” Hebrews 10:11-13. Thus, we are assured that Christ will reign from his Father’s throne where he is now seated, till all things are put under his feet. Let us see how God deals with man’s heart; and we have clear and distinct records of this interactions by the Lord himself, all of which were designed to fulfill his divine purpose, either in an individual, or a nation, or both. In sending Moses back to Egypt to free the Israelites from over 400 years of bondage, the Lord informed Moses saying: “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 7:3. No less than four times in this episode between Moses and the Pharaoh, we read that God harden the heart of the king. The Lord moved upon Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to come against Israel, and to enslave them for what is well known as the “70 years captivity.” When the time was fulfilled and God got ready to bring an end to that period, we read how he went about finding the right person to take care of the situation. Again, the Lord worked upon the heart of a certain king, who knew not the true God of the Hebrews, but was a worshipper of false gods, from a land of false gods and false worship. But we read: “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, (the same as toughing the king’s heart) that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it in writing saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” Ezra 1:1,2. Thus, we come to understand that one does not have to be a true believer in Christ or in the one true God, to be used of Him for any specific task that God has chosen. In Jeremiah 25:9 Nebuchadnezzar is called by God himself “My servant” and in Isaiah 44: 28, it is said of Cyrus: “He is my shepherd.” It was said of Tyrus and of Zidon: “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness; I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.” Ezekiel 28:15,17. Through the preaching of Philip, Samaria received the gospel and a great revival broke out in the city. Peter was sent from Jerusalem to Samaria to help in setting up a functioning church. (local Assembly). His first order of business was to lay hands upon the converts so that they would receive the Holy Ghost. After all, we cannot set up church without the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit. There was one Simon who believed the gospel and was baptized; and he followed the group for a while. Through Peter laying his hands on believers they received the Holy Ghost. Simon was so impressed by this divine act, he offered money to obtain that gift, saying, “Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.” Acts 8:12-21. Notice that Simon got baptized and became a member of the group. He blended in with “church activities” and no doubt exhibited a good disposition. But irrespective of whatsoever his good works may have been and no matter how well he impressed other members of the congregation one thing was missing: His heart was not right in the sight of the Lord. That is where the rubber meets the road! Being accepted by the group: being baptized in water, and being baptized by the Holy Spirit, offers no guarantee that the Lord will affix his stamp of approval upon our offerings and our promise to be true and faithful in ensuing years. From the very beginning, one’s heart must be right in the sight of God. David made a lot of mistakes in things that can blow our minds. But all the time, he had a heart to seek after God in earnest. When considering the human anatomy, from the Divine perspective, the single most important organ that is referred to in scripture over and over, is the heart. But why is this particular organ so important? Let us see how it is described in scripture, and what importance is attached to it. First of all, God takes the first stage in dealing with the heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9,10. We can safely affirm that every heart that has not been touched by God, and is changed by his transforming power is wicked, no matter our education, our upbringing, or our standing in society. For instance, Jesus remarked that God, in the beginning did not approve divorce, but Moses issued a writ of divorce because of the hardness of the heart. “And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.” Mark 10:5,6 It should be noted that the heart is like a transformer attached to a light pole on the street corner. It collects high tension current and breaks it down to a voltage that is useable in local houses and electrical equipment. We are exhorted on this wise: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23. The Hebrew word for diligence means to guard, to protect, to hedge about, to preserve. This is a small example as to the extent of how we should protect the heart. A very wise father exhorts his son this way: “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” Proverbs 23:26. As it was with ancient Israel and the keeping of the law, so it is with us even to this day. They had to read, study, and try to keep a law that was written by Moses. The hardship was created by the fact of them having to adhere to precepts and laws written on outside objects, but they had nothing on the inside that endeavored to allow their inner man to become obedient to a “spiritual law.” As Paul described it: “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh (flesh was all that it had to work with) God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:3,4. The contradictions of Christ are based upon the premise that he came in flesh as a man; he identified with humans, in that he got weary, hungry, tired, angry, and even wept at the death of his friend Lazarus. Yet, all the time he knew that he was from above, and that he was the Lord from heaven. (John 8:23; 1st Corinthians 15:47.) In simple terms, we could suggest that all the time, Jesus was engaged in “a balancing act.” He bypassed his true heavenly identity, and Paul laid the facts before us in this biblical account. “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:6-8. So it is, that Jesus Christ had to play a “double role” throughout his earthly ministry. He lived in a reality that was only fashioned for the time then present, and to serve his purpose as determined for him before time began: as it is written: “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will O God.” Hebrews 10:7. If we are to borrow from the world, the acts of a “double agent” we must conclude that Jesus was a double agent in a class by himself. One could no doubt wonder what went through the mind of Christ, when against who he really IS, he had to live a life of servitude, being made subject to all the elements and feelings of all other men and women around Galilee, Nazareth, Jerusalem, and other parts of Palestine. The truth is simply this: all the time throughout his earthly ministry as a man, Jesus knew who he really was (and IS) and for that matter, he was never separated from his Father; and Jesus himself said that the Father never leaves him alone. The major contradiction of Christ is that he came to die; that out of his death, all creation was set in place to inherit eternal life, from death and the grave. Jesus Christ, as the “pattern Son” opened the door for God to bring to fruition what he began before the ages were framed. God’s ultimate intentions were put on clear display in the process of creating man in his own image and after his likeness. It swung the door open for us to see and understand what the finished product will be like. The creation of man, the earth, the sea and the sky, were created after God’s won design with the intent of actually reproducing himself to fill the entirety of all that he created. That is why God has placed so much emphasis on the heart of man. We see God’s dealings with Israel displayed in real time! “And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7 The Psalmist wrote: “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments.” Proverbs 3:1. King David knew the importance of a clean heart and the right spirit, so he wrote: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10. Because all aspects of the human composition are intertwined within the framework of the heart, God sets his keen attention upon the heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart.
|
