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[note color=”#b4e557″]“Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

“Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!

“Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.” (Psa 24:1-10)[/note]

Journal,

It is a challenge to study the Scriptures in their Hebraic thought form, but also within their historical and redemptive context. What I want to do in this study is bring us back to what John the Baptist, and the disciples, and the Lord Himself meant in saying that the kingdom of God was at hand.

So, let’s begin with Jesus. Why is it that when Jesus performed a miracle, you never hear Him say, ‘In the name of the Lord God.’ No true prophet of God would dare to speak in his own name. They would always call attention to the Lord, such as, ‘Hear what the Lord would say.’

The rabbis knew this. In fact when the rabbis taught, they always linked their teachings around something a noted rabbi had already said. This was to keep an upstart teacher from introducing a new or strange teaching. Everything had to fit into the rabbinical program. (In later Talmudic Judaism, the rabbis set about to convince the people that they were the last voice of God. In one setting they have themselves outwitting God Himself.)

And so it was the way Jesus taught that disturbed the Jewish leadership. The rulers wanted to know where He got the authority to change the rules. Who was He to presume to speak in His own authority! It says,

“The crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” (Mt7:28,29)

It brings us back to who Jesus was and is.

The prophet said …

 

Call His Name Emmanuel (Isa7:14)

The quick answer is that Jesus had no need to link His authority to that of a prophet. He was God incarnate. Of course this is the key to why Jesus kept startling the religious authorities and the people themselves. No one ever taught the way He taught. No one ever spoke the way He spoke. His very words had penetrating power.

In the Sermon on the Mount, we hear the Lord make this statement more than once,

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’

“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.” (Mat 5:21-22)

Jesus uses, ‘But I say to you’ at least 139 times in the gospels. Most often He is countering something that the people had been taught, and not something that was truly from the sacred writings of old. 

What does this tell us? It tells us that all the Messianic prophetic flow of the Old Testament had reached its apex in Jesus. It tells us that the King of glory, the Lord Himself was walking in the shadow of the temple. This is so important to understand.

Jesus is…

 

The Image of the Invisible God

The fullness of all that God is, was fully manifested in the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact Jesus is called ‘the image of the invisible God.‘ (This takes us out of the Jewish court into the cosmos of eternity.)

Jesus had no need to explain His authority to anyone. The very works that He did testified to who He really was. And His kingship did not begin with His birth. The Psalmist said,

“Yet God is my king from of old; who works deliverance in the midst of the earth.” Cf. Ps74:12

And again,

“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.” (Cf. Jer10:10)

The priests become quiet, and the Lord begins speaking to them in parables. He nails the leadership up tightly when He said,

“Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘ The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone; this came about from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes?'”

He continues,

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it.” (Matt21:42,43)

What did Jesus mean in saying that the kingdom would be removed from Israel?

The answer is that when you reject the King, there is no kingdom for the rejecter. To the Jewish people the term ‘kingdom of God’ spoke of the rule of the King, or, the direct rule of God. The Jewish leaders were forfeiting any right to God’s direct rule. They were also forfeiting their right to represent Israel before God.

Israel would once again have an appointment with Jesus Christ. That time is growing near.

 

Israel Was Set Aside

Even with all her swings into idolatry and all the evils that plagued her, Israel was still God’s visible kingdom in the earth. Israel of old had been set as God’s mediating kingdom in the earth. All of God’s redemptive program revolved on some level around Israel.

Israel was to send prophets to all the nations. Of course this all changed when the King Himself arrived on the scene. It would be the new covenant people of God, who would fulfill this role. 

Let’s come back to Jesus as the King of Israel. When John the Baptist began preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” he was announcing the King. To repent meant to turn away from all other authority practices, and in turn, to now let all eyes look to the King. This is what the term repent actually meant to the Jews.

 

The Lion and Lamb King

The Lamb-King was in place thus the kingdom of God was in place. Paul speaks of this kingdom phase as, ‘The kingdom of the beloved Son.’

When Jesus came the first time it was to set forth the beginning stage of His kingdom.

The One who had rule over all the earth and certainly over all Israel, was now among them. This is why it can be said that John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets.

John could easily have said, ‘Israel, here is your king.’ What he said was, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.’

Once again the term repentance is often misunderstood. Repentance is not an issue of wailing at an altar. To repent literally speaks of a change of mind that results in a change of direction. When a person truly confesses Jesus Christ and receives Him as their Lord and Savior, this is, in fact, the very essence of repentance. It is on the bases of repentance that we are given authority to become children of God.

[note color=”#b4e557″]May I press this home — When we repent and turn to Jesus, this means that everything and everyone with whom we have trusted as our spiritual authority can no longer hold that same place of absoluteness in our lives. We are presenting ourselves to the King.

Think about it. How many times do we Christians place our allegiance in a denomination or even a church or a movement or a personage to the extent that the denomination or church becomes our security, our voice from heaven, and the absolute authority over our lives.

What we should be saying is, ‘Lord, you are the King of my life. I want to be what You want me to be. I want to be where you assign me to be. I want to do what You want me to do.’[/note]

None of this is to say that we should not flock ourselves in our respected gathering places. The Lord does place us in the flock of our belonging. Yet even at that, it is the  King Himself who speaks to our hearts wherever we may be and in whatever flock we may attend. This is personal Lordship.

Listen to what Jesus said to the religious leaders;

“How can you believe, when you seek glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?”

And again,

“For they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.” (John 5:44; 12:43)

 

The Lord Who Was, Who is, and Who is to Come

Jesus came as the Lamb to be sacrificed. He ascended into heaven as the Lion king. He returns to earth as the conquering Lord of glory.

The Lord said the true blessings of heaven revolved on His Lordship.

“If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” (Jn12:26)

In another place He said,

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (Jn10:27)

The prophets had long written about the rejection of the suffering King, and that He would come a second time as the King of judgment and as the King of victory. Between these two events there would be an out gathering of people of all the nations who hearts and souls would belong to the King. These are the ones whose allegiance would fully belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thus we hear the Psalmist –

“Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way; for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all those to take refuge in Him! [the Church age]” (Ps2:10-12)

This is an ancient Jewish proverb that speaks volumes. They taught than when Messiah comes, if Israel is worthy, He would come on the clouds. They called Him ‘bar nifle‘ which means ‘son of the clouds.’ But if Israel was unworthy, He would come on a donkey. (Think about it.)

The time is short. Aren’t you glad that Jesus Christ is your own Lord and Savior.

Take time for this video. It will speak to your heart. 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vo74LSKIJY[/youtube] [signoff]

Views: 36

“As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look! Water!’ What prevents me from being baptized?

“And Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’

“And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’

“And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.” (Act 8:36-39)

 

Journal,

I occasionally receive questions on the proper way to administer water baptism. Here are examples of questions I receive:

(1) From our Ask the Pastor page:

“Why did the church stop baptizing in the name of Jesus, as it was in the book of the Acts of the Apostles?”

(2) From a member of a forum:

“Could you discuss the role of baptism in terms of the early church. As you know; in ‘apostolic’ circles, baptism is tied to salvation using Peter’s response to the question: what must we do, and the statement that baptism doth also now save us.”

These are great questions. Let’s begin with …

 

The Early Christians

Actually the earliest Christians had no ‘pat’ words that had to be spoken over a baptismal candidate, or a certain formula to be used in water baptism. It was only over time that water baptism began picking up rituals. But for the early believers, it was all a matter of authority. Here is what one of the earliest Christian writers said:

[note color=”#b2f056″]Justin Martyr [110-165 AD]

“Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water.[/note]

When you see the term ‘in the name of’ in Scripture, it actually relates to authority.

When Jesus told the disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, He was giving them the express authority to do so. All baptisms were to be done in and by the authority of Jesus.

Actually water baptism could just have easily have been stated as, ‘By the authority of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’ It would not have really mattered. The issue comes back to whose authority does water baptism come from.

However, there is another related issue that needs to be considered. It has to do with …

 

Calling on the Name of the Lord

Calling upon the name of the Lord is something that the candidate does. What the minister says is not some magical formula in water baptism. Salvation is always in the mouth of the one coming to Jesus. The issue is not with what the minister says, but what the candidate says.

Salvation is wholly a matter of the believing one, that is, the person being baptized. This is not a trite matter. It reaches into the very heart of Biblical redemption. Think about it. Is a person’s salvation to be placed in the mouth of someone else or in the mouth of the confessing believer? 

All the apostles were quite clear on this issue. Consider these Scriptures:

[Peter – Day of Pentecost] “‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’” (Act 2:21)

[Paul in book of Romans] “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for ‘WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.'” (Rom 10:12-13)

[Philip and the Eunuch] “As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?’

“And Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'” (Act 8:36-37)

There are many more Scriptures to draw from. So, to say that a person’s salvation is contingent upon what words a minister may speak over the baptismal candidate, is a mistake. In doing this, they have placed themselves in the same category as the Roman Catholic Church, in their doctrine of transubstantiation.

In the doctrine of transubstantiation, it is the priest alone who has the ‘supposed’ power to change the wine and bread into the real blood and body of Christ. He supposedly does this by saying in Latin, ‘hoc est corpus meum,’ which means, ‘This is my body’. [This is where the cynical term ‘hocus pocus’ comes from.]

It is taught that the moment the priest says these words, suddenly the elements are magically changed. And according to Catholic Canon law, to deny this is blasphemy.

Of course this is pure heresy. It is a man made doctrine and has to do with control. If the priest alone has this kind of power, where does that leave the congregants? They are forced to live their lives under the mastery of the Catholic priestcraft.

So, are we to think that any minister has the power to cause a person to be saved by speaking certain words over them? Many seem to think so.

So this begs the question …

 

When then, is a person actually saved?

Is a person saved before baptism, during baptism, or after baptism? Actually water baptism is for a person who believes in, and is has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. All believers are commanded to be baptized in water. Water baptism takes place as a living witness to one’s faith in Jesus Christ. 

But one questioner wanted to know what Peter meant, in saying, “baptism now saves us.” Here is the Scripture in question:

“Corresponding to that [flood of Noah], baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet 3:21)

Peter is pointing to the affirmation of our faith in the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Water baptism serves as an appeal to God for a good conscience in that we truly believe in Jesus Christ, and that we identify with His death, burial, and resurrection.

Lets take a closer look at how Peter clearly defines salvation.

A Church council was called to determine what to do about all the Gentiles who were being saved. Take note of what Peter has to say.

[note color=”#b2f05b”]“But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.’

“The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them,

“‘Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

“And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

“‘Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

“But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.'” (Act 15:5-11)[/note]

Peter is pointing to the fact that Cornelius and his household were saved before they were baptized in water. It was after Cornelius had received the seal of the Holy Spirit, that Peter commanded baptism. 

There was a reason why water baptism is given such importance to the early Jewish believers. 

 

Water Baptism Relates to Covenant

If this seems difficult to grasp, let me add something that many believers are unacquainted with. For the Jewish people, water baptism was a covenant rite. It expressed that the believer had entered into a covenant relationship with the God of Israel. In this sense no believer should feel that water baptism is not a necessary part of our walk with the Lord.

Water baptism is actually the first commandment of faith that follows our having received the blood atonement.

This is why Paul speaks of the mystical side of water baptism in that the old man (or, the old master) is cut off in water baptism, and we now come fully under our new Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

All the Jewish apostles placed a high premium on water baptism, but not in the sense that the blood is applied in water baptism. The blood is to be applied before baptism. Water baptism had to do with covenant authority, with the obedience of faith, with fellowship and communion. It had to do with community. No person was to be accepted into the community of faith without water baptism.

One of the best examples we have with regard to types and shadows of the former testament involves Israel coming out of Egypt. The blood had been applied to their homes. This disallowed any judgment from God. They were saved in the sight of God. They actually belonged to Him.

But there was a problem. They needed to identify more fully with Moses and not with Pharaoh. It could be said that they were still in Pharaoh’s territory.

Something had to happen before Pharaoh would completely release his hold on the people of God. What happened to produce this effect? Israel passed through the Red Sea. In the passing through the sea, the old life, the old master, and the old way of living was cut off. It was through the waters that they came fully under the authority of Moses.

That is pretty much how the earliest Christians looked at water baptism.

Here is what Paul said:

“For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” (1 Cor 10:1,2)

Here is where a point needs to be reemphasized. Once again they were God’s people before they came  through the sea. The blood had already been applied to their homes. God’s judgment passed over them. But passing through the Red sea signified whose authority they were now under.

Water baptism is an act of faith and any acting on our faith will have spiritual ramifications. (Every step of obedience does.) Peter is making a similar statement with regard to, ‘baptism now saves you.’

So, which is right, to baptise in the name of Jesus Christ, or to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are both right. In both instances the baptizing is be enacted under the authority of Jesus. Some Jewish believers in Israel are baptizing this say –

‘I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ, who brings us to the heavenly Father, who graciously gives us the Holy Spirit.’ 

[note color=”#b2f05b”]On a personal note, I have always baptized people in the name of Jesus. I do this out of tradition. Sometimes I will say something like this, “I baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who represents all that God is as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” However, I never discount another believer’s baptism. The issue for me is if the person has truly accepted Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior.[/note]

Does it really matter? Think this through for yourself. The Lord will help you with a better understanding.

Here is a song that will bless you. It is titled, ‘Baptized in Water.’

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sTyTdokxWM[/youtube] [signoff]

Views: 59

“Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.’

“Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, ‘As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations.

“‘No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you.’” (Gen 17:1-6)

 

 

Journal,

Every letter in the Hebrew language is full of meaning. Hebrew is a language of pictures and symbols. This especially carries over into names.

For the Hebrew people a name was meant to convey the nature, essence, history, and reputation of the one named.

Consider the name Jesus. When the angel Gabriel appeared to Joseph, he said,

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus [Yešhûa, or, Y’Shua], for He will save His people from their sins.” (Mat 1:20-21)

Jesus is Yeshua in Hebrew. The name Yeshua means Savior, or by extension, ‘Yahweh saves,’ or, ‘Yahweh is salvation.’ The Lord’s name is derived from the verb which means, ‘to save.’ Gabriel gives the meaning of the name Yeshua, by saying, “He will save His people from their sins.”

What makes it even more interesting is that when you see the word ‘salvation’ as an impersonal word in the Old Testament, it is the very name of Jesus, or, ‘Yeshua’. So, depending on its usage the Hebrew for salvation and the Hebrew for Jesus is the same.

If you mentally transpose where you see the term ‘salvation’ in the former testament to ‘Jesus’, you will see prophetic pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now let’s talk about one of God’s revelation names in the Old Testament and see how it unfolds in Jesus. We’ll talk about God’s Name – El Shaddai.

 

The God of Abraham

God’s names are revelations of His person. The first time that God reveals Himself by name to Abraham, the Lord says,

“I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless [made full or complete].” (Gen17:1)

The term ‘God Almighty’ is El Shaddai. It is easy to miss what this name means because English does not convey the expressions of Hebrew. The word El is masculine and speaks of might, power, or strength. The term Shaddai is also masculine. (Some try to make Shaddai, to be a feminine term, but the point is being missed.)

‘Sha’ means who, and ‘dai’ means enough. So in the Hebrew mind El Shaddai did carry an imagery of a mother whose full breasts are more than enough for her baby.

We see an echo of the Hebrew imagery of Shaddai (Almighty) and shadaim (breasts) when Jacob prophesies over his sons.

“Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; its branches run over a wall. The archers bitterly attacked him, and shot at him and harassed him; but his bow remained firm, and his arms were agile, From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), …

” … from the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty [Shaddai] who blesses you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts [shadaim] and of the womb.” (Gen 49:22-25)

Everything that Jacob speaks over this son has to do with fullness, with blessings, with protection and with an overflow of life. This is what Jesus came to give us.

The Lord said,

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (Joh 10:10)

 

Jesus Came to Give us Fullness of Life

Listen with your heart to the following Scriptures. They all carry the idea of El Shaddai:

“For of His fullness (or, ‘out of His fullness) we have all received, and grace upon grace.” [Grace upon grace speaks of an overflow of ‘all that you will ever need.’] (John 1:16)

“I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Php 4:12-13)

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.” (Mat 23:37)

There is so much more to be said. This will give an idea of just how rich and wonderful our salvation is through the Lord Jesus. We are the children of God’s presence. He is with us in every circumstance and situation. Even in our sufferings, God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in your weakness.”

Now we need a better understanding why the apostle said that …

 

Jesus is the Name Above All Names

In the Old Testament God had various names by which He was known. Among these names you had, El, Elohiym, El Shaddai, Elyon, Eloah, Adonai, and, Ba al’. But there was only one name that was considered God’s personal or proper name. This name was known as, ‘the name above all names.’

The name above all names is spoken of as the Tetragrammaton, or the four letters. It was designated by the letters yhwh (Or, yhvh.)

No one really knows how yhwh was pronounced. It is generally thought that it was pronounced as Yahweh, or Yahveh. (Ancient Hebrew had no vowels.)

The Jewish disciples knew that God’s personal name was Yahweh. No one had to tell them that. They knew that God was holy, and that His personal name was also holy. To them, God was in His name.

When Paul wrote the Church at Philippi, he said something that a Jewish reader would have picked up instantly.

Listen carefully:

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason, also, God highly exalted Him, ***and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name*** …

Paul continues:

“…so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven, on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord [yhwh in Hebrew. kurios in Greek], to the glory of God the Father.” (Cf. Philippians 2:5-11)

Did you catch it? The name above all name is now Jesus.

This helps us to understand why Jesus said to the disciples, “All authority has been give to Me in heaven and on earth.” This authority speaks of all that God has revealed in Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This helps us to better appreciate why …

 

Salvation is Only Found in Jesus

Keep in mind that the name Yahweh, that is, God’s name above all names, spoke of His power, His presence, and His authority. (We’ll talk more about His presence in a moment.)

What then does this have to do with Jesus and the name of Jesus?

No one today casts out demons in the name of Yahweh, or Elohim, or Eloah, or El Shaddai, or any other appellation. The only name given during the church age that carries all the power, the presence and the authority of God Almighty, is the name Jesus.

This is why for men to be saved they must call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. In the New Testament writings, wherever you see the term Lord being used, even though it may not say Jesus explicitly, it speaks of the name of Jesus.

Peter quoted the prophet, saying,

“And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:21)

Paul –

“But what does it say, ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’, that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:8,9)

Peter said,

“If we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead — by this name this man stands here before you in good health.”

The apostle then says,

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Cf. Acts 4:8-12)

Now let’s talk about how …

 

God’s Presence is in His Name

Now let’s see how very awesome it is to call on the name of the Lord Jesus. Again we can compare an Old Testament setting and see its fulfillment in the New Testament.

God speaks to Moses, and says,

“In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.” (Exo20:24)

Remember when God says, ‘My Name,’ He is speaking of the name above all names. But we have already seen where God’s power, presence and authority is now found in only one name in the new covenant.

So how does the new covenant respond to this? Listen to Jesus;

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20)

To call upon the name of Jesus, is to invoke His very presence. Wherever you find people who call upon the name of Jesus, that is, in their worship, in their assemblies, in their faith in Him, there you will find the presence of the Lord. It is the presence of the Lord that makes true Christians one together. (It doesn’t matter what denomination a believer belongs to.)

Keep in mind what Jesus said about life –

” … I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (Joh 10:10)

Now listen to the Psalmist –

“You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” (Psa 16:11)

Keep in mind that salvation is always in the mouth of the believer. Do you need help? Call upon the name of the Lord. Pray in the name of the Lord. Rejoice in the name of the Lord.

This applies even in water baptism. It is not in the words that a Christian minister may say over the one being baptized. Salvation is always personal. It is a matter of ‘who’ the candidate has called upon. Have they called upon the name of the Lord in salvation?

Are they true confessors of the Lordship of Jesus? Then there is nothing to add to this.

I pray this study has been of  help to my readers.

Take time for this video. The tells the story behind the song, ‘All Hail the Power of Jesus Name.’

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_UhtYhhDFI[/youtube]

 

[signoff]

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“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness…

“… but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2Pe 3:17-18)

 

Journal,

This study has to do with expressions of spiritual warfare that God’s people are warned about, a warfare that will be strongest in the final days of the Church age.

The Lord taught that in the final days, that all true believers must be extra vigilant with regard to the influence of spirits that will try to work in the Church.

[Church: The called out, called together people of God. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27,28)

Is the warning to the Church real? Absolutely! Hear it from the Lord Himself –

“Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.

“For false Christs [false anointed ones] and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. “Behold, I have told you in advance.” (Mat 24:22-25)

This brings us to…

 

The Question

And so, the question  – Is it possible for a child of God to go astray for a time? Yes, it is quite possible. In many instances it is simply due to spiritual immaturity. But it can also be because the child has become entangled in some form of spiritism.

(Spiritism: Communication with spiritual powers, human or otherwise, that are not of God, but propose to be from God. More on this in a bit.) 

The point is that no true child of God can continue down a path of darkness because of the Light that is in him. Light always expels the darkness. The Bible tells us that all God’s children have the light of Jesus Christ in them. This is why we are called, ‘the children of light.’ 

Take note of these Scriptures that speak of, ‘will not’ in relationship to Light. –

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me WILL NOT walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.'” (Joh 8:12)

“When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. (Joh 10:4)

“A stranger they simple WILL NOT follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” (Joh 10:5)

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1Jn 1:6-7)  

“… for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.” (Eph 5:8)

Now is where we need to understand …

 

The Distinction Between Light and Darkness

The terms ‘light’ and ‘darkness’ are opening words of the Bible. They always mean the same thing throughout Scripture. Light and darkness address the contrast between good and evil. Light speaks of the goodness of God, and all that brings glory to God Himself. 

John writes,

“This is the message we have heard from Him [Jesus], and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1Jn1:5)

Darkness evokes everything that is anti-God, or anything that takes the place of God.

Darkness symbolizes the works of the flesh and the prideful attitude of life. Darkness is always self-absorbing. It seeks to draw attention to itself.

Darkness can be very subtle because it tries to portray itself as coming from God. 

Listen to this admonition from the apostle Paul –

“But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

“No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” (2Co 11:12-15)

Does this sound a bit scary? It should.

Notice that Paul said that in the church itself, certain men can and will disguise themselves as true apostles, and that even Satan sets about to disguise himself as an angel of light

This means that there can and will be demonic angel appearances. 

Now let’s take a closer look at …

 

End Time Warnings

The Bible lays out very plainly what the ending of the Church age will look like, including the fact that many professing Christians will turn from the true message of the cross.

Paul says it well enough –

“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” (1Ti 4:1)

Notice that is says that, ‘some‘ will fall away, but not necessarily all.   

I think it is important to listen once again to what Jesus said –

“Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.

“For false Christs [false anointed ones] and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. “Behold, I have told you in advance.” (Mat 24:22-25)

Jesus is saying that the very elect of God must be especially vigilant in the last days, because the demonically-inspired happenings will take place in the name of Christ Jesus, and under a false anointing that can be quite powerful.

The word ‘Christ’, of itself, simply means ‘anointed.’

In the last days there will arise among Christians, certain ones who will boast of a special anointing, and will even compare themselves to Christ Jesus. They will self-praise on their special connection with heaven, on appearances with Jesus, and many other such like things.

[This is a form of Gnosticism that the apostles had to deal with. The Gnostics taught that they alone had a divine spark from heaven, and that to hear from God, people needed come to them. Gnosticism is flowing strongly today, especially from the air waves. Keep in mind that the Bible describes Satan as the prince of the air.] 

Here is the caution –

“Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind.” (Col 2:18)

And this is why God’s servants must …

 

Sound the Trump

Some people may wonder why I am so against certain things that really seem to be of God. Their caution to me is, ‘Stop judging’.

Actually it truly is a matter of making judgments. The Lord instructed us to judge with righteous judgment. So, the reason I give cautions is simple. Not all things that appear to be from God, are of God. But not all of God’s people know this.

One of my great griefs as a minister of the gospel, is to see so many of God’s people unable to distinguish the things of God from the things of the flesh, and in some cases, even things that could speak of sorcery.

I wonder if this is gross immaturity with some believers. Or is it something else?

Let me share a couple of considerations from the Bible.

First, WHERE it happened.

Do you remember where Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers, and drove the merchants out? It happened in the temple, the very house of God.

For a deception to find a working place among God’s people, it has to take place where Christians can be assembled.

Second, WORKING the flesh.

A second consideration is where the Bible provides us with an example of the working of the flesh by demonic power. It is found in the story of Simon the Sorcerer.

Follow this story closely to see if there is anything at work today that can be of this nature –

“Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, ‘This man is what is called the Great Power of God.’

“And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.” (Act 8:9-11)

Keep in mind that these are Samaritans, who accepted the writings of Moses in their worship. Notice what the people are saying,

‘This man is what is called the Great Power of God.’

Most people would pass this by without realizing what the people were actually saying. The literal is, ‘This is the God-power called great.’

The Samaritans believed that the power emanating from Simon was the divine ‘Logos‘ power of God. But in reality, the people had come under a powerful spirit of sorcery.

If you are not getting the message yet, my point is simple …

Don’t Discount Sorcery

If you discount sorcery as being unable to have a place among Christians, you are seriously mistaken. Sorcery is a powerful medium through which people can become fascinated and hypnotized and bewitched, and where a lie takes on the appearance of a truth.

The spirit of sorcery can even channel itself in the feelings of euphoria as of a flowing river. This is why a person should not lean on experiences or even trust in their own feelings. The discerning of the Holy Spirit works much deeper than in a person’s feelings. Any spiritual operation that runs contrary to the Scriptures, cannot be of God.

Keep in mind that Satan also has a river (demonic anointing) by which he seeks to mimic God.

Pay special attention to this quote from a noted sorcery teacher:

With the help of strong will we can channel this ‘magic energy’, by channeling it we can bend the reality and help the river to flow, every time a mage casts a spell helps the river to beat resistance. The thing is, if a lot of people start to practice this, the river will flow easier, making it easier for everyone else to channel magic.”

My advice to all Christians is simple, ‘If you sense in your spirit that something is wrong, always go with your sensing.’ This ‘sensing‘ is a deeper working of the Holy Spirit.

The apostle John said it this way;

“These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” (1Jn 2:26-27)

The term, ‘no need for ANYONE to teach you’, speaks of a certain someone. It carries the idea of a guru. [The Greek word is ’tis’, which literally means, ‘a certain one’.] People who follow after so-called prophets are the most susceptible to being deceived.

Now let’s talk about…

 

The Last Days Deluding Influences

One of the last days prophecies has to do with a deluding influence the Lord is going to send on the earth for the purpose of separating His true believers from those who do not have a love for truth. Listen to what the apostle had to say – [box title=”A Strong Delusion” color=”#dd7e7e”]“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

“Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

“For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” (2Th 2:7-13)[/box]

This strong delusion will only add to the restlessness of a heart that is not founded in a true relationship with Jesus Christ. Two important words need to be noted, ‘deluding‘ and ‘influence.’

The Greed word for ‘deluding‘ is ‘plane‘. This word speaks of a wandering about, that is, of one who is led astray from the right way. Metaphorically it has to do with the person who is unable to find a place to settle down.

The only settling down place that the Father gives us, is our settling down in Christ Jesus. 

The Greek word for ‘influence’ is ‘energeia’. In the New Testament this word always has to do with superhuman power, whether of God or the Devil.

The deluding influence is so strong that those who can be deceived, will be deceived. And it is all going to be done in the name of the Lord. Remember what the Lord said about the ‘elect’. He will not allow them to be deceived, and yet the power of deception will be so strong that multitudes will come under the sway of occult operations. 

There is so much more I would like to share, but for now, my prayer is that something I have shared in this short study will be a blessing to my readers. The Lord will give you understanding. It is not about fear. If you are a child of Light, then you have nothing to fear. 

Just remember this adage, ‘ To be forewarned is to be forearmed.’ 

Please take time for this video. I want to leave with my readers a message of encouragement. It is found in this video, titled, ‘Guidance from God.’ [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgRtBr5fDBQ[/youtube]

Always in Christ, [signoff]

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“How great is Your goodness, which You have stored for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men!

“You hide them in the secret place of Your presence, from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in the shelter from the strife of tongues.” (Psalm 31:19,20 nasb.)

 

Journal,

David shared a truth that belongs to all God’s people from all the ages. He said that God hides His people in the secret place of His presence.

What does that mean to be hidden in God’s presence? How can God do that?

God hides us by bringing us to the place that He Himself dwells. David is drawing on a prophetic inference that is seen in the tabernacle of God.  David knew that the tabernacle told the story of God’s plan of redemption. And the Holy of Holies provides the very key to our hiddenness in Christ Jesus.

Over the golden lid of the Ark of the Covenant were two covering angels. Right above the mercy-seat was a brilliant light, known as the light of glory. The angels have their gaze fixed on a form in the light. As we shall shortly see, the form was the Son of God.

The apostle John draws attention to the glory over the mercy-seat:

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Joh 1:14)

The more literal rendering is, “And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.” This means that the body of Jesus Christ was the Holy of Holies. And in Christ we see the Father’s glory. Jesus is called, ‘the image of the invisible God.’ 

The apostle Peter also calls attention to the gaze of the angels over the mercy-seat:

It was revealed to them [the Old Testament prophets] that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you from heaven-things into which angels long to look.” (1Peter 1:12)

Once again we are seeing the picture of the mercy-seat.

And then we have this from the apostle Paul:

… but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.“ (1Co 2:7-8)

Now let’s draw a little more attention to …

 

What Do Angels Long to See

As I shared earlier, the angels gazing at the mercy-seat, is a picture of their wonderment at the atonement of Jesus Christ, that is, they wonder at the whole of His humanity, both in His incarnation, in the work of the cross, and in His ascension to the throne of God. The angels long to understand more deeply into God’s gracious work of saving the human race.

In fact, according to the apostle Paul, the angels are learning something of God’s wisdom by how He provides for all who belong to His kingdom. (Cf. Eph3:8-10)

Out of the cross would come the manifold wisdom and the mercy of God’s incarnate Word. The writer of Hebrews calls the mercy-seat, ‘the throne of mercy.’ God’s mercy reaches from the cross to the crown.

This wonderful truth of redemption is fully brought out in the new covenant. Paul said that all believers are now hidden with God in Christ.

But first let’s see how the tabernacle sets forth this truth of our redemption.

 

The Light of His Glory

In the brilliant light over the mercy-seat was a form that only Moses was allowed to see. The form was God’s Son. Listen to these portions from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

When the Lord rebuked Miriam and Aaron over their presumptuous attitude towards Moses, He said to them,

…’Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream.

“Not so, with My servant Moses, He is faithful in all My household; with him I speak mouth to mouth, even openly, and not in dark sayings, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?” (Num 12:6-8)

Did you catch it? Moses beheld the form of the Lord. Now, if God has no form, who, then did Moses see? Moses saw the image of the invisible God. To the Jews, God’s Messiah was known as the form of God, as the glory of God, as the image of God, and at times even as the Shekinah of God.

Listen carefully to what Paul said of Christ:

Although He [Jesus] existed in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself…” (Phi2:6)

Any Jewish person reading Paul’s writings would immediately connect Jesus with the light over the mercy-seat and the form that Moses beheld.

Let’s carry this to when a Jewish man is visited by the same glory that was over the mercy-seat.

 

Paul Meets the Glory of God

Listen carefully to the story:

As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’

“And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?‘ And He said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.’

“The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.”(Act 9:3-8)

Paul is hearing the very voice of God. The Lord speaks to Paul in Hebrew, and Paul asked a question in Hebrew.

When Paul asked, “Who are You, Lord?” he was saying, “Who are you Yahweh.”

Paul was perplexed. He knew it was God speaking to Him, but how could Paul have persecuted God? This is where he made the greatest discovery of his life. The Lord of Glory is Jesus Christ.

Now let’s talk a bit more about  …

 

God’s Secret Hiding Place

David could see by the Spirit into God’s redemption plan that would stretch across eternity past and eternity future. Actually all the prophets had spiritual insight into the future glory to come. They just did not have all the answers, so the wrote in what is known as ‘prophetic perfects.’

A prophet perfect means that the prophets were enabled to actually see into the future as though they were actually there.

The secret place of God would take in all His people from ancient time on. The tabernacle was a picture-perfect symbol of God’s eternal purpose for all His people.

The Old Testament saints somehow knew in their hearts that the Lord Himself was their ever-present security in life. Moses said,

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” (Ps90:1,2)

Here Moses uses the same word that David used with regard to the ‘secret place’ of the tabernacle.

Again think about the two cherubim with their golden wings spread over the mercy-seat. Listen again to David:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, `My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” (Ps91:1,2)

David uses the same word again which references the secret place of God’s presence, that is, the mercy seat in the holiest of holies. God’s people dwell under the very presence and protection of angels.

Here is where we come to the great mystery of God’s love for His people. The Psalmist Asaph speaks of God’s people as His ‘treasured ones.’ He writes,

They make shrewd plans against Your people, and conspire together against Your treasured ones.” (Ps83:3)

These treasured ones are God’s people from the ages. The Hebrew for ‘treasured ones’ speaks of that which is covered by God, that which is hidden, or that which is kept secret. But it especially speaks of the secret of one’s heart. God’s treasured ones are the secret love of His heart.

The Psalmist puts things together when he writes,

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.

“For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock [the Rock is Christ]. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.” (Psalm 27:4-6)

The Hebrew for ‘conceal’ is the same word for God’s ‘treasured’ ones. God’s people are His treasures in the earth and for all eternity. This allows us to have a better understanding of a kingdom parable concerning a treasure. Jesus said,

And now we can speak of …

 

The Very Heart of God

Jesus said,

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field [world], which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matt13:44)

The treasure has to do with the kingdom of heaven. The story is the story of the cross. Jesus Christ gave His life for the hidden treasure. Jesus came to seek that which was lost. Now the treasure is hidden again, but this time it is hidden in Christ.

Paul said,

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (Col3:3,4)

Being hidden in Christ means that we can never be separated from God’s love. Our life is placed in the Light of God’s very being. Peter said that our calling was into, “His marvelous light.”

We have already been raised up and seated with Him in the heavenly places. Jesus said,

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. … This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:37,39,40)

You have come to love God because He first loved you.

Did you know that your joy in the Lord is a reflection of His joy over you? Did you know that the grace that flows in your life is not something that you earned? It is freely given to you in God’s Beloved.

This is what the great apostle said:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph2:8-10)

Well, I need to find a stopping place for now.

Why not listen to a song that has much to say about God’s heart.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FxaUYjRtkc[/youtube]

Think about it. Have you met the Great I AM?

Much love coming your way,

[signoff]

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“And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luk 24:49)

Journal,

The Bible uses the term ‘metamorphoo’ to describe changes that take place in a person’s life when they receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. [meta = over. morphe = form or shape] At the moment of true faith, the Spirit of Christ enters the heart of the believer, and a seal is placed upon the believer’s heart. The seal is called ‘the seal of redemption’.

From that moment a process wherein the nature and attitudes of Christ are being transposed into this person’s innermost being. Jesus spoke of this when He said,

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'” (Joh 7:38)

The action that places the believer into Christ is called the believer’s immersion into Christ or the believer’s baptism into Christ. It is in our heavenly birth that we are made one with Christ.

The apostle also speaks of this as our being clothed with Christ. In another place Paul says that our life is now hidden or concealed in Christ. Thus we have the miracle of the cross.

This brings us to the major thought in our Scripture reading. What did Jesus mean when He directed attention to the promise of the Father?

 

The Sphere of the Spirit

The promise of the Father reaches back into eternity. We see it played throughout the pages of the Bible. The promise was the promise of a new life to come. Even before the fall of Adam the scene of new life is set forth in creation itself.

Notice carefully how the Spirit of God and the Word of God meet together in bringing forth new life:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” (Gen 1:1-3)

It is this scene that will be played out time and time again each time a new person is birthed into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. Note the elements:

1. Formless and void. The sinner’s life of darkness. and disarray, ever seeking, never finding.
2. The Spirit of God begins to move over the heart of the sinner, arranging and preparing.
3. Then God says, ‘Let there be light’, and the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ enters the person’s heart and out of this heavenly arrangement, we have another child of the living God.

Does this sound like an overreach on my part. Listen carefully to Paul:

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

“For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.

“For God, who said, ‘light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2Co 4:3-6 NASB)

 

This brings us to …

 

The New Day of Life in Christ – Pentecost

When Peter began to preach on the day of Pentecost, he called attention to the Father’s promise. Concerning the Holy Spirit, Peter said,

“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” (Acts 2:39)

Then we have this from Isaiah;

“For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants; and they will spring up among the grass like poplars by streams of water.” (Isa44:3,4)

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a term that speaks of the covenant experience wherein a believer is baptized into Christ, and receives the spiritual-life of God’s Son.

Don’t think of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a second act of empowerment. There will be many acts of empowerment in a believer’s life. These acts of empowerment are purposed to meet whatever the need may be. It is God’s power, not our power that assures a walk of victory. 

And God’s power and presence can manifest immediately for a believer, regardless of the situation he may be facing. The power of God is not something that we control. It is God’s oversight in our life. 

Therefore, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the believer’s union with Christ. Out of this union we experience the promise of God’s ever present, divine life.

The apostle explained what baptism of the Spirit actually means — 

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” (1Co12:13)

Made One With Christ

The most beautiful picture we have of the Father’s promise of our new life in Christ is found in the analogy of the Vine and the branches. (John 15:1-8.)

Look at it closely —

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” (Joh 15:1-8 NASB)

It is easy to misunderstand what the analogy of the Vine and branches is about. The Vine had long been a symbol of Israel’s covenant relationship with the Lord. Over the temple door was the emblem of the vine. Jesus had in view Israel itself. Those of Israel who reject Him would become the rejected branches.

When Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing,” the Greek word ‘meno‘ means to stay in place, or to remain within a sphere.

Israel needed to stay withing the sphere of God’s promised Messiah. 

We have a covenant-picture of this when God said to Abraham,

“I am God Almighty; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you.” Gen 17:1,2

The word covenant in Hebrew is ‘berith.’ In Greek it is ‘diatheke.’ Both words speak of a declaration of the will of God concerning His own commitment, promises, and conditions by which He enters into relationship with man. God is the initiator and completer of the covenant. This is why the vine is a vivid picture of our new covenant relationship in Christ. The believer is to look to the Lord Jesus for everything in life.

What did Jesus tell the disciples about their vine life?

“Without Me you can do nothing.”

Our perfect example for the vine life is Jesus Himself. Not one time in His earth walk do we ever see Jesus defensive or frustrated. His secret is in something He said;

“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 5:30)

 

 

The Outflow of New Life

It really isn’t hard for a child of God to learn to live in the flow of new life. There are things we need to understand. First, we need to understand that God has a perfect will for all of His children. Secondly, we need to know that God is the only One who can work His will in our life.

Then we need to understand what the term ‘sphere of the Holy Spirit’ actually means. The Holy Spirit is the divine administrator of the kingdom of God. To live fullness of life in the kingdom, means to learn to live under the influence and supervision of the Spirit.

Jude describes how we are to live under the auspices of the Holy Spirit. Listen carefully –

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in (under the guidance) the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jud 1:20-25)

And finally, we must learn the great principle of new covenant life. Listen:

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal 2:20 NASB)

It is in our trusting in Jesus that we come to know more about this wonderful thing called God’s providence. There is no part of a believer’s life that the Father is not vitally concerned with. The prophet of old said,

“The Lord’s lovingkindness indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lam3:22,23 

As we learn to walk in loving submission to the Lord, we are given a promise of fruitfulness. The privileges and experiences of a new covenant child of God are awesome indeed. Where the Old Testament saint relied greatly on a prophet and priest mediator, the new covenant child of God has direct, open, and immediate access to the Lord, at any moment, and under any circumstance.

Let this song minister to your heart. – ‘I Believe in Jesus’.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d5HbddjrTU[/youtube]

Much love to be found in Jesus,

[signoff]

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Journal Readers,

Before you read any further, please take time to meditate a bit on these Scriptures. They have a story to tell in themselves. Listen and you may hear the voice of the Shepherd —

[note color=”#f0cdb7″]“He blessed Joseph, and said, …

” … ‘The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, …

” … the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and may my name live on in them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.'” (Gen 48:15-16)

“Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!” (Psa 80:1)

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.“ (Psa 23:1)

“As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day.“ (Eze 34:12)

“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. …

“I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.“ (Joh 10:14-16)[/note]

To appreciate what these Scriptures are telling, we need to

 

Understand the Biblical Shepherd

What we think of as a shepherd and how the Bible portrays the shepherd is not always the same. Here is a bit of background information on Biblical shepherding. Take time to view these bits of information. It will help you appreciate more fully how the Lord God shepherds His people. (The following information comes largely from the ISBE.)

1. The shepherd (ro’eh in Hebrew. Piomen in Greek) simply means ‘a feeder’. The shepherd was the sheep owner who generally took care of the flock himself but more often he delegated the work to his children. Because shepherding was personal to the family, the sheep would have good care. (Cf. Gen29:9; 1Sam16:19)
2. Sheep are very interesting animal in that they require a shepherd. Where goats are noted for hunting out feeding-grounds, but sheep are more helpless and have to be led to their food.(Cf. Num 27:16,17; Eze34:6-8) 
3. Flocks would be watered once a day, usually at noon. The flocks were being led to watering places. In difficult times the shepherd would carry water provision with him. After drinking, the flock huddle together in the shade while the shepherd rested. (Gen 29:2,3)
4. At the first sound of the shepherd’s call, which was usually a guttural sound that was hard to imitate, the flock would follow him off to new feeding-grounds. Even when two flocks were intermingled, the sheep never mistake their own master’s voice. 
5. The shepherd’s equipment was simple. His chief garment was a cloak that was sleeveless. It  hung from his shoulders and became his pillow at night. The shepherd always carried a staff or club and sometimes a sling. He often had special dogs that helped protect the flock. (Job 30:1)

Now let’s talk about…

 

God’s Spiritual Overseers

There is lots to be gleaned from the before information concerning Biblical shepherding. One thing I want to emphasize, however, is how shepherding was a family business. The father often delegated shepherding to his children. Thus it is in the new covenant.

And so we have in the new covenant one of the primary roles in the gospel ministry, the role of the ‘office of overseer’, or more commonly known as the pastor. (Keep in mind that our English words pastor and shepherd, are the same word in Biblical Greek.)

Since I am a pastor by calling, I want to draw on my testimony about how I was called to be a shepherding-pastor. Some of the following comes from an earlier blog. It has been updated. I hope my story will encourage others who may feel a call to the ministry. Most pastors will identify with what I have to share.

It all begins with …

A Heart For the Lord

— To condense things a bit let me begin with my first call to pastor. (44 years ago.) 

It was 1969. I was at a place of not knowing what else the Lord had for me. I had served several roles in the local church, was licensed by my denomination, and was doing a bit of preaching here and there.

Then it happened. I received a call from two brothers who wanted to come talk with me. They had come to ask me if I would consider pastoring their church. It was relatively a new work. . 

It began there. I did a short term of pastoring the new work. But after a bit, I decided that I did not want to be a pastor. It was too hard. My ministry would have to take other routes.

What I didn’t realize was that a God-called shepherd had to be shaped for his calling. I needed much smoldering in the fire.

I returned to secular work. During this time a different church asked me to come preach for them. (Not as pastor. They already had a pastor.) And so I did.. I pretty much thought that was the end of things. Not so. The smelting process was still in place. .

A couple weeks later, I receive a call from a member of the church. “Brother Martin, we would like you to hold a revival for us..’ Wow, that caught me totally off guard. My response was simple, ‘Well, we will need to really pray about this.’ 

I had no intention of praying. I figured if I did not call them back, everything would just fade away. Not to be. A couple of days later, another call. ‘Brother Martin, we prayed. You are suppose to hold us a revival.’ 

The smelting pot is heating up.

That was the beginning of our evangelistic work. From that revival we began traveling and holding revivals in various churches.

We left the evangelist field in 1971. And here is where I need skip across a bit of history. . 

In 1974 a strange thing happened. We are at home. I’m playing my guitar and singing to the Lord. In a moment of time the Holy Spirit moves over me, and I hear, ‘Go home.’ Home was Central Louisiana. We were then living in South Louisiana.

It was so real and compelling, that Betty and I took our children out of school and headed north. All I knew was that, ‘Go home’ was not to be ignored. In my mind I thought perhaps the Lord wanted me to go to a number of churches I had evangelized and share my testimony.

We left our children at my sisters. Across the highway was a church that I had held our first revival in. The lights were on. What I did not know was that they had lost their pastor and had gathered to seek the Lord.

Betty and I walked in the door and sat in the back, totally unaware of what was going on. An elder who knew me said, “Brother Martin, welcome. Would you like to share something with the congregation.”

I stood and said, “Brother, I don’t know why the Lord sent me, but I am here.” Things got real quiet. It was a moment of divine visitation. Then I heard weeping. The Holy Spirit was bearing witness to their pastor.

When I realized that they wanted me to be their pastor, the struggle began all over again. I did not want to pastor. My fear has always been, and remains so to this day, that I may hurt someone from the pulpit. The sacred desk has always been an awesome place to me.

But out of obedience, Betty and I began traveling 120 miles each way, every weekend to pastor this little country church. The struggle remained in place.

Then it happened. Sitting on the platform, which is something I hate to do, the Spirit of the Lord  spoke to me and said, “I have given you the heart of a pastor.”

Did anything happen? Something happened in my heart. Instantly I knew. It was as real as when the Lord said, ‘Go home.’ From the moment God spoke to my spirit, I knew I was a pastor.

Is that the end of the story? Far from it. From that pastorate came a ministry I was to raise up, known as, ‘Christian Challenge International.’

In 1976, the Shepherd directed me to a new stewardship that has continued to this day. That was thirty-seven years ago. (Christian Challenge is still training disciples for service in God’s kingdom. We recently graduated our 50th School for Christian Workers.)

But that still isn’t the end of the story. Six years ago the Lord allowed me to leave the role of full time pastoring, and to take up the role of writing. I’ve written 700+ Biblical studies. (Among other things.)

I guess one of the great joys of my call as a pastor, is to see my oldest son, Nathan, take up the reins of his calling. Nathan has had his smeltering times, and the Lord has placed him as the lead teaching pastor of Christian Challenge.

But it goes back to the truth that shepherding is a family business. I’m speaking of the family of God. 

And this brings me to the point of telling my story. It has nothing to do with the idea that I am the finished product in a call from the Lord. There is no finished product, until we all attain our goal in God’s heavenly kingdom. There is only a journey.

It needs to be understood that each person called to the ministry will walk a different path. The Lord shapes us for His purposes in our calling.

My story simply has to do with the call of being…

 

Set apart by God

A true Biblical pastor is set apart by the Holy Spirit to be an overseer, a watchman, and a feeder (shepherd) of a flock that is assigned to him. Yet the flock belongs to the Lord.

God is very careful about who He calls as an overseer. Why so? Because the church has been purchased by His own blood. And a pastor must be very careful in how he tends the flock.

Before the Lord puts anyone into a ministry role, He will test that person to see if they will be faithful. Above all, He wants to know how that person will relate to His sheep.

The apostle speaks to this:

“I thank Jesus Christ our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor…” (Cf.1Ti1:12,13)

Later Paul says,

“But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.” (1Th2:7)

I share these particular Scriptures because I want you to see the true heart of one of God’s true shepherds.

We see this again when Paul instructs young Timothy on his pastoring role. The apostle says,

“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been help captive by him to do his will.” (2Ti2:24-26)

 

 

Gentleness is the Watchword of a Shepherd

Keep these words in view — gentleness, watchman, guardian, feeder, tenderness, not quarrelsome, kind to all, able to teach, and patient when wronged.

All these ideas are incorporated into what a true Biblical pastor is to show. Why is this? Because these are the spiritual traits in the Great Shepherd. They are communicated to each of His under-shepherds by the Holy Spirit.

James adds to this in telling us that the wisdom that comes from above, that is, wisdom from the Holy Spirit, is not arrogant, but it is pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, and without hypocrisy. (Cf. James 3:13-18)

Hear this Old Testament prophecy about the coming of the Lord Jesus:

“Behold, the Lord God will come with might, with his arm ruling before Him. Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him. LIKE A SHEPHERD HE WILL TEND HIS FLOCK, IN HIS ARM HE WILL GATHER THE LAMBS AND CARRY THEM IN HIS BOSOM; HE WILL GENTLY LEAD THE NURSING EWES.” (Isa40:10,11 – Caps for emphasis only.)

Is there a more tender scene than this? A true under-shepherd will have the heart of Jesus, be tender towards God’s people, and yet vigilant against the enemy. (This links to the lamb-lion nature of Christ.)

Now lets talk about how…

 

God Assigns His Sheep to Shepherds

Peter said,

“Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.” (1Pe 5:1-3)

As for where you should assemble, we must leave that to the Lord. Some groups can be discounted up front. Even when home groups sound like a good thing, there are cautions to be taken. Some groups begin out of a root of bitterness.

Bitterness especially in leadership has a way of defiling the group. Make sure the home group is not simply being reactive against other Christian groups. Yet keep in mind that a great many churches had their beginnings in a home setting.

So — Can you know where you belong? I believe you can. As a long-time pastor I can just about tell every time if a family is being assigned to our ministry. It is a thing of witness. And the family will know soon enough.

If our church is the flock of their assignment, they will not be able to stay away. They may wander a bit, but they’ll come home in time.

It all begins with ….

 

A Look at the Heart

What should believers always beware of?

When it comes to a pastor, beware of the charlatan whose heart is full of greed.

Beware of that so-called pastor who is a manipulator of the flock to his own end. Especially beware of the man who is into self-worship. His heart is filled with pride. He does not preach Christ. He preaches himself.

What then should we look for in a true pastor? Certainly we should not look for perfection. Even the best of pastors is yet a man. He will have frailties. We should look for his heart. After all, should we not expect the Lord to give us a pastor who has the heart of a shepherd.

This shepherding principle is found in what God said to Israel, about their return to the Lord. He said,

“Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.” (Jer3:15)

Where can we find such shepherds? I believe they are out there by the hundreds of thousands. These watchmen on the wall are true shepherds. They care for their flocks. They are not after money or fame.

They are not oppressive or domineering or overpowering or condemning or controlling. They can even rebuke in love. Yet they tenderly care for those assigned to them as a mother cares for her little ones.

The key is in trusting the Lord. Jesus always assigns His believers to the flock of their attending.

Hope I’ve helped a bit. In the meantime, if you are wondering about your own call to service in the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, here is your guiding Scripture:

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Heb 13:20-21)

Another admonishment for those who are uncertain about a pastoral call. My advice is simple –

I am speaking of the call to the ministry and not the call of salvation. Stay out of the ministry if you can. If you are able to do that, it is simply because you aren’t called. God does not take no for an answer. Just do what Peter said, in making your call and election sure. 

I pray this study will reach into the heart of some of my readers.

Take time for this song by the Crabb Family, ‘The Shepherd’s Call.’

In Christ always,

Buddy

 

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“Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.

“At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, ‘I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.'” (Luk 10:20-21)

 

Journal,

Quite recently I shared a Biblical teaching, titled, ‘The Appointed Times of God.’ In this teaching I talked on three issues; ‘The Hidden Mysteries of God’, ‘God’s Code Book of Heaven’, and, ‘The End Time Season of Christ.’“

I would encourage any believer to take time for this teaching. In this teaching you will see why it seems that we have already entered the end time season of the second coming of Christ.

Another thing I stressed in the teaching was why Jesus became so emotional when He talked about the baby Christians. Oh yes, Jesus became quite emotional. Learn why, and you will have one of the greatest secrets to the Christian faith.

And so, here it is.

In Christ Always, 

Buddy

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