1I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
2I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
3A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
4Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
5Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
Exodus 20
20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
Whisper game – get about 10 people and whisper a short phrase in one persons ear – see if the exact words can make it through the 10 people one by one.
II Kings 22
1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
3 And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,
4 Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:
5 And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,
6 Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.
7 Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.
8 And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
9 And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD.
10 And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
(This came from God because Josiah had a mind for God. His actions in restoring the temple got God’s attention and God rewarded this effort with more revelation of Himself)
11 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
(Sorrow and repentative : Godly response a spiritually healthy response – the world wrestles with correction and argues against it)
12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying,
13 Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
What just happened
Apparently, the instruction given at the beginning through Moses became corrupted just like the whisper game I described. When the king read the book and the Word of God revealed the difference between what they were living versus what God desired. That’s what this Word is supposed to do, it exposes every short coming in my life and shows me what I need to surrender over to God in my life.
They did not entirely forget God, but they were missing the mark in serving Him as He stipulated in His Word.
Let’s start with the altar, this is where we meet and interact with God. He gave specific instruction regarding this.
Learn by trial and error (better by someone else’s error)
Leviticus 9
22And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
23And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.
24And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Great response – people payed attention, people shouted, people fell on their faces – you’d say this was the goal of your typical revival service
Leviticus 10
1And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
2And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
I can just picture this as the two men got the idea that they could really stir things up by making their censers smoke up really good, wave them around, and just keep the congregation in a frenzy of excitement. This was not acceptable to God and He judged them right away.
Look at Jesus’s rebuke to the Scribes and Pharisees.
Matthew 15
7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Doctrine defines fellowship – it specifies the conditions and expectations of God concerning our behaviour that we may have interaction with Him.
We cannot go by what we feel or think but by what is written in God’s Word.
Look at the king’s response
2 Kings 23
4And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel.
5And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.
6And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people.
7And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.
He cleaned house tbc…….
How quickly can doctrine get corrupted ?
Jude 1
1Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
2Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Where else
26.Romans 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Romans 16:16-18 (in Context) Romans 16 (Whole Chapter)
27.1 Corinthians 14:6
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
1 Corinthians 14:5-7 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 14 (Whole Chapter)
28.1 Corinthians 14:26
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
1 Corinthians 14:25-27 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 14 (Whole Chapter)
29.Ephesians 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Ephesians 4:13-15 (in Context) Ephesians 4 (Whole Chapter)
30.Colossians 2:22
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Colossians 2:21-23 (in Context) Colossians 2 (Whole Chapter)
31.1 Timothy 1:3
As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1 Timothy 1:2-4 (in Context) 1 Timothy 1 (Whole Chapter)
32.1 Timothy 1:10
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1 Timothy 1:9-11 (in Context) 1 Timothy 1 (Whole Chapter)
33.1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Timothy 4:1-3 (in Context) 1 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)
34.1 Timothy 4:6
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
1 Timothy 4:5-7 (in Context) 1 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)
35.1 Timothy 4:13
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:12-14 (in Context) 1 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)
36.1 Timothy 4:16
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1 Timothy 4:15-16 (in Context) 1 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)
37.1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1 Timothy 5:16-18 (in Context) 1 Timothy 5 (Whole Chapter)
38.1 Timothy 6:1
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
1 Timothy 6:1-3 (in Context) 1 Timothy 6 (Whole Chapter)
39.1 Timothy 6:3
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1 Timothy 6:2-4 (in Context) 1 Timothy 6 (Whole Chapter)
40.2 Timothy 3:10
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2 Timothy 3:9-11 (in Context) 2 Timothy 3 (Whole Chapter)
41.2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 3:15-17 (in Context) 2 Timothy 3 (Whole Chapter)
42.2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:1-3 (in Context) 2 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)
43.2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Timothy 4:2-4 (in Context) 2 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)
44.Titus 1:9
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Titus 1:8-10 (in Context) Titus 1 (Whole Chapter)
45.Titus 2:1
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Titus 2:1-3 (in Context) Titus 2 (Whole Chapter)
46.Titus 2:7
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Titus 2:6-8 (in Context) Titus 2 (Whole Chapter)
47.Titus 2:10
Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
51.2 John 1:9
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:8-10 (in Context) 2 John 1 (Whole Chapter)
52.2 John 1:10
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2 John 1:9-11 (in Context) 2 John 1 (Whole Chapter)
53.Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Revelation 2:13-15 (in Context) Revelation 2 (Whole Chapter)
54.Revelation 2:15
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
Revelation 2:14-16 (in Context) Revelation 2 (Whole Chapter)
55.Revelation 2:24
But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Main Entry: res·ti·tu·tion
Pronunciation: \ˌres-tə-ˈtü-shən, -ˈtyü-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English restitucioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin restitution-, restitutio, from restituere to restore, from re- + statuere to set up — more at statute
Date: 14th century
1: an act of restoring or a condition of being restored: as a: a restoration of something to its rightful owner b: a making good of or giving an equivalent for some injury 2: a legal action serving to cause restoration of a previous state
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Paul was used to reach out to these believers with this letter to warn them and us who are of like dispensation about those who would come after him and the other apostles and bring in this worlds doctrine.
As the salvation experience became further removed from the original apostles and the church grew, there came opportunity for false doctrine to work itself into the teachings of the saints.
What was true for then is even more of a threat in our days. A good example of a form of Gnosticism can be seen in the Jehovah’s Witnesses who deny the deity of Christ. You can find this on their web page in the “What we believe pages” :see link
False Doctrine Have a look at the table at the bottom of this page. In the fourth field, they take scripture out of context (yes, Jesus was God’s Son: but He was also God) and proclaim that Christ was inferior to God. See verse 9 of the scripture above.
25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.
27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
These men were to be princes with God and they saw themselves as nothing.
Proverbs 3
1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Exodus 17:14
And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. Exodus 17:13-15 (in Context) Exodus 17 (Whole Chapter)
Exodus 24:13
And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. Exodus 33:11
And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
Numbers 27:18
And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;) Numbers 32:12
Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.
Joshua was a man of the Word
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Deduteronomy 8
3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
This is the fruit of repentance – He confessed his sins and acknowledged the justice of it consequences.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
He called upon the Lord to save him.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Make no mistake here, this is God speaking, Jesus was all man and all God. He had no less power nailed to that cross than when he was walking on water or feeding 5 thousand. As a matter of fact, this was most likely one of the greatest demonstrations of His power and this was the first time after reading this passage for the 100th plus time that the Holy Spirit revealed it to me. His work on the cross saved us all, it restored all things to Gods design, and He still had the time with all this on His plate to save a man whose life the world would not give 2 cents for.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Mark 2:5
It says that all of those around that heard were offended and complained that only God could forgive sin. Guess what, they were right: only God can forgive sin. The tragedy was that they did not know that God was standing right next to them.
The authority to forgive sin was not nullified by his current situation. Wherever Jesus was and whatever the circumstance, He had the situation under His authority.
Luke 23
26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Paradise was the good place to be in. Jesus taught in Luke 16 that there were 2 places that a soul would exist after the body died. The place he calls paradise is know as Abraham’s Bosom, where the righteous in Christ waited for the actual work to be done before going to Heaven. If you want to know more of about this you can look up Sheol and Gehenna.
Other than the conversion of Saul, this passage of scripture demonstrates the love of God for all men and His power to reach and save the most wicked man under any circumstance.
Side Note:
Created for greater things………………….
The Holy Spirit spoke to me and made me to consider what Jesus must have been thinking when He saw these men hanging alongside Him.
Look at this man, confessing that this terrible death on the cross was fit punishment for his acts.
That man was created in the image of the Almighty, God had plans for his life and it did not include life that would lead him to being crucified. He was and we are created for greater things. Many of us are too caught up with things that are not profitable and loose sight of the fact that we sons and daughters of the King of Kings.
Share Bro. Carters testimony about the man begging at TSC.
There were 10 men to remember
Numbers 13
33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
These men were to be princes with God and they saw themselves as nothing.
Put on the Mind of Christ for a moment and look across at that thief and consider things from His perspective.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. I Cor 2:16
I need to put on that mind every time I have a God given appointment. Just look what Jesus did.
Jesus knew what that man was created for and had the power on request to help him. (And he asked) Both of them could have been saved. Think about that. He had the power to save both. Tragic, yards away and a world apart. But for the man who repented and asked ……
In just moments, God turned his condemnation to a coronation: He was to be an heir with the King of Kings.
Psalms 103
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
That criminal on the cross with Jesus enjoyed the benefit of this passage of God’s Word. His life was redeemed and he received a crown of life.
Crowns are only worn by kings.
James 1
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
After being saved we have the command to continue with or abide in Him.
Revelation 2
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
If you have been transformed, then you have entered a continual process we call sanctification. I do not think that sanctification completes in this life. Paul wrote to the saints and said we would be changed in the twinkling of an eye. The same Paul who wrote that I have finished my course is the same man who asked God three times to remove a thorn from his flesh.
Romans 12
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Take note of the ing words in the Bible. Living sacrifice, renewing of your mind – these terms define continous activity. Sanctification is a progressive transformation and molding of our lives through the power of God into the image of Christ.
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
This is what you are born into.
Acts 25:13-19
13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
Obvious that the Jews intended to kill Paul.
17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Why did they want to kill Paul? Because of his testimony that Jesus was alive. That same testimony that should be in us.
Not just that Paul said that Jesus was alive but the life of Jesus was in him. You can say all manner of things and people can choose to ignore you, but when a true demonstration of character backs up what you say exists, then people will respond to those words. Pauls life demonstrated the full infilling of Christ. He was a mature Christian.
Jesus said in John 6:53-58
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
Galatians 4:19
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
John 3:7
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
1 Peter 1:23
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Lets look at some Old Testaments types to help us understand the salvation experience
In Hebrews 11:28-30
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Knowing Jesus and the gift of eternal life that He brings.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Acknowledging sin, repenting/forsaking our ways and falling on Christ.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Believing on the work that Jesus did at Calvary & receiving it’s benefits.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Baptism
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Victorious living in Christ.
But wait, not everyone who had the Red Sea experience made it to Jericho. And there is a big gap of history to fill in before storming the walls of Jericho.
Lets look in detail what happened in the Old Testament types.
Exodus 12:21-24
21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
This was a type of Calvary.
Exodus 14:21-30
19And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
They enjoyed divine protection during their cradle time.
21And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
23And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
25And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
26And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
29But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
Baptism symbolizes that your old life is dead, just like the Egyptians lying dead on the other side of that sea shore.
Baptism symbolizes your part in the ressurection with Jesus.
Exodus Ch 14-19 illustrates a cradle experience. They relied on God for everything they had. Shelter, food, water, protection, just like a new born baby.
Exodus 19:4-7
4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
This is about new birth. A lot of spiritual truths are taught by using natural examples, we call these parables.
1 Peter 2:2
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
What do babies know how to do?
They start out with crying (breathing)
They can eat and soiling diapers follows along naturally.
Very soon they can begin to communicate their needs and we begin to train them.
We see the same parallel with Israel and the new believer.
We have a new birth experience followed by the need for God’s Word to train us in this new life.
1 Corinthians 10:2-11
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Crossing the Jordan and taking out Jericho (moving to the next level)
Mass culling prior to this event
Hebrews 3:14-19
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
If there is still a great end time quickening of the church to happen, then we are as Israel following a cloud around the desert.
Those that did not continue or did not trust in the Lord were not a part of the group that got to cross over the Jordan.
The world could not stand to have Jesus here so they crucified Him; the more you become like Him it will hate you also.
5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41 And many more believed because of his own word;
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
43 Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.
Matthew 15
1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Acts 17
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. *** see side note about the argument ***
4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Jesus confronted the same spirit in Jerusalem
6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Can you see the difference between those at Thessalonica versus those at Berea? The people in Berea are noted for spending time in the scriptures daily. They listened (not set in their way) and rightly divined the Word of Truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The men at Berea had a heart for the things of God and to inquire at His Word. The ones in Thessalonica are more like the ones Jesus encountered in Jerusalem. They had their own agenda, the had their own standards as to what was serving God based on learned traditions and methods that they were comfortable. Jesus and Paul offended that spirit when they started encroaching into their comfort zone with the Word of God.
Were the Jews that Jesus addressed or those in Thessalonica ignorant to the Word. No, not at all. But Peter sums it up very well in John 6:68
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
The TNK was studied by all Jewish men and especially all the priests. But they had developed their own methods and traditions of how to apply that Word in their lives that was contrary to God. And when their ways were challenged, because they had no relationship, they were threatened and attacked.
Show someone in sin the Word. Show someone in a homosexual relationship or an adulterer what the Word of God says. Denounce drunkenness, pornography, or abortion to someone who has that in their lives and see how peaceably they receive your reproof.
John 1
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
*** Christ must needs had suffered ***
I believe I hit this argument when discussing types with respect to Jesus. You see the sacrifice of the animal was a type of which Jesus was the anti-type. They argue that this is not the case as they did not distress or torture the lamb, goat, bull, etc before the sacrifice. Hence Jesus who was tortured is not the anti-type of the sacrifices that atoned for our sin. However they discount Isaiah 52 and 53 in that Jesus was also beaten and bruised to account for our healing.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
The earth being in darkness and chaos as described in verse 2 was calling out for light and order.
Genesis 1:2
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The Holy Spirit showed me how this Word was a response from God to us. It allows us to move ti higher places of fellowship with Him. As I was reading Acts 10 this morning, I saw the perfect example of this concept with the house of Cornelius: read Acts 10. Summary, Cornelius was doing all he knew to do that was pleasingto God. It was not just works but a manifestation of works due to the character of Cornelius. For all his devotion however, Cornelius’s relation ship with God had basically peaked and could not go further until God responded to the current situation. God’s response was to send Peter (a chosen vessel) to deliver the Word and demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit.
God responds to His people when they call out to Him and He responds to situations just as we do.
Genesis 5
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
He used the flood to bury the mess that things had become just as you would bury a rotting animal that dropped dead on your front door step.
Genesis 11
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
Once again, man had determined to accost the will of God and the rebellion in their hearts cryed out like a foul smell. God responded by causing them to scatter.
Exodus 3:7
And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
God heard the cry of the Children of Israel and responded by sending Moses.
Our God is all powerful and can act without our involvement. However, the Bible shows us that He enjoys to include us in the execution of His will. Just as you see Peter used to express the desires of God in the House of Cornelius and Moses to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt. He desires to express Himself to this world through the redeemed.
We know by the scriptures that there will be a day that He takes all that is His out of this world. We have a very short time to be a part of expressing the love of God to a world that is crying out for deliverance. God speaks through His people, God renders deliverance and alms through His people, and God reaches out to a dying world through His people.
sanity check
Am I in right fellowship with God?
Am I hearing from Him and keeping myself in a position to be used by Him ?
