1
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in
derision. 5
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore
displeasure. 6
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
The Lord has opened a door in the heavens
allowing us to peer into the deeper things of God.
May we see with an open heart
and grow in our understanding of Christ’s sufferings
drinking fully from the only one who heals.
A FOUNTAIN OF GARDENS
Study Three
#249.1100
scottSTANLEY
This is the third
part, the finishing part, I should say, of a study entitled “A Fountain of
Gardens” where, by the grace of God we are getting a new and different look at
the ministry of Jesus Christ which paints a different picture of our Heavenly
Father and His attitude toward humanity, the work that the Father is instigating
through the Son, in perfecting a people, because of His love for us. It’s
important to me that I speak to you from my heart because the Lord has laid on
my heart a tremendous burden to understand this and I can say, at the beginning
of this study, there is no way for me to reach a conclusion, taking the
direction that we are going to take in this study. The door is open and by the
grace of God, He will help me point you to that door. To pass through that door
is my main concern, in my private studies to understand the depth of where this
leads in looking at Jesus Christ. And I pray that as the Lord gives me the
information and the light, that I would be blessed enough by Him to share this
with you and have it be understood by you.
To sum up the other
two studies, I have to say we have taken a look at certain words,
“propitiation,” “intercession.” Another word I would like to add to that list
is “advocate.” When you say the word “advocate,” what comes to my mind is the
word “law” and I see someone protecting me from my Heavenly Father, speaking for
me before God. And yet, when you look that word up, “advocate,” that Greek word
they’ve translated “advocate” in 1 John 2:1,
1
My
little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man
sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: [My little
children, if you sin, we have an advocate with the Father]
That very same Greek word in John 14:16 is translated “comforter.” And yet when
you say the word “comforter” a completely different picture appears in my
thinking. “Comforter” in contrast with “advocate” – to have Christ consulting
with the Father in my behalf and contrasting with “interceding” – the word
“propitiation,” meaning “God’s act of mercy,” in contrast with appeasing God’s
anger toward me. Those are major, major things, differences that change the
complete picture that we have of the Father. And again, I have to say that to
sum up the other two studies, that really is the crux of it – that we get a
different view of our Heavenly Father, and I don’t mean just intellectually.
But I pray that the weight and the stress come off of us because it is stressful
thinking of the most powerful being in the universe watching every move to see
if I fall, and writing all these things down, and keeping track of every wrong
deed so that He can blast me, if the blood of Jesus doesn’t suffice for me – if
Jesus can’t stand between me and Him anymore. That is stressful to think of
that, and yet just as much as that is stressful, it is as encouraging to realize
He’s working through the Son to bring me home. There is something about that,
that is precious and most wonderful.
So I would like to begin study three, and again I want to say, don’t expect any
conclusions here. I just pray that as the Lord develops this study for me, that
I can share it with you, because as we get to the end of this you’re going to
realize it is something the remnant church desperately, desperately needs to
understand. It is another explanation of the mechanics of overcoming sin and,
by the grace of God, that will be fine tuned even more than what the Lord has
shown us up to this point. To launch us off in this study, I want to begin in
Psalms, chapter 2, reading from verse 1
1 Why do the
heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The
kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against
the LORD, and against his anointed
Now what I want to do, is show you in Acts chapter 4 how the disciples applied
these scriptures, because there is a prayer listed in Acts 4 where these
scriptures are quoted and expounded upon. Turning and reading from Acts 4, I
want to begin reading at verse 24
24And when they
heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord,
thou art [you are] God, which hast [has] made heaven, and earth, and the sea,
and all that in them is:
25 Who by
the mouth of thy [your] servant David hast [has] said, Why did the heathen rage,
and the people imagine vain things?
26 The
kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the
Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of
a truth against thy [your] holy child Jesus, whom thou hast [you have] anointed,
both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel,
were gathered together,
Now it is obvious that Psalms chapter 2 is looked at by the disciples as having
literally been fulfilled and I know that it was. And I wouldn’t try to refute
that. I know it was literally fulfilled. But I want you to consider this
fact. We are spiritual Jews, living in, having already been translated into the
kingdom of God and we are living according to spiritual laws. And this book was
written for those upon whom the end of the world is come. Now consider that!
This book was written for me, living in a spiritual kingdom. So how should I
apply these scriptures? Hopefully, you will understand spiritually. And it’s
interesting, again looking at Acts 4, verse 25
25
Who by the mouth of thy [your] servant David hast said, Why did the
heathen rage...
You know, there is a
difference in the wording of Acts 4 and Psalms 2. Read this same verse in
Psalms 2, verse 1
1
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
There is a big
difference in that little word “do” versus “did.” If I say “Why did the
heathen rage?” that’s past tense. But if I say, “Why do they rage?” it’s
present tense. And if you can learn to put that inwardly, that makes this book
very, very special in that it isn’t written just simply giving us a past
history, it is giving us a “right now” explanation of what is happening to us
inwardly. We can begin to see ourselves, present tense, to help develop present
truth, to be corrected and perfected in Jesus Christ.
Remember again, Christ said, “... if you believe not that I am,
you’ll die in your sins,” (John 8:24) if you cannot believe He is present, this
book is present truth. So looking at this again, in Psalms 2, what is he
referring to then when he says “the kings of the earth and the rulers?” Well,
every human being on this planet has been given charge of his plot of earth. He
is a king of the earth. Now whether or not you are personally on that throne or
you’re allowing the Father and the Son to make you the third ruler of the
kingdom, however it is you want to look at it, it is your choice, because you
have a free will. It is your decision as to how this earth will be governed.
You are a ruler of it. And by the grace of God, He will bring us into a
sanctified way of governing ourselves. But looking at this again, Psalms 2:2
2 The kings
of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the
LORD, and against his anointed,
Now let me show you something about this word that they’ve translated “take
counsel.” If you’ll look at Job 38 verse 4, which reads
4
Where wast thou [where were you] when I laid the foundations of the earth?
declare, if thou hast [you have] understanding.
This word, this verb “having laid the foundations” is the same word that they
have translated “take counsel.” And it’s obvious it’s talking about
“foundational things”, but look at how it is translated in 2 Chronicles 3:3
3
Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the
house of God. ....
This word “was instructed” is the same word translated “take counsel,” the same
word translated “laid a foundation.” So when it talks about taking counsel it
isn’t simply talking about instruction. It’s talking about foundational
concepts, foundational things. Notice (Psalms 2:2)
2
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD,
Or you could say “speak foundational things against the Lord.” They counsel
together, they commune with one another to understand foundational concepts that
are contrary to the Lord and of his Christ. Next verse, Psalms 2:3
3Let us
break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
What about this word “bands?” The number for this word “bands” is [4147]. The
root of it which is a verb, the root of it is seen in Psalms 2:10 where he says
10
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Now, the giving of instruction is the root of the “bands,” the “bands” are the
noun. In fact this number [4147] which they’ve translated bands, another word
that is rooted in the same group word of [3256], “instruction” is the word
translated, “instruction and correction” throughout the book of Proverbs. It’s
[4148]. This word bands is [4147]. But let me back up and show you this root
again [3256]. Turn with me to Leviticus 26:23.
23
And if ye [you] will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk
contrary unto [contrarian to] me;
Here you have the word “reformed,” and that’s [3256] the root of “bands.”
Remember this is the verb. “Bands” is the noun. Now think with me. Consider
with me. “Reform,” to reform the way you think is to be instructed, is to be
corrected. Consider that He refers to the instruction given as bands. Is it
not true, thoughts produce feelings, feelings, actions, and depending on how we
think and understand, we are either bound, or we are set free from the
unsanctified bondage and are slaves and in bondage to the Creator. Either way
you look at it, the concepts we perceive as being truth are binding us.
In Psalms 2 the
rulers, the kings of the earth are taking counsel, laying their own foundational
things against the Lord and His anointed, and they say, come, let us break their
instruction. Which tells me if they are laying their own foundational
instruction, then the instruction of God they’re wanting to break is the
foundational structure that He is giving them. The bands that they want to have
broken are the foundational concepts of truth. There are some other places I
want you to see this word used that they have translated “band.” One is Psalms
107, and turning there, looking at verse 14
14
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands
in sunder.
Again now, think it through Bringing them out of darkness, bringing them out of
the shadow of death, coming out of darkness, the Lord breaks those concepts that
have been binding you. And again, I’m not talking about simply a concept, but a
foundational thing. You see, if your foundation is wrong and you start building
on that, you’re not going to have an accurate understanding and you will be
manifesting bondage. Another one is Psalms 116:16
16
O LORD, truly I am thy [your] servant; I am thy [your] servant, and the son of
thine [your] handmaid: thou hast [you have] loosed my bonds.
Looking again at the
things that bind us, the concepts we carry either are sanctified or
unsanctified. When you become the servant of God, He will loose you from those
concepts that have bound you and He will give you concepts of truth that you
will be a servant unto Him. Another one I want to look at is Isaiah 28, reading
verse 22
22
Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have
heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole
earth.
Here you have the concept given that when the Lord presents you with truth and
you mock and not allow those concepts which are binding you to be broken, they
only become stronger. There is no middle ground. Either you will be set free,
or you will be in even deeper bondage and delusion than you were before you
heard the truth. Now a key scripture for us to look at is in Jeremiah 30. I
want to begin reading at verse 4, and follow these words closely.
4And these
are the words that the LORD spake [spoke] concerning Israel and concerning
Judah.
5
For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of
peace.
6
Ask ye [you] now, and see whether a man doth [does] travail with child?
wherefore [why] do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in
travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
7 Alas!
for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even
the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
8 For it
shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will
break his yoke from off thy [your] neck, and will burst thy [your] bonds, and
strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
9 But
they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up
unto them.
Now realize, in the scriptures when the time of Jacob’s trouble is mentioned,
that time of trouble where Jacob is wrestling with Michael, has nothing to do
with hiding in caves and being persecuted and running for your life. It has
everything to do with the struggle we go through when the Lord tries to break
the bands, the foundational concepts that we hold as true, but are actually
false. Now I know that for those of you that have been getting these studies,
you have been experiencing this. It’s just a part of our lives. We are
learning to accept change, and you know, I think of a foundational concept that
was changed is -- the understanding of the true meaning of the Godhead, coming
into harmony with the Holy Spirit, recognizing abiding in Christ and what that
means in relationship to the law of God, and that the law is spiritual,
recognizing that the scriptures are telling us to listen to Him, not live
according to the book, but live according to the living Savior.
You see, those are
foundational things. And as the Lord has broken those in our lives, we have
gone through struggles. Some of us, more than others. But nevertheless, the
struggles have been great. Because when you talk about foundational truth and
you look at our heavenly Father and the fact that we want to please Him, it’s
true we walk in fear of not living accurately before Him. And I am telling you
there’s nothing more foundational in the way that we were raised in all the
denominational groups I have ever been associated with, there’s nothing more
foundational than the concept that Jesus Christ died so that God could forgive
me. That’s foundational. And I’m telling you, that is another concept
unsanctified, that needs to be broken in our lives. Going back to Psalms
chapter 2,
2The kings
of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together [the kings of
the earth and the rulers are taking counsel together], against the LORD, and
against his anointed, saying, [they say]
3
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
As you can see, the number for “cords” is [5688]. Now let me show you another
place where this word is used. It’s in Hosea 11:4. The Lord says,
4I drew
them with cords of a man, with bands of love....
This word “bands” is
the word translated “cords” in Psalms 2:3. He draws you with cords of love.
When the rulers lay their own foundational truths and their own foundational
concepts for truths, I should say, and they say “Let us break the concepts, the
foundational concepts the Lord is giving us,” they also cast away the very cord
of love that our Father is drawing them with. When you don’t act on the light
that you have, you’re in confusion and the mystery god of Babylon, this trinity,
and you know really it isn’t simply the trinity; the mystery god of Babylon, is
any understanding of the Father and the Son that isn’t accurate. But when you
change the meaning of the concept of God, because God is really our foundation,
isn’t He; He is laying the foundation for us, isn’t He. Looking at Isaiah 28
again, Isaiah 28, verse 16 the Lord says
16
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a
stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that
believeth [believes] shall not make haste.
The foundation the Lord lays for us is Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 3:11 Paul
says
11
For
other foundation can no man lay than that is laid [no other foundation can any
man lay than that which is laid] , which is Jesus Christ.
But I want you to realize an aspect of that foundation as seen in Isaiah 28:16.
This word, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious
cornerstone, a sure foundation, that word “sure” is the same word “foundation”
above in the same verse. The way it actually reads is, “I lay in Zion for a
foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a founded
foundation. And He that believes shall not make haste.” What does he mean a
“founded foundation?” In other words, Christ is our foundation, but He Himself
was given foundational truth. He Himself has been founded and that is the
struggle, isn’t it, for people who worship a mystery god. And I had it
suggested to me “you can’t worship something you don’t understand.” And if you
think that though, people really are not worshiping their mystery god either,
they’re worshiping the Book, or they are worshiping their own interpretation of
it.
But can you really worship something you don’t understand? And that is the
struggle they have. The Son of God, the fact that He was anointed, what exactly
does that mean? I think we have come to the conclusion that in eternity past,
He was birthed and taught; that teaching given Him is the anointing. There was
the second anointing we’ve seen in His humanity. There were things He learned
in humanity He would have never learned as Michael. But He is a founded
foundation -- means two things. We know He was taught, but we also know He was
taught as a man. Two anointings that He received. Looking back at Psalms 2
3 Let us
break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that
sitteth [sits] in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Now in the past I would read this, “He that sits in the heavens” had to be the
Lord and He is laughing because they are in derision. But consider with me. If
you are a spiritual Jew, living in a spiritual kingdom, you too, are sitting in
the heavens. You are in Christ Jesus and it makes more sense to me when you
deliver a message to someone and you see them rejecting it, you see the mockers
growing stronger in their delusion, he that sits in the heavens shall laugh
knowing the Lord has them in derision. It doesn’t mean literally that you would
laugh at them, but you will understand what is actually taking place in their
thinking. They are casting away the foundational truth God has given them.
They are creating their own foundational structure and actually cutting the
cords of love that the Father draws them with. And speaking about the delusions
that come upon people, I want to share something with you. Turn in your Bibles
to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Let’s start reading at verse 9
9 Even him,
whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders,
10 And with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not
the love of the truth, that they [all] might be saved.
11 And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a
lie:
12 That
they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
Now again, consider what has been written here. These people were presented a
truth, but they chose not the love of the truth. They did not love truth. And
when the Lord presented them with concepts of truth they rejected it. The Lord
did not lie to them so that they would be deluded. They are deluding themselves
by their own actions. You can see this in Isaiah 66:4
4I also
will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when
I called, none did answer; when I spake [spoke], they did not hear: but they did
evil before mine [my] eyes, and [get this word - “chose”] chose that in which I
delighted not.
Notice, He brings them the truth. He speaks to them the truth. God cannot lie
and yet they make the choice of rejecting what He is speaking to them. In so
doing they are mockers, their bands become stronger and the Lord says, “I have
chosen their delusions for them.” But they are deluding themselves -- the
concepts they are choosing to believe. Remember again, when you don’t act on
the light you have, you are in confusion. That is how confusion is created in
us, by not acting on what you know. Going back to Psalms 2, verse 4 again
4He that
sitteth [sits] in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then
shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Now, I want you to
realize that the wrath of God is not coming against these people because they’re
sinners. They’re experiencing His wrath because He presented them a way out.
He gave them light and they chose darkness. Look at Isaiah starting at verse
11, chapter 65.
11
But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that
prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that
number.
12
Therefore will I [that is why I will] number you to the sword, and ye [you]
shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye [you] did not
answer; when I spake [spoke], ye [you] did not hear; but [you] did evil before
mine eyes, and [you] did choose [there’s that word again] that wherein I
delighted not.
Again, does God
manifest wrath? Yes! Toward whom? Does He do it because you are a sinner?
Does He have to have someone stand between you and Him, to protect you from
Him? No! His
wrath happens when
He presents to you a better way and you choose not to listen. Listening to Him
-- this is key. Look at the next verse in Psalms 2. Again, let’s look at verse
5 before we go to 6.
5Then
shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
When it says He
shall speak to them in his wrath and vex them, He is speaking to them in their
conscience. Every person on the planet has a conscience. And it is obvious, if
the Lord sends someone a message, let’s say by you, that you are impressed of
God to go deliver a message to a certain individual, you can rest assured that
as you speak the truth, the Father is bearing witness for you, that He is being
a witness to their heart and if they are refusing the truth, He is vexing them
in His wrath. They are feeling the pricks. They are feeling the pestilence of
guilt that happens. That is the Lord’s way of telling us “don’t go that way.”
Speaking of His witness, I have got to show you in John chapter 5, reading verse
31 the five-fold witness of God. Christ says
31
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
What does He mean? And what do I mean “a five-fold witness?” When you read
this chapter, Christ bore witness concerning Himself and His Father and the
work the Father had given Him to do and He finally concludes, “Now if I am
bearing witness of myself and it isn’t true, in other words, if I am the only
one witnessing to this fact...” But He goes on to give a five-fold witness.
Notice, the second witness other than Himself is seen in verse 32.
32There is
another that beareth [bears] witness of me; and I know that the witness which he
witnesseth [witnesses] of me is true.
33 Ye
[You] sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34 But I
receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye [you] might be
saved.
35 He was
a burning and a shining light: and ye [you] were willing for a season to rejoice
in his light.
36 But I
have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father
hath [has] given me to finish [or complete], the same works that I do, bear
witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37 And
the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath [has] borne witness of me. Ye [You]
have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38 And ye
[you] have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye [you]
believe not.
Here’s the fifth witness.
39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye [you] think ye [you] have eternal life:
and they are they which testify of me.
Look at this five-fold witness: Christ, John the Baptist bore witness of Him,
the works He was accomplishing, the works He did bore witness of Him.. The
Father bore witness and the scriptures were given testimony of Him. But there’s
something about this again I want you to consider. What does it mean, the
Father was bearing witness? It has to be in their conscience and for me, every
other witness is meaningless without the witness of the Father, the confirmation
of God in your heart.
Living back in
Jesus’ day, understanding the way the Jews understood, had someone walked up to
me and said “I am the Son of God,” I don’t know that I would have believed it
either. Or John the Baptist comes immersing people. I might not have believed
that either or watching Christ and the works He did. Well you know, the
adversary can do miracles. I might not have believed that either, or the
Bible. If someone had said, “Well look at these scriptures, I might not have
believed that either.
The one thing that
has to be there in each of the witnesses is the witness of the Father to your
heart, in your conscience. That is why I know that Christ understood, when He
witnessed, when He spoke, when He was giving His sermons and bearing witness of
the Father, that the Father was bearing witness to them in their
hearts that this was
true. When John the Baptist came proclaiming the concepts of truth, the Father
was in their hearts confirming the truth. When they saw Christ performing the
miracles, the Father was confirming “this is my Son.” When the scriptures were
shown to them, the Father was bearing witness to them that “this is my Son.”
This is why in Psalms 2 it says
4He that
sitteth [sits] in the heavens shall [will] laugh: the Lord shall have them in
derision. [knowing the Lord has them in derision]
Because you are the one that has delivered the message, you have seen the effect
it has had on them, and you can know in all assurance, if God moved you to speak
to those people, He is confirming your words in their heart. There is never a
time He doesn’t do that, except when probation closes and they no more hear the
voice. At this point, if He is leading you to speak to them, He is confirming
it in their heart and they are having to deny their conscience. Hence they are
vexed in His wrath as He delivers to them confirmation of the truth. The thing
He speaks to them, confirming what you are saying is seen in verse 6 of Psalms
2.
6 Yet have I
set [5258] my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
And remember, set is
[5258] means to pour upon. It actually means “anointed,” “to anoint.” What do
you think He means by using the word “yet?” What are you actually saying when
you
begin a sentence
with the word “yet?” How about “nevertheless?” As you speak the truth and they
are rejecting it, His confirmation to them is “nevertheless, even though you are
rejecting it, nevertheless, I have anointed my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”
You may not like the foundational truth, that the Lord is giving you but
nevertheless, He has anointed His king. He has poured upon His king, upon the
Holy hill of Zion. He has set that king there in His church, and if you don’t
like that foundational truth, and you’re a mocker, you’re not a part of it, if
you’re still choosing the mystery God, and choosing to live in darkness and
confusion.
Now Christ actually
for me begins the second part of this Psalm because starting in Verse 7, this is
the voice of Christ, where he states
7I will
declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me [where it hath said unto me],
Thou art [You are] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Now this text is precious to me in that it gives us insight into eternity past
and we see the birth of the Son of God. I have had the question in my own life
of wondering exactly what did the Son of God understand at birth? You know, I
had to ask myself, well did He have a complete understanding of everything
because He was divine? Exactly what did He understand at birth? According to
this, nothing. He started at ground zero, just like the rest of us. “The
Father has said unto me today I’ve begotten you.” Now, this also helps me see
the relationship between the mind of man and God.
First of all, let me
contrast the human mind with that of a beast. There are various ways we could
describe the differences between humanity and beast. But there are two words
that come to my mind when I think of the contrast, and it is potential and
capacity. A major difference between us and animals is the potential we possess
and the capacity of understanding that we have. Now when you consider Jesus
Christ and a glorified body, having a human brain, it’s obvious that His
potential and capacity is no different than ours. In other words, when you look
at an animal as compared to humanity, you see a difference. But those
differences are not there when you look at the mind of Christ and us, because He
has a human brain; and I know He has more input, I know He has a better
understanding, but His capacity to understand is no different than yours.
And if that’s the truth, then His potential is no different either. Now
consider, being born in eternity, being born out of God. That mind is the very
same mind that was put in the vessel of dust. And if that be true, and remember
He is in the image of God, that means those differences you see between beasts
and man are not there when you look at man and God, as far as the mind. A mind
is a mind is a mind, and the Son of God started at zero understanding the way we
do. In fact, He had to be put in sinful flesh in order to be perfected in His
mind because it was through the suffering that He was perfected and brought to
completion.
But His mind, He still has that same mind, only now it is reached a completed
perfection. So consider with me the mind of man and the healing our Heavenly
Father is bringing to us through the Son. Again, back to Psalms 2 verse 8, the
Father is still speaking to the Son,
8
Ask of me, and I shall give thee [you] the heathen for thine [your] inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy [your] possession.
Now, what can He
possibly mean? Was the Father referring to future creations that were going to
fall? I want you to see this inwardly. Because the Son of God went through
His sufferings in order to be made complete, these words “the heathen for your
inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth” have to be referring to Him
inwardly. Let me chain some scripture together for you. First of all, turn to
Hebrews 2, reading verse 10
10For it
became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing
many sons unto [to] glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect
[complete] through sufferings.
18
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour [help]
them that are tempted.
Hebrews 4:15
15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
And Hebrews 5:8 and 9
8Though he
were a Son, yet learned he obedience by [from] the things which he suffered;
9 And being made
perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto [to] all them that obey
him;
Now think this through. He was perfected through suffering. He learned
obedience through the things which He suffered, or from the things which He
suffered. He suffered being tempted. He was tempted in all points like as we
are, yet He never sinned. Take those concepts and apply them to James chapter
1, reading verse 13.
13 Let no man say when
he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither
tempteth [tempts] he any man:
14 But every
man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Now it’s true, the
Son of God never followed through and fell in the temptation. But He was
definitely tempted. And you’re only tempted when you’re drawn away by your own
lusts. Did He possess like passions? Did He have struggles in His life? Yes,
He certainly did. And in this study, I’m not in the place to try to point out
where I see weaknesses or flaws. I’m not in that place. All I am wanting you
to see is “He suffered being tempted.” This was how He was perfected through
His sufferings. He learned -- key on learned -- He learned obedience.
Obedience wasn’t something that was just automatic. It was something He
learned, and being made perfect, He became the author. He suffered, being
tempted. He was tempted in all points, yet He never sinned. And no man is
tempted except he’s drawn away of his own lusts and enticed. So He did possess
like passions. Why? Because a mind, is a mind, is a mind. The mind He
possessed, being birthed in eternity past, had to be instructed, re-formed,
corrected in understanding. And the Father speaks to Him, again reading Psalms
2 verse 8.
8Ask of
me, and I shall give thee [I’ll give you] the heathen for thine [your]
inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy [your] possession.
You see, Psalms 2:8
is a promise from the Father to the Son that the Son would be given dominion
over all inward things, that He would be in absolute control of Himself. And
again remember, I point to Gethsemane and the struggles the man went through.
Now this is what I want to look at through Leviticus chapter 4. And I’ve got to
bring back some old concepts in order to set up this chapter because it leads us
right to Gethsemane and the fact the Son of God was going through His
struggles. And it is this very understanding that strengthens us, strengthens
us by clarifying what is truth; strengthens us to overcome all things. Looking
at Leviticus 4, and think through with me – remember the past studies, that
Leviticus 4 is dealing with the sin offering and four parts in this chapter,
each deal with different types of people.
There are four parts and yet only two groups of people. Looking at this
chapter, and again, we’re playing off of the past studies without really getting
into this; I’m just going to explain this to you. The four parts deal with the
priest that is anointed, the whole congregation, a ruler and common people. Now
I say it’s four parts but two groups because one group is abiding and the other
one is not. The priest that is anointed and the congregation are abiding in
Christ. The ruler and common people are not in that place of understanding the
abiding. How do I know that? When you read these texts about the ruler and
common people, they offer a sin offering, but the blood of that animal is never
brought into the sanctuary. The priest who is anointed and the whole
congregation, the blood of that offering is brought into the sanctuary. And
it’s on the day of atonement that the sanctuary is cleansed from that, which
means the day of atonement is not for the ruler and the common people. It’s for
the person who is abiding in Christ. They are the ones who will have their
sanctuary cleansed.
But remember a chain of verses that we studied in the past. Let me put these on
the screen one at a time and read them for you and just jog your memory. First
of all is Isaiah 55, reading from verse 3
3 Incline
your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an
everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Ezekiel 37:26
26Moreover
I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant
with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary
in the midst of them for evermore.
Isaiah 8:14
14And he
shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence
to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem.
And Exodus 19:5
5 Now therefore, if ye
will [you’ll] obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be
[you’ll be] a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is
mine:
6 And ye
[you] shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the
words which thou shalt [you shall] speak unto the children of Israel.
Now my point is, the everlasting covenant is given unto those who hear Him, who
are abiding in Christ. It is that person abiding that is given the sanctuary,
which is Christ, and is made a priest before God. And again remember that that
word “priest,” the verb of it is simply “to minister.” If you are a priest of
God, you are a minister of His only if you are listening and speaking those
things as He guides you, as He speaks through you. If you’re not allowing Him
to speak, you might be a minister; you might be a minister of the Book or a
minister of your denomination, but you’re not a minister of God’s. A minister
of God is allowing God to speak through him.
So when you come to Leviticus 4 and you see these four parts, two of these
groups are abiding in Christ. And when you look at the sacrifices, the
sacrifices are even different. Let me show you something in Leviticus chapter 5
so I can explain the sacrifices to you. In Leviticus 5, you have a trespass
offering. And I want to start reading at verse 6
6And he
shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath
sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin
offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.
7
And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass,
which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD...
Drop down to verse 11.
11But if he
be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned
shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin
offering...
Now what I want you to understand about these offerings is that the offerings,
depending on the animal you offered, represented different understandings or
different treasures. You know, in this day, back in the day when this was
written, their riches were measured by their herds. And a bullock cost more to
offer than a lamb; a lamb, more than two turtledoves; two turtledoves, more than
an ephah of flour. And I have to say, at our last camp meeting, the sacrifice
or the atonement made without blood was brought up at our camp meeting. I want
to read this in Hebrews 9:22.
22
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of
blood is no remission.
Here we have this word “almost” all things are purged with blood and it was
brought up that it didn’t always take blood to make an atonement. But remember,
atonement, the atonement is simply the covering, or that act of putting a cover
or giving you His understanding. But notice in Hebrews 9:22, He says, without
the shedding of blood though, there’s no remission. “Remission” is that word
translated “deliverance.” You might have an atonement, but you are not going to
have deliverance without understanding the blood. Two different things.
So going back to Leviticus, recognizing that those animals represented levels of
understanding, because it was their treasure, in order to offer a bullock
inwardly, you have to understand the bullock. A bullock costs more than a
lamb. A bullock was more valuable. That means understanding that bullock is
over and above simply understanding the lamb. And understanding the lamb is
greater than only being able to offer two turtledoves. And offering the two
turtledoves is more than only offering an ephah of flour, a tenth part of an
ephah of flour.
So when you look at Leviticus 4, the priest who is anointed and the congregation
are offering a bullock for a sin offering. The ruler and common people offer a
goat. It is less than the bullock. Now I want you to understand something
about the bullock. Because this gets into the crux of this study. Looking in
Leviticus chapter 4, this bullock is in three parts – his blood, the fat of it
and then the outward parts. The outward parts are seen in verse 11 of Leviticus
4.
11
And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his
legs, and his inwards, and his dung,
12
Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp [or outside the
camp] unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the
wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.
The outward part of
this bullock is taken outside the camp. And in past studies I tried to point
out that that has to be Calvary. Calvary was outside the city. But the bullock
is slain in the city, or Gethsemane. It is the death of the
bullock that we’re talking about here, the difference between a bullock and the
lamb, because it is the lamb that was slain at Calvary. It is the bullock that
died in Gethsemane. Let’s read this in Leviticus 4 starting at verse 1.
1And the
LORD spake [spoke] unto Moses, saying,
2
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance
against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought
not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
Now let’s slow
down. Again, I want to explain a sin of ignorance. It isn’t something that you
do and then you recognize, oh, well that was a sin. No. A sin of ignorance, if
you’re abiding, and that’s what you’re going to see here, the priest that is
anointed, and remember, your anointing 1 John 2:27. You are the priest who is
anointed. For you to have a sin of ignorance means, it isn’t that you didn’t
know that it was a sin, you don’t know how not to do it. The one placing that
information in your heart is our heavenly Father as He uses the Son to
minister. You’re developing a hearing ear. And you perhaps, don’t know how not
to be in control of appetite, of your anger, of your attitudes toward people,
your discouragement, the struggles you face every day in your life.
The Lord is in the process of straightening out the crooked places. And He is
responsible to do that. We are responsible to be open and let Him teach us.
And as we grow in our understanding of who He is and of the things He has to
tell us, we are going to be growing in our sanctification and recognizing it in
our lives. Now again, a sin of ignorance is not that you didn’t know it was a
sin; the sin of ignorance -- you’re ignorant in that you don’t know how not to
do it. What He is addressing here is a process that we go through, and He’s
going to describe this in symbols, of how not to do it, of how to learn to
receive from Him the input. And I hope as we read this, all of this is going to
come together for you. Again, Leviticus 4 starting at verse 3.
3 If the
priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people ...
And the way that actually reads instead of “according to the sin of the people,”
it actually reads “like as the people contract guilt.” Now think about it. If
the anointed priest, the person who understands the abiding truth begins to
contract guilt like the people do....well, how do the people contract guilt?
Through manifestation of self. Fat is a symbol of self. And it is this
destruction, the burning of the fat, the consuming of our “selves” that needs to
be done. And as you go through this sacrifice, you will see the bullock having
the fat taken away and consumed on an altar. But here we have the priest who is
anointed, if he begins to contract guilt like the people... In other words, how
are they contracting guilt, manifesting self? How are you manifesting self?
You’re not listening; you’re running ahead of the Lord. You’re not abiding.
You’re not in that place where you need to be. If the priest that is anointed
do sin contracting guilt like the people
3... then
let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish
unto the LORD for a sin offering.
A young bullock without blemish can be none other but Christ himself. But, it’s
still a bullock. True, it has no blemish, but it is still a bullock. And a
bullock is a perfect picture of self. Just think about it. There is a major
difference between a bullock and a lamb. When He went to Calvary, He was the
lamb. Before He went to Calvary, He made a decision in Gethsemane. And going
through that process of making that decision, the bullock was slain and the lamb
was sent to Calvary. The scripture in Revelation 13 that John wrote, that He
was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world, is another promise that the
Son of God, from the foundation of the world, would be perfected. Ask of me,
I’ll give you the uttermost parts of the earth, He says, in Psalms 2. He would
be perfected and become the lamb in order to go to Calvary.
Now there is
something really sweet when we read this and you recognize what he’s actually
talking about. Looking at Leviticus 4:4
4
And he [the anointed priest] shall bring the bullock unto the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the
bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.
Now remember, we’re not talking about Calvary and the lamb. We’re talking about
the bullock in Gethsemane. And the priest who is anointed lays his hands on the
bullock’s head and puts it to death. All of this is significant because if you
are contracting guilt like the people do, you bring this sin offering before the
Lord and the first thing He says for you to do is look at the bullock in
Gethsemane and recognize you put Him to death. How did we slay Him in
Gethsemane? Now I know I can look at Calvary and say that, that He died slaying
my old man. But what did we have to do with His death in Gethsemane? Well,
there is a scripture in John 17. Reading verse 19
19
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified
through the truth...
Now consider with
me. The process of perfection, I should say the process of suffering unto
perfection which He was going through in Gethsemane, was happening to Him so
that He could give us that mind. You can’t give somebody something you don’t
possess. Remember in John 18:37 He says, “For this end was I born.” He was
born to die. He went through Gethsemane to be perfected for the same reason.
For us. He had to die for us. He had to be perfected for us, hence, he had to
suffer for us. This scripture of laying your hand on the head of the bullock
and putting him to death in Gethsemane is key, because it helps you recognize
who humanity is. We are the purpose, the reason for the Son of God’s
existence. And if you can grasp that, and understand then the magnificent love
God has for us, and recognize, He says, I sanctify myself that they might be
sanctified. Also, look in Romans 4:25.
25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
He was delivered. That “for our” is “because of.” He was delivered because of
our offences. That word “offence” is later translated “fault.” It isn’t sin,
it is for your faults. He went through what He did to pull this infinite mind
out of a bottomless pit, to bring you to a place of perfection unto the measure
of the stature of the fulness of Christ. And I’ve got to say that you cannot
reach that place of the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ without
fully understanding the character of God. You have got to understand your
heavenly Father so that you can walk in the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ. Now, looking back to Leviticus chapter 4. When you find
yourself contracting guilt like the people contract guilt, he says first of all,
take this bullock, go to Gethsemane, look at my Son in Gethsemane and recognize
He is going through what He’s going through for your sake. Leviticus 4, verse
5.
5And
the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to
the tabernacle of the congregation:
6
And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood
seven times [perfectly] before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.
Now, bear with me as I go through this. When we talk about the bullock’s blood
– blood is a symbol of the soul and the soul is the record of who you are. But
again, we’re not talking about the lamb. We’re talking about the bullock.
We’re talking about this man in Gethsemane. What was happening to this man?
According to the New Testament, as we read the scriptures, if you’ll just start
pulling them together, you’ll discover this man was in agony in Gethsemane.
You’ll discover that He was sweating blood. Paul states in Hebrews concerning
us, he says ye have not yet resisted unto blood, inferring that Christ did.
Christ was resisting unto blood. My question is, what was He resisting? He was
resisting His own will against the Father’s. He was resisting putting His own
self before His Father’s perfect will for Him.
We’re looking at the blood of the bullock and this is something that we come
along and dip our fingers in. Fingers are faith. Faith is understanding. The
understanding you possess is to be dipped into that blood...the record of who He
is. But again it’s the bullock. Take a look at this man in Gethsemane. Had
you walked into Gethsemane that day and seen this man pressed down, agonizing
over this decision he was making, what if you had walked up to Him and said,
“Hey, what’s the problem here? Why are you going through this struggle the way
you are? What’s happening to you? I thought this is what you were born for.
Why are you going through this struggle right now? What is it you’re afraid
of? What is it you’re struggling with? What is it you’re dealing with
inwardly?”
Well, it was suggested to me that His struggle was in knowing that the old man
was going to be slain, that He was going to become the old man. His struggle
was His unwillingness to be separated from His Father. Now, that makes perfect
sense to me. I don’t think the Son of God was afraid of facing the anger of
men. I don’t think He was struggling with that. It makes sense that all of His
life He had been one with His Father and if He was going to slay the old man, He
was going to have to be separated from the Father. And He was going through
that struggle of giving that up for us and for His Father, because this was what
His Father was asking Him to do. Now I have taught before that on the cross
when He cried out, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” that He did not
know He was going to be forsaken.
Well, consider. It’s one thing to know the Father will separate from you. It’s
another thing to be forsaken. Those are two different things. You might
separate from somebody, but if you forsake them, that’s even more. That’s an
even greater thing. So consider the Son of God on that tree when He cried out
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” let me ask you a question. In that
sentence, which word do you think He accented? Do you think He said, “WHY
have you forsaken me? Or “Why HAVEyou
forsaken me?” Or “Why have YOU forsaken me?” Do you think He said “Why
have you forsaken ME?”Well, think about it. Because depending
on how you understand that, depending on how you hear Him say that on Calvary’s
tree, makes a big difference in what was in His heart. I would like to suggest
to you that when He cried out that sentence, it was “Why have you FORSAKEN
me?” Forsaken in contrast with separation.
The Son of God, in
order to experience the depth of human wickedness, was forsaken of God.
Now I know in the scriptures, there are scriptures dealing with God forsaking.
But the one that comes to my mind is Revelation 18 about Babylon and they reach
a point at the close of probation where they will no longer hear the voice,
meaning He is not speaking to them anymore. And I want you to consider exactly
what it is we think happens. What would happen to you if our Heavenly Father
said to you, “You know, I’m going to separate from you for the next ten
minutes. I’m going to step away from you for ten minutes.” What do you think
you would experience then? What blackness or horror or darkness would happen to
you for the Father to separate for just ten minutes?
I don’t have the answers. I can look at my experience before coming to know the
Lord and realize I was separated from God. He states in Isaiah 59, your
iniquities separate you. But the idea is, to come in to Gethsemane recognizing
He is going through this for me, for you, for us, for humanity. Take the record
of who He is. He suffered being tempted. He was tempted in all points like us,
yet He never sinned. He was made like unto us. He had a mind contained in a
human brain. Imagine yourself in His place, and consider what is happening with
Him. When you find yourself contracting guilt like the people contract guilt,
dip your fingers in the blood of the bullock. Bring it in to the sanctuary and
sprinkle it before the Lord and before the vail – those words “before” are
[6440] – it’s actually “before the person of the Lord, and before the person of
the vail,” because friend, that vail is what is separating between you and God.
It is the crooked understanding we have.
We are wanting to
gain and grow in our understanding of how to overcome the things that we don’t
know how to overcome. They are sins of ignorance. Somehow through this
process, these things will take place and we will be healed. I don’t have the
answers. I have a lot of questions, and I know the Lord has opened a door in
the heavens and we can walk through it together and gain the answers to the
questions I’m asking. This study will never end. I say this is the third part,
it’s the last part of a three part study; this study will never end, because we
will continually be growing in this. I know you have not been experiencing
Leviticus 4 as a remedy for your weaknesses. I pray we learn how to utilize
these words. I think of Luke 12:49.
49
I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will [shall] I, if it be already
kindled?
50
But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened [or pained]
till it be accomplished!
There was an
immersion the Son of God had to go through. And for me, it was that second
anointing that He endured of learning the death of human wickedness, learning
the strength of the human nature and the weaknesses we possess. This was the
immersion. And He says, “I’m come to send fire.” Remember in Revelation 19
where he says in a description of Christ, it says His eyes are as a flame of
fire? Remember “eyes” are understanding? He has a fire to kindle; an
understanding. “And how I’m pained until this is accomplished.” There was
something He had to learn, a fire, an understanding. Why fire? Look at
Jeremiah 5, verse 3.
3O LORD,
are not thine [your] eyes upon the truth? thou hast [you have] stricken them,
but they have not grieved; thou hast [have] consumed them, but they have refused
to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have
refused to return.
Notice the contrast between consuming and correction. They refused the
correction. You consumed them, but they refused the correction. How does He
consume? With His eyes of fire, His understanding. He consumes self. When you
receive the instruction, when you receive instruction and correction and reform,
His eyes are consuming the fat of your life. In Gethsemane the fat of the
bullock was taken off and consumed on the altar. There was an understanding He
was receiving from His Father. There was something He was learning at that very
moment when He was crying out “Take the cup, nevertheless, not my will, but
thine.” The Son of God, it states, let’s just turn over there to Revelation
19. The Son of God has a name that no other man can know but He Himself. Again
Revelation 19, verse 12.
12His eyes
were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name
written, that no man knew, but he himself.
That means He had a character that no one can know but He Himself, just like you
have one and I have one; each one of us have a different background and
different things we’re going through. And He states the same thing concerning
us in Revelation, I believe it’s chapter 2, that He’ll give you a name that no
one can receive but he that receives it. You see, when He’s completed with you,
when He’s finished with you, your character will be developed from a past, from
struggles no one else has had to walk exactly the same path. And you will be
your own person, just as He has a character no one else can know but He
Himself. And in the garden, it was those things concerning Himself He was
recognizing, that He was dealing with, that He was gaining the victory over. In
the garden He faced Himself and overcame.
Let the Son of God bring those things before your awareness so that you can deal
with them and in the power of God put them away forever. Again I’ve got to say,
unless we make a deliberate effort to deal with the weaknesses in our lives,
we’ll never overcome. There is a reason this man sweat blood. He knew the will
of God and He had to make the effort to perform that which was perfect before
God. And in so doing, and casting everything else aside, He was completed. You
find yourself contracting guilt like the people contract guilt? Do you find
yourself struggling with everyday things in life? Look unto that bullock and
see Him facing those same obstacles and willing to suffer to learn obedience,
willing to resist self even unto blood, to be in the Father’s perfect will. And
in doing that, He recognized, He saw what He needed to see and became the Lamb
of God.
May the 144,000 follow the Lamb withsoever He goes, and glorify our Father, and
may we learn to see our Father for who He really is. The Son of God went
through this process because the human agent demanded it. We had to have it
done so that we could be like unto Him. May God be glorified forever and ever.
EPILOGUE:
John 19:5
5
Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And
Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
37Pilate
therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that
I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world,
that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth
heareth my voice.
