IN THIS MOUNTAIN
#253.0901
As we go through
this study, it’s my prayer this be an encouragement to the remnant church, that
we continue to grow in our understanding of the mechanics of salvation and that
we continue to be able to apply these truths to our lives, making it practical.
I want to begin in this study, reading in Romans 4 about Abraham. And I can’t
read Romans without feeling impressed to emphasize words like righteousness,
justified, grace, because without a right understanding of those words we’ll
never grasp what God is actually trying to tell us – what He’s really trying to
impress upon us. As I look at grace, and we cover this practically in every
study – but looking at this word “grace,” I know looking it up, it’s “unmerited
favor.” But the favor that God is showing us that is unmerited, the favor He
shows us is that voice to the conscience that helps move us in the right way.
It is receiving His instruction into our very being, into the core of who we
are. It’s receiving that. It isn’t just simply hearing Him, but receiving it.
I think of Proverbs chapter 1 and I would like to read this. Proverbs 1:7, 8
and 9.
Proverbs 1:7
7 The fear of the
LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and
instruction.
8 My son, hear the
instruction of thy [your] father, and forsake not the law [teachings] of thy
[your] mother:
That word “law’ is
“torah,” it’s simply “teaching.” And I would like to say that we know the
mother of us all is New Jerusalem, Jerusalem which is above. And that is a
symbol of the new mind set, the new covenant, the perfected mind of Christ. And
if I could read Proverbs 1:8,
8 My son, hear the
instruction of thy [your] father, and forsake not the law [don’t forsake the
teachings] of thy [your] mother:
In other words, the
commandment of God is to hear the Son. Remember on the Mount of
Transfiguration, “This is my Son, Hear Him.” That is the instruction from the
Father, that we might receive the teachings of Christ. And He says in verse 9,
Proverbs 1,
9 For they shall
[Those teachings will] be an ornament of grace unto thy [your] head,
....
Well, this word
“ornament,” if you look in your margin, it’s “an adding.” It adds grace to
you. It’s the ornament, the adding of grace.
Proverbs 1:9
9 .... and chains
about thy neck.
It is the chain
that’s about your neck. It is that chain, from Father to the Son, to us. But
when it says it adds, it’s an adding of grace. I have to turn to 2 Peter
chapter 1. And in 2 Peter 1:2,
2 Peter 1:2
2 Grace and peace be
multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God [in God’s knowledge], and of
Jesus our Lord, [Jesus’ knowledge]
So, in the knowledge
of God, as He increases that, we grow in grace. And His favor is continually
extended to us, so that when you look at 1 Peter 2:19,
1 Peter 2:19
19 For this is
thankworthy [This word “thankworthy” is the word “grace.” This is grace], if a
man for conscience toward God [You see you have that ear to ear. You’re open to
hear His leading. If a man for conscience toward God] endure grief, suffering
wrongfully.
20 For what glory
is it, if, when ye be [you’re] buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it
[you take that] patiently? but if, when ye [you] do well, and [you] suffer
for it, ye [you] take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
[grace in the sight of God]
21 For even
hereunto were ye [you] called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us
an example, that ye [you] should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin,
neither was guile found in his mouth:
We know the story.
This in essence is telling us the definition of the effect of God’s grace. This
is grace with God, that you’re able to deal with the tribulation of life – that
you’re able to deal with temptations, the things that normally would stress you
out, and you stand perfect, abiding in Christ. Now evidently, Abraham was in
this place. He is constantly used as our example. And when we read in Romans
4, remember what he means when he says grace. Remember righteousness is the
thought of God. Justified, to justify is to make one righteous or to give you
His character, to give you who He is – His thoughts and opinions and ideas, His
judgments, His decisions, His considerations – even His feelings and attitudes.
So reading in Romans 4:1,
Romans 4:1
1 What shall we say
then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath [has] found?
2 For if Abraham
were justified [made righteous] by works, he hath whereof to [could]
glory; but [still] not before God.
3 For what saith
the scripture [what did the scriptures say]? Abraham believed God, and it was
counted unto him for righteousness.
Not the belief, but
the result of it. Faith is the result of the action of believing. What was
counted for righteousness? His faith. The result of listening to God, and
receiving what God said to him.
4 Now to him that
worketh [works] is the reward not reckoned [not counted] of grace, but of debt.
[it would be a debt]
5 But to him that
worketh not [isn’t working for righteousness], but believeth [believing] on him
that justifieth [justifies] the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Now notice this
word, “is counted.” This word is translated “impute, reckoned.” Here it’s
“counted,” in this chapter of Romans 4. The first place this word is used is
Mark 11. And I want to show you the way it’s translated here, because this is
the way I want you to think of this word. Mark 11:31, this is dealing with John
the Baptist, and Jesus asks the question, “The baptism of John, is it from
heaven or of men?”
Mark 11:31
31 And they reasoned
with themselves, .....
This word is
“reasoned,” they have translated “counted, reckoned, impute.” And for me, when
I think of reasoning, I think of an action. I think of a process. It is
different from the word “impute.” “Impute” seems to be for me all my Christian
life, I’ve had this picture of the big book, and my name is in it, and somehow
He checks me off, or writes “righteous,” He imputes righteousness to me. Zing,
bam, you’re righteous. To impute righteousness. All I’ve had to do is
believe. Done nothing. Nothing’s happened here. And yet, the reality of it is
that my act of believing what God is saying results in faith. And this faith is
reasoned to me as righteousness or the thought of God. Who did the reasoning?
The Father. As He looks at you, can’t you imagine Him standing there looking,
and reasoning the reception, your reception of what He has spoken to you, and
seeing the result and reasoning – you’re righteous.
Now carry that
definition, as we read what Paul states here. He’s going to take us back to
Psalms 32 where David writes this scripture. I’m reading from Romans 4:6. He’s
quoting Psalms 32.
Romans 4:6
6 Even as David
also describeth [describes] the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth
righteousness without works, [reasons to be righteous without works]
7 Saying,
[when he says] Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose
sins are covered.
8 Blessed is
the man to whom the Lord will not impute [will not reason to be] sin.
I want to take you
to Psalms 32. And I want to read this with you and emphasize what he is saying
here. There is a state of being, there is a place with God where He does not
reason that you are in sin. It is that place where your heart is sincere. You
begin to want to do the things of God, and I would take you back and point you
to Abraham. How many years was it from the time God gave him the promise that
he would have a son with Sarah? How many years from that time over to when he
actually had his son? And what about that period of time in there? Was he
always righteous with God? Was he righteous with God when he went down into
Egypt? Was he righteous with God when he took Hagar and had a child by her? Of
course he was. Why? Because he was as sincere from the first day as he was at
the end. But at the end he was stronger in his faith. Now let me show you what
David writes concerning this mind set of God not reasoning you to be in sin.
Psalm 32:1
1 Blessed is he
whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is
the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there
is no guile.
3 When I kept
silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
What is he talking
about here? It means recognizing, coming to that place where you recognize your
fault, you recognize your weakness, and to keep silent and not confess it, is
the result of what we’re going to read here.
Psalm 32:4
4 For day and
night thy [your] hand was heavy upon me [you could say, bringing conviction]: my
moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. [You see, it is that
conviction that brings you to verse 5.]
5 I acknowledged my
sin unto thee [you], and mine [my] iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will
confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest [you forgave] the
iniquity of my sin. Selah.
So here you have a
fellow whose conscience bothers him to the point of coming before God and
acknowledging the problem, and acknowledging who he recognizes he is in the
fallen condition he is in. And David is saying here, “Blessed is this man whom
God will not impute, will not reason to be sin.” Let’s follow this through.
Verse 6.
Psalm 32:6
6 For this shall
every one that is godly pray unto thee [you] in a time when thou mayest [you
may] be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not [they’ll not]
come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art
[you are] my hiding place; thou shalt [you shall] preserve me from trouble; thou
shalt [you’ll] compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Songs of what?
Songs of deliverance or experiences of deliverance from myself. Let me sum up
now what we’re talking about. We’re talking about a fellow who is receiving
conviction from God. How does that happen? God impresses your conscience.
Well what does that mean then? That means you’re hearing the voice of God and
you’re responding to it. That means you’re recognizing the wrong in your life
and then you come to Him and acknowledge it.
I think of my life
before I had a born again experience and there were a couple of years that I was
recognizing, I was becoming more honest with people and something was happening
in my spirit. Now, don’t get me wrong. I was as lost as I could be, and I was
on drugs, alcohol. My life was absolute turmoil. I was miserable. And yet, I
can remember thinking how I couldn’t lie to my boss at work anymore. There were
things I just couldn’t do. I had to be honest here and there, whereas before it
didn’t make any difference. I was still being dishonest in other things, but
there were things I began to realize, I just can’t do this. And I attributed it
to the fact, well I must be getting older, and this is changing me. But I
realize now, I was responding to the conviction that God was giving me. And
eventually He brought me to my knees. Eventually He showed me the utter
worthlessness of myself and I cried out for salvation. But I can remember how a
few years before, I actually prayed the sinners prayer, how I was recognizing
these changes, and in so doing, in responding to that, in responding to the
conviction, God brought me right unto Himself. Psalms 32:8. The Lord answers
this prayer of David and He says,
Psalm 32:8
8 I will instruct
thee [you] and teach thee [you] in the way which thou shalt [you shall] go: I
will guide thee with mine eye. [I’ll guide you with my eye, with my
understanding.]
9 Be ye not as the
horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth
must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
So this is what
Paul is referring to when he talks about David’s thirty-second Psalm and the
fellow who is receiving blessings of God without the works – the fellow who is
receiving the blessing of God, which is conviction. Conviction moving you to
seek His help, to seek His forgiveness, to seek His deliverance. That is the
fellow that will be given songs of deliverance in his life. So coming back to
Romans 4, let’s read verse 6 again.
Romans 4:6
6 Even as David also
describeth [describes] the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth
[reasons] righteousness without works,
7 Saying,
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are
covered.
8 Blessed is
the man to whom the Lord will not impute [reason] sin.
9 Cometh
this blessedness then upon the circumcision only [Does this blessedness
then come upon those who are only circumcised]....or upon the uncircumcision
also?
Now I know in
Paul’s day, when he talked about the circumcision, he was talking about the
Jews. But I want to apply it to your day. What about those who have had a born
again experience? What if I applied it like this. Does this blessing come only
upon those who are spiritually circumcised or upon those who are not spiritually
circumcised?
9 ... for we say
that faith was reckoned [reasoned] to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then
reckoned [reasoned]? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision [when he
was circumcised or uncircumcised]? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
[Not when he was circumcised, but when he was uncircumcised.]
11 And he received
the sign [symbol] of circumcision, a seal [confirmation] of the righteousness of
the faith [his understanding he had when he was uncircumcised] which he had
yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that
believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed
[reasoned] unto them also [too]:
Now what am I
saying here? That as the Lord moved me, as the Lord impressed me and I
responded to the guilt, to the conviction, that as the Lord drew me to Himself,
He saw my response. He saw me coming. He knew what would take place. You
know, I was asked the other day if God knows everything, and He knows who will
be saved, and who won’t, then why make us go through what we’re going through.
Why the struggles? And I realized that, you know, just as a potter sees that
lump of clay, he can look at this clay and imagine the vessel he’s going to make
of it. The vessel he will perfect. But if he doesn’t get his hands on it, and
mold it and shape it, it will just simply remain a lump of clay. You see,
salvation is not simply a change of a geographical place, where He picks us up
and puts us in heaven and says “well now you’re saved.” That isn’t salvation.
Salvation is the working through of the thought processes that make us who we
are and as he teaches us to trust Him and moves us via the conscience, and is
our God, He is molding us and making us like unto Himself.
He begins with each
one of us long before you’re born again. Remember, before a child comes out of
the womb, he has spent 9 months in the womb. Nine is judgment, you see,
receiving God’s judgments. What is a judgment? It’s a decision. Abraham kept
all of God’s commandments, statutes, and judgments, the decisions God made and
explained to him and gave to him, Abraham did that. And I realized before I
ever cried out to God, I was receiving His judgments, and because of conviction,
carrying them out, until what did He do? He brought me to judgment and I cried
out for help and He gave it to me. You see? That looking upon a person and
reasoning that they’re receiving righteousness happens even before you’re born
again, I believe. It doesn’t mean that you’re saved. It doesn’t mean that at
all. But it means you’re responding.
You know, another
way of putting this, you’re worshiping in the temple. You don’t even know it.
You don’t even realize you’re listening to the voice of God and being moved by
it -- that you’re desiring something more and being moved by it, until He
brings you right to Himself, and the process just simply shifts gears doesn’t
it. So let’s go back to Romans 4:12.
Romans 4:12
12 And the [He is
the] father of [the] circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only
[not simply circumcised], but who also walk in the steps of that faith
[understanding] of our father Abraham, which he had being yet
uncircumcised [when he was uncircumcised].
So I would like to
say for me in this scripture, it’s equivalent to 1 John 4:7, where not only are
you born again, but you also know God. It’s one thing to be circumcised. It’s
another thing to walk in the faith of Abraham, the understanding Abraham had.
What was that? That he could serve God without a book. That he could hear the
voice of God. That he could move in the direction God moved him and God was
real to him, and he was serving God.
Romans 4:13
13 For the promise,
that he [Abraham] should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or
to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. [and
righteousness, the thought of God you’ve received in your understanding.]
14 For if they
which are of the law be [are] heirs, faith is made void, and the promise
[is] made of none effect:
Now consider what
we’re talking about here. Abraham was promised the promised land. He was given
this promise, that he would inherit all things. If you are not listening and
receiving the thought concepts of God, if you’re not listening and walking in
His knowledge, you are not in the process of inheriting His land, the promised
land. If you’re living according to your interpretation of the book, you’re not
in the promised land. And that is what a law keeper is doing. So that is why
he writes
14 For if they
which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise [then
is] made of none effect:
15 Because the law
worketh [works] wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
And I’ve got to say
this. The law does work wrath in a couple of different ways. If you are a
lawkeeper, you are making your list of do’s and don’ts and wrath begins to
happen when you fall short of your own list. You get angry with yourself. But
also, you get angry with everyone else who isn’t keeping what’s on your list
either. You know, if God would have me do these things, then He would have
everyone do these things. And so you begin to judge everyone around you. And
the law works wrath. It just happens that way. Verse 16.
16 Therefore it
is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might
be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also
which is of the faith of Abraham [Abraham’s understanding]; who is the father of
us all,
17 (As it is
written, I have made thee [you] a father of many nations,) before him whom he
believed, even God, who quickeneth [gives life to] the dead, and calleth
[he calls] those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope
believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to
that which was spoken [and this is what was spoken, that he believed ], So shall
thy seed be.
He believed that.
He received that. That was ingrained now in his understanding, and the Father
said, “Hmm, that’s righteousness. That’s my thought into him. He believes my
thought.” Now look at how strongly he believed this.
19 And being not
weak in faith [in his understanding], he considered not his own body [which was]
now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of
Sara’s womb:
Now consider what
we’re saying. God had told him this, and he believed it, even to the point that
his body was dead and it was impossible for him to fulfill the promise, it was
impossible not only for him, but for his wife to fulfill this promise. And yet
because God said it, here we are twenty-five years down the road, and he
believes it stronger now than he did when it was first told him. How do I know
that? Because he married Hagar trying to fulfill the promise at one point of
his life. Now he is walking in a stronger faith, and he isn’t considering the
physical of himself or his wife. Notice what he says. Verse 20.
Romans 4:20
20 He staggered
not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in [his] faith,
giving glory to God;
21 And being fully
persuaded that, what he [God] had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it
was imputed [reasoned] to him for righteousness.
Every time I read
this I think of the 144,000. Every time I read this, I think of that group of
people who are carrying the sin nature, who begin to realize the promises of
God. They realize it’s impossible for me to do this on my own. And yet they
are brought to a completed perfection. But you’ve got to realize it’s
impossible without Christ. But you have to receive the promise of God and not
stagger at His promise, and not consider the flesh, not consider the physical,
but walk spiritually before God and trust Him and know that the impossible will
happen. Verse 23.
Romans 4:23
23 Now it [This]
was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed [reasoned] to him;
24 But for us also,
to whom it shall be imputed [reasoned], if we believe on him that raised up
Jesus our Lord from the dead; [that raised up Jesus “out of” the dead. This
verse 24 reminds me of John chapter 3 and I’ve got to read this.]
John 3:32
32 And what he hath
[Jesus has] seen and heard, that he testifieth [he’s testified]; and no man
receiveth [is receiving] his testimony.
33 He that hath
[has] received his testimony hath [has] set to his seal that God is true.
34 For he whom God
hath sent speaketh the words of God [is speaking God’s words]: for God giveth
[because God gives] not the Spirit by measure unto him.
In other words,
when you believe Christ, you’re believing God because He’s getting His words
from God. And when we read this verse 24,
24 But for us also,
to whom it shall be imputed [reasoned], if we believe on him that raised up
Jesus our Lord from the dead;
If you can believe
on Him that raised Jesus from the dead, well how am I going to believe on Him?
Because Christ, Jesus is going to be giving you His words. In fact, the next
verse, the next two verses just follow through with this thought. In verse 24
where he says,
25 Who was
delivered [Jesus was delivered over unto death] for our offences, ....
This word “offence”
is [3900] in the Greek. And it’s “fault.” Many times they translate this word
as “sin.” It isn’t “sin.” It’s “fault.” A fault is a character defect.
Why did Jesus die? For your character defects. Not for your sin – for your
character defect which causes the sin. That is why He died. Look at the
next part of this verse.
25 ... and [He] was
raised again for our justification.
This word
“justification” is two times in the New Testament. It is the act of declaring
one to be justified. Why was Jesus raised from the dead? To speak unto you,
to give unto you Holy Spirit. He was raised for the act of declaring you
righteous. This doesn’t mean that He was raised from the dead so He could say,
“Oh, OK, well you’re righteous. Well, this one’s righteous here. Well, he’s
righteous over there.” That isn’t what it means. It’s for the act of declaring
you righteous. The act of giving it to you. You see, He was delivered for your
faults. He was raised to help straighten out the crooked places. And it
carries through to the next verse. Verse 1 of Romans 5.
Romans 5:1
1 Therefore being
justified by faith [made righteous out of our faith], ....
Stop. Therefore
being made righteous out of our understanding, back up to the verse above, He
was raised to declare it to you. You see. I can’t emphasize enough. I find
myself repeating myself, having to say these things over and over again, that
our Savior was not appeasing an angry God. Our Savior was obeying the God of
love. He loved us so much, He gave us His only begotten Son. And the Son of
God suffered death for my faults. He was raised to declare unto me what is
right, making me righteous if I would receive it. Therefore, I’m made righteous
by means of my understanding, just like Abraham was.
1 .... we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we
have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of
the glory of God.
Two things about
this verse. We have access by our understanding into this grace. Remember what
John wrote in John 1, chapter 1 verse 16.
John 1:16
16 And of his
fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Grace for grace,
for grace for grace. The path of the just is as the shining light. It shines
more and more unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18) There is a continuation of
growth in our understanding. A continuation of it. By means of God giving me
His understanding, I receive that and that act of grace becomes faith. And by
means of this understanding I have, I’m able to take the next step into grace
and let that become a reality and then take the next step as God gives me the
grace of His understanding. And He brings me to perfection. The other thing in
this verse in Romans 5,
2 .... [we]
rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
The glory of God is
the character of God. Do you have hope of having His character? You’ve got to
see 2 Thessalonians chapter 2:14.
2 Thessalonians 2:14
14 Whereunto he
called you by our gospel [by our gospel, the message we’re proclaiming], to the
obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now what does that
mean to you? That you’re going to get to be in the same room, live in the same
place, and see all the glitter and gold and pomp, and all that goes on? Is this
the glory of Christ? Absolutely not. The glory of Christ is who He is. What
is His glory? It is His character. John 17:5 He says, “The glory I had from
the foundation of the world, the self of God.” Speaking to His Father, “thine
own self.” (John 17:5 -- And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self
with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. ) Are you going to
obtain the glory of Christ? If you do, it is the self of God the Father. And
here we’ve seen two verses now that say this. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 and this in
Romans 5, that you rejoice in hope of God’s glory. Let that sink in – that you
too would walk in the fulness of the Father. That’s what He designed you for.
That’s what He’s made you capable of. Verse 3.
Romans 5:3
3 And not only
so, but we glory in [our] tribulations also [too]: .....
Now this word
“glory” is the same word “rejoice.” You rejoice, just as you rejoice in hope of
God’s glory. And by the way, you know, I think of some of the meetings I’ve
been in, various places around the country, and I would sure like to see more
rejoicing. I can’t imagine receiving the self of my Heavenly Father and sitting
there like a stump in my meetings. It gets me that we don’t have more rejoicing
– that there’s not more openness in our worship, that we don’t feel free to just
really cut loose and say “Praise God for what He’s doing in my life!” Maybe
we’re just not experiencing that type of joy. I would like to think we would
be. I would like to see the saints of God explode in joy and happiness at
realizing what it is He is giving us. Well the next few verses, I think, lay
out an equation as to why this would happen to us, how this would happen to us.
Let’s read it in Romans 5:3.
Romans 5:3
3 And not only
so, but we glory in [rejoice in our] tribulations also [too]: [why?] knowing
that tribulation worketh [works] patience;
This word is not
“patience.” It’s “endurance.” To endure. How does a tribulation in my life
work endurance for me? Because as I face the problem, whether it is someone
getting in my face, someone trying to make me angry, whatever the tribulation,
whatever the struggle is, this will work endurance for me, if I remember to
abide. Remember how there are two ways the adversary can deceive us – through
our intellect and through our emotions. If you sit down and read the book, or
you sit down and figure out what you need to do, and you do this intellectually,
you’re deceived. If you allow your emotions to move you, you’re deceived. But
when you search with your intellect, or when you have the emotion, if you pass
that through your conscience, and seek the Lord for an approval or disapproval
of what you’re thinking, then you’re walking with Him, because the conscience is
His window to you.
When that person
jumps up in your face and you instantly think of what you what to say, if you
would take that split second to ask the Lord, “Is this what you’d have me to
say?” It could be He may say, “Yes, this is what I want you to say.” It could
be that He would say, “No. Don’t say it.” But as you respond to that
conscience and do what He is saying, again, I’m not saying you have no
intellect, you have no emotion. But if you let those come together through the
conscience and then you let the conscience say “yea” or “nay”, you are
developing endurance in Christ. Look at these verses that have to do with
tribulation. I want you to see these. 1 Thessalonians chapter 3. Let’s start
at verse 3.
1 Thessalonians 3:3
3 That no man
should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed
[to affliction] thereunto.
4 For verily
[truly], when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer
tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye [you] know.
Tribulation is
something that is going to be there in our life. And as we go through this
study, I think it’s going to become more clear to you as to why. Look at Acts
14. Let’s read verse 21 and 22.
Acts 14:21
21 And when they
had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again
to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
22 Confirming the
souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and
that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
And remember, these
fellows preaching this message, understood the kingdom of God was a spiritual
thing. But it is also a literal thing that will take place. If I look at
entering into that spiritual kingdom, brother I went through tribulation before
I go there. But it is simply that picture of what’s to happen. If you don’t
have the tribulation, the struggle, the pressure put on you to live and perform
what God, the understanding He’s given you, then you are not sealed in that. I
think of a seal, having the ring with the seal and pressing it in the wax, and
having a seal. And then I think of pressing it in the wax and having a
seal. The harder the pressure, the clearer the seal. Remember when you look at
the potter and he has his clay. And he forms the clay. The last thing he does
is put it in the fire. If it isn’t put in the fire, it isn’t a vessel. It
isn’t a pot. It has to be put in the fire. And that is the reason for our
tribulation that we’re going to have. I want to read a couple of other ones.
2 Thessalonians 1:3
3 We are bound to
thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith
groweth [grows] exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each
other aboundeth [abounds];
4 So that we
ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all
your persecutions and tribulations that ye [you] endure:
5 Which is a
manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye [you] may be counted
worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye [you] also suffer:
Again, he’s talking
about the kingdom of God. It isn’t just something inward. True, you better be
in the inward. But there is going to be a revelation of Christ. There is going
to be a physical being with God.
6 Seeing it is
a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble [who
are troubling] you;
7 And to you who
are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven
with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire
taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not [don’t obey] the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from
the glory of his power [authority];
10 When he shall
come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe
[why?] (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
11 Wherefore also we
pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling,
and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith
with [in] power:
12 That the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you [the name of Christ, that is the
character of Christ] , and ye [you] in him, according to the grace of our God
and the [our] Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s look also at
1 Peter chapter 5, reading verse 10.
1 Peter 5:10
10 But the God of
all grace, who hath [has] called us unto his eternal glory by [in] Christ Jesus,
after that ye [you] have suffered a while, make you perfect [that is mend you],
stablish [establish you], strengthen [you], settle you [and found you.
They have put “settled you.” Found you, give you the new foundation. When?
After you’ve suffered awhile.]
The greater the
suffering, the deeper the seal. And I want you to consider, we are living in a
time in history where darkness, gross darkness, and wickedness abounds. I
believe that today the world is more wicked than ever before it. I’m not saying
there wasn’t wickedness before, I’m saying it is more wicked today than it has
ever been. Even on my computer, at the touch of my fingertips, I can go
anywhere in the world. All the temptations are there. Everything is before
me. I can have anything in an instant. I can get in my car and go do virtually
anything I choose to do that I have the power to do. And I want to consider
living in the darkest period of earth’s history, the church is receiving the
greatest light that has ever been given to the world too. In fact, that
darkness and that light are clashing in the remnant church.
Now consider what
I’m saying. He states here in Romans 5, tribulation works endurance in you.
The darkest period of the world, the most right is being given at the same
time. And that is a sealing event. That is a sealing thing that will help you
stand sure as the temptation abounds and your light abounds, and you remain
faithful to what you know and understand, it is working endurance in you.
Rejoice to know you’re going to have God’s glory. Rejoice also when you have
your tribulations. Why? Because that is how you will possess the glory of
God. When we talk about this word “endurance,” 2 Thessalonians 3:5 would be an
important verse to read.
2 Thessalonians 3:5
5 And the Lord
direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for
Christ.
Well “patient,” or
“the waiting for” is not there. It actually reads “The Lord direct your hearts
into the love of God, and into endurance of the Christ.” To have the endurance
of Christ Himself. If you’re going to have the glory of Christ, the glory of
the Father, you’ve got to have the endurance of Christ to face the trials, to
deal with the struggles, you see. It only makes sense doesn’t it. And when you
consider again the darkness of this period in which we live, knowing it’s never
been this way before, and the light which we have, knowing it’s never been given
this way before, that’s why only the last generation can be sealed unto
perfection, because the mechanism is here. The tool is here, the darkness is
here, to cause the pressure that will seal you if you stand for the light that
you have. So looking again at Romans 5:4,
Romans 5:4
4 And patience,
experience; and experience, hope:
And endurance gives
you or works experience. This word “experience” is a “tried character.”
Again. How does it work? I have the tribulation. I remain faithful in the
tribulation. That gives me endurance and that endurance is manifest in a tried
character. And tried character works hope, gives me hope.
5 And hope maketh
[makes] not ashamed [Hope. This hope doesn’t make me ashamed, like my life or a
revelation of my self makes me ashamed.]; because the love of God [God’s love]
is shed abroad in [is poured into] our hearts by the Holy Ghost [by Holy Spirit]
which is given unto us.
Now, when you see
this Holy Spirit, it’s OK if you want to think of the Holy Spirit, the
mind of Christ coming in. But I believe this means more than that. He is
talking about the spirit, the molding of the potter in making the vessel. He is
talking about the giving, the making of our spirit as we go through the equation
that we just read here in Romans 5. You see, having the tribulation; remaining
faithful; endurance, leading to a tried character; is that process of me being
made holy. It isn’t simply giving me the information. It is watching me apply
the information and then increasing the pressure that I would continue to apply
the truth as it is in Christ through every aspect of my life.
In so doing, I am
receiving a Holy Spirit too. It isn’t just simply the Holy Spirit being given
me, it is Holy Spirit being given me, making me a joint heir, making me inherit
the promised land. It isn’t just simply, OK, you can have the promised land.
He’s giving you the promised land, just like He did His only begotten Son,
through the process of the events of the world, as you remain faithful. And
again, you’re in the darkest period of earth’s history. The tool is here to
perfect a people. I want to shift gears and take this a different direction, as
we’re in Romans 5:6.
Romans 5:6
6 For when we were
yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for
a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even
dare to die.
8 But God commendeth
[exhibits] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us.
And for me, Romans
5:8 is a Godhead verse. God exhibits His love toward me in allowing Him to
die. That shows me there was that connection between the two – that there was a
loss when the Son of God died, a loss in the Father’s eyes, of His Son. He was
exhibiting His love for me in allowing the Son to die.
9 Much more then,
being now justified by [made righteous in] his blood, we shall [we’ll] be saved
from wrath through him.
Two things. To be
saved from wrath. We just saw where the law works wrath. And that wrath is
something developed in us. You could say, that we are saved from our own
wrath. I also believe that if we’re saved from our own wrath through abiding,
we’ll be saved from God’s wrath against the sinner, what we just read in the
Thessalonians. But also in this verse, you’re justified in His blood. Well, we
just read where you’re justified by faith. What does it mean, we’re justified
in His blood? If I were to begin to share with you the meaning of the blood,
how could I explain the shedding of His blood without discussing His death? And
how could we discuss His death without explaining His life and His birth? And
how could I explain His birth without taking us to eternity past and explaining
His birth which would bring in the Father? You cannot talk about the blood of
Christ without it entailing everything we believe. We are made righteous in His
blood. Well righteousness comes with our understanding.
I think of my life
before coming to know Christ. Even as a teenager, having a love for music and
allowing that love to overcome me, to separate me from even my parents, from the
people in my life who loved me. I was consumed with music and I was finding
comfort, I suppose, in some of these songs and in the various groups who perform
them, and I wanted to be like these groups, and I wanted to dress like them, and
if they were on television I watched it. If it was on the radio, I listened to
it. When I was at home, I played it on my stereo. I was consumed with it. I
even had scrap books of these things all made up, several of them, huge things.
I was consumed with this.
And I feel
convicted for the church. As I look out at the remnant church, I guess I long
to see a desire for the knowledge of Christ in the people in the church, the way
I had for the world. I long to see us grasping and holding to everything that
we can about Jesus Christ, and about our Father and His only begotten Son. You
know, I think of being literally in the presence of God, and of Jesus Christ,
and you can’t look at that man, how could you look at Him, and not want to know
everything you possibly could about Him? You want to know everything, because
He is life and He brings us to God, who is life. And I don’t see that
conviction in God’s people. Somehow I think we still carry a bit of
denominationalism in that mind set of believing in God, and He’s going to save
me, you know, and we’ll all go to heaven and be happy and I can’t imagine
standing before the King of Kings and not wanting to be consumed by His
knowledge, and wanting everything that He possesses, because He is the King.
And when I read
this verse that we’re made righteous in His blood, and I know that entails
everything. Are you being, are you in that state of being, being made
righteous. What does that mean? Receiving God’s thought. About what? About
everything that entails our Savior. Everything about Him. Clinging to the
skirts of His garments and never letting go. Cleaving to Him in all things,
allowing Him to be your God, your Savior, and bringing you to His Father. I
long to know Him like that. And don’t you think that’s what that means, knowing
Him even as we are known? Don’t you think He knows you that way? He knows
everything about you.
Romans 5:10
10 For if, when we
were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more,
being reconciled, we shall be saved by [we’ll be saved in] his life.
The word
“reconciled” actually means “to exchange for equal value.” Now let me read that
again. For if when we were enemies, there was an exchange made of equal value
to God by the death of His Son, much more, the exchange of equal value being
made, we’ll be saved in His life. I hope bombs are going off, fireworks are
happening in your mind, because again, there is confirmation that our Heavenly
Father loves us as much as His only begotten Son. And I have to say again, that
He saw you before He saw Jesus. He saw you and wanted a relationship with you
before He ever birthed a Son. And He exchanged something of equal value to
Him. He allowed the only begotten, His only begotten Son to suffer death in
order to bring us home. Isn’t that precious?
What about this
word “enemy” though? When we read this, “when we were enemies,” exactly what
does that mean? There are two ways I want to show you that this is brought out
in the scriptures. One is in Colossians 1, Colossians chapter 1, verse 21.
Colossians 1:21
21 And you, that
were sometime [s] alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works
...
Now the King James
has put “in your mind by wicked works.” The way it actually reads is “by your
understanding.” That word is not “mind.” It’s “understanding.” Dianoia. It’s
the result of the effect of the mind, to understand. You, that were sometimes
alienated and enemies by your understanding seen in wicked works, has He now
reconciled. Now consider, in the way you understand, you are an enemy of God.
It is seen in the works that you do. Your understanding is manifest in how you
live your life. An enemy to God. The other one I want you to see is Isaiah
chapter 63, and I would like to begin reading at verse 7.
Isaiah 63:7
7 I will mention
the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according
to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the
house of Israel, which he hath [has] bestowed on them according to his mercies,
and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses [lovingkindness].
8 For he said,
Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was
their Saviour.
9 In all their
affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his
love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all
the days of old.
10 But they
rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy,
and he fought against them.
Here we see the way
in which we are His enemy, but what happens that He becomes our enemy? And I
had to take this back to the beginning, to Adam and Eve and ask the question,
which way was it at this point? Because it makes a difference. It makes a
difference how you see Adam and Eve as to how you perceive our Heavenly Father.
In Genesis chapter 2, I’m not going to take the time to read all of these
things. We have read this so many times and I think really, before I read this,
I read the portions of it I want to read, that it’s important we compare some
other scripture before I read out of Genesis 2. Isaiah 61:10, listen closely.
Isaiah 61:10
10 I will greatly
rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God [Those are abiding terms,
to be in the Lord]; for he hath [has] clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh
[decks] himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [adorns]
herself with her jewels.
Psalms 132, I want
you to look at verse 9.
Psalm 132:9
9 Let thy [your]
priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy [your] saints shout for joy.
And let’s take
those thoughts to Genesis 2:25 where it states
Genesis 2:25
25 And they were
both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Now, this is
interesting to me to see that these people were naked and not ashamed. Is it
possible for this to be a reality today? Now the reason I ask that is because
when you read, for instance,
Revelation 3:18
18 I counsel thee
to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest [you may] be rich; and
white raiment, that thou mayest [you may] be clothed, and that the shame
of thy [your] nakedness do [does] not appear; .... [And you compare that with ]
Revelation 16:15
15 Behold, I come
as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth [watches and keeps]
his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Shame and nakedness
seem to just go together throughout the rest of the Bible after sin. And I look
at Adam and Eve as naked and not ashamed. Now let me walk you through this
picture of Adam and Even and what God has revealed to us from the scriptures.
And let me begin to tie up some of these loose ends of where I’m going with
this. We see the land of Eden, which we know is the mind of God. And in Eden,
God placed a garden, eastward in Eden. That garden is the mind of the man.
That is why it is called the garden of Eden. Eden isn’t the name of the
garden. It’s in this land that is eastward in Eden. Genesis 2:10 says that
Genesis 2:10
10 And a river went
out of Eden to water the garden [flowed from Eden to the man’s garden]; and from
thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
Now, it’s
interesting when you see this single river, or a stream of thought coming from
God, going to the garden, but from the man’s garden it went, became into four
heads it says. Four is earthliness. Eastward. That word “eastward,” actually
means “that which precedes.” It’s a symbol of self. You know, when you enter
the sanctuary, your back is to the east. You walk away from the east to walk to
the Father, to enter into the sanctuary. The farther into the sanctuary you go,
the farther from the east you go. East is self.
A single river
coming from God is all connected. It’s all a whole. But it comes into the man
and goes four directions. Those four rivers stemming from the man’s garden, the
first river deals with your understanding of self. The second one, how you
perceive and understand others. The third is your relationship in, you could
say, civil actions with others. And the fourth one is worship with others. But
it all begins with how you perceive yourself, which is coming from Eden, the
land of Eden. A river is flowing, bringing you all of that information and we
divide it into four parts. From God it’s all a whole. Adam and Eve were
naked. What does that mean? They were exposing their self. They were living
eastward in Eden. They were manifesting self and they were not ashamed.
This tells us so
much, and I want you to just think through this with me. If God put you in an
orchard and said you may freely eat off every tree, but of this tree you may not
eat off it. And then turn you loose so that you could run from tree to tree,
just grabbing what fruit you wanted, doing anything you pleased, why? Because
it’s OK. He told me it was OK. You would be naked. You’re manifesting
yourself. You’re eating what you want. You’re doing what you want. It’s just
you can’t come and eat off this one. Now follow me. They were naked. And
unashamed. But as soon as they came to the tree that combines evil with good,
and they come to this fruit, do you think that the serpent’s voice was the only
voice Eve was hearing? Do you think she had a conscience? Do you think through
her conscience she was being impressed not to do what she was getting ready to
do?
If that be the
case, then we have God’s definition of what is evil. Evil is not nakedness.
Evil is not manifesting self. Evil is not going after the desires you have in
the garden. That is not evil. Evil is when it separates between you and God.
Evil is when the conscience says “Don’t do that,” and you close it off and do it
anyway. They were naked and they were not ashamed. It’s like a baby. It’s
like a child. He isn’t choosing the wrong. His motive is pure. But he isn’t
choosing right either. He’s just simply living. Had Adam and Eve come before
God with this attitude, if they had come to the Lord and said, “You know, you’ve
created us, and we know you’ve told us we could eat off every tree. We
appreciate that. But you know, you know what’s best for me. You really know
what’s better for me. What would you have us eat?” At that point, God would
have walked them right up to the tree of life and said, “Do this. Eat this.”
You know why? Because they would have already been eating it. What is that
Tree of Life? Look at Proverbs 3. Turn to Proverbs chapter 3. And in Proverbs
3, look at verse 13.
Proverbs 3:13
13 Happy is
the man that findeth [finds] wisdom, and the man that getteth
[draws out] understanding.
That “getteth” is
“draw out.” And what he is saying here, you find wisdom, which we know is
Christ. But then you draw out of Him His understanding. You see?
14 For the
merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain
thereof than fine gold.
15 She is
more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst [that you can] desire
are not to be compared unto her.
16 Length of days
is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Her ways are
ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a
tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that
retaineth [retains] her.
Do you think Adam
and Eve ate off the Tree of Life? If they had, they wouldn’t have been naked.
They would have been clothed with God’s righteousness. They would have on the
garments of His salvation. The problem is, they didn’t need salvation. They
didn’t need Him. They may have found wisdom but they were not drawing out His
understanding. They may have been being taught but they were not drawing out.
That drawing out means you make the effort to receive it. Had
they expressed to God, “You know what’s best for me,” that is the drawing out.
You see, they would have already been eating off that Tree of Life. But instead,
they chose their own way.
Remember, you
become evil, you become an enemy to God by means of your understanding, and it
is seen in your wicked works? When the adversary approached Eve and said, “Yea
hath God said,” he was attacking that river that comes from Eden to the garden.
In polluting that river, he polluted the four that came after it. By Eve’s
understanding, she became an enemy to God. She was self- centered. Adam was
self-centered. They were naked. And it was OK because they hadn’t defiled
their conscience yet. But the day came that they did defile the conscience, and
it became evil because it separated between them and God.
You see the Lord
will give you the desires of your heart. When it comes between you and Him,
that is the problem. And I want you to consider the things in your life and
what’s happening in your life, what is it you are doing in your life, and
realize what makes it evil. What makes it something to be rejected? It’s when
it defiles your conscience. It’s when it defiles who you are. There is a
scripture dealing with nakedness that I want to share with you in 2 Corinthians
chapter 5. And in 2 Corinthians 5, let’s start reading at verse 1.
2 Corinthians 5:1
1 For we know that
if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a
building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we
groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from
heaven:
3 If so be that
being clothed we shall not be [we’re not] found naked.
There is that
process of putting on that clothing, of receiving it. And I believe that’s what
he means in verse 9 and 10 of the same chapter. Let’s just skip down and read
this. That process. It’s just simply judgment. Look at what he says.
2 Corinthians 5:9
9 Wherefore we
labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all
appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things
done in his body, according to that he hath [which he has] done,
whether it be [it’s] good or bad.
You see, in Paul’s
mind, and this is imperative you get this – in Paul’s mind, he looked at
literal, physical things and events, and they are for sure to be true. But we
are the remnant church. We have learned to take all of the events of the Bible
and apply them inwardly. It doesn’t mean there won’t be a resurrection. But
there had better be a resurrection here first. It doesn’t mean you won’t stand
before God. But you had better stand before Him now. It doesn’t mean He won’t
give you a glorified body. But the outward simply pictures the inward. That is
why you’re made of dust, because you’re dust. But through the process of
sealing, He gives you Holy Spirit. And in so doing, you’re given a glorified
body when it’s over, as the outward expression of the inward truth. So when
Paul says, we’re looking for this heavenly body, it’s going to be a reality,
friend. But it begins in the mind first. And that is what he leaves out when
you read these verses. I shouldn’t say he leaves it out. That is what he
emphasizes when you read these verses. He is not pointing to that. He’s
pointing to that physical change. So let’s read this again, because I want to
carry this over. Verse 2.
2 Corinthians 5:2
2 For in this we
groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from
heaven:
3 If so be that
being clothed we shall not be [we’re not] found naked.
Naked. Your own
will. Your self will that is contrary to what God has led you. Verse 4.
4 For we that are
in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be
unclothed, but clothed upon [now notice], that mortality might be swallowed up
of life.
Here’s the
mortality Paul’s talking about. But let’s back up to 1 Corinthians 15 and let’s
read where he says this again. In 1 Corinthians 15, let’s start at verse 51.
1 Corinthians
15:51
51 Behold, I shew
you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall [will] sound,
and the dead shall [will] be raised incorruptible, and we shall [we’ll] be
changed.
53 For this
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality.
54 So when this
corruptible shall have put on [puts on] incorruption, and this mortal shall have
put on [puts on] immortality, then shall [will] be brought to pass the saying
that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where
is thy [your] sting? O grave, where is thy [your] victory?
Now, again, I
believe Paul was looking at an outward event. But you know, this corruption
between your ears has to put on incorruption. And you have to change from
mortal thinking to immortal. I could say, that those four rivers need to become
one as it came from the Father. As it came from Eden to the garden. This
corruption needs to put on incorruption, and this mortal put on divinity,
immortality. His word endures forever. It’s His spoken. That is immortal.
Immortality between your ears. When that happens, death is swallowed up in
victory. Now let’s carry this back to the Old Testament, to the prophet Isaiah,
the fellow who penned this initially as God moved him to. I want to start at
Isaiah 25:6.
Isaiah 25:6
6 And in this
mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things,
....
What mountain?
What is he talking about? Well, if you look at Isaiah 2:2 –
Isaiah 2:2
2 And it shall come
to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall
[will] be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above
the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Now we’re talking
about, we could say, mount Zion. Look at Isaiah 24:23.
Isaiah 24:23
23 Then the moon
shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in
mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
So, this mount Zion
is being carried through as we read what this prophet is writing and he says
again in verse 6,
Isaiah 25:6
6 And in this
mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a
feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees
well refined.
Do you have any
doubt what mountain he’s talking about? It has to be Zion, the mountain of God,
where He gives you this blessing. But look at what he says in verse 7.
7 And he will
destroy in this mountain the face of the covering [that’s] cast over all people,
and the vail that is spread over all nations.
What is that vail?
It’s what we have studied in the last few tapes that I have sent you, in looking
at the foundation the earth stands on, the world. All of us are on that. It is
that rejection of God. It is that feeling “less than,” that how could He love
me? How could I be as loved by Him as the Son of God is loved by Him? How
could He give me what He wants to give me? That feeling of less than covers us
all. It has moved us to the iniquity of our lives, the false teachings, the
distortions we carry. Because the truth is too good. The truth is impossible
that He would love me like that. Surely He was angry and had to have death to
be appeased. It is that kind of thing that covers us all. It is the vail in
the sanctuary that blocks you from the Holy Place. You can enter into the Holy
Place but getting into the Holy of Holies, there’s a vail preventing me from
going in there. This is the vail. Notice what he says. Let me read verse 7
again.
7 And he will
destroy in this mountain the face of the covering [that’s] cast over all people,
and the vail that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow
up death in victory; ....
Where will He do
this? On Mount Zion. And where do we see Mount Zion? Well, in Revelation 14,
Revelation 14:1
1 And I looked, and,
lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion [I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion], and
with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name
written in their foreheads.
You want to be
justified in His blood? We need to understand who that man is because He is
swallowing up death in victory and the 144,000 are the privileged few to
experience that without seeing physical death. The 144,000 will stand on Mount
Zion, immortal, corruption changed to incorruption. Blameless, complete,
standing before Him in love. And as we go through these studies, and the Lord
helps us dig this out, don’t kid yourself. You’re hearing things that have
never been proclaimed before because God never revealed it until today. Let it
become a reality – the knowledge of who we are in Christ. Friend, it is almost
over. He is giving us an understanding. I pray our hearts are changing. He’s
making us whole. He’s making us men and women in Jesus Christ. And I pray that
this study be something that you go over and over again and let it sink in what
Paul is saying.
Remember, I rejoice
in hope of the glory of God, but I also rejoice in my tribulations. You know
the arguments you have with your husband or wife, the struggle you might have
with your children? You know the problems you’re having on the job? How about
just the fact you hate even going to work? There should be joy in those things,
because it gives us the opportunity to listen and to learn to listen, to be
swift to hear – now listen, slow to speak and slow to wrath, because the wrath
of man works not the righteousness of God. (James 1:20) He is saving us from
wrath.
Heavenly Father, I
pray this study be a blessing, that you would go before and that we would grow
together in your likeness and oh God, forgive us for those times that we fall
short. May we cling and cleave to our Savior. May He be more of a reality and
may you be forever glorified. In Jesus’ name, Amen.