LIFE AND BLOOD-2
(Sprinkling of the Blood of Christ)
284.1006
scottSTANLEY
(For purposes of clarity, brackets [ ] indicate either the author's paraphrase of scripture or editing for transcription.)
1 - OPENING REMARKS
Today’s study is part two to Life and Blood, recognizing [that] the “blood” is a symbol of the soul and that our life, or breath, is in the blood. How does the “blood of Christ,” then, redeem me? All of my denominational life, Christ’s blood redeemed me from God – somehow, when the Father saw the blood, He was able to forgive me. Well, we know the folly of that... having the blood applied to me inwardly is the question. When I consider [that] the life is in the blood, the blood is the soul, the soul is the blood – when I consider what we looked at in Leviticus 17 (Leviticus 17:14), my mind goes [in] a thousand directions, when I consider the blood and the breath is in the blood. The “blood” is a symbol of the soul – as a man thinks in his soul, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34 ). You see, my breath comes from my soul… it reveals my soul. My breath is a revelation of what is in my heart. As I breathe in, the air, the oxygen goes into my blood. My blood is for my breath; hence, my breath is my blood – my breath is revealing my innermost person; my breath reveals who I am. It is by the blood of Christ [that] we are redeemed – we are cut loose from the world.
We want to understand the most personal aspects of Christ. We want to draw as close to that man as we can because He is the image of the invisible God, and it’s only through the Son [that] we can come to the reality of the Father. Only through the Son can we understand the truth of our Heavenly Father – that is God’s design, and as you and I take part in Holy Spirit and possess Holy Spirit, we can reveal this one to another.
We can be shining lights in a dark world because – the breath of Christ, as He is that prophet of Deuteronomy 18 who goes to God for you and speaks to you, bringing you the understanding of God... Consider: Christ is the Son of God and He is the Son of man. Because He is the Son of God, He can reveal His Father to us; because He is the Son of man, He can reveal humanity to us, hence, we can see ourselves… and if I can see me, I can understand more about you. If I can see myself and begin to recognize what has made me do what I’ve done, what has moved me to be the person I am, then I can have compassion on someone else because, I’m telling you right now, the more the Lord reveals to me, the more I understand [that] I didn’t know how to not do what I did – but the Lord is revealing humanity to me.
It’s interesting that even this morning when I woke up, I was thinking about some of you people who get these studies, and somehow in my mind I saw you as human beings – not just faces of people I know, but human beings… everyone with general problems, everyone with personal problems, but I began to sense people as being people. It’s really hard for me to verbalize because I didn’t want to come out of the revelation I was receiving. I was enjoying seeing people, recognizing their humanity, and I felt compassion for them as I considered each face. I felt like someone standing back, looking at this person and the pieces of the puzzle coming together for me and recognizing how I can love them, how I can let go of any bitterness, how I can let go of any passion – anything that comes in there that causes me to respond to you, or to react in ways that are not holy ways.
I’m telling you, we are moving into an understanding that is incredible and it should only be expected because if we’re correct in how we understand the 144,000, if we are correct in understanding the last generation church – how the Bible is written for those upon whom the end of the world is come, how God will have a people walking in the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, it only makes sense that we’re going to look at one another differently. In Jesus Christ, I can learn of the Father and I can learn of you. I dare not deny any of the truths that He is bringing – I dare not deny the truth of why Christ died and who Christ was and who He is today. May we hear that prophet – may we walk in the understanding Jesus Christ is giving the remnant church.
The last time I was in Cleveland , we did a short Revelation study – I say short because we only looked at six verses, but it seemed to take an hour and a half to get through the six verses. But one thing that came out was the testimony of Jesus Christ – the testimony of Jesus… and I asked the people sitting at the table, “What is that?” Because in Revelation 12:17 , it says:
Revelation 12:17
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, [who] keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of …Christ.
What is that testimony? Well, in Revelation 19, “the testimony of Christ” is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10 ). The next day, after we had the study and people began to share what they had learned from the study before, that came out. Revelation 12:17 – the remnant church will keep God’s commandments, and have the testimony of Jesus. To define “keeping God’s commandments,” we turned to Genesis 26:5, where Abraham kept God’s laws, statutes, commandments, but he didn’t have a “book.” The “laws” and “commandments” that man kept were what God was speaking to his heart. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the fathers of our faith – they are the “fathers.” When the scriptures talk about your “fathers” in the sanctified way, it’s Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Not one man possessed a Bible, but they followed their conscience, listening to the voice of God. The remnant church will keep the commandments as Abraham kept the commandments and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. And as one person put it in Cleveland , the Word comes in [as] the commandments of God, and then comes out [as] the testimony of Jesus Christ.
If you are abiding in Christ, if you are hearing the voice of the true Shepherd and speaking the words He is moving you to speak, that is called “prophesying.” It doesn’t necessarily mean you predict the future – it means you speak as the Lord moves you to speak and, as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14, when you prophesy, you will edify, exhort and comfort those who hear (1 Corinthians 14:3). The three things: Edify (build them up), exhort and comfort – that is given to the remnant church to help deal with one another. “The spirit of prophecy” is the spirit of Christ speaking to you through your conscience, moving you, leading you – not only of how to live your life, but how to treat one another, how to speak to one another. Edify, exhort and comfort – that is my prayer… that as we go through this study and we finish off Life and Blood, that we are edified through the understanding, and I’m telling you, letting the Lord build us up is what each one of us desperately needs. We need to get up and be able to face every day in the power of God. May God be glorified in this study.
2 - A LIVING HOPE
Let’s begin this study looking at 1 Peter, chapter 1, and I want to bring something out that is new to me – the concept isn’t new, but seeing it in the scripture is new to me and being able to see this in the scripture is so encouraging, to know that what we are believing is entirely truth … truth with a capital “T.” Beginning in 1 Peter, chapter 1, verse 1:
1 Peter 1:1-2
1 ¶ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus , Galatia , Cappadocia , Asia , and Bithynia ,
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit [that is the foreknowledge of the Father – that we would be sanctified through the Spirit… Elect according to the foreknowledge of God], [you’re elect] through sanctification of the Spirit, [which leads into] obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Sprinkling of that blood – as our spirits are set apart, as our minds are set apart from the rest of the world, it leads us into obedience and sprinkling of the blood, you see. Sprinkling of the blood is not obedience; sprinkling of the blood will help strengthen us inwardly, which is what we’re going to get into in a few minutes. Verse 3:
1 Peter 1:3-5
3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy [He has] begotten us again [Now the King James has put:] unto a [living] hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that [fades] not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Notice how that was one sentence – those verses are one sentence. The way it’s put together in our King James Bibles, the beginning of every verse is capitalized and somehow we have trained ourselves that when every time you come to that capital letter, somehow you think a different sentence is being formed, or a different thought. Let’s look at this – let me show you some of these prepositions that Peter has used and get a hold of this wonderful truth that he is stating here – again:
1 Peter 1:3
3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of Jesus, [who] according to his abundant mercy [has] begotten us again [into a living] hope …
Who is that hope? It’s Jesus Christ. You see, He’s given us life, bringing us into a living hope by raising Jesus from the dead, or out of the dead. Jesus Christ is our hope, hence, He is a living hope – God has brought us into Christ. To be in that man means to be hearing what is in His mind – asking Him to explain, receiving from Him so that His Spirit, His mind, His thoughts, His concepts are in me. He has received His thoughts and ideas, His glory from the Father; hence, the Father is in Him, He is in us, we are in Them, and we can be one with the Father and Son as we open our hearts and receive the truth. Let me tell you, if you can receive the truth, what Jesus Christ possesses in His mind, you will not be the same person. You will be holy, sanctified, set apart from the things of this world – you will still be you, in that you’ll have your likes and dislikes, but you’ll have an understanding of what makes you tick and what makes me tick.
Jesus received His glory from the Father – He is the image of the invisible God. We have been called through the gospel to the obtaining of the glory of Jesus. We are to be made in the image of Jesus, who is the image of the invisible God, and we can be one with Them.
1 Peter 1:3-4
3 … [God in] his abundant mercy [has] begotten us again [into a living] hope by [raising Jesus] from the dead,
4 [Into] an inheritance [that’s] incorruptible, and undefiled, and that [doesn’t fade] away …
What is that “inheritance”? That inheritance is Holy Spirit – that inheritance is the glory of Christ. The “glory” of Christ, the thoughts of Christ, the character of Christ is undefiled; it’s incorruptible… it will not fade away. It is reserved in heaven in that man. That man possesses our inheritance – He has our inheritance between His ears... it’s incorruptible; it isn’t going to fade away.
1 Peter 1:3-4
3 … [God has] begotten us again unto a [living] hope…
4 [Into] an inheritance [that’s] incorruptible, and undefiled, and that [doesn’t fade] away …
That is Jesus Christ, the man. If you want to listen to that prophet and receive what He tells you through the Spirit, through the conscience – your conscience accusing or excusing, allowing God to write on your heart the understanding of His instruction – if you will allow Him to do that, you are receiving the inheritance and the effect is Holy Spirit. And there is an earnest of the inheritance given us even now for those who are on that level of understanding. Our inheritance is found in the mind of Christ – we’ve moved into the Promised Land – if we are abiding in Christ, we are born again. If we are abiding in Christ, we are priests of God; if we are abiding in Christ, we have entered into the Holy Place . Yes, there is a veil between the Holy and Most Holy, but if you’re going to get beyond the veil, you’ve got to come into the Holy Place first.
I believe I’m talking to a group of people who are in that place, people who have learned to listen, who are standing in the “set apart” place – set apart from what? Set apart from where you used to be… not just simply set apart from the world. You’re set apart from people who are only “converted,” who have decided to serve God but they’re not listening yet. You make a decision to serve Him, you are “converted”; when you begin to start listening, you are “born from above” – you’ve entered into the Holy Place , ready for the “sprinkling of the blood” as Jesus is revealing Himself to us. 1 Peter, chapter 1, let’s start at verse 4 – this is the middle of a sentence:
1 Peter 1:4-5
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that [fades] not away, [it is] reserved in heaven for you [people],
5 Who are kept [in] the [dunamis of God… the] power of God [simplified even more – the ability of God. You are kept in the ability God gives – how?] through faith […through faith. Faith comes by hearing; hearing by the word of God – the hearing of faith. We are kept in God’s ability by means of faith, which leads into] salvation [but notice what he says: This salvation] ready to be revealed in the last time.
3 - A FUTURE SALVATION – Part 1
There is a salvation coming to the last day church – Peter did not possess this. He knows he will be an inheritor of it, but in his day, he is stating [that] this salvation is to come at the last time. Now let me show you something interesting concerning something John says in 1 John, chapter 3, starting at verse 1:
1 John 3:1
1 ¶ Behold, what manner of love the Father [has] bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: …
Now listen, I know it’s love that allows us to be called the sons of God, but what he is stating here, Behold the way God loves you, even as a son. Behold, what manner of love God has bestowed upon us, that we should be called sons – He loves you as much as He loves His only birthed Son. We are spiritually born again – Jesus is the only begotten Son.
1 John 3:1-2
1 … therefore the world [does not know us], because it [didn’t know Him – know by means of experience.]
2 Beloved, now [now] are we the sons of God, and it [does] not yet appear what we shall be: [You see, there is a future change in the human heart that John did not have. He says: it doesn’t appear yet what we shall be], but we know that, when he [appears], we shall be like him [Why?]; [because] we [will] see him as he is.
You see, there was an understanding of Christ [that] the first century church did not possess. It doesn’t yet appear what we shall be. When He appears, we’re going to be like Him because, at that point, we’ll see Him as He is. There is a revelation of “as Jesus is” that is going to come to the remnant church.
1 John 3:3-4
3 … every man that [has] this hope [the hope of Christ] in him [purifies] himself, even as [Christ] is pure. [How do I do that? By listening and, in essence, that is what 1 John 3:4, the next verse, actually says.]
4 ¶ Whosoever [commits] sin [commits lawlessness]: for sin is [lawlessness].
The “law” is instruction; “sin” is to deny the instruction of the heart. If you have this hope of being like Jesus, then you’re going to listen, and you will not be without instruction – that is what he is saying. Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us: He’s willing to call us “sons of God.” It doesn’t yet appear what we shall be, but we know when He appears, we’re going to be like Him, because when He appears, we’re going to see Him as He is. I know there is a literal picture there of Jesus, being seen for the first time (physically, literally, beholding the Son of God) – I know that is going to be a tremendous revelation to anyone who sees that. You will see Him literally as He is, but it is who He is that we’re after. I want to see the “who” of “as He is” and be like Him in my heart, that the glory He possesses might be in my heart. I want to obtain the glory of Christ – that comes as He reveals Himself to us.
It doesn’t yet appear what we shall be, why? Because right now we’re not seeing it, but according to 1 Peter, there is a revelation of Christ coming to the church – a future salvation.
4 - A FUTURE SALVATION – Part 2
Let’s go back to 1 Peter, chapter 1… let’s just read again, starting at verse 3 – tie this thought together – just let the chain fall in place:
1 Peter 1:3-6
3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord [that One that we’re listening to, that One that we’re married to] … Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy [as He is revealing truth, He has] begotten us again [into a living hope when He raised Jesus] from the dead,
4 [Into] an inheritance incorruptible, …undefiled, [it doesn’t fade] away, [it is] reserved in heaven for you [people],
5 Who are kept [in the ability God has by means of faith, leading into a] salvation [a re-formation of our thinking which is] ready to be revealed [this salvation is ready to be revealed] in the last time.
6 ¶ Wherein [you] greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, [you] are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
Underline if need be, because I think some of us need the struggles more than others. I know as I talk to you guys and look out over these people receiving the studies, listening to the studies, everyone is on a different level of pain – everyone is on a different level of trials. If need be you are in manifold temptations:
1 Peter 1:7
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than …gold that [perishes], though [it’s] tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the [King James put] appearing of Jesus …
That word “appearing” is the word revelation – at the revealing, at the revelation of Jesus Christ. This word they’ve translated “appearing” is literally the last book of the Bible – the Revelation of Jesus Christ… and notice in verse 7: “It is the trial of your faith” – not the trial of “do you believe in God, do you believe in Jesus.” It’s the trial of your faith. What has God been speaking to your heart? Well, that is what He’s going to try. Personal experience: As I look at these truths, as I recognize the truth God has given to the remnant church, I see the people differently than ever before. You are a special group of people who believe these truths. I see the world differently – I see you set apart from it. I see the Lord soon to come. I read in the scripture [that] the world is going to be told of God’s love. Who is going to tell it? The remnant church. My trail is [that], when I look at us, I can’t believe I’m understanding this right – is the Lord really speaking this to my heart? This is the trial of my faith... If God is in this thing, we need to be seeing the moving of God, the power of God on every heart.
I honestly believe I’m seeing this increase – I know, as I talk to some of you on the phone, I’m hearing something different: I’m hearing people beginning to believe they’re the remnant church, but it’s a trial of my faith when I look out and use my earthly eyes, and I look at all of us. It’s hard to imagine the Lord being perfected in us. I can believe it; I can hardly imagine it, but I can believe He can do it. I believe God can do anything. When I look at myself, I think, well, but can I do my part? Can you do your part? You know, imagine Peter, in Matthew 16, Jesus saying: “Well, who do you say that I am?” “Well, you’re the Christ – You’re the Son of the living God.” Not long after that, this fellow he was calling the Christ was hanging on a cross, dead… was taken down and put in a tomb, and Peter ran for his life.
Don’t think during that time he wasn’t wondering: Did I make a mistake? Could that really have been the Christ? What was I thinking? How could the man be dead? It doesn’t make sense. You see, God was trying his faith – his faith. When he confessed [that] Jesus was the Christ, Jesus said: “Well, you’re blessed. My Father has revealed that to you.” You see, that is faith… it’s a trial of our faith. It need be we’re in manifold temptations – why? So that my faith might be tried. Why do I want my faith tried? Verse 7 again:
1 Peter 1:7
7 That the trial of your faith, [which is] more precious than ... gold [literal gold which perishes], though [it’s] tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the [revelation] of Jesus Christ [that’s coming]:
I know, when He appears, I’ll be like Him, for I’ll see Him as He is, therefore there is a revelation of that man I’ve got to have between now and then. In order for me to possess the truth God is going to reveal, my faith needs to be tested. It needs to be strengthened, so that it can be found unto praise and honor. In other words, ready to accept the truth and make the change that needs to be made. Are we really hearing God, or are we deceiving ourselves? Are we really hearing God, because according to the denominational groups, we are so far out in left field, they can’t even see us anymore. Are you really hearing God? You’ve got to be sure that you know you are really hearing God.
It’s important that we cling to the truth He is revealing. Our father, Abraham – he was hearing God, and then God spoke to him to sacrifice his son. Imagine the confidence Abraham had, to actually take his son, put him on that altar and raise a knife. The confidence Abraham had in that he knew this was what God was telling him to do – that’s something, isn’t it? We struggle day to day – financially, with children, husband, wife – we struggle day to day. That man had reached a point of believing the voice of God, and knowing God was leading him even to do something as drastic as that.
Let’s go back to 1 Peter 1 – let’s read verse 6 and 7 again, and move into 8 – it’s important. Listen, when you study, I pray you do this: Read a verse, think about it, pray about it… go back and tie it all back in again and consider what it is you’re reading. These men who wrote these things had understanding, and it was the Spirit of Christ that gave it to them – and you’re hearing that prophet, Jesus Christ, and He is giving it to you.
1 Peter 1:6-9
6 ¶ Wherein [you] greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, [you] are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [Why?]
7 That the trial of your faith, [which is] more precious than … gold that [perishes], though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the [revelation] of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, [you] love; in whom, though now [you] see him not, yet [you’re] believing [as you hear Him], [I used to read this and think I’m believing in Him – you’re believing as you hear. You haven’t seen Him, but you love Him, even though you can’t see Him, you’re believing Him as He speaks to your heart… You] rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the [completion] of your faith [or, of what He is speaking to you. What is it?], … the salvation of [my soul].
There is a salvation that will come in the latter days – in the last time. There is a revealing that will take place as we listen to that prophet, believing. As we listen to that prophet, He is building up our faith and then trying our faith, bringing salvation to the soul. Look at your Bibles, and make this connection – in 1 Peter 1:8:
1 Peter 1:8-9
8 … yet believing [4100], …
9 Receiving the end of your faith [4102], even the salvation of your souls.
“Yet believing” – the Strong’s number for that is [4100] and in verse 9, “faith” is [4102]. You see, there is the same Greek word – one is a verb, one is the noun. “Believing” is an action; “faith” is the noun – receiving the completion of what you’re believing in the verse above. What are we believing? Christ, whom you haven’t seen, you love Him and though now you’re not seeing Him, yet you’re believing Him… He’s completing our faith, saving our souls. He is that prophet. Anyone who will not hear that prophet will die. Let’s keep reading this:
1 Peter 1:10-11
10 ¶ Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that [would] come [to] you: [You see, they didn’t possess it.]
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when [Christ’s Spirit in them] testified beforehand [of] the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that [would follow those sufferings].
See, he’s talking about the Old Testament prophets and the fact that they prophesied – Christ spoke through them, and they prophesied beforehand of His sufferings, and then of the glory that would follow those sufferings.
1 Peter 1:12-13
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they [were ministering] things, [things that] are now reported unto you by [these people who were preaching] the gospel … with Holy [Spirit] sent down from heaven; [these things even] the angels desire to look into.
13 ¶ Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, … hope to the end for the grace [or that impression of the heart] that is to be brought [to] you at the [revealing] of Jesus Christ;
You see, again, Peter continues to speak of a revelation, a future revelation of Christ – the prophets of old desired to look into this. There is something that will happen to the human heart when you have a full revelation of that man. He gives you the understanding of our Heavenly Father; He gives you the understanding of self. One other verse I want to read, it’s in 1 Peter 4, verses 12 and 13:
1 Peter 4:12-13
12 ¶ Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing [has] happened [to] you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as [you] are partakers of Christ's sufferings; [so] that, when his glory [is] revealed, [you] may be glad also with exceeding joy.
You see, you are to obtain the glory; hence, it’s going to have to be revealed to us so that we can believe and receive and be changed. A future revealing of Jesus Christ is coming to the remnant church – a revealing of the Son of God. Are we ready for it? Are we ready to know what it is? Are we ready to see Him as He is, that we might be like Him? It’s exciting, isn’t it? It’s truly an exciting thought. We haven’t received it all yet – there’s more to come.
5 - PREPARING FOR ATONEMENT
Right now I want to go back – 1 Peter 1, looking at verse 2 again: You’re elect according to God’s foreknowledge, through having your spirit set apart which leads to obedience, and sprinkling of the blood. I want to talk about “sprinkling the blood” – when I think of the sprinkling of the blood, I think of the Day of Atonement… why? In past studies, we saw [that] the feast days are inward events. As the Lord reveals, in the Old Testament, the meaning of these feasts, we can take the symbols and see where we have passed through the Passover, the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the Feast of the Wave Offering, entering into Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets. There is an inward feast of Atonement to take place, and it’s on this Day of Atonement [that] blood is sprinkled in the sanctuary, leading us into the Holy of Holies.
The Day of Atonement is an expression of how we get beyond the veil and the cleansing that takes place in the Holy of Holies. It helps if you’re reading it along with me; it helps if you be in prayer and the Lord stimulate and impress your heart as He has mine. Now, in Leviticus, chapter 4, verses 1 through 10 set up what we’re going to read. It speaks of how Aaron is to bring a bullock and two goats are brought, and it’s like verses 1 through 10 just set up what he is getting ready to do – what Aaron actually begins to do in killing these animals, and so on… sprinkling of the blood. He states, beginning in verse 11:
Leviticus 16:11
11 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and [he’ll] make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and … kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:
OK – “an atonement” – that word is a covering. He’s going to make a covering for his house – his “house” is between his ears. There are ways we think that need to be covered with the way Jesus thinks. In so doing, it straightens out the crooked places; it helps us understand the truth. The bullock that is slain for his house is a “sin offering” – a sin offering… that is what is seen in chapter 4 of Leviticus. Now, we’re going to read that in just a second – I want to show you something. Let’s go to the next verse of Leviticus 16, look at verse 12:
Leviticus 16:12
12 [He’ll] take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail [the first veil]:
He’s taking coals from off that altar of the whole burnt offering because he’s already offered the sin offering. What was burning on that altar? Go back to Leviticus 4 – in Leviticus, chapter 4, notice verses 8, 9 and 10:
Leviticus 4:8-10
8 [He’ll] take off from it [he kills the bullock at the altar, he kills the bullock and he’ll take off from the bullock] all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that [covers] the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
9 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,
10 As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.
The fat, the liver, the caul, the kidney – this is what was burned on that altar. Now, what about the rest of this animal? Verse 11:
Leviticus 4:11-12
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 [outside the camp] without 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.
OK, you slay the bullock – who is this bullock? Verse 3 of Leviticus 4 says it’s without blemish – it’s the Savior. The bullock is slain at the altar of whole burnt offering, but all of its outward parts are taken outside the camp and burned on wood. The only thing consumed on this altar of whole burnt offering was the fat and the kidneys and the caul above the liver. Therefore, when Aaron took coals from off this fire, when you put fat on the wood, set the wood on fire, the fat is consumed. “Fat” is a symbol of sin – so for him to take coals of fire from the whole burnt offering, that whole animal isn’t laying there… it’s only the fat being consumed. Hence, “wood” being character, the wood is burning, the wood is consuming that fat – you have a cleansed character that you’re scooping up in that censor. Isaiah 53:9: He makes his grave with the wicked, and rich in his deaths – plural. That means there was a dying to self that took place in Gethsemane . The “fat” was consumed in Gethsemane ; the whole bullock is taken outside the camp to be burned on that wood, which is Calvary .
Christ died “outside the city” – Gethsemane shows us the death to self of Christ. That’s important to us because these are the coals that are scooped up along with the incense in the other hand. “Incense” is righteousness, the understanding of God – brought into the Holy Place and put on the altar of incense.
6 – GOING BEYOND THE VAIL
Let me show you one more thing about what is consumed on that altar. This word “kidney” – [3629] is the Strong’s number for this Hebrew word. Turn with me to Jeremiah, chapter 17:
Jeremiah 17:10
10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins [3629], [there is your word they’ve translated “kidney” in Leviticus 4. Why do I try the reins?] … to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
[3629] translated “reins, kidney”
is the seat of emotions, the innermost
and most private aspect of a person
This word translated “kidney” and “reins” is the most private aspect of a person. Looking at the Old Testament Word Study Dictionary, it is the most private aspect of a person. This is what was consumed in Gethsemane . This is what is on the fire being consumed in this sacrifice, in this picture – the most private aspect of Christ. How are you ever going to know what that is except He tell you? How can that ever be offered, except He tell you the most private aspect? I want to tell you part of it. I can’t stand here and say, “Well, this is all that He’s talking about,” but I certainly know some of what He is talking about because of the testimony He gave in the parable of the prodigal son. The older brother struggled with the father’s acceptance of the prodigal when the prodigal came back. The older brother said, “I’ve always kept your commandments – I never left.” And the father tells him, “All that I’ve had has always been yours.” It is a beautiful picture of the Son of God, but it reveals adversity toward humanity – the struggle He had with humanity.
Christ knew love – He knew the Father; He knew the motives of the Father, the love of the Father. What He couldn’t understand was how humanity turned its back on love, and until He learned by means of experience, He couldn’t understand it. The Son of God – though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience through the things which He suffered – you see. Through the experience, the Son of God learns; He comes to an understanding. That’s what sets the Father apart from Him (one thing) – the Father has experiential knowledge without having to have the experience – the Son needs the experience. He had adversity toward humanity. In the Garden of Gethsemane : Father, take this cup. You see the love of God for you as He stands firm and begins denying His Son because of His love for you. He begins to deny the wishes of His Son because He knows we need to see this death and the Son needs to experience it, that He might fully understand how much His Father loves humanity. This is what’s happening in Gethsemane – this is the cleansing that takes place, the “fat” that is consumed.
This is significant. You’ve got to have the understanding of God’s love for you through this truth, why? Because in Leviticus 16, reading verse 12 again:
Leviticus 16:12-13
12 [He’ll] take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, [with] his hands full of … incense …, [he brings it into the first] vail:
13 And [he’ll] put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, [so] that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:
This is how he is able to get beyond the veil and have the mercy seat covered, that he die not when he goes in to sprinkle this blood. We need to sprinkle the blood… We’re being led into obedience and the sprinkling of the blood as our minds are set apart. But in order for you to sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat, you’ve got to take coals of fire from Gethsemane, as you see the burning fat – the fat consumed… put together with God’s understanding, the smoke is created – the cloud is created that covers the mercy seat.
Now, in Revelation 15:8, the smoke is created by power and glory. In Leviticus 16, it’s coals of fire and incense. The glory is seen in the incense; the power is seen in the fat being consumed. The power of God overcomes sin in our lives; the glory of God is the understanding He possesses. We could say that “glory” is seen in Christ, of course, but you take the cleansing of the fat (the burning of the fat), coals from off that altar, with the glory (the understanding) Christ had – you’ve got to have this in your hands. If you are a priest (if you’re listening), you can possess the two things – come into the Holy Place : Add the incense to the fire; create the cloud and go beyond the veil. That “veil” is confusion about God.
If I were to go back to Aaron’s day, literally watching him go into the sanctuary, when he went beyond that veil, that veil stayed there, literally. Spiritually, it wasn’t there anymore, because he possessed the truth he had seen [in] the first compartment, the Holy Place , and he is now in the Holy of Holies. There’s no veil in his mind anymore – it’s gone; he can see the two together, hence, if he cleanses one, he’s cleansed the other… it is one room now. We’ve got to get beyond the veil. If you possess the “coals of fire” and the “glory,” the “incense” to create the smoke, the cloud – if you possess that, you’re a different person. If you possess that, if you can now get beyond the veil, you’re a different person.
Let me tell you one way of getting beyond the veil (another way of saying it): God changes your understanding, the basis of how you’ve understood life. You, now, are living in His love – the basis of our understanding now is: Israel is His firstborn; Israel is the reason the Son of God was birthed – and I am Israel , and my life now is growing in understanding based on the love of God, not on an angry God. I know He isn’t condemning me; He’s never condemned me – He isn’t imputing sin to me. You see, all of these things come into play now: The veil is down, Babylon is fallen, is fallen... I can now give a message – I’m not in confusion about God anymore, like I used to be. My mind is set apart from where it used to be and I am beyond the veil. If we’re beyond the veil, that means we know the love of God. That means we understand the sanctification of the Son of God, bringing us beyond the veil.
For the Father to answer the Son’s prayer when He said, “Father, you can do all things, take this cup,” the Father’s answer was, “No.” Why? Because He loves Israel – He loved the children of Israel , and He can see the remnant church and the understanding He would give His people to give us the revelation of Jesus that we might see Him as He is. In Leviticus 16, after verse 13, you see a different person – someone who understands the love of God in a new and living way, and the adversity the Son possessed and how He died to self so that He could go to Calvary . When that man came out of Gethsemane , He was the Lamb of God.
7 – BREATH OF THE BLOOD
Verse 14:
Leviticus 16:14
14 [Aaron will] take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
“Fingers” are faith... “Seven” is a fullness. What is the “blood”? The “blood” is the breath… the blood is for the breath, therefore the blood is the breath. With the breath you express the heart. I can now come beyond the veil and I have the Ark of the Covenant sitting there. There is a lid on top of that box – that lid that covers the box is Christ, but resting on the box are “two messages”: God always loved me; God’s going to perfect me, and I can bring the breath of the bullock to sprinkle the box. Now listen, the “box” is here [pointing to his head], the understanding is here, and this understanding needs to be sprinkled – “sprinkled” is to teach. The breath of the bullock is brought into my sanctuary, that I might make that connection to the lid of my box… make that connection to Christ.
What was the “breath of the bullock”? Here it is: Father, not my will, but thine be done. After praying that the cup be taken from Him, He said, Not my will, but thine be done. That is the breath of the bullock – that is how the bullock died and became the Lamb. That needs to be “sprinkled” in my sanctuary. That needs to be sprinkled before the person of the mercy seat – that needs to be sprinkled in my mind, taught to me, given to me as I hear my Savior: Not my will, but thine be done, because you see, as we go through the Day of Atonement, we’re going to see a fit man lead away Azazel… “Azazel” – the angry god, the goat god. Let’s go back, Leviticus 16:15:
Leviticus 16:15
15 ¶ [He shall] kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat [the blood of the goat]:
Two “goats” on this Day of Atonement: One is the “scapegoat,” the other one is “the old man” that dies on that cross. Christ became sin; Christ became the old man – He was the goat that dies. The other goat is that part of us that is overcome because of what He did on that tree. The other goat, the scapegoat, is led away because of the death of that man on that tree. The blood of the goat, the breath of the old man… what is the breath of the goat? Well, I went through the New Testament, reading what Christ spoke being nailed on that cross, and I began to realize as I read that, you know, He was the old man. He was portraying the old man – He had the “crown of thorns,” the “nakedness,” the “darkness of the land”… He was portraying the death of the old man. So what He spoke on that cross is highly significant as we look at the spiritual meaning and we see the death of the old man.
So I’m going to put these in the order I think they go in – I’m open. You guys can read them and determine, as the Lord leads you, what order to put these in, but I think the first thing He said was, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Think of your old man (think of your sin nature), think of the angry god – do you want to be able to lead this thing away? You begin with Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. You see, the bullock becomes the lamb – not my will, but thine be done – and He has to go get on that cross, and the death of the old man begins: They don’t know what they’re doing, Father. If you truly can get that in your heart, I mean understand they don’t know what they’re doing, because you are realizing [that] you didn’t know why you did what you have done – the Lord has not imputed your sin to you.
If your attitude could be: Father, they don’t know what they’re doing, then your attitude is going to change in how you view other people, and I mean in every aspect of your life. But you see, it doesn’t matter anymore; it shouldn’t matter anymore to you about the political end of it – in hating Democrats, or hating Republicans, hating this president, hating that president… getting all stirred up and riled up. You know, if you’re going to die to self, start right here: Father, forgive them. He doesn’t know what he’s doing. Do you realize the change that is going to make in your life? Let me tell you something, the stress it will relieve you of, to let go of the anger and bitterness that you carry against other people. Wouldn’t it be interesting if Jesus Christ walked right into your house right now and said, “Hey, I’m not imputing your sin to Me. I’m not angry at them the way you are – what’s happening to you?” Do you want the old man to die? Let’s get a higher revelation of Jesus Christ: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
I believe the next thing He did was speak to the thief on the cross. He didn’t know what day that man went to church on; He didn’t know what his diet was; He didn’t know his political views… He knew nothing about him except that he’s dying here with Me. Christ is portraying a picture of the death to self for the remnant church. This person is dying here with me: “I say unto you today, you’ll be with me in paradise.” He totally accepted that man, totally accepted the faith he manifested. What we do is separate from each other, but if [there’s] someone who is willing to die the death, we need to accept them.
The next thing I believe He did was look down (and it’s recorded He looked at Mary) and said, “Woman, behold your son” and then He told John, “Behold, your mother” – the old man on that cross. Isaiah 53, I believe it’s verse 10, tells us that when you can look at Him and make Him, the King James put “the sin offering” – it’s actually the guilt… if you can look at that cross and say, Well, there’s the guilt; that’s guilt; that’s the sin offering – there’s the problem right there… that’s what’s wrong with me in my life, then, what you are manifesting is the “mother” and the “son.” Now, what do I mean by that? Well, when you can look at that, he says: You’ll see seed. “Seed” is that which was planted. You’ll see that which was planted in each person – we all possess it. That which was planted in each one of us is wretchedness, iniquity, other people’s iniquity… helping us create our own iniquity.
Mary was Jesus’ mother in the flesh; she birthed the flesh; she birthed the Son of Man and in that sense, you could say she is the mother of us all, although the scriptures don’t say that. She is a picture of what births the old man. She also birthed the Son of God. You see, both are true, but as I look at the old man dying and recognizing: Woman, behold your son, the children of your thoughts – and this is your mother. We all have the same “mother,” the same children of thoughts, the same wretchedness, the same wickedness, the same evil – we all have our own personal extension of it, but you’ve got to recognize we’re all in the same boat. We’re all in this together.
And then He cries out that He is forsaken of God, and it’s recognizing God is not in this old man. This old man has got to die – God is not in that nature. He’s trying to help you out of it. My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? The next thing is I thirst, which I believe is a picture of recognizing that God is not there – I thirst. Forsaken of God, recognizing His need and saying, Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit.
The next time you fall into an argument, the next time you get angry, the next time someone stirs you up, if you could remember God saying: Vengeance belongs to me. I will repay, saith the Lord... You can say, Father, I’m committing my spirit to you so that when someone speaks to you in anger or maliciously, you can let that go – Father, I’m committing my spirit to you, and you can say, It’s finished. This argument is finished. You see, when He was able to commit His Spirit to God, the old man died – He was able to say it is finished and He died. That is the breath of the goat – it begins with recognizing they know not what they do and concluding with I commit myself completely to you, and the old man will die… the “fit man” will be able to lead away Azazel, and the Day of Atonement will be a reality in your life.
8 – CLOSING REMARKS
I see God’s remnant church going through a lot of changes – a lot of things are happening to us, but I would like to encourage you to stand strong. Remember the love of God. All of my Christian life I was saturated with “God loves you,” but no one really knew the depth of what that meant. I know God loves me and I know He loves you, and I know He is not imputing our sin to us. I know we’ve gone through our lives not recognizing why we did what we did – we didn’t know how not to do it, and I can have compassion for you that I couldn’t have had a year ago. I can have a love for you I could not have had before. I want to be a friend of God; I want the Savior to save me – I want to believe that man, and live in this joy unspeakable and full of glory.
I want to glorify our Heavenly Father and I want to see you in that place, too. I pray that we can continue studying together, growing together, understanding together, and letting the Lord have our hearts – committing our spirits unto Him, being able to come to that place to say, It is finished. I’m telling you, there is a revelation of Jesus to come. This is a step that is going to help prepare us to know the love of God and I pray that we can take this together, and again, that God would be glorified in His church.
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Ascending from the east
Having the seal of the living God