THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM
FD04-0806
ScottSTANLEY
(For purposes of clarity, brackets [ ] indicate either the author's paraphrase of scripture or editing for transcription.)
OPEN
There is a verse weve studied before in Galatians, chapter 3, verse 5:
Galatians 3:5
5 He therefore that [ministers] to you the Spirit, and [works] miracles [in you or works of power in you], [does] he [do] it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
If ever there was a time we needed to have the Spirit ministered to us or have works of power in us, its now. We are nearing the time of the end of all things and I know, if youre like me, you want to reach a state of completion in your understanding, knowing that your thoughts move you to action and we want our thoughts, the crooked places, straightened out. We want the emptiness filled up with the Spirit of God; we want to be made in the image of Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God. We want to be children of God and Paul answers the question he asks when he says: He thats ministering the Spirit to you in doing works of power in you, is it by the works of law or the hearing of faith? The very next verse:
Galatians 3:6-7
6 [Its] Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore they which are of faith, are the children of Abraham.
Faith faith is a noun it comes by hearing God. That is why, in Galatians 3:5, he calls it the hearing of faith. If we wanted to, we could take that concept of the faith of Christ, knowing that this is what God taught Christ and it is the faith of Christ that justifies us and we could take that concept back to Deuteronomy 18. Moses said that God is going to raise up a prophet like him Hes going to put His words in this prophets mouth, and this prophet will speak everything Hes commanded to speak. Jesus Christ is that prophet it is the understanding which comes out of God into Christ, out of Christ into us, as we learn to listen and accept His understanding of the scriptures and His understanding of Gods will for us. We want works of power in us; we want Him to minister the Spirit to us. Because of that, I look at this study today as a gift its a gift from God to us because, through the apostle Paul, the Lord has laid out a system of understanding, connecting thoughts together for us that will help us overcomehelp us understand, and help us to possess victory in Christ.
THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM
Now, I want to read from Philippians, chapter3, starting at verse 9:
Philippians 3:9
9 And be found in him [in Christ], not having [my] own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the [hearing of Christ, the hearing of] faith of Christ, the righteousness which is [out] of God [on the basis of the hearing of] faith:
See, were right back to He who ministers to you the SpiritHe who is doing works of power in you He does it by the hearing of faith. Deuteronomy 18 its righteousness which comes out of God to Christ through the hearing of faith. Verse 10:
Philippians 3:10
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable [to] his death;
As I, according to Philippians 3:9, can be found in Christ, and we know what that means from 1 John 2:24: Let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, youll continue in the Son and in the Father. To be in them, to get into Him, seeking His understanding, and when He speaks to you His understanding, He comes into you He is in the Father. When you seek to be in Him, you are in the Father, and the Father and the Son are in you. You see, you want to be found in Him, not having our own understanding of whats right, which comes from us reading the book and determining for ourselves. We want that righteousness which comes through the hearing of faith of Christ. Christ had to hear it from His Father we hear it from Him and its defined here in verse 9 the faith of Christ is defined as the righteousness, the right understanding which is out of God on the basis of faith. In so doing, verse 10 becomes a reality to us that we may know Him.
This word know means to know by means of experience and throughout the New Testament its the same word where a man knows his wife. We want to know Him this will happen if we abide in Him, if we can come before Him in quietness, allowing Him to teach ustaking the time to receive His understanding, which He has received from our Father knowing Him, and the power of His resurrection. The power of His resurrection, we have covered in the past, we have seen this in Ephesians, chapter 1, and I simply want to cover this again so that we can have this clearly in our minds. In Ephesians 1, starting at verse 17, there is a prayer that Paul prays:
Ephesians 1:17-20
17 That the God of Jesus , the Father of glory, [might] give you [a] spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him [we could say, the knowledge He possesses]: [Verse 18: This will open]
18 The eyes of your understanding [The eyes of your understanding will be] enlightened; that [youll perceive] the hope of his calling, the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And the exceeding greatness of his power [toward us] who believe, according to the working of [the power of his strength],
20 Which he wrought in Christ [the ability of His strength, which He wrought, which He manifested in Christ], when he raised him from the dead,
You see, by receiving the understanding of the Father, these things will be a natural result youll begin to understand the hope of His calling. God has given you an infinite mind, that He may teach you all things. He gave Christ His Spirit without measure and we are called unto the glory of Christ. He wants you to possess all of His riches. You will perceive the riches, then, of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. If you know the hope of His calling its that He might give you all truth which leads into the next eye-opener youll perceive the riches, then, of the glory and the next thing that happens, the exceeding greatness of His power which He wrought when He raised Christ from the dead. Now, when He raised Christ from the dead, He set Him far above all principality and power and might, and as we read in Ephesians 2:6:
Ephesians 2:6
6 [He has] raised us up together, and made us sit [in the heavenlies] in Christ
So if Christ is far above all principality, power and might so are you, if youre on this level of understanding. If God has given you a spirit of wisdom in revelation in His knowledge, if He has spoken to your heart and raised you out of the sea youve ascended out of the lie and He has given you a new foundation based on His love, and He is beginning to give you all of His riches then this power that He raised Christ from the dead and set Him above the principalities and powers He has set you above; you are at the right hand.
Now, we need to take this back to Romans 6, because in Romans 6, its further defined how this happens to us. I want to begin reading at verse 1:
Romans 6:1-5
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 [May it never be.] How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer [in it]?
3 Know ye not, that [as] many of us as [are immersed] into Jesus Christ [are immersed] into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by [immersion] into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, we also should walk in newness of life. [Now, here is the key]
5 if we have been [united] together [planted together] in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
We read, in Philippians 3, that God would give you understanding, that you might experience the power of the resurrection. You experience the power of the resurrection by uniting with Him in the likeness of His death. If you can be planted together in the likeness of His death, you will also be in the likeness of His resurrection. Look at verse 6:
Romans 6:6-7
6 Knowing this, our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed [or rendered inactive], that [from now on] we should not serve sin.
7 he that is dead is freed from sin.
UNITED IN DEATH
Now, how do we unite with Him in death? How can I be planted together with Him in His death? If youll look out the window, youll notice [that] you see the heavens and earth at the same time. That is how we remain balanced in this world and if we can come to the cross, stand at the foot of that cross, and get an understanding of what is happening from the heavens and the earth together, we can be united with Him in death and experience the death of the old man.
Now, standing from the earth, looking up at that cross through my earthly eyes Im seeing a man suspended between the heavens and earth. I cannot look at Him without seeing Him in the heavens. Im looking from the earth, viewing a man suspended in the heavens. I see death I see darkness over all of the land I see nakedness I see the crown of thorns that He is carrying. I hear Him cry out that His Father has forsaken Him His God has forsaken Him. I see a man tortured inside and out I see something pitiful I see something thats heart wrenching. If we could only imagine the depth of this mans agony I am seeing Gods definition of sin. I am seeing Gods explanation of my old man. It states in Isaiah 53, that when you look up and see Him, and make Him as the sin offering, you will see seed. Seed is that which has been planted. What youre looking at on that cross is what has been planted in each one of us the sin nature, adversity.
But now, lets look at it from the heavens to stay in balance. Looking at it from Gods perspective, I see the Son of the living God the only begotten Son of God, in perfect obedience to His Fathers will. Hence, He is perfect light He is love; He is giving of Himself that others might live. He is inwardly being made in the image of the invisible God. Now, when I recognize He is portraying my sin nature (everything evil in me, everything wrong with me) and I recognize He is the Son of God He is being tortured inside and out the question has to arise: If that really is the Son of God, then why doesnt God stop this? Why isnt God stopping whats happening on that cross? We have learned the answer to that question: That God is allowing this to convince us of His love, and if He is willing to allow this to happen to His only begotten Son, if He is willing to separate from His only begotten Son in order to convince us of His love, then its evident that He loves us as much as He loves Him. If He is willing to forsake Him for you, its evident He loves you the same.
When that begins to sink into your mind (now follow this closely), when Gods love begins to sink in, and you realize whats happening on the cross, what you are seeing from the earth in viewing your old man and the definition of sin, the darkness of the earth and so on the crown of thorns those are the things that die in you when the reality of Gods love comes into your heart. All of that happens right there at the cross you enter into death as you realize how much God loves you. The power of Gods love is as strong as death. The power of His love for you changes your thinking, reshapes your thinking, puts your mind in a different place separates your mind from the things of this world and the result of that love coming into you, the effect its having on your mind is called Holy Spirit. He is separating your spirit from the world, giving you a way of understanding possessed by the Son of God.
If youre going to know the power of the resurrection, youve got to unite with Him in death, and if you can go before the Lord in quietness, humble yourself before God using your imagination to imagine Calvary and to imagine the heartbreak that was happening to the Father even though God knew this was going to come to an end, even though the Father knew He would be raising His Son, it still had to break His heart to see what His Son was going through. I know with my own children, you can speak angrily in an angry way to one of my children, and it will break my heart because I know them and I know what theyre thinking and if you can imagine the Son of God in His innocence love for the Father, crying out to the Father: Take this cup, and the Father not allowing Him to back out of this situation and seeing the brutality of humanity against the Son of God. You can see how the Father was pitted against the love He had for His only begotten and the love He had for His firstborn, because Israel is His firstborn. He had a love for His only begotten and the same love for His firstborn, and when that reality sinks into your heart, you will experience being united in His death and the power of His resurrection.
FELLOWSHIP IN SUFFERING
Going back to Philippians, chapter 3, verse 10, the next part of this entering into the fellowship of His sufferings, is very special to me, and I pray it be so to you. In verse 10, when you come to that place where you know Him by means of experience and the power, or the ability that happens in the resurrection, where He elevates you above principalities, powers and might you enter into the fellowship of His sufferings, meaning, just as Christ was in sinful flesh and knew the love of the Father, we too, enter into that fellowship with Him. Now very few people can do that. Very few people understand the love of God very few people will have the name, or the character of the Father written on their foreheads, and when you know the love of God His love for you, you enter into a relationship with the Father [that] only Christ had... being in sinful flesh and knowing the love of God possessing the tools to help you overcome every temptation.
You see, being tempted isnt a sin, but when your lust is fulfilled, when it reaches fruition, then comes sin and sin brings death. But He is giving us the tools to cast down every thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. He, too, was made of a woman; He, too, learned obedience through the things which He suffered; He, too, was tempted in every way as us, yet, He never sinned. He faced all of these things we face, knowing He was the only begotten Son of God. We now know we are the firstborn, and He loves us as much as He loves Jesus, His only begotten. We possess a truth that we can begin to let grow in our hearts, focusing on that love love is the foundation going to Calvary, imagining Him on that cross and letting the effect of those thoughts have their way on us, producing in us a holiness the power of the Holy Spirit. The power of Holy Spirit will move all of these earthly things away, will fill you up.
You know, you have an imagination and you can use it in a sanctified way. You have the ability to recognize when thoughts are contradicting what you know God would have you do anything that exalts itself against the knowledge God has given you, you can cast it down, and you can break those strongholds in your life. You can train your mind to turn from all that is evil and quit resisting the impression of the heart that the Lord is giving you, and be holy before God. You see, you possess an understanding [that] Christ possessed you enter into the fellowship of His sufferings He suffered, learning obedience. We, too, can learn to focus our thinking on higher things, glorifying God. In Romans 5, there is an equation I want to read to you lets just read starting in verse 1:
Romans 5:1-4
1 Therefore being justified [or being made righteous] by faith [by the hearing of faith], we [can] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: [See, there is Deuteronomy 18 that prophet, bringing to you Gods understanding.]
2 By whom also we have access by [the hearing of] faith into this grace wherein we stand, and [we] rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [And right there, in hope of the glory of God, just put 2 Thessalonians 2:14 we have been called by the gospel to the obtaining of the glory of Christ, who is the image of the invisible God. Now, Romans 5:3]
3 And not only [this], but we glory in [our] tribulations [too]: [Why? Well, we perceive] that [the] tribulation [were in, is working] patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Now, this word experience, [1382] means a tried character or proof of genuineness. Now, think about it: The tribulation works patience; patience in that tribulation brings you proof of genuineness. The proof of genuineness gives you hope hope that these things are true. Ive had changes in my life that its evident to me that the things the Lord is giving us are true absolute truth. Its changing my life; its giving me a power over self. Now, when I say these things, dont get in your mind that I am saying Im there and I dont have any more problems, I dont struggle anymore, because I do. But I possess tools to help me overcome, and these tools are becoming more refined and more powerful in my life and when I have a tribulation, I can glory in it because as the Lord delivers me through it, it becomes proof of the genuineness of the truth I possess, and knowing that gives me hope. Look at Romans 5:5:
Romans 5:5
5 And hope [makes] not ashamed; because [Gods love] is shed abroad in our hearts by Holy [Spirit] which is given unto us.
And, right here, again, I want to take the time to say to you be quiet before God and go on your knees to Calvary, and let your imagination put you there in front of that cross and look at the horrific sight hanging on that cross and recognize He truly is the only birthed Son of God, and God is love and it breaks His heart to see His only begotten Son suffer in such a way. Recognize the feeling you have toward your own children, the feelings you recognize your parents have toward you. Look at the pain that that would cause you and recognize God is love and He loves His Son hanging there. Now, if you can come to that place and then recognize why He is letting it go on and on to say to you, I love you. Let the power of that truth move you let that come into your mind and you will feel everything else dropping away. Everything falls away and the effect of that truth is holiness Holy Spirit, and the power of Holy Spirit to move you in righteousness and turn you from all wickedness is the power of God found in the gospel, seen at Calvary , recognized in the fact: This is the Son of God.
Know this: There is no power in the cross except He be the Son of God. There is no power in that cross except the Father is allowing it to happen. When you take the Father out of it, theres no power. There is no power to move your heart there is no passion of a Fathers love. Youve got to leave the Father in the equation to have power in the death of Jesus Christ.
FAITH PERFECTED
The next part of Philippians 3:10 , is being made conformable unto His death. Now consider with me: You enter into the power of the resurrection, according to Romans 6, by uniting with Him in death. You, then, enter into the fellowship of His sufferings, being made, then, conformable to His death. You began with His death, and you end with His death. For you to enter into the power of the resurrection, you unite with Him in death, then the fellowship of His suffering, which makes you conformable to His death. When that man died, He was complete He had been brought to a completed perfection, and I look at the 144,000, recognizing they will never see a physical death, but they will be made complete in sinful flesh which makes them His bride. Once the 144,000 reach a complete understanding, then they will be called to practice what they preach I say that because of James 2:22:
James 2:22
22 [See] how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
See, faith what God is teaching you is perfected when you practice what you preach. Christ, in Gethsemane, came to the place where He was willing to go forward, willing to go to the cross, willing to love us and then He was called to practice what He preached, and He stood as a Lamb before her shearers with His mouth closed, not retaliating allowing them to do with Him as they pleased, because the Father was asking Him to because of His love for His Father, and love for you and [me]. Works perfect your faith. When God brings you to a complete understanding of His love, I believe we will be called upon to practice what we preach that is what seals it into our hearts.
Now, the scriptures are full of these pictures of the end time, and the message being given at the end. I think one such picture is seen in Revelation 11 the two witnesses, because in Revelation, chapter 10, John, who is, I believe, a picture of the 144,000, is given the little book to eat, and then told he must go prophesy again and this time he goes clothed in sackcloth or in sadness because, I believe, at that time you are experiencing the day of atonement your personal day of atonement, where the scapegoat is led away. Azazel is led away into the wilderness, never to return, and you now possess the truth as seen in Michael and Jesus you now possess the two olive trees. You possess the truth that God always wanted you you were His firstborn as seen in Michael, and that He would bring you to perfection in holiness as seen in Jesus.
Those are the two truths that you possess after your atonement, when youre brought to a completed perfection those are the two witnesses of Revelation 11. When you go forward to prophesy again, you know who you are in Christ you are a high priest of God, and you go in sadness because you know the world is running out of time, and you are coming with a message of absolute truth, with an experience to go with the message. You are the two witnesses of Revelation 11 you possess those truths in your heart and its interesting in Zechariah, chapter 4, the message to Zerubbabel, because it is seen, when you read about the two witnesses, it takes you right back to the two olive trees in Zechariah 4. In past studies, I tried drawing this picture of the two trees beside a bowl, and underneath the bowl, the candelabra the candlestick, and how the two trees feed into the bowl from the bowl it goes to the candlestick. And in Zechariah, he says this is the message to Zerubbabel not by armies, not by power, but by my spirit saith the Lord. Well, if you want to, get a pencil and paper and draw two trees, between the two trees, put a bowl. Under the bowl, put the candlestick with the seven flames.
This is Gods message to Zerubbabel Zerubbabel is anybody who was born in Babylon , coming out of Babylon to rebuild the city, rebuild Jerusalem and the two trees feed the bowl. I believe that bowl is the 144,000, because they understand that truth. They understand the two truths Gods desire for you and His promise to complete you, and it is from the bowl, the candlestick, which is the seven churches, from Ephesus to Laodicea . Everyone else is going to be fed from the 144,000. The trees feed into the bowl; from the bowl it goes to the churches, and I believe what youre reading in Revelation 11, is a picture of the 144,000 taking the message to the world Zechariah 4, the 144,000 feeding from the trees, feeding the seven churches; feeding the candlestick. And notice, he says it isnt by might (which is armies) not by armies, or by power. That word power is equivalent to the New Testament [1411] power that we were reading in this study works of power, and the Lord is telling you it isnt going to be by works of power that this message is given. Its going to be by His Spirit. I was thinking about how in Christs day, He was performing miracles, and so many people came to Him because of the miracles, and in John, chapter 6, when He told them to eat His flesh and drink His blood, they turned from Him they rejected Him, and said this was a hard saying. And when they had turned to walk away, Christ asked the twelve: Are you going to leave, too? And Peter said: Well, where would we go? You have the words of life, showing there was a huge difference between the apostles and these other people. You see, the apostles were there because of what Christ was saying the people were there because of the miracles. And if we were out there performing miracles the way Christ was, the people in this movement would be as hollow and shallow as those who followed Christ. The Lord is saving us from such a thing.
It isnt by might; it isnt by works of power its going to be by His Spirit, as you see the trees feed the bowl, the bowl feeds the church. And then He says: Who has despised the day of small things (Zechariah 4:10 ) because, I realize, this is going to be a very small movement. You know, I saw the headlines of the paper the other day, that there are now three hundred million people in this country, and one million is a thousand thousands. If you could imagine a thousand people, one million is a thousand thousands and if just one person out of a thousand accepted this truth, then you would have 300,000 people in this movement, and I cant even fathom that. In fact, if you just had one out of a million, you would have three hundred people in this movement that seems more realistic to me. I know, though, the power of this message when it goes forward, none of us realize the power its going to have when God is in it and when it is time, and when He is ready to send us. I know I dont realize, at this moment in my life, the power thats going to be manifested, but its hard to fathom more than three hundred people in this group. I dont believe its ever been that high, and like I say, in this country alone, that would just be one in a million. So, he asks the question in Zechariah 4: Who has despised the day of small things? Before he says that in verse 10, in verse 9, he says:
Zechariah 4:9
9 Zerubbabel laid the foundation of this house; his hands [will] finish it; and [youll] know the LORD of hosts [has] sent me unto you.
So, because of that scripture, Ive recognized [that] this is a one generation movement he laid the foundation; hell finish it. Verse 10 its going to be a small movement, but they will see the stone of tin the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel, or that tool used to keep the walls of salvation straight. Now let me tell you, the love of God is such a tool. Knowing Gods love and being able to go back and reinterpret what happened at Calvary , and letting the Spirit of God open our eyes to the truth of Gods love that we might possess in our hearts the very love that Jesus possessed in His heart. God had loved that man and that love He has for Jesus, we can have in our hearts too, keeping the walls of salvation straight.
GIVING THE MESSAGE
Now, what about the giving of this message? What about the end of the world and the giving of the message? Recently, as I have sought the Lord for a deeper understanding of this, the Lord began to give me scripture that I want to share with you now, that appears to me to be a picture of the message we possess going to the entire world. I want to ask you to look at Isaiah 13, starting at verse 1:
Isaiah 13:1-2
1 The burden of Babylon , which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
2 Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
That word banner [5251] is used in Isaiah 11:10, speaking of the root of Jesse. In Isaiah 11:10:
Isaiah 11:10
10 in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for [a [5251] a sign] of the people; to it shall the [Nations] seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
The root of Jesse, I should say the root and the branch is Christ remember in Revelation 22:16 but as the root, were looking at Michael, and when I read in Isaiah 13:2, Lift up the [5251] Lift up Michael the birth of the Son of God in eternity, and exalt the voice. Youre seeing the Godhead message and the abiding truth being proclaimed. And when I read this, I cant imagine the Lord speaking this through Isaiah, preserving this for thousands of years, and it only being for you or for me. Verse 3:
Isaiah 13:3-6
3 I have commanded my sanctified ones [those who are set apart in their thinking], I havecalled my mighty ones for [my] anger, them that rejoice in my highness.
4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts [musters] the host of the battle.
5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
Now remember 1 Thessalonians 4, the description of the resurrection, entering into chapter 5, and he says you have no need that I tell you the times and the seasons of this, for the day of the Lord will come as a thief. When they say peace and safety, sudden destruction will come on them as a woman with child. I believe hes quoting Isaiah 13 I believe Paul, in 1 Thessalonians, is quoting Isaiah 13. Looking again at Isaiah 13:6:
Isaiah 13:6-9
6 Howl; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:
8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; [theyll] be in pain [how?] as a woman that [travails]: [theyll] be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
9 , the day of the LORD [comes], cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and [hell] destroy the sinnersof out of it.
There is one other sign that the Lord lifts up remember in verse 2: Lift up the signKing James put banner, exalt the voice. Well, in Zechariah, chapter 9, there is another description of the 144,000. You really should read this entire chapter in Zechariah 9, but I want to begin in verse 14:
Zechariah 9:14
14 And the LORD shall be seen over them [thats equivalent to Revelation 7:15 , where He tabernacles over them], and his arrow shall go forth aslightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with [troubles from the right hand].
Why from the right hand? Because you have been exalted to the right hand of God let me say this before I go on: Letting the Lord reveal to you what it means to ascend out of the lie, will bring you to the realization [that] youre at the right hand of God. You will become an instrument of His righteousness to destroy the land of sinners, to help them understand the truth. When they say peace and safety, were saved, were already saved, were filled with the Spirit, you come in with the message of truth and destroy you bring a destruction upon their whole land. And in Zechariah 9:14 , where he says whirlwinds from the south it literally is trouble from the right hand. God blows the trumpet verse 15:
Zechariah 9:15-16
15 The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones [anytime I think of sling stones, I think of David and Goliath and slaying the old man]; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine [which would be joy]; and [theyll] be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
16 And [YAHWEH] their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as [a sign] upon his land.
Not only does the Lord lift up His only begotten Son, He also lifts up His church. You are a joint heir with Christ, and you will be lifted up as a sign. Now, let me ask you a question: Who will He lift you up to? If not the whole world, then who? When He says in Matthew 24: The gospel of the kingdom must be preached to all the world then shall the end come, then shall the perfection come, then shall the completion come in His people because you have got to practice what you preach. Do you possess the love in your heart that Christ had in His heart concerning His Father? Well, His love for humanity was put to the test, and it is works that perfect your faith, and when you come to the realization of Gods love for you, youre going to recognize [that] He loves everyone that way, and He is using you as an instrument to destroy the darkness, destroy the wickedness. Im not saying that in a negative way that is positive. I dont mean you go in swinging an ax or a baseball bat you go in meekness, teaching the truth of Jesus Christ, and you help people see the truth of the Savior. When you do, he says this is the day of the Lord on these people it is a destruction from the Almighty. They will be in pain as a woman that travails with child. In Isaiah 13:10, he says:
Isaiah 13:10
10 the stars of heaven and the constellations [of it will] not give their light: the sun [will] be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
You know, what I picture in my mind is you giving the message with the testimony of the changes that He has wrought in you, and they have no answers. Their bible doesnt cover the things that you are revealing they have never seen these things before, and their stars, their sun, their moon give no light to them. And He will make a man (as He goes on to say in Isaiah 13:12 ) more precious than fine gold. Hes going to shake the heavens, and the earth will remove out of her place, but you are the instrument He uses to shake their heavens. You see, why would the Lord put this in Isaiah 13, if He only intends for you to witness to two or three people? Why, in Joel 2, after going through the explanation of the healing, of giving you the teacher of righteousness according to righteousness, driving the northern army into the sea, restoring unto you the years the locusts have eaten, and then saying: After that, He pours His spirit out upon all flesh. Well, you are the instrument He uses to do that. Peter said in Acts 2: This is what Joel was talking about. Well, Peter was experiencing the symbol of receiving Holy Spirit. He was experiencing the tenth day after the ascension He was experiencing what you experience when you realize what that ascension means in your life.
I cant say it enough when these truths penetrate, and we begin to recognize who we are in Christ, I dont think well be able to hold down the joy and excitement. Again, I have to point you back to Romans 8: Tribulation works patience patience, experience, tried character, proof of genuineness, and then you have hope. Maybe that is what you and I need proof that youre at the right hand of God proof that Christ is your Brother; proof that you are the prodigal. As I speak these things, it just fills my mind I cant even fathom what God has done with us. We get together, I look at you I look in your eyes I watch you talk to people, I listen to you I see some of you going through struggles of anger and strife and bitterness. I see the place where we are some of us so wrapped up in earthly things, and I know what God is calling us to, and I just dont know how to pull you out of it except to pray for you and seek the Lord that His will be done in your life. If His will is done in your life, youre going to know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory He has for you and the power of the resurrection.
You can be above the bitterness you can be above these earthly chains that hold you in bondage. You can be above it as you cast down everything that exalts itself against Gods knowledge, and you recognize you are laboring together with God, building this house with precious stones, silver, gold, not with wood, hay and stubble. God has given us the most wonderful truth the most wonderful truth is yours and it can change you but not if you continue with earthly thinking and refusing to receive the love of Christ, and to love me, to love your brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. But you carry the chains, and Im going to tell you, coming to this level, even understanding half of what I have spoken of on this tape, you have no excuse you are ultimately responsible for rejecting the love of God and continuing in the lie.
CLOSE
I want to close this study in 2 Corinthians 5, starting at verse 17:
2 Corinthians 5:17-6:6
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new [creation, a new] creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things [have] become new.
18 And all things are of God, [whos] reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and [has] givenus the ministry of reconciliation;
19 [To make known here is our ministry: Were to make known] that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, [He was] not imputing their trespasses unto them; [Hes] committed unto us [this concept] of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God.
21 For he [has] made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might [come to] be the righteousness of God in him.
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that [you] receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 ([Because] he [said], I have heard [you] in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation [I have helped you]: behold, now is [that] accepted time; now is the day of salvation.) [Now is the day of His grace now is the day of the nourishing Father; now is the time we can understand Him as the God He really is]
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry [that you have of bringing reconciliation to the world, that the ministry] be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God [How do we do that?], in much patience, [when youre afflicted you manifest the praise, the virtues of God], in [your] necessities, [and] in [your distress, you manifest the power of God],
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings [you approve yourselves as ministers of God];
6 [In] pureness, [in] knowledge, longsuffering, [in] kindness, [in] Holy [Spirit], [in] love [without hypocrisy, you approve yourselves as ministers of God],
If He was not imputing peoples sin to them, how dare you do it! If He is not imputing your sin to you, dont you do it! Come to the realization that He is not holding you accountable to sin Hes trying to help pull you out of it. Be perfect as pertaining to the conscience let Him write His law, His understanding on your heart and He will not remember your sin and iniquity anymore. Hence, the conscience is not there to remember your sin the conscience is joint knowledge. If He isnt remembering His part of it, the conscience falls flat and you can be healed in Christ, putting those things away, reaching toward the mark, the prize of the high calling of Christ. Verse 7:
2 Corinthians 6:7-10
7 [Approve yourselves as ministers of God in] the word of truth, [in] the power of God, [in] the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 [When youre honored and when youre dishonored], [when theres] evil report [about you] and good report: as [being accused of being a deceiver], and yet [youre] true; [Continue to manifest yourself as a minister of God]
9 As unknown [to the world], and yet [youre] well known [to the true church]; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and [yet were] not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet [always] rejoicing; as poor, yet [youre] making many rich [and I mean with the true riches the only thing that will last into and throughout eternity is the knowledge God is giving us]; as having nothing, and yet [you possess] all things.
God has given us the most wonderful truth and it most definitely has the power to change our hearts and weve got to allow Him to change us, to make us in the image of the only begotten Son, because He is the image of the invisible God. We can be one with the Son, one with the Father, and allow the Father to heal us completely and get this message to the world to those who can receive it. You know, even now as I say that, I know people cannot receive all of this, but we can give them the truth of the only begotten Son of God that He is that prophet of Deuteronomy 18, that God is going to send the refreshing and deliver them from all sin and iniquity and make them whole. Lets be whole in Christ Jesus.