This is the vision which is consistently given throughout Scripture. My mind goes back to Moses, who, after he and the Israelites had gone as far as the Lord had directed, was called to ascend to the top of Mt. Sinai for further instructions. "And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled... and Mt. Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly...and THE LORD CAME DOWN upon Mt. Sinai, on the top of the mount: and THE LORD CALLED MOSES UP to the top of the mount; AND MOSES WENT UP" (Ex. 19:1, 18, 20). Imagine this awe-inspiring scene, if you will. Moses alone was allowed to enter into the fiery cloud high atop Mt. Sinai, amidst thunderings, lightnings, and the voice of the trumpet. He was allowed to witness things that no other man was permitted to behold. He was "caught up," so to speak, to meet the Lord in the midst of the glory cloud! It was in this place, in the presence of God, that he received the Commandments, the designs for the Tabernacle, and the unique privilege to behold the glory of the Lord through a face-to-face encounter. Furthermore, he entered into an experience which, I believe, actually transcended the laws of nature. Nowhere in Scripture do we read that during those forty days and forty nights, Moses had anything to eat or drink. This leads me to believe that throughout this entire experience, he was independent of natural sustenance for his existence. It’s not difficult for me to believe that he was nurtured and sustained by the presence of Divinity (in fact, I can’t imagine why thoughts of food, drink, or sleep would even come into his mind)!
While Moses was no doubt blessed by this experience, he knew that he was not there for selfish reasons. Neither was he there to obtain "boasting rights"! He had gone up as an intercessor for, and as a representative of the people. Therefore, he ascended into the cloud with a purpose... that he might descend in due season with a blessing for others. He transported the glory upon his countenance, the Word of the Lord in his hands, and a revelation of God's plan in his heart, to the multitudes waiting at the foot of the mount. He became GOD'S VISITATION TO HIS PEOPLE, condescending to men of low estate, in order that he might lead them toward the fullness of their inheritance! Hallelujah!
Had Moses believed the popular escapist theology of our times, he might have easily forgotten his brethren, and the tremendous problems which they faced as a nation. After all, just think about it for a moment. Old Moses had it made! He didn't have a thing in the world to worry about, as long as he was in that high and lofty place with the Lord! He was in paradise! But just listen to the burden of his heart in Ex. 32, verses 31-32: "And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, ‘Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin --- ; and if not, BLOT ME OUT OF THY BOOK WHICH THOU HAST WRITTEN!" It’s obvious that his heart was with God's people, insomuch that, if they didn't receive mercy and forgiveness for their sins, he refused to go on without them! Moses could not be content to remain in his blissful state while others were separated from God. His spirit groaned deeply within him for their deliverance...and, as a result, THE LORD HEARD HIS PRAYER!
From Behind The Veil... With A Blessing
Can you imagine that sacred scene from Old Testament times, when, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest passed through the veil into the Holiest of Holies? What a wonderful privilege this was, to meet with God in the place which He had determined. This was an honor reserved for ONE MAN, ONE TIME, at the end of the year! In order to have this meeting, however, the High Priest took incense in his hands, and a censor full of burning coals from the brazen altar. Placing the censor upon the Mercy Seat between the cherubim, he cast the incense into it, which, in turn, caused a cloud of smoke to arise... and the Lord met with him in the midst of the cloud! Ah, beloved, God manifested Himself in all of His splendor and majesty, mighty to save!
While he tarried in the manifest presence of God, vast multitudes were waiting on the outside. Every eye was looking for a sign of his glorious appearing. Their forgiveness, blessing and future depended on it! You see, the High Priest was not there simply to enjoy the spectacular scenery. He was not there to merely bask in the glory. He entered vicariously, to make atonement for the sins of the whole nation, and to receive instructions from the Most High.
Upon the High Priest’s breastplate were twelve beautiful gemstones, representing each of the tribes of Israel in their respective order. He bore those names upon his heart into the throne room of God, that they might receive mercy and grace to help them in their time of need. Imagine, if you will, with what a dazzling brilliance these must have shone, as the glory of God's presence engulfed the Most Holy Place. Those representative "stones of fire" not only reflected, but were literally filled with heavenly light, absorbing the effects of that divine visitation. Therefore, when the High Priest exited from behind the veil, he bore the glory of God to the people! He brought hope and encouragement to the wearied masses of men, because his very appearance gave them the assurance that Yahweh had been pleased to forgive them!
Descending... With Deliverance
We find a most wondrous account given in the gospels concerning Christ's ascension into a high mountain with Peter, James, and John. Our story is found in Matt. 17:1-21, Mark 9:2-29, and Luke 9:27-43. Having entered into a season of prayer, a remarkable thing took place. As did the face of Moses on Sinai, Jesus began to shine with a radiance brighter than ten thousand suns. He was magnificently transfigured before his disciple's eyes. In fact, His raiment even shimmered white and glistering. If this were not enough, the images of Moses and Elijah were also included in the vision! What a day this must have been!
To complete the picture, we read that a cloud overshadowed them, and "they feared as they entered into the cloud"! You probably recall the rest of the story. The voice of the Father spoke out of the midst of the cloud; and, afterward, the disciples saw no man, save Jesus only. Much could be said concerning these things, and volumes could be written. But the part which we’d like to point out is what happened next. As they descended from the top of the mount the next day, there were great multitudes awaiting them. "And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him, saluted him" (Mark 9:15). The reason they’d gathered was because a certain man had brought his lunatic son to Jesus' disciples for healing, but had not received it. Therefore, they were all looking for someone caring enough, and compassionate enough to condescend into this man’s realm of torment, his private hell, and rebuke the devil which resided there! (We would be remiss not to point out how perfectly that this madman represents the wild, rebellious state of fallen humanity... raging, sorely vexed, foaming at the mouth, and gnashing with his teeth; tossed to and fro from one extreme to another... writhing and wallowing on the ground like a beast...and desperately in need of deliverance from the bondage of corruption! Isn't that the truth?) But, praise God, there was One who came to "proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" (Isa. 61:1)! He descended to deliver, and to destroy the works of the devil. He stepped down into that man's driven, demented world, which was co-habited by demon powers; and by the power of the Spirit, He drove them out!
He Ascended Up On High... To Give Gifts
Eph. 4:8-10 tells us, "Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things."
The greatest example of compassionate condescension has to be that of our Savior's descent into the realm of humanity. He was unequivocally God’s greatest gift to men! The very fact that Christ willingly chose to be "made like unto sinful flesh" is almost more than we can fathom. He came down from heaven, stooping down, as we have seen, to the lowest level of mankind. But He didn’t stop there. He actually descended into the lower parts of the earth...not because of any sin that He’d committed, but for the sake of those committed by others. But while He entered into the subterranean realm of darkness, the netherworld of departed spirits as a captive prisoner, He made His departure as a conquering King! As a result, when He ascended up "far above all heavens," He led captivity captive. ..AND GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN!
Prior to His crucifixion, He assured His disciples of His coming again unto them. For forty days after His resurrection, He spoke to them of things pertaining to the Kingdom. Then, just before the cloud received Him out of their sight, He commanded them "that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:4-5). For the next ten days, they ascended into an upper room, continuing in prayer and supplications, and earnestly waiting for the promised gift. Finally, unexpectedly, "when the day of Pentecost was fully come," there came "a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind"...and the Lord, whom they sought, came suddenly into His Temple (Mal. 3:1)! Praise God, He returned, just as He’d promised!
Just as the glory of the Lord on Sinai was described by Moses as "devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel" (Ex. 24:1), we read in Acts 2:3-4 that "there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat on each of them. And they were all FILLED with the Holy Ghost..."! Not only did God light upon them in flaming fire, but He also "sent forth the Spirit of His Son into their hearts, crying Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:6)! The Great High Priest passed beyond the veil of their flesh, groaning and travailing from within his "living" temple for the needs of others! What a wondrous gift! Christ in them gave them the hope of glory (Col.1:27)!
As Jesus had promised, they were "endued with power from on high" (Lk. 24:49). Furthermore, they were "raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 2:6). But was it merely for their enjoyment alone? Obviously not. For when they descended from that upper room, "having the glory of God," He descended within them. And they discovered that they’d received power for service! There was a manifestation, a demonstration of the compassionate Christ in action, as He flowed out of His temple, condescending from within His disciples to the multitudes below. From this point on, the ministry of Christ continued uninterrupted to the masses of humanity... healing the sick, casting out devils, curing diseases, raising the dead! Traditionally, we’ve referred to this as "the acts of the apostles"; but the truth of the matter is, it was THE ACTS OF CHRIST IN HIS CHURCH! They were merely "the habitation of God;" the means by which Great High Priest was brought into contact with the world! He entered into their little "worlds," that they might transport Him "into ALL the world" (Mk. 16:15)!
Excerpted from SO SEND I YOU (Continued in next post)
We’ve read that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son". The fact that He gave His life for the sins of the whole world is indisputably a declaration of His great love wherewith He loved us. But sometimes, the universality of this statement can seem almost impersonal. The truth of the matter is, God so loved the world of mankind...and every world within it... that He gave His Son! You see, within every man there is a private little world... a world full of complexities, diversities, anxieties, and complications... of secret struggles, weaknesses, and worries. This is the real world, where men live out their lives; the world about which others know little, if anything at all. Often, when men give the appearance of being settled and secure on the outside, there’s a turmoil going on within... a raging war, a literal hell of confusion. It’s from this world that men cry out for deliverance, for someone else to care. Is not this the plea to which Christ came in response, the mission field to which He was sent? While there were certainly times when Jesus spoke to the multitudes, it must be noted that He spent a great deal of time with individuals. He was genuinely concerned about the needs of each person! The words of Exodus 3:7-8 enunciate the burden of His heart: "And the Lord said, ‘I have surely seen the affliction of My people...and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them...and to bring them up out of that land into a good land and a large...’"! This clearly describes the mission for which Christ was sent. He descended to deliver, and to lift men up out of "the slimepits of Egypt". And He would not cease, until He’d brought them into "a large place" in the Spirit!
In the fourth chapter of John, we see a beautiful illustration of this. As Jesus rested on Jacob's well, a woman of Samaria came to draw water. As she approached, He requested that she give Him to drink. Knowing that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, looking upon them as "dogs", this certainly struck her as strange that He should desire something from her. Then Jesus said unto her, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and Who it is that sayeth to thee, ‘Give me to drink’, thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have giveth thee living water" (verse 10)! What a striking contrast between "a living soul," which had nothing to offer, and "a Quickening (life-giving) Spirit"! In her natural reasoning, she said to Him, "Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?" The one thing she failed to understand was that the "living water" of which He spoke was not "drawn up"(requiring the efforts of man), but, instead, came down! As you know, this is one of the characteristics of running water. It always seeks the lowest place. In like manner, the gift of God was flowing down to her even as they spoke! Hallelujah! Like a beautiful stream cascading down the mountainside, the Spirit of Christ was coming down to her level, condescending to her low estate! Praise God, He entered into her "little world," descending from the "uttermost" to the "guttermost," seeking the lowest place in her life! And notice that once He’d located her, He didn’t heap condemnation upon her, pushing her even lower, but He raised her up into the newness of life! In spite of the fact that she’d made her "bed in hell" (ref. Psa. 139:7-8), so to speak, He was there! Though He knew her "downsitting and uprising", and though He understood her thoughts afar off, being acquainted with all her ways, He used none of it against her. Instead, He used it as an occasion to offer unmerited grace to her! She received a visitation from "the Father of mercies, the God of all comfort" (I Cor. 1:3) which changed her world. And, as a result, she ran joyfully through the streets, proclaiming, "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: IS NOT THIS THE CHRIST?" (Jn. 4:29)
More Blessed To Give...
It’s a sad, but true indictment that much of what is promoted in Christendom today is directed toward the covetous desires of the natural man. It seeks to make converts by emphasizing WHAT WE GET (through an acceptance of God's provisional plan), rather than WHY WE GET IT. Make a survey of the hymns so often sung in church today, and it won’t take long to see that the theme repeated over and over is one geared toward selfishness; that "the blessed hope" of the church is that, any moment, we may be raptured out of this sin-blasted, problem-laden planet, caught away to that heavenly "Disney Land" in the sky, while the rest of our friends, relatives and loved ones, who were less fortunate than we, are swept into a burning hell! The general idea is that we’ll be having so much fun eating the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, swimming in the River of Life, walking on Streets of Gold, polishing our crowns, etc., we’ll not have enough time to think of those poor souls who are enduring great tribulation upon the earth!
Please pardon the bluntness of my comments, but such a childish message cheapens the Gospel, by portraying heaven as a place wherein we have nothing constructive to do, and all of eternity in which to do it! It brings our incorruptible inheritance down to the level of infantile carnality,by seeking to literalize that which is spiritual! But, worst of all, it robs believers of their most important hope... the hope of their being totally delivered from the bondage of corruption, in order that they might be conformed to the image of the heavenly! I dare say that this kind of evangelism generally produces living souls, rather than life-giving spirits. It justifies the selfish nature of Adam in man, giving men just cause to ignore the groaning creation around them, while they seek to secure their own personal pleasure and preservation!
How different was the apostle Paul's attitude. In Rom. 9:1-5, we read where he was in "great heaviness and sorrow in his heart"... being burdened for his brethren, his kinsmen according to the flesh. In verse three, he said, "For I could wish myself accursed from Christ for my brethren!" Imagine that, if you will. Paul was so moved with compassion, so straightened by their spiritual blindness, that he actually willed that he might trade places with them; insomuch that he would have actually went to hell in their place! Is not this what it means to be "accursed from Christ"? It was this same Paul, who taught the church in Ephesus the beautiful truth that we, who are in Christ Jesus, have already been quickened together with Him; and that God "hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" ( Eph. 2:1-7)! Beloved, please understand...this was not just some mystical terminology to Paul. He understood "ascension life" to be a reality. He had encountered it in a way few of us have ever experienced! And yet, he had become so united with the broken heart of Christ, so intimately involved with His concerns, that he would have gladly descended from that high spiritual dimension, surrendering his sonship life in the heavenlies, if it would have led to the enlightenment of his Israelite brethren. Now that’s what it means to be moved with compassion!
Oh, how I hope you can hear these words! God, in these last days, is preparing the hearts of His chosen ones with a message of maturity, a word of enlightenment that everything we have received, or ever will receive as our inheritance is not for our benefit alone. It's ultimately for the sake of others. This must be the prime motivation for all that we do, for this is the purpose for which we’ve been sent! We must willingly lay down our lives for the brethren; obtaining, that we might have something to offer; freely receiving, that we might have to freely give! We must lay hold on the high call of God in Christ Jesus, that we might be able to effectively deliver others from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God! Hallelujah!
John 20:21 ... "Then said Jesus unto them, ‘Peace be unto you: AS MY FATHER HATH SENT ME, SO SEND I YOU.’ And when He had said this, He breathed upon them, and said, ‘RECEIVE YE THE HOLY GHOST: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.’"
What an awesome experience this must have been! If you’re familiar with the narrative, then you’ll recall that at this point in the story Jesus had already been crucified, buried, and resurrected. Now, as He appeared to His disciples, He speaks these astonishing words... "AS MY FATHER HATH SENT ME..." that is, in the very same manner, with the very same mission, to accomplish the very same purpose, "SO SEND I YOU"! I would imagine that the disciples were so overwhelmed by the shear terror of the situation that these words might have gone right over their heads. But once they received the Spirit, He brought all things back to their remembrance, and quickened their understanding concerning this tremendous declaration.
"As My Father hath sent me." Recently, the Lord stirred my heart to ponder these words. How was it that Jesus was sent? What was it that compelled Him so? This question is of vital importance to us, seeing that our commission is intimately linked to His. As He was sent, we are sent; and what motivated Him is to be our motivation. He is the divine Pattern for us to follow, giving us a millennial vision of God's aionian plan and purpose in us for the world!
Probably the most familiar and well-loved of all Scriptures is John 3:16-17. Though it’s been memorized by countless millions of believers over the years, I feel confident when I say that at best, only a small percentage have realized it's application to our own calling and election. "For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED." What comfort we’ve all found in these words! "For God so loved the world, that He gave..." The measureless bounds of that divine love was shown by the fact that He willingly gave His life a ransom for many! He, Whose life was of infinitely far greater value than could ever be assessed... Whose life was never tainted with the corrupting defilements of sin, loved this sin-sick world of fallen humanity so much that He gave heaven’s best... and laid down the life of His Sonship, in order that others might be brought to God! What a selfless act of charity and compassion manifested toward mankind! He, Who had it all; yea, He, Who was all, willingly gave it all, that He might redeem others back to God! Glory to His Name!
Paul's words wax eloquent concerning this. "LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made of Himself no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore GOD HATH HIGHLY EXALTED HIM, and GIVEN HIM A NAME which is above every name..." (Phil. 2:5-9)! Just think of that! Though He was essentially one with God, He left the "high and lofty place", the glory of the Father, that He might "condescend to men of low estate"! He humbled Himself, taking upon Himself the likeness of sinful flesh ( Rom.8:3), that He might be able to be touched with the feeling of our infirmities! He didn’t descend from the heavenlies to prove Himself superior to those around Him. He didn’t seek only to associate with those who had attained, or risen to His level of spirituality (for that wou1d have been a great disappointment for Him). Nor was He interested in building a reputation for Himself by putting others down. He was not sent into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved! He identified with the groaning of the prisoners, being "numbered with the transgressors", that He might "lead captivity captive, and give gifts unto men" (Eph. 4:8)! Praise God! He, Who was Lord and Master over all, willingly became Servant to all, lowering Himself to the unpretentious position of "foot-washer", that He, in due season, might raise them up in the newness of life!
By this, the true heart of sonship is revealed. This heart is not the obtaining and retaining of eternal life, spiritual blessings and/or gifts, just so we can feel good about ourselves. Nor is it the acquiring of God's promises, in order that we might hoard them to ourselves. And it is certainly not meant to give us a sense of superiority, which thus causes us to look down on others of less stature. But the spirit of sonship is seen as the obtaining of life, in order in order that we might be poured out for the life of others. It is the possessing of life, that we might have life to give. It’s the receiving of the Spirit, that we might impart such as we have to a groaning creation. In a word, it’s the life of giving, of sacrifice, and of servitude; a life where possessiveness has no part. It’s the possessing of a love consciousness, that’s ever mindful of the needs of others, and always putting them before ourselves... a love life, that is void of condemnation, that’s constantly compelling us to condescend to men of low estate!
Living Souls Vs. Quickening Spirits
In I Cor. 15:45, 47, 49, we read, "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last man Adam was made a Quickening Spirit...The first man is of the earth, earthy: the. second man is the Lord from heaven.. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."
There’s a contrast made here between the first man, the man of the earth, and the last Man, the man of Spirit. By comparison, we understand that when the natural man was originally created, he was made "a little lower than angels"... wholly in need of the impartation of life. While he lay formed in the dust, he had nothing to offer, nothing to give. He could only receive. Just as the natural earth has no power of itself to produce life or productivity except a seed be planted in it; even so, the first man was dead and lifeless, until the Lord God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life," and raised him upon his feet (Gen. 2:7).
Not only did Adam receive natural life at this time, but he was also given access to spiritual life, as well. He had the opportunity to be raised up into a higher life form, simply by partaking of that which was freely provided of the Lord. But because he chose rather to partake of that which was forbidden, he cut himself off from "the Tree of Life" (that is, from the spiritual life which is in Christ), thus resulting in death. This, then, is the condition into which billions of his offspring have been conceived, being "made subject to vanities, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope..." (Rom.8:20). What exactly is the hope to which the "creature" has been subjected? Verse 21 continues, "...because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God"! So that's it! There is, planted deep within the heart of every creature, a hope of deliverance, that "even as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly"!
What does He mean when he speaks of "the image of the heavenly"? He’s referring to the image of Christ as a "Quickening (life-giving) Spirit"! Jesus Christ, the "Last Man Adam", not only received life, but was able to give life, as well! "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4)! Unlike the first man, who is ever in need of deliverance, Jesus was able to impart deliverance! Hear His own Words: "For as the Father raiseth the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth Whom He will" (John 5:21). And again, in verse 26: "For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself..." It was because He had life in Himself that He was able to impart that life to others. Virtue went out of Him, divine life flowed like a river to the hungry, huddled masses of the world, who sat in the darkness of depravity and deprivation, in the region of the shadow of death. Jesus came to preach "deliverance to the captives", to the spirits that were in prison, to all who were imprisoned in "the bondage of corruption". There was no depth into which He would not descend; there was no place that was too low. And the Good Shepherd manifested His love for us by the fact that He was willing to reach down into the horrible pit and miry clay of immorality and debauchery, in order to rescue us from certain death! This is love beyond human understanding!
"For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen (Matthew 6:13b)."
This three-fold benediction concludes what is commonly referred to as the Lord's Prayer. It is a fitting conclusion to what we call the Prayer of the Kingdom, or the Prayer of the Overcomer.
This confession is the summation of all that precedes it, the end result of what we are asking: "FOR..." Why do we bless the Name of the Father? Why do we pray for the Will and the Kingdom to be accomplished? Why do we pray for daily bread and forgiveness of sins? Why do we pray to be kept from evil? "FOR..." We ask for all these things BECAUSE the Kingdom is Yours, the Power is Yours, and the Glory is Yours. All the others are requests, but these three are declarations. "Thine IS the Kingdom... Thine IS the Power... Thine IS the Glory." That is the conclusion that we come to, and it is the reason that we pray in this way.
The Testimony of Jesus is committed to the Church, and the matter of His Kingdom, His Power, and His Glory is an intrinsic part of that Testimony. The Testimony answers to everything which man or the devil may challenge us with. So let us look at each one respectively.
Thine Is The Kingdom
There is a tremendous battle taking place in the spiritual realm. This conflict began long ago when Lucifer rebelled against the Lord and His Christ. There is this conflict of light versus darkness, good versus evil. There is that which represents the interests of God the Father and His Son, and there is that which represents another interest, an alien interest, something that is absolutely opposed to the Will, Plan, and Purpose of God - it is Antichrist, opposed to Christ. It refuses to submit itself to the preeminence and sovereignty of the Lord Jesus. We can see that plainly enough just by looking to the earthly ministry of the Lord and how even the religious system, especially the religious system, rejected Him and sought to destroy Him. We see in the Book of Acts how this enormous energy and antagonism was then poured out upon the Church in an attempt to obliterate the very Name of Jesus.
This spirit of Antichrist is active today. It is at work in the world, and it is at work in the Church (or, what is called "the Church"), and it is at work within each one of us individually, trying to draw us out into something - anything - other than Christ. Hence the Lord's need for overcomers to rise up and demonstrate that in spite of all appearances to the contrary, THE LORD JESUS REIGNS, and He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. This demonstration begins with each individual disciple, then finds expression within the corporate synthesis of Believers, before finding its ultimate expression and release in all creation. If the Lord does not have the preeminence in us as individual disciples, if we remain unsurrendered to Him in our own lives, how can the Church as a whole ever hope to bear His Testimony to the world? This is a critical point.
What assurance are we given? It is this: that in spite of nation rising up against nation, kingdom rising up against kingdom, political tumults and global confusion, "THINE IS THE KINGDOM - Your Throne is everlasting, Your Kingdom is established, and of the increase of Your Government there shall be no end (Isaiah 9:6,7). In other words, as Daniel would say, the Heavens DO rule, and it is the Most High God Who governs the affairs of men. THAT is the heart of the matter. THAT is what we are moving towards, from our day-to-day affairs as followers of Jesus, to the course and direction of this entire age.
This Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and His throne endures forever. This is a Kingdom made without hands, invisible, but filling the whole earth one disciple at a time, and then spreading through the little companies of "two or three gathered together" in His Name, moving forward and destroying everything that fails to put the Son of God in His rightful place and anything that fails to make Him the First, and the Only. By our very declaration we are aligning ourselves with an awesome, holy force which will one day gather (or, should I say, RE-gather) "all things in Christ (Ephesians 2:10)."
Thine Is The Power
The only legitimate power in the universe belongs to the Lord Jesus - all other power is either illegitimate or temporal. If THE power belongs to Him, then it cannot belong to anyone else. Jesus says, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." That is a very broad statement, is it not? Absolute power over all of creation!
We might expound upon the difference between the Greek words for authority and power. But such an exercise is irrelevant when it comes to the qualifications and credentials of the Son of God. This Jesus has both the authority and the power. Whether He is teaching, or speaking, or rebuking, or remaining silent, we at once know that we are in the presence of One Who has the authority of God in Him. And, when we see Him heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils, and purge the Temple of its moneychangers, we know that this Man also has the Power of God in Him. Who is like unto Him!
This is the sort of power that can arrest Saul of Tarsus and transform him into Paul the apostle. This same Paul, who has touched upon this mighty power, prays that we would be given wisdom and revelation to know "the exceeding greatness of His Power to us-ward who believe (Ephesians 2:19a)."
In a world in which men (and devils) wrestle for dominion, joust for position, seek the preeminence for themselves, strive to exert their influence over others, and lust for more and more control over one another, we as the Church may simply raise our hands to heaven and lift up our eyes to the One in Whom God has vested all of His omnipotence and declare to the universe, "THINE IS THE POWER, and apart from You, we can do nothing."
Thine Is The Glory
"We beheld His glory," the apostle John writes, "the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14)." The Kingdom and the Power are seen in the Glory. The Glory is the revealing of the preciousness of this One, the Only Begotten, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Over and over we read in the Scriptures, "To Him be the glory." He alone is worthy to be praised; He alone is worthy of our adoration and exaltation.
But everyone cannot see this Glory. To many who look, Jesus of Nazareth is a prophet, a teacher, a good man, a miracle-worker, the founder of Christianity, but not God Incarnate. They do not see the Glory of the Son, so they cannot appreciate the extreme worth, the vast wealth, summed up and contained within this Man.
One day the entire world will see Him as He is, and will finally give Him the place He deserves: for every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the GLORY of God the Father (Philippians 2:10,11). Yes, this is how it will all end. But what about now? "All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's (Philippians 2:21)."
Thankfully, this is beginning to change. There is a Remnant of called-out ones who have seen the Glory of the Son and WILL seek the interests of God's Only Begotten One. In a time when men solicit the glory and honor and power from one another, there is a Holy Nation of priests and kings who will give the Son the glory He deserves, declaring, "THINE IS THE GLORY, we will render to You, and to You alone, the glory due Your Name."
And the final word: "Amen - may it be so, henceforth and forever." We proclaim it, not to bring it forth (as if it depended upon our confession), but to acknowledge it as a present reality which is breaking forth upon all that stands in opposition to it, and to establish once and for all that we have chosen - individually and corporately - to align ourselves with God's Ultimate Purpose and Will, making us co-workers together with Him towards the Goal of CHRIST FILLING ALL THINGS. He MUST increase, and all else MUST decrease (John 3:30). We can observe this decrease taking place in the world around us, but we should also be able to see that WE, the Self, is being decreased in order to prepare us for Kingdom in which it is no longer "I" that live as a thing outside of Christ, but it is Christ Who lives in me, conforming me to His image, and reproducing His character and nature within me (Galatians 2:20).
When He has gained the preeminence in us personally, then He will have gained the preeminence in the Church. Towards this end, may the Lord establish His Kingdom, manifest His Power, and reveal His Glory: to each disciple individually, to the Church corporately, and to all Creation collectively. Amen! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
People often talk of the sovereign God. They speak of God doing everything by and for himself. No one has to do anything for him, because he is Sovereign. However, there are two words that need to be considered to balance humanities view of the sovereignty of God. One of these words is "yield" and the other is "let". A thorough search of the scripture, for these two words, brings out a clear understanding of what is meant by "God is sovereign". The diligent student learns there is participation, a "letting" and a "yielding", of the individual that makes us a part of the sovereign happening of God.
The apostle Paul wrote, "You are not your own, for you are bought with a price." (1Co. 6:19-20). This shows ownership or possession, but we need to understand that God’s possessing us, does not signify that he controls us without giving us any say so’ or choice in what happens. We who are possessed by the Lord are "servants." That word servant actually means "bond-slave," which is one who has given their life into slavery because of the love they have for the Master. (Ex. 21:1-6). We were liberated from slavery to sin and death at the Cross. (Ro. 3:23, 5:12, 8:20; Gal. 3:22). That is, while we were incapable of changing from our godless sinful ways God demonstrated his love for us through Jesus Christ. (John 3:16; Ro. 5:6-8). Thus, we voluntarily offered our ear upon the door post of God’s house and said, "I want to be your slave. "You are a good Master. You have taken good care of me. You have paid my debt in full, taken care of my housing, taken care of my food and you have taken care of every thing, there is nothing I lack. I do not want freedom to go out on my own. Now that I am free from the power and effect of sin, I want to be a slave to your righteousness" Now that is a glorious thought. Yes, we are his slaves, but not slaves in the sense that he makes us do anything. What he does is to love us so much that we respond to his love. We let our self, or yield our self to him as his instrument, that is, as his servant.
What Must Our Attitude Be?
We can plainly see there is an attitude of heart that must be in every vessel that God uses for his glory. Paul tells us what this attitude is. He wrote, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." (Phil. 2:5). This is the Christ attitude that is in each of God’s children. We just need to let it become our attitude.
Now, how many really believe they have the mind of Christ? This understanding needs to be settled and secure within us. We must comprehend that we are not looking for the mind of Christ to come someday, but we possess the mind of Christ in this hour. If there is any doubt read what Paul says, "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him but we have the mind of Christ." (1Co. 2:16). The word "have," that is used here, is a possessive verb. It is not saying, you might someday have the mind of Christ, if you behave yourself. Neither is it saying, If you are good enough you will get the mind of Christ. He has made a final or definitive statement here. To the believer he simply says, "You have, (you posses), the mind of Christ." Now, exactly to what is this referring?
If we go back into the Old Testament and find where Paul drew the first part of his statement, "for who has known the mind of the Lord". We will discover he was quoting Isaiah, who said, "For who has known the Spirit of the Lord and who has been his advisor?" (Isa. 40:13-14). It is here that we discover a link between God's Spirit and the mind of God, the Spirit of Christ and the mind of Christ. Now, let us tie this together so it becomes very clear. At the beginning of this context, Paul again quotes from the Book of Isaiah. He says, "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard neither has it entered into the heart of men the things which God has prepared for them that love him, but (meaning: exception) God revealed to us through his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God." (Isa. 64:4; 1Co. 2:9-10). This is what Paul is saying, before we received the Spirit of God into our lives, our eye and our ear had not seen and had not heard what God had prepared. But since the Holy Spirit has taken up residence within our life, our eye now sees, our ear now hears. The very thing that God has prepared for them that love him is being engraved upon our heart. The Spirit within us searches out the very depths or profundity of God. It reaches into the wealth of his riches and his judgments.
As we follow Paul’s use of Isaiah’s question, "who has known the mind of the Lord," we find he uses it again in Romans. (Ro. 11:33-36). However, in the letter to Corinth, Paul enables us to understand that when we received the Spirit of the Lord we actually received the mind of Christ. If you have received Holy Spirit since you believed, then you have the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ contains ALL knowledge, ALL wisdom and ALL understanding. Thus, we can say that we have ALL knowledge, ALL wisdom and ALL understanding. After all, does Christ lack any knowledge, wisdom or understanding? But now, let us get real.
How many recognize a person can have a mind or an intelligence and not use it? How many have ever said to someone else, (we almost never say it to ourselves), "What is wrong with you? Why don’t you use your head?" I want you to know Father is saying to every one of his sons in this hour, "What is wrong with you my children?" "Why do you not use your head? Why do you not use the mind that I gave to you?" You see, the reality is, we most often think from the bottom of our mind. That is, we think from the psuche’ or from the soul. When we get into the natural realm and relate to natural things and we think out of the natural mind, trying to comprehend God who is Spirit. However, the soulish person does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1Co. 2:14).
How To Use The Mind To Produce A Marriage
God has given us a spiritual mind. He gave us the very mind of Christ, which is the mind of Spirit. No longer are we to compare the spiritual to the natural or natural things to spiritual. With this mind we can learn, according to the Spirit Christ, TO compare spiritual things with spiritual. (1Co. 2:13). That is, we need to interpret, or decipher using our Christ mind. We have it, now let us learn to use it.
Let us get back to Paul’s writing to Philippi. He said, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus," (Phil. 2:5). He establishes that using the mind of Christ is hinging upon one thing, "let this mind be!" That is all it takes. Other English words for "let" would be "give way to", "allow" or "exercise". Paul is not saying, "Bring this mind into you." He is simply saying "Let this mind, Let this thinking be in you." The Greek used in Philippians for mind is a word that means we need to actually use our thinking or opinion, just as Jesus used his. That is, "Exercise the thinking that is in you which was also in Christ Jesus." You see, there is a definite pattern of thinking that is necessary to become the manifestation of the mind and presence of Christ that abides in us.
We understand that this is a time when God is working in the minds of men. He is changing our thinking. He is renovating our thinking and renewing our soul. (Psa. 23:3). That is, it is not the Christ mind that is being renewed, but the soulish mind. He is bringing the long awaited union or marriage between psuche’ or soul, and the Spirit. Yes, there is a renewal coming to the soul so she can flow in agreement with the Spirit of Christ. There is a renewal, but in order for that to happen, we have to cease letting psuche’ the soul, which includes our intellect, will, resolve, intuitiveness, suspicions, talent and emotions, and start letting Christ.
We must let the mind of Christ be the predominant mind in us. Sometimes the psuchikos or soulish thinking does not like the mind of Christ being dominate in the house. The truth of the matter is, many believers would rather think with the soulish mind, because she makes one feel like something. She has a proud heart. Moreover, I am convinced much of the thinking of ministry comes from the psuche’ in this hour in an attempt to change the thinking of the saints. The evidence of this is because of what it does. Psuche’ thinking causes lofty, high-minded vision and thinking. It can also create a focus on material possessions. The reality is, when God brings a word to you, when the mind of Christ speaks to you, if you receive it with the soul mind, it is most often turned around to make you can think you are something when you are not.
A Warning
Paul warns us to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. (Rom. 12:3). However, the psuche’ enjoys thinking more highly of itself than she ought to think. She enjoys it when someone tells her that she is ’all right,’ there is nothing wrong with her, because she is ’perfect,’ and ’everything’ she does is good. The soul loves to be flattered in this way. However, let someone say, "You can use some improvement. You must turn from your ways and have a change of thinking, a change of heart." Immediately psuche’ raises up in defense. It is always the soul that rises up in defense and justifies itself. It might say, "Wait a minute. This is negative and cannot be the truth." The soul is about the most religious lady that you know. In the book of Revelation she is called Babylon, Mystery Babylon, Mother of Harlots. She has all kinds of daughters and each one has birthed out of her religious thinking.
Let us go back and look at Jesus and see how he ministered to the soulish religious minds of his day. If we observe him, as he confronted the religious psuche’ mind of his day, we will notice his approach was much harsher than when he spoke to those who were sinners and recognized their state of being. He called the religious leadership "Vipers! Snakes! White washed sepulchers, full of dead man's bones." (Mat. 23). He also told them they were of their father the devil. (John 8:44). Yet, Jesus told his disciples to give them recognition and respect, because they occupied the "seat of Moses." (Mat. 23:2). That is, they acknowledged and valued the last great move of God and in their understanding they were "biblically correct" and "the chosen seed of God." However, to these scholarly teachers of the law he said, "You search the Scriptures, because you suppose that in them you will find the Life of the Ages. And it is those Scriptures that yield testimony concerning me. Yet you are unwilling to come to me that you may have Life." (John 5:39-40).
When this kind of teaching is heard by those, who consider themselves to be sons of God, in this day, many respond, "Our God, does not speak to us that way." "He would not speak to us that way." "He wants us to know we are sons, we are more than conquerors." "We are good people." However, the mind of Christ can take the negative as constructive criticism. The mind of Christ immediately grips what is said and responds, "Lord search my heart and try my reigns and know my way." "If there be any wicked way in me find it, reveal it, change it." (Psa. 139:23-24; Jer. 17:10). While the the psuche’ mind says, "You should not talk to me that way. I am a son of God. I am the most high. I am God. I am Christ. . ."
Let this thinking be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Jesus recognized his true inward identity was the form or character of God, he thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Notice. It is not robbery to be equal with God, based on the essence of the inward nature of God. God’s character, and likewise the nature of the believer, is based upon being spirit. (John 3:6, 4:24). Being spirit, by nature, is not a reference to invisibleness, but it points to the very root of a God like character. Light, which God is and so are we, speaks again of the true nature of God, and light speaks of illumination and manifestation. This means there is absolutely no darkness, dimness, or obscurity at all in a godly character. (Jam. 1:16-18). Spirit and Light speak to us of the manifest attitude that is seen in the life of the believer. (Mat. 5:14; Phil.2:15; 1Jo. 1:5). Thus, equality with God is manifest through an attitude of love, affection and benevolence that exhibits no partiality. Moreover, since God is one and by nature we are as he is in this world, our life will demonstrate integrity and trustworthiness, along with complete dependability and peace. There will not be disorder, instability or confusion. (Ac. 10:34; 1Co. 1:9, 10:13, 14:33; 2Co. 1:18; Gal. 3:20; 1Jo. 1:7, 3:3, 7, 4:8, 16-17).
If you haven’t already done so, we suggest you read “A Voice Within A Voice” to better understand why this blog is named a “A Voice”.
The Internet is a great communications medium but we recognize that some readers may desire face-to-face fellowship with others hearing the same VOICE. If you are one of these please contact avoice@wowedmonton.com.
Start a WoW Club Today
