A Covenant vs. A Testament

 

 

Often the Church views its relationship with Christ as a result of a testament, rather than a covenant, and teaches others to do the same. However, the Church cannot be the Ekklesia, the called out assembly, until it understands and walks in covenant relationship with Christ. Jesus expressed the result of that failure to do so this way:

"Not everyone that sayeth unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."  Mt. 7:21-23

Many are going to make this mistake, having felt secure in their knowledge of Christ, only to find out too late that they never had a covenant relationship with Christ.

One way the Church has missed the Gospel of Christ completely because of the lack of covenant, is in its neglect, or wilfull ignorance of some of the Gospel's foundational truths. Much of the Church believes and teaches that the Church has replaced Israel in covenant with God - that the Church is spiritual Israel. Nothing could be further from the truth, as we shall see.
Also the Church teaches that salvation is a one-time, for all time, gift from God through Christ, requiring nothing from the receiver, but acceptance. As we learned from Jesus in Mt. 7, above, there is more required.
 Writing to the church at Rome, Paul said:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith...To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life...Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also to the Gentile; But glory, honour and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God."   Rom. 1, 2
Salvation in our lives is not a one-time event, received as a testament bequeathal from the One dead. It is worked out in increments and growth in an ongoing covenant relationship with the One who was dead, but is now resurrected, and living. A testament is unilateral from one dead. A covenant is bi-lateral, requiring two to enter into it. As Paul taught, the Gospel is a continuing, developing growth into the full measure of the stature of Christ-from "faith to faith", and with "patient endurance".
Often the Church leaves behind the principles of the Gospel in order to please men, especially in its compromise regarding righteousness. Paul taught that those who continue in the flesh and sin, are still servants or slaves to sin unto death regardless of the gift of grace available through Christ (Rom. 6:1-2,16). To continue to sin brings us right back under the dominion of death. Covenant with Christ, on the other hand, joins us in baptism with His death, with His burial, and with His resurrection. We become dead to sin, it no longer having power to entangle us, and living in resurrection, or Spirit instead:
"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwell (to occupy a house, reside, cohabit, inhabited house, all become one in a house) in you...For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."   Rom. 8:11, 13
Instead of excusing and accepting sin, which leads to certain death, shouldn't the Church be teaching how to dwell in and with the Spirit, in order to live? The Church should be advocating the way to life in Christ, and in the Spirit, not the way to death. If we continue to advocate the way to death, even though we know the way to life, then we are like those who thought they were doing great works for Christ, but were, in reality, unknown to Him. What a sad and useless end! However, this does not have to be our end.
Additionally, as the Church, which claims to preach salvation, continues to ignore the importance of the Jew first in that salvation, again, we will be like those incomplete, and even dead.The Jews are not excluded from the Gospel of Christ, and His salvation. In fact, they are an integral part of it. Paul insists that their re-grafting back into the Gospel and Christ, or "the olive tree", is life from the dead:
"...through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches...And they also, if they bide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again...how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?  Rom. 11:11-24 (excerpt)
After the resurrection of Christ, thousands of Jews, even scribes and priests, believed on Him. Israel was blinded in part so the fullness of the Gentiles could be brought in. However, the Church ignores the will of God that "All Israel shall be saved." (Rom. 11:25-26, Isa. 59:20, Ps. 14:7). To continue to ignore the importance of the Jew to the Body of Christ, is to continue to refuse to do "the will of the Father", as Jesus instructed us in the verses from Matthew 7.
Most of the problem comes in our misunderstanding, and our incorrect use of the word "church". "Church" has become to us an organization, even a building. However, the word in the New Covenant, poorly translated into English from the Greek is the word ekklesia. Ekklesia is neither an organization, nor a building. It is a called out, called forth, called by, called away from, called aloud, separated from, assembly of people, to receive the name of, to bear the name or title of, by word, command, or order (of God), especially gathered for sacred purposes (by God). If we do not understand the awesome and miraculous "calling out" with which we were called, we cannot fulfill it.
Being the Ekklesia is not the result of a testament. Being the Ekklesia is the result of a covenant, a covenant with the One who was dead, but is now alive (Rev. 1:18).

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart. I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, forgive me, and fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.

The Next 21 Days

 

From the date of this message, it is twenty-one days until Resurrection Sunday, and the middle of Passover.

To the prophet Daniel, twenty-one days was revealed to be a period of intense spiritual warfare. Daniel had sought understanding regarding the vision he had received, and demonic principalities, namely the princes of Persia, had fought to prevent that understanding from being received. Finally, Michael, one of the chief angelic princes, had to come into the battle, and free the prophetic understanding to be given to Daniel (Dan. 10:14). The demonic princes had fought this understanding so hard because it dealt with the events to come in the "latter days", and it included a life-changing revelation. Daniel was so overwhelmed with the power of the understanding that came to him that he became without strength to stand or speak. The angel assured Daniel that he was there to show him "that which is noted in the scripture of truth" (v. 21).

God wants His people to seek understanding of the things which will come to pass in the latter days. He will do great spiritual battle to bring us this understanding.

What was the understanding given to Daniel for the latter days? It involved great warfare across the earth, and the rise of a certain powerful figure who will magnify himself above all gods, and will speak against the true God. This king will honor the god of forces and a "strange god". His heart shall be set against the holy covenant, and support those who do wickedly against the covenant:

"And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries..."  Dan. 11:32

However, even as the people of covenant are persecuted, the angel promises Daniel:

"...but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet shall they fall...And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed."  Dan. 11:32-35 (excerpt)

Daniel is repeatedly told that these various events described are appointed for "the time of the end". Much of what Daniel is given to understand, is confirmed again in Revelation 13, which describes this same individual, there referred to as "the beast".

As we continue reading into chapter 12 of Daniel, Daniel and we are given the understanding of another event that is associated with those latter days:

"...and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time, thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever...Many shall be purified and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand....the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."   Dan. 12:1-10

We can understand now from the corresponding passage in the Book of Revelation, that those not found written in "the book" mentioned in these verses above, refer to those who will worship the beast, "whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" in Rev. 13:8

According to the understanding given to Daniel, resurrection is an event connected directly to the "latter days".

Resurrection, of course, is also directly connected with the Person who is the resurrection, Jesus Christ. Paul said that Christ's resurrection, and consequently our own, is the fundamental belief of our faith. Let's see how Paul adamantly expresses this:

"Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ is not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is vain...if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."   1 Cor. 15:12-20 (excerpt)

With the resurrection of Christ, along with the attending promise of our own resurrection, the clock of the latter days of Daniel began ticking. Christ's resurrection is not only an earthshaking spiritual event, but an end times event, and we are to be those with the understanding of this connection, as the angel told Daniel.

Paul also connects resurrection with the end times as he wants us to understand this "mystery" in 1 Cor. 15:51-57:

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed...death is swallowed up in victory...But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ."

Not only is resurrection promised to the dead in Christ, but a living resurrection is to be part of our understanding as well. The living are also raised up, being "changed" in an instant.

This concept of resurrection, shown to Daniel as part of the latter days' events, is full of a wealth of truth for our understanding. We are called to understand it.

Paul writes again that we should not be ignorant, but to understand the resurrection of the dead, and also its connection to the end times, and the coming of Jesus:

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him...For the Lord, Himself, shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord...comfort one another with these words."  1 Thess. 4:13-18

As it was with Daniel, as we enter these 21 days before Resurrection Sunday, there is a spiritual battle going on in the heavenlies, as the principalities of wickedness try to keep man from receiving the understanding and faith of the resurrection of Christ for all who will believe, and also as a prophesied latter days event.

An opportunity is given to us, especially during these next 21 days, to understand these things, to instruct many, to be strong and do exploits, to shine as the wise, and most importantly, to be those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life: the Passover Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, the resurrected Christ.

 

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:

Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.

 

God bless you.

 

 

 

 

 

Becoming Wise

 

For the coming Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the Lord's bride is expected to prepare herself, to make herself ready, for His soon appearing (Rev. 19:7). Jesus describes some of this preparation in Mt. 25:1-13. In this parable of the ten virgins who all awaited the Bridegroom, Jesus referred to five as "wise", and five as "foolish". The difference between the two groups is that, although both groups slept and slumbered, the first group who were wise, had enough oil with them to keep their lamps lighted as they went out to meet the Bridegroom when He came. The second, or foolish, group did not, and their lamps went out. Consequently, because they had not been properly prepared, they missed the coming of the Bridegroom, and the entrance into the marriage feast. Therefore, an important part in becoming prepared for the marriage to the Lamb, is to be wise, to be "lighted" with lamps and abundant oil.

As our nation is torn apart with racial hatred, violence, and ungodly acts, which are capturing headlines daily, and as the signs of the end of the age are becoming apparent, are we, the Church, lighting our spiritual lamps, shining with the wisdom of God? It doesn't appear to be the case. The Church is strangely silent, not bringing forth that light of wisdom. Wisdom can shine a warning light that leads others to salvation. The Church, without its lighted lamps, cannot be distinguished from the surrounding spiritual darkness.

The prophet Daniel, recounting the visions God showed him of end time turmoil and tribulation that comes upon the whole earth, also prophesies the role of the shining Wise during this time. He describes a terrible fourth beast of iron, who rules over this age:

"After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was divers ("shena"- altered, changed, transformed) from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns... strong as iron:

forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise."   Dan. 7:7, 2:40

This terrible, altered fourth beast has mingled with the seed of men (Dan. 2:41-43), and as a result, the same manner in which this beast is altered or diverse, men have become altered in spiritual character, and twisted in understanding by their association with it (Rom. 1:21-32). In its diverse state, the beast seeks to alter all around it. It even seeks to change times (set time, season, appointed time, stated time, fixed time) and laws (decrees of kings, laws of God, religion, system of religion, plan, purpose, commandment, statute) (Dan. 7:25). Like never before, we are seeing this come to pass in our time. Even as this fourth beast of Daniel is described as speaking great words against the Most High, we are seeing God purposefully removed from every section of society in our nation. Many men no longer revere God, or His Word.

Daniel said that the whole earth would be under the destructive power of this beast:

"...The fourth beast ...shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces."  Dan. 7:23

However, its greatest fury is reserved for the saints of God:

"...made war with the saints, and prevailed against them...and shall wear out the saints of the Most High..."  Dan. 7:21, 25 (excerpts)

Even as the saints are worn out by this beast, and it seems that the beast is prevailing against them, the saints, the Wise, begin to shine:

"Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand...And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever...but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many..." 

                                                                                       Dan. 12:10, 3, 11:32-33)

Though the toll is heavy, as the Wise shine through this trying time, even leading many others into righteousness, the Kingdom of God rises up and overcomes the beast that sought to destroy the saints and the whole earth:

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever...the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom...the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever...the judgment shall sit, and they (the saints) shall take away his (the beast's) dominion, to consume, and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him."   Dan.2:44, 7:22, 18, 26-27

Whether because we are seeing how all of these things which Daniel 

prophesied are now manifesting throughout the earth, or because we understand that the return of our Lord and Bridegroom is upon us, in both cases, the wise are called upon to prepare themselves with oil, to wake up, to light their lamps and shine with the wisdom and salvation of the kingdom of God in the earth. It is time for complaisance, slumber, and compromise and collaboration with the spirit of this world to end.

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven saying, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever."                                          Rev. 11:15

 

 

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Purim- Now is the Appointed Time

Esther exposes Haman before the King

 

Because of her great beauty, Esther was chosen to become the new queen of King Ahasuerus. He was the king of Persia and Media. His kingdom stretched from India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1). Esther entered the palace, and lived a pampered, luxurious life. Esther, whose real name was Hadassah, hid her Jewish identity by posing as a Gentile on the advice of her uncle, Mordecai.
 

Persian "pur" or lot

One of the king's most honored counsellors, Haman, an ambitious and evil man, had persuaded the king to sign a command that all of the Jews in the kingdom should be destroyed, and the spoil taken into the king's treasury. Haman cast lots (dice) called pur, to determine the date when the Jews were to be destroyed (Est. 3:7). The root word pur, means to break, crush, bring to naught, to utterly take. The king even gave his ring of authority to Haman to accomplish this terrible deed (Est. 3:9-12). Although Haman cast lots to find the best date for the Jews' destruction, the lots were really forecasting the date of his own destruction, as we shall see.

Mordecai came to Esther, and asked her to intercede with the king to stop Haman's plans. She was reluctant and afraid, because anyone who approached the king, without being summoned by him first, was subject to death. Mordecai convinced her by saying:

"...who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"  Est. 4:14

Esther told Mordecai that he should have all of the Jews pray and fast before God for three days, and on the third day, Esther entered the king's inner court, where he was enthroned. 

The next problem for Esther was how she might expose Haman, the king's closest advisor, and change the king's mind. However, in order to expose Haman, she would have to expose herself, and reveal her own Jewish identity. The dangerous situation was a great risk for Esther, but the people of God had fasted and prayed. Haman was successfully exposed by Esther, and he was ordered to be killed by the king. Esther rose in great authority in her husband's kingdom:

"Then Esther the queen....wrote with all authority, to confirm....these days of Purim in their times appointed,...and the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book."   Est. 9:29-32
Not only was Esther's authority established in her husband's kingdom, but also the authority and favor of all of God's people:
"For Mordecai the Jew was next unto King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews,...seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed."  Est. 10:3
During this time of Purim, we are reminded that God's people, like Esther, are set in specific places, even king's palaces, for appointed times and purposes.
The prophet Daniel received revelations from the LORD regarding appointed times, and the vital role played by God's believing people. As it was with Esther, these appointed times are dangerous, and risky, but this is exactly when the people of God are called to impact these times with the power of the Kingdom of God. It is interesting to note that Daniel's king, Darius, was the son of Esther's husband, Ahasuerus.
The point of impact into the perilous times spoken of by Daniel, began with his fasting and repentance on behalf of himself, and all of God's people:
"And I set my face unto the Lord (Messiah: Ps. 110:1, Mt. 22:42-46)) God, to seek...and I prayed unto the LORD (YHWH, Jehovah) my God, and made my confession, and said,...We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments,...yet made we not our prayer before the LORD God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth....O Lord, hear; O Lord forgive; O Lord, hearken and do...for thy city, and thy people are called by thy name."  Dan. 9:3-5, 13, 19
Prayer and repentance should also be our beginning point in impacting our appointed times. Daniel's heartfelt prayer of repentance was answered immediately with the appearance of the angel, Gabriel, who explained and revealed to Daniel the awesome purpose God would fulfill through His people in the appointed time of the perilous last days. God wants His people to know and understand the appointed times, and the role we are to play in them.
As revealed by the angel to Daniel, the appointed time dealt with the last week of Jeremiah's seventy weeks of years. This is the time in which we are now living. According to Daniel, desolations and war, and "troublous times" will come to God's people, and to the city of God (Dan. 9:25-27).
However, in the midst of this time of intense spiritual and natural warfare against the saints, "the time came that the saints possessed (root- to lay up in store, to heap up, to be strong) the kingdom" (Dan. 7:22). Even though a "king" will arise speaking against the Most High, seeking even to change the appointed times, and wearing out the saints (v. 25), the saints of this time shall "take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it unto the end" (v. 26):
"And the kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him. Hitherto is the end of the matter...but I kept the matter in my heart."  Dan. 7:27-28
During this appointed time of which Daniel prophesied, though wickedness seems to be prevailing, God's people will be a people of understanding, and will instruct many, and "the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits"  (Dan. 11:32, 33, 35).
The Book of Revelation also talks about an appointed time of great spiritual warfare that begins in the heavens, but soon impacts the earth. The enemy uses deception, persecution, and accusation against the brethren (Rev. 11:7-8, 12-13). However, this appointed time will also be the time of the overcoming of this evil enemy by the brethren in the power of Christ:
"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ"...and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
                                                                                                Rev. 12:10-11
As we see the signs of the times around us during these days of Purim, we also know that we, the people of God, have been called for this appointed time of Daniel and Revelation. We, like Esther, have come into the kingdom for such a time as this. Let us begin our impact upon this appointed time as Daniel did, and as the Jews of Esther's Purim did, with fasting, and prayers of repentance on our own behalf, and on behalf of our nation, which is covered with iniquity and wickedness. Like Esther, we are Jews (Rom. 2:29) hidden amongst the Gentiles. We are the beautiful Bride of the King, called during this appointed time to accomplish, through the power of Christ, a great work of deliverance. AMEN.

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