WE SEE JESUS

Part 2

Pastor Floyd H. Crook

(1982)

“THEREFORE we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip….Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet….But now we see not yet all things put under him. BUT WE SEE JESUS, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste DEATH FOR EVERY MAN.” Hebrews 2:1,8b,9.

JESUS MINISTERING TO MANKIND

We see Him, as He grew up to manhood, going in and out among the people in various places. The Bible declares, He “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him,” Acts 10:38. Many of the religious rulers did not believe. As time drew near for Him to die on the cross, we see Him in the presence of those leaders; and the multitude cried out: “Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas.” Pilate asked them a question that is certainly important to us today: “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” This is the ALL-IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT EVERY ONE MUST FACE.

Jesus, at one time, uttered these words: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.” John 12:32-33. In other words, He was saying that He was going to be lifted up on the cross, and that all of the human race is going to be drawn to Him one way or another; either in salvation or condem-nation. God laid on Him the sins of the entire world; every one has the respon-sibility of taking Him as Savior. If they refuse, they will still have to deal with the Son of God.

They took Jesus out to Calvary’s hill and put the nails in His hands and feet. The Old Testament records these words: “...they pierced my hands and my feet.” There are a lot of false prophecies, but this is a true prophecy. We see Him there for six long hours. We can not imagine the terrible agony that He went through. He not only suffered, physically, but the last three hours He was bearing the sins of the whole world. There God the Father turned His back on His well beloved Son. We have the fulfillment of prophecy in both the Old and New Testaments, when Jesus cried out these agonizing words: “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Psalm 22:1. Think of your own sins now as a Christian (made free from sin), how you would feel if all of those sins you were once engulfed in, were again heaped upon you. All of the sins of all people of all ages were heaped upon Jesus there on that cross. Can we treat His sacrifice lightly?

About one and one-half years ago, I was stricken, with a heart attack (I will not go into details), but this may give you a little thought. Those few hours of agony I went through gave me a deeper appreciation of what Jesus went through for me. It was not any thing pleasant to go through, but I am glad I had that experience. I can not tell you what it meant to me - the reality of the suffering of Jesus Christ in my behalf. In many ways, during that time, the Lord enabled me to see Jesus in it all.

Continued – Part 3 in the next issue

 At His Feet

Luke 7:38

She came and stood at His feet

   And wept with bitter tears.

Her heart was filled with such need,

   And overwhelmed with fears.

She came and stood at His feet

   And wiped them with her hair.

Washed them with those bitter tears,

   So unafraid to care.

She came and stood at His feet

   For all the world to see.

Knowing who and what she was,

   Yet wanting to be free.

Oh what love was in her heart,

   What need and great desire.

For only Jesus had the power

   To lift her from sin’s mire.

Fragrance filled that little room,

   As ointment was poured out.

Others sat and watched with shock

   But her soul gave a shout!

Jesus knew her love was great,

   And spoke the words to heal.

Showing He alone could save

   And that her faith was real.

By  Debra Isenbletter

 Prophecy

Earlene Davis

Daniel 9 – The Seventy Weeks

We read in Daniel chapter 9 that Daniel knew by the writings of Jeremy the prophet, that 70 years were appointed by God for his people to be in Babylonian captivity and under Cyrus they would be allowed to go back to the land. But when he had the vision of chapter 8 he realized that it was for many days. Their trouble was not going to end in 70 years. That only ended the Babylonian captivity. The 70 years was over, God had judged Babylon and Darius of Media was reigning. Not much was happening, Daniel did not understand why they were not going back. Why are not the people spiritual? We feel like this sometimes, why don’t God’s people put you first in their lives when your coming is so soon? 

Daniel “set his face unto the Lord” about the matter and fasted, he was so burdened. He intercedes for the people of God Identifying himself with the whole nation as though he is guilty of their sin, saying “we have sinned.” It is a wonderful prayer of repentance and abasement toward God, yet also confidence in His unchanging love and faithfulness to His people. We learn much from Daniel’s prayer of supplication, getting under the burden as though it is our burden. We are not being made kings and priest unless we inter into this ministry which is a sweet odor to God.

While Daniel was yet speaking, immediately God answered and sent Gabriel, being caused to fly swiftly and touched Daniel. The Lord reveals Himself to those that seek Him. Gabriel’s message, I am come to give thee skill and understanding, for thou art greatly beloved. Daniel was greatly beloved of the Lord, for He was faithful to the Lord and gave himself unto the Lord and God loves that. Anyone who will yield their lives to God has His special favor.

Daniel had a measure of understanding of the visions of Gentile Times, but not the length of time they would take place. He did not know it would be over several hundred years. God reveal this to Daniel, the revelation is Vs. 24-26a. “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (These all were fulfilled by Christ). Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto  Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:” We stop at the colon because this is the end of the 70 weeks of years. The period of time God would bless the Jews in their land during “Gentile Times.” It helps us to know year day counting. Simply put, it is a year for a day. So you multiply 70 weeks times 7 days and you get 490 days or 490 years. We know these are weeks of years, because this is history to us and 490 days would not be the fulfillment of this.

The 70 weeks have nothing to do with the Gentiles or the Church. It is strictly the Jewish people and Jerusalem. The church was still a hidden mystery at that time.

God breaks down those 490 years into divisions and we see when those 490 years began - V. 25 to the colon is 7 weeks, 49 years. There was 49 years from the commandment to go forth and rebuild Jerusalem unto the last prophecy in the Old Testament, the book of Malachi. Then there was 434 years from Malachi to the book of Matthew. There was no prophecy during these years. God uses His calendar of 30 days in a month and 360 days in a year, not the calendar of the nations. So 483 years were accurately fulfilled (49 + 434 = 483 years). So what part of Jesus life was fulfilled in this 69 weeks of years (483 years)? Notice V. 24 – it was determined upon the people and the holy city. So this would be His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, offering Himself as their Messiah (4 days later He was crucified).  

From the colon on is what will take place because of Israel’s rejection of their Messiah. Their rejection opened the way for Satan and his man and delayed their blessings, not only for the years of the Church Age, but 7 more years of terrible judgment. There is more than 2,000 years in that colon. So the question, when was the last week fulfilled. Most Bible scholars believe it to be the unfulfilled week of V. 27. This can not be true because everything from this colon on is tribulation not blessings for the nation of Israel. So where is that other week? Well it was 7 years from the resurrection of Christ to the stoning of Steven. Messiah had come, He had finish the transgression, he made an end of sin, He made reconciliation for iniquity, He brought in everlasting righteousness. He sealed up the vision. He fulfilled prophesy and the most holy was anointed. If Israel had received their Messiah at the time of Steven message to them, He would have ushered in the Kingdom at that time. Acts 7:55, Jesus was standing ready to return if they received Him), but they didn’t they stoned Steven, rejecting their Messiah. God had expended His grace for one more week until the stoning of Steven. There was a young man holding the coats of those doing the stoning and he consented unto Steven death. His name was Saul which later became the Apostle Paul – which ushered in the Church Age. So the fulfillment of the 70 weeks is up at the stoning of Steven.

Next issue, we will read of the prince to come and the judgment of the tribulation week of 7 years.

 JONAH

Debra Isenbletter, Pastor, Springfield, Missouri

Jonah 2:4: “Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.”

In this verse we see Jonah’s Exclamation and his Expectation.  This is about what Jonah knows. He knows where he is, he knows why he is where he is, he knows who put him where he is. He also knows there is hope and he knows Who to look to for that hope.

Jonah’s Exclamation: “Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight (presence).”  Jonah is not being thrown away and discarded, he is being disciplined.  He says he has been “cast out” but he has not been “cast away.”  “Then” points back to what has happened. This is said after Jonah is thrown overboard, after the fish swallows him. This shows Jonah sees the consequences of his actions. By these words Jonah accepts God’s judgment and chastisement. While in the belly of the fish he felt that he has been “cast out” of the Lord’s “sight,” or the Lord’s presence. But the Lord still sees him and still hears him.

“Cast out” speaks of separation, of a forceful separation and Jonah feels that separation now. “Cast out” can also mean “driven out” or “thrust out” or it can mean “to divorce.” Both are different types of separation. Both figure Israel in the ways God chastised them and their relationship with their God.  Israel was forced to leave the land of promise and driven out into the nations. Those nations stripped them of everything.  They lost their homes and their land, but they lost something even more precious, they lost sight of their relationship with their God. They separated themselves from their God and God separated Himself from them. God “divorced” or “put them away” because of their unfaithfulness to Him, because of their idolatrous worship (Jer.3:8).  It was not until they lost all these things that they realized what it was they lost and Jonah is a picture of that loss, and he feels it deeply.

Like Israel, Jonah felt that he had been removed by force, by circumstances out of his control. What is sad is that before he was “cast out” he had already left God’s presence. He did it voluntarily, he did it willingly when he ran away Jonah did not realize what he was turning away from and running away from.

There are different types of separation.  There can be a physical separation, such as Israel from their land, their homes, and the blessings of God and Jonah’s physical separation from his home, his land, his people. There can be a spiritual separation, such as loss of fellowship.  The relationship is still there because Jonah cries out to his God but the fellowship has been damaged and needs to be restored.

Jonah says “I am cast out of thy sight.” That does not mean God cannot see Jonah. Jonah does not feel the Lord’s “presence.” Jonah suddenly feels the loss of something that he had taken for granted. Jonah finally realizes what it is he has really lost. It is not about loss of life, it is about loss of fellowship. It is not that the Lord is not there, He is there.  He hears Jonah’s prayer on some level,  Jonah knows this, because he prays. It is when Jonah changes his attitude, when he repents, when he submits, when he prays, it is then that he will feel the Presence of his God. 

Jonah’s sin had separated him, he could not hear God and he did not want to be near God. Sin separates man from God.  After Adam sinned he hid from God (Gen.3:8). This is a lesson Jonah must learn, it is the difference between feeling and faith.  Jonah feels cast out and rejected because of judgment, he does not feel the Lord’s presence. At the moment, Jonah sees only judgment, not the love behind the judgment.  The Apostle Paul saw the love behind the judgment concerning God’s people, he knew that God had not “cast away his people” (Rom.11:1-2,5). He knew God would take them back again, on His terms and not theirs.  This is what Jonah will learn.

Jonah’s Expectation: “yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.” In this statement we see that Jonah’s faith begins to overcome his feelings.  Jonah says, “yet I will look again,” as impossible as it seems, he has this hope that one day he will “look again” at the place that he loves.  To “look” means to “regard with pleasure” to look “again” means to look “toward;” to look “often;” it means that he will look “henceforth” or “from now on.”  It could be he had not been looking like he should have, now he says he will look and that he will do this and not stop looking. The place that he is looking toward is “thy holy temple;” a consecrated place, a sacred place, a place of sanctuary.  In the belly of that fish, with his eyes lifted up to his God in faith, with his voice crying out in faith, the place could be transformed. It had the potential of becoming a sanctuary. 

It could be until this moment Jonah had not felt this way about the temple, he may have taken it for granted, now it means something. Sometimes we take for granted the opportunities and privileges of worship until they are gone. It could also be that being a prophet for the ten tribes, it was not easy to go to the temple after the division of the kingdom. The kingdom was split, the ten tribes worshiped in Dan and Bethel, the places Jeroboam chose instead of Jerusalem. (1Ki.12:26-29). The temple was in Jerusalem, it was where the two tribes worshiped. If anyone from the ten tribes went to the temple, it would not be easy.  

Now in faith Jonah looks toward the temple with longing and remembers how precious worship and fellowship are.  The temple was a place for God’s people to pray in  (1Kings 8:38-39) and it was also a place for God’s people to pray towards, if they could not be in the temple. (2Chr.6:38-3; Dan.6:10). They did not have to be physically in the temple for their prayer of faith to be heard. Jonah looks forward to the time he will be in the temple again. Can you imagine, after this experience, what his testimony and his worship would be like? He could offer a sin offering or trespass offering acknowledging his sin. He could offer an offering of thanksgiving for his deliverance. He could worship the Lord his God, and his heart longed for the place he could do this.

Psalm 23 

Part 5

By Vicky Moots

Psalm 23:4c: “thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” A shepherd’s staff was a long rod with a crook on one end to lean upon or to use to hook around something, such as a lamb that had fallen into a hole, in order to rescue it. I know personally that my Shepherd has reached down and rescued me many times when I had fallen, and He lifted me back up to continue following Him.

The rod portion was used for correction and protection. I think that the rod and the staff were both parts of the same thing which was used for different purposes, depending on which end was in the shepherd’s hand. It was an important piece of equipment that served multiple needs.

Sometimes a shepherd had to discipline, to correct, to teach a stubborn sheep that kept straying by using the rod for the purpose of keeping that sheep safe from harm. The shepherd did this because he loved that sheep and didn’t want anything to happen to it. Our Shepherd also loves us enough to search for us when we stray and to chasten us with His rod to teach us to stay on the right path. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth…” (Heb. 12:6).

Wise King Solomon gave the same advice to fathers in Prov. 13:24: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes [at times].” And again in Prov. 29:15, we read concerning the rod of correction: “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” We can be comforted by the fact that our Shepherd loves us enough to chasten us with the rod. 

So, what does the rod and staff represent spiritually? How does our Shepherd use it to both bring comfort to us and correction at the same time? The answer is found in II Tim. 3:16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” The Word of God is both a rod and a staff, depending on what is needed at the time. As a rod it can correct us and teach us wisdom. Then it instructs us in the way of righteousness, and thereby works in our lives to perfect us (to bring us to maturity) that we may bring glory and not shame to God, that our actions will be pleasing in His sight.

Jesus, Himself, is the living Word, and we can lean upon Him, upon His breast, as a place of comfort and love, even as John, the beloved disciple did in John 13:23: “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.” 

In Song of Solomon 8:5 we see a picture of the bride leaning upon Christ the Bridegroom: “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved...”. Whether we have just come through our wilderness experience of trials or the valley of the shadows, He will comfort us as we lean upon Him.

In addition to finding comfort by leaning upon Him, we can also lean upon Him (the Word) when we are weary and too weak to stand. He is able to keep us from falling by leaning upon Him and His Word instead of upon our own strength or understanding. Jude assures us regarding this in verse 24 of his short epistle. This verse is actually a benediction: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” How does He keep us from falling? Through the staff of the Word of God as we lean upon it. How does He present us faultless before God? By applying the rod of correction, the Word of God, to let us know when we are headed in the wrong direction. His Word cleanses us from all unrighteousness and declares us righteous in Christ, and we can safely lean upon it.

All these things are accomplished in our lives as we allow our Shepherd to apply the Word to us personally in order to correct us, and to instruct us, and to thereby perfect His will in us. Truly, His Word, the rod and staff, will comfort us in all situations, as we read it and trust in it.

Another important function of the rod and staff is for the protection of the sheep. A shepherd could use it to fight off wolves or other wild animals that might attack the sheep. The Word of God is our weapon, our defense against our enemy, Satan. Jesus, Himself, used the Word as a weapon against Satan when He was tempted by him in the wilderness after fasting for forty days before He began His ministry. Jesus specifically told Satan, “It is written…” (Matt. 4:4). He then quoted other Scriptures to Satan in order to overcome him.

Paul also tells us in Eph. 6:17 that our weapon in spiritual warfare against Satan is the Word of God: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Our words will not stop Satan’s attacks and his lies but the Word of God will. We do not have the ability to rebuke Satan in our own power when he attacks us with fear and doubt and lies. It takes the power of the Word of God to do that.

The Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any twoedged sword (Heb. 4:12). If Satan is attacking you, then get out your Bible and start reading it out loud so Satan can hear you. Also, when you hear the Word audibly it builds your faith, for the Scripture says, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17). Hearing the Word of God teaches us to trust the Shepherd as we hear His voice and to follow His leading. His Word, the rod and staff, brings us comfort, protection and correction as we journey through our valley. Through the Word, our Shepherd will bring us safely to the other side as we lean upon Him.

To be continued

 

 THE ENCOURAGING WORD

“My soul clings to you; your right hand up holds me.” Psalm 63:8

“May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” II Thessalonians 3:5

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

“Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

Martha Wainright

 MYSTERY OF GODLINESS

Part 1 of 2

Jack Davis

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” I Timothy 3:16

The word “Mystery” tells us of that which can be called a “sacred secret” of truth which had been previously hidden, and which must now be divinely revealed. “Great” expresses how important, weighty, of high degree and mighty this mystery is. Thus he says that this sacred secret is “undeniably, unquestionably, great beyond successful contradiction; confessedly great.” Paul calls this and one other mystery great. Eph. 5:32.

“Godliness,” is that which is of God, by God, pertains to God, according to or in harmony with, and thus like God. Who knows what God is like? How can we know? “To whom then will ye liken God? Or what likeness will ye compare unto him…to whom shall I be equal saith the Holy One?” Isa. 40:18,25.

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight saith the Lord” Jer. 9:24. Is He not revealed through our Lord Jesus Christ? Oh yes, we know it is true, we have found it so. Consider Jesus’ words in Mt. 11:27 or Lk. 10:22.

Our beloved apostle Paul here names six weighty, important features of factors in unfolding this mystery for our understanding, which originates and consummates in Jesus Christ. We, in considering, can see that they embody, and are exemplified in Christ, and thus somewhat in His people, those “in Him.”

“Manifest in the flesh:” God chose many different ways to reveal Himself to humanity in the Old Testament (Heb. 1:1). In the word translated “manifest” we get the thought to uncover, lay bare, reveal, thus made visible in human form. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” Jn. 1:1,14. Read also verses 15-18. The glory of God’s holiness was seen through the Law, but the glory of His grace and truth shines forth in the face of Jesus Christ.

In Romans 8:3 we read that He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, to condemn sin in the flesh. In Philippians 2:7-8, we understand that He was found in fashion as a men, to humble Himself and become obedient to the death of the cross. What a mystery! How could the creator of all things be tabernacled in a human body? Mary was told by the heavenly messenger, how this would begin - Lk. 1:35 (26-28).

“Justified in the Spirit:” Some translations read “vindicated,” He was declared or proven righteous. Pilate was caused to say repeatedly, “I find no fault in him.” The centurion said, “Truly, this was a just man, the Son of God.” But the people beholding the crucifixion said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he be the Christ the chosen of God.” One of the men crucified beside Jesus said, “This man hath done nothing amiss (wrong).” “Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,…He trusted in God; let him deliver him if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.” Mt. 27:41,43. In Jesus’ temptation Satan had questioned our dear Lord’s 

Sonship, but Jesus answered him with the Word, “It is written.”

Thank God, that the Father Himself answered all these foolish accusations in no uncertain terms. It was wonderful the way He spoke from heaven when Jesus was baptized. As Jesus ascended out of the water, the heavens were opened unto Him, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like as a dove and the Father from heaven is heard commending Him, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” Mt. 3:17.

Later when Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them, “behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” Mt. 17:5. 

These are assuring statements. However, when God raised His Son from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Father made the ultimate declaration of His pleasure and satisfaction in Him. 

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to  God, being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit” I Pet. 3:18.

God’s promise concerning Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” Rom. 1:3-4. We also read that Jesus was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Rom. 4:25. Read also Rom. 8:11.

“Seen of angels:” Jesus was made visible to messengers both angelic and human, heavenly and of the earth. When the angel of the Lord brought the message to the shepherds of Jesus’ birth, he suddenly was accompanied by a multitude of heavenly host witnessing His birth. 

Jesus was seen and borne witness to by a messenger of the heavenly variety after His resurrection. An angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and rolled back the stone and sat upon it. Then he told the women that came to the tomb, “Fear not: for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come see the place where the Lord lay…go…tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead…He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you” Mt. 28:1-7.

It was so important that our Lord be seen of witnesses after his resurrection, especially earthly messengers. Consider Acts 1:3 and 10:39-43. Oh, yes, he gave many infallible proofs, for forth days, before He ascended unto heaven. The apostle Paul innumerates many of the resurrection messengers, and then mentions himself. Steven while being stoned to death said “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” We see Jesus today by eyes of faith, crowned with glory and honor. Soon, praise God, we will see Him face to face.

“Preached unto  the Gentiles:” “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” I Cor. 2:21. We do well to be mindful that the Gospel preached was not a set of by-laws, a system of do’s and do not’s, for formal creed, but the person of Jesus Christ.

Well praise God, what an offer, we Gentiles received opportunity to partake in this mystery of Godliness. When the Jews rejected the gospel, Paul and Barnabas boldly told them, “lo, we turn to the Gentiles Acts 13:46. When they returned from their missionary journey they reported what God had done with them, “and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Let us read Eph. 3:8 and rejoice!

To be continued