Those Who Followed God’s Prophetic Roadmap
During the 400 years between Malachi and the first Gospel, Matthew, Antiochus IV from Syria, who was a committed Hellenist,1 enters the land to find division over the priesthood among the Jews. He commits the ultimate sacrilege when he came back to Jerusalem, after failed war efforts in Egypt, in a rage to stomp out the temple worship and the Jewish religion. He made it unlawful to practice Jewish temple customs and place a statue of Zeus in the Jewish temple and offered a pig on the sacred alter.2 Mattathias, refusing to compromise when offered money to lead the people into pagan sacrifices by the officer, killed him and ignited a revolt. He gave a charge to those who were “zealous for the law and support the covenant” to come out and join him in this fight against paganism.3 He shortly died thereafter, but through his son Judas’ military efforts, known as the Maccabean Revolt, paganism was defeated and the true temple worship was restored in 164 B.C. The flames of this revolt burned brightly for awhile and then fizzled. It would appear that the fire had all but gone out, but there were those who still received divine guidance in a period of so called “prophetic silence.” Let’s examine a few very special people, at the time of Christ’s birth, which clung to the written word, followed God’s prophetic roadmap, and stayed on course.
John the Baptist was actually the silence breaker prophesied by Malachi, but before we look at his example of hearing from God, we must take a quick glimpse at his parents. In Luke’s Gospel, the first chapter, we read of a priest by the name of Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth, who were both “righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”4 Zacharias, before his divine appointment, went before God “in the order of his course” and he went according to the “custom of the priest’s office.”5 This priest was in the right place, at the right time, doing what God had told him to do. In studying divine visitations in the Bible, we find they occur to people like Zacharias who are found in the right place and doing the last instruction that God gave them. During his visit from the heavenly angel, he was told that his son was to be name John. Zacharias, having a problem with believing the message that day, came from inside the temple unable to speak. Later, at John’s circumcision, Elizabeth confirms the child was to be named John and not Zacharias.6 This couple, John’s parents, were certainly people how heard from God and stayed on course.As we see, there can be no doubt as to the hand of God on John’s life because of the numerous confirmations at his birth. Also, there are two prophetic confirmations given at his birth that I wish to point out: “he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children”7 and “or thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways.”8 As we have already examined, these were given from God’s messenger, Malachi, in the last word before the prophetic silence. John no doubt heard from God before he launched out in his prophetic ministry, for he was looking for someone special to appear. When he saw Jesus, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,”9 He announces that he had had a previous conversation with the One that sent him to baptize with water, and the distinguishing sign to indentify this special person was that the Spirit would descend upon him and remain: this would be the one that would baptize with the Holy Ghost.10 We can use John the Baptist’s message as an indicator of how far people had strayed by the time he came on the scene as God’s messenger and broke the prophetic silence. By examining his message, we get a clear indication of how far the people had deviated from God’s Word during the time of Christ’s arrival. John called upon Israel to repent in view of the soon coming judgment of God when his wrath would be poured out upon a disobedient nation. He calls for a radical turning to God, a returning to God from their rebellion back to true covenant obedience. This is a burden of his preaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matt. 3:2). And his call was urgent, for “the axe is already at the root of the trees (3:10).11 John’s message of repentance was part of the preparation prophesied of by the prophets Isaiah and Malachi. Baptism was an outward evidence of one having received John’s message. John not only challenged the people to repent and be baptized, he sought for “fruits meet for repentance”12 or evidences thereof. Some evidences of repentance were generosity, honesty, and kind treatment.13 There are two less spoken of servants of God, Simeon and Anna, who prove so well that God indeed spoke during this period of prophetic silence, and they being led by God, were in the right place at the right time. Simeon, was a perfect example of one that held on to the written word, worshiped God, and followed God’s prophetic roadmap. Luke’s Gospel records that Simeon was “just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.”14 We also find that he too has special instruction by God that “he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.”15 First of all, he was in the temple, where every good Jew would have brought the firstborn male according to the law to be presented unto the Lord, waiting on the Messiah. This tells us that he knew the law, and followed it. We also see that not only did he hold to God’s written word and worship God in the temple;16 he knew God’s prophetic roadmap and followed it to the right place at the right time. He was so on time and according to God’s plan that he was ready to “depart in peace”17 after he saw God’s salvation that day.18 His work was finished; his life’s mission was accomplished. Now, Anna, a prophetess, also was there that day, for it was said that she lived in the temple and gave herself to prayer and fasting. We also read in Luke’s Gospel of her timeliness and guidance from the Holy Spirit. The scripture says, “She coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord.”19 She came in at that instant, the instant that Jesus was brought to the temple to be presented to the Lord. She no doubt knew and obeyed the written word of God, she served God in the temple by praying and fasting, and she followed God’s prophetic roadmap. Not only did she follow God’s map, she, apparently from this scripture, had an audience and began to proclaim to others who were looking for the “redemption in Jerusalem.”20 God always is speaking to those who will listen, and when there is no new word, it means God is waiting for you to digest the last one He gave you and act upon it, for it is that last word that will prepare you for the coming trials of the enemy, and it is that word that will prepare you for His next move. Let’s follow the example of those, at the time of Christ’s birth, who followed God’s prophetic roadmap, arrived at the right place at the right time, and were able to be apart of God’s next move. [1] Lea, Thomas D. and Black, David A. The New Testament: It’s Background and Message. (Tennessee: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 16. [2] Ibid, 17. [3] Scott Jr., J. Julius. Jewish Backgrouds of the New Testament. (Michigan: Baker Academic), 83. [4] Luke 1:6 KJV [5] Luke 1:8, 9 KJV [6] Luke 1:60 KJV [7] Luke 1:17 KJV [8] Luke 1:70 KJV [9] John 1:29 KJV [10] John 1:33 KJV [11] Kingdom, David. “John the Baptist; the silence that breaks the silence.” Founders Journal 199 (Fall 2002): 24. [12] Matt. 3:8 KJV [13] Lea, Thomas D., 179-180. [14] Luke 2:25 KJV [15] Luke 2:26 KJV [16] Luke 2:28 KJV [17] Luke 2:29 KJV [18] Luke 2:30 KJV [19] Luke 2:38 KJV [20] Luke 2:38 KJV
Escaping Sin’s Grip
For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1:4 NASB
In reading 2 Peter chapter one this morning, I was reminded in a fresh new way of the lift principles that we have been speaking on for a while now in Bible study. For those of you have no idea what I am talking about, we have used the analogy of an airplane in flight to better understand escaping the law of sin and death and walking in resurrection life!
Although that big tin can 30,000 feet above the earth’s surface would be the least likely place that you would want to be in at that altitude without the engines, an amazing principle goes into effect while the jet engines provide thrust in the forward direction! The blunt front edge of the wings causes a slower air flow over the top of the wing than the air flow under the wing which results in an upward force called lift! While all these factor are in play (and only then), the plane is able to supersede a most prominent natural force in the downward direction called gravity.
In our studies, we have likened gravity to the law of sin and death which is always present and pulling all those who have not escaped its grip down into sin, but thank God, Jesus made available resurrection power to the believer in order that we might escape the pull of sin and live a victorious life while here on earth. We have used Romans 5:10 AMP to explain the only way to escape sin’s grip which says, daily delivered from sins dominion by His resurrection life. Last night, the question was asked, How do you walk in this resurrection life? In 2 Peter 1:4, we see the link to partaking in the divine nature, God’s nature, instead of the nature of sin. Notice the phrase so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature. By what do we become partakers? Only by these precious and magnificent promises, or the Word of God, do we partake of God’s nature.
Not only does our verse tell us how to partake of His nature, it also re-enforces what we have already learned about escaping sin’s ever-present downward pull. Peter says it this way, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust! He also tells how the corruption got in the world in the first place, but we will have to deal with lust later. For now, let’s emphasize the phrase having escaped the corruption. That is where God wants us to be, in the having escaped category instead of the tied up in sin category. He did not say that sin was not there anymore; he just said you escaped it just like the plane supersedes gravity while in flight.
Now, our job becomes staying in flight 24×7! Peter has told us how to do it, by staying in the precious and magnificent promises. Apostle Ron has said countless times that faith filled words dominate the law of sin and death! We know that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Rom. 10:17) We also know that out of the abundance of the heart (not a depleted one) the mouth speaks! (Matt. 12:34) Abide in Jesus by allowing His words to abide in you, and then you will rise above the law of sin and death (sickness, disease, poverty, and the whole curse of the law for that matter) and walk in the abundant life and victory that Jesus died for us to have.
Pleasures Forever More!
September 24, 2008 by pastorkent
Filed under The Word
Recently, after studying on being established in Righteousness, a phrase from a song was playing in my spirit – "At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Ps 16:11) We talk about the "In His presence is the fullness of joy" part of that scripture, but not much is said about at His right hand!
God said, "At thy right hand there are pleasures forever more!" Obviously being the peculiar people that we are, we don't take pleasure in the same things that the world does:
…choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life. Luke 8:14
… lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. 2 Tim 3:4
… than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Heb 11:25
We certainly don't take pleasure in sin, or make the pleasures of this life an idol, but we take pleasure in the things of God, learning more about God, praying with other believers, fellowshipping with your church family, seeing some one get saved, having good clean fun, just to name a few. Concerning "clean" pleasures of this world, I am learning that it is a matter of priority. For example, I like to fish and there is nothing wrong with fishing, but if I start fishing while I am supposed to be preaching then I have made fishing my idol. There is a lot of good clean fun out there that we can enjoy, but there are some things and places that we should just steer clear of as a Christian!
Notice how our verse reads in the New Century version:
You will teach me how to live a holy life. Being with you will fill me with joy; at your right hand I will find pleasure forever. A prayer of David
God will teach us how to live a holy life and be filled with joy just hanging out with Daddy God! Some people don't want to be a Christian because they think we don't know how to have a good time. Well, they just haven't ever been to the right hand of God. The Psalmist said, "At your right hand, I will find pleasure forever!"
When I finally got out on my own and old enough to drink (legally), the devil always told me that 'they' were having all the fun in that ole smoke filled bar; you know, where they have all the good "food and spirits." One day, the ladies are going to figure out how much they are used to draw the guys in, all for free drinks and contests that I won't mention, and then the bars will be out of business. If they were having so much fun inhaling second-hand smoke, why would you have to drink so much booze just to get happy, and why would they only be happy for an hour? Thank God, I am high on Jesus, and as the old song says, "Now, I am happy all the day!" You can find true pleasure at God's right hand, and it will last forever more!