Standing With the Lamb pt.1

Christ our Passover

Mark 14:1 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
were two days away. And the chief priests and the scribes
were seeking a way to seize Him [Jesus] by craftiness and
kill Him,

1Cor 5:7 Purge out the old leaven that you may be a new
lump, even as you are unleavened; for our Passover, Christ,
also has been sacrificed.

Exo 12:6 ...and the whole congregation of the assembly of
Israel shall kill it [a lamb] at twilight. 7 And they
shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts
and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 12 For
I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and will
strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and
beast. Also against all the gods of Egypt I will execute
judgments. I am Jehovah. 13 And the blood shall be a sign
for you upon the houses where you are; and when I see the
blood, I will pass over you, and there will be no plague upon
you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark 14:1 speaks of "the Passover and the feast of Unleavened
Bread after two days." Eventually, under God's sovereignty,
they did kill the Lord Jesus at the feast (Matt. 27:15) for
the fulfillment of the type. The Passover was a type of
Christ (1 Cor. 5:7). Christ is the Lamb of God that God may
pass over us, the sinners, as portrayed in typology by the
Passover in Exodus 12. Hence, it was necessary for Christ as
the Passover Lamb to be killed on the day of the Passover for
its fulfillment.

The word Passover means that the judgment of God passes over
us. In Exodus 12:13 the Lord says, When I see the blood, I
will pass over you. Eventually, the Passover became a proper
noun in English. The proper noun Passover has its source in
the words "pass over" in 12:13.

But why is Christ called our Passover? According to Exodus 12, God passed over the children of Israel because the blood of the Passover lamb had been sprinkled on the lintel and the doorposts of their houses. The children of Israel had been commanded to eat the flesh of the lamb in their houses. In every house there must be a judgment for the sins, the lamb's blood indicated that the sacrifice had been made, like wise because the lamb had been consumed by the people the lamb was technically one with the people and had been constituted within them. God will not kill the lamb twice so, in effect because the lamb was in the people and the people in the lamb the judgment of God was gone by. Why? Because in a since they were the lamb.The flesh of the lamb was made one with the people. In our house do we believe Christ is the one slain, and the one through him we all live...

The children of Israel had been commanded to eat the flesh of the lamb in their houses.This indicates that "the house" was to be their covering under which and in which they could eat the flesh of the Passover lamb. The house that covered them was to have blood sprinkled on the lintel and the doorposts. When God saw the blood, He passed over the children of Israel. Hence, this passing over was due to the sprinkled blood. According to Paul, however, we see that the Passover is related not only to the blood, but to Christ Himself. Because we are in Christ, He Himself becomes our Passover. In Exodus 12 the Passover was based on the blood. But today our Passover is based on Christ. This is the reason Paul could say that Christ is our Passover.

Every aspect of passing over is fulfilled in Christ. The house we eat him in is Christ, the blood on the post is Christ. The door is Christ. The meat is Christ, the bitter herbs is Christ. The unleavened bread is Christ. There is no reason to judge anybody, there is no reason to be envious of anybody there is no reason to hate anyone. We all must come into the house under the same lintel and throught the same Door of Jesus Christ, we all must eat Christ and we all must share his blood over our house. To judge someone is to place yourself outside of the house looking in. To eat unworthily is to eat this sacrifice and place God's judgment over your brother and sister who like you God has allowed Christ to be a "Pass over" for. If you judge someone who also has christ as his salvation, then you have made null your own salvation because your's is the same as his, even though you may be "holier" or more morally good or "godly". To neglect there Christ is to negelct your own. There salvation is your salvation, therefore don't be jealous of anyone, don't be envious, realize your in the same house. The house of God. Your body is a house of God, and there's is as well but together in the Spirit you are one in Christ. This new man in Christ is who we all must put on, taking off the old "you".


Putting on the new man. In order to put on the new man we must reckon ourselves as having died in Jesus Christ, being buried with Him. We were also risen with him, and have ascended with him, now sitted with him in heavenly places. For example, If yo' daddy died 10 years before you were born, you would have died to... because you were with him...you were in him. Everything your daddy did, you did because you were in him, in his loins. Likewise God does not see us apart from Christ, he sees us in Christ. When christ died we died, when he rose , we rose, when he ascended we ascended this is to be in Christ. When we touch this realizty we get the sensation that we are living, that we are high that we are above the earth. This is to be in the Spirit, to be in peace and to be in Christ.


Because we are in Christ, and not in our natural father and mother, we are spared God's judgment. In fact our natural father and mother are in their father, and his father, is in his fathers, and so on until you get to Adam. Everything Adam did they did. And in Adam all die...But HALLELUJAH!!!!!! IN CHRIST ALL ARE MADE ALIVE!!!!!! A new creation, to live and express this reality in every aspect of our lives in this love and in this truth esteeming each other above ourselves so that we may win them and share in this wonderful reality to be revealed in due time.


JAY

How to Drink and Breath Christ: Are you thirsty

There are 5 instances we learn about in John...

First, the Lord talked with a "superior", moral man about the regeneration of life, Nicodemus. Through the new birth, the Lord is our second life, the divine life.

In the second case, the Lord spoke to an "inferior", immoral woman about the satisfaction of life. The Lord Himself is the living water which satisfies the dissatisfied hearts.

In the third case, the Lord healed a "dying child". The Lord heals the dying people by His life-giving word through believing...

In the fourth case, the Lord enlivened an impotent man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. This shows that the Lord enlivens the impotent by life.

In the fifth case, the Lord fed the five thousand with the bread of life. This indicates that He is the living, heavenly bread with which to satisfy the hungry multitude.

Therefore, in brief, the Lord regenerates with His divine life in the first case, gives the living water in the second case, heals the dying by the life-giving word in the third case, enlivens the impotent in the fourth case, and feeds the multitude with the bread of life in the fifth case.

Now in chapter seven we come to the sixth case—the need of the thirsty.

(adapted from The Need of the Thirsty: Life's Quenching)

If you would like to read the latter half please leave a comment, let me know someone's reading these things, Thanks. Also please fill free to print these out and share. Use those talents!!!

Jason's Update on the Battle Field: How to minister to brothers

Situation:

I am now staying with brethren at an apartment home in Atlanta. They are my work in the Lord...my hope, my crown of rejoicing, and more. A similar location exists at another student housing lofts in downtown Atlanta where the gospel was preached and life was ministered. As a minister of God, feeding the flock can be a daunting task. But we are exhorted to do it willingly and to be patient because of the crown of life we shall receive at the Lord's coming.

Practicality:

At school, we function as salt. The students understanding the authority of the teacher and the teacher understanding the authority of God and responsibility towards the students. The house of God right now is been measured and the supper being prepared. The servants have been called in from the field harvesting grain for the meal and has been through the sword of the spirit and effectual praying cutting though apostate christendom with the gospel of the kingdom and the leavened church ready for the roast.

In ministering the Gospel and in furthering God's move on this earth the ministry of life is needed. In such a loveless cold world the church of the Philippians at Philippi stood out.

For me in Atlanta as a pillar in God's temple, I realize the house is only as good as the support and the support as good as the house. I want to stress the need for the saints to support genuine ministry. There are a lot of young people at my school, at lot of people I see on the train and in the inner city and the true genuine saints of phillipi realize this and I am confident will rise up to help assist in the advancement on another's well being in love and in Christ in sincerity and truth and above all in faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God...

THE BELIEVERS’ FELLOWSHIP
IN THE APOSTLE’S NEED

Scripture Reading: Phil. 4:10, 14-20

In this message we shall consider the believers’ fellowship in the apostle’s need. In their giving, many Christians do not have fellowship. By fellowship we do not simply mean communication or mutual participation. Fellowship also involves the ministering of life. When we have fellowship with one another, we minister life to one another. When many Christians give something as a gift, they do not have the deep sense that in this transaction there is the ministry of life. But if we pray/read the verses listed above, we shall touch the ministry of life, both from the side of the apostle and also from the side of the believers who sent a gift to him. No doubt, the saints in Philippi not only sent the material supply to Paul, but also ministered life to him. Thus, between the two parties, the apostle and the believers, there was the fellowship of life and the mutual ministry of life. It is important that we learn to give in such a fellowship of life and ministry of life.

I. THE APOSTLE REJOICING IN THE LORD
FOR THE BELIEVERS’ RENEWED CONCERN

In 4:10 Paul says, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you caused your thinking for me to blossom anew.” It might have been circumstances which kept the Philippian believers from continuing to send the material supply to Paul. When they sent a gift with Epaphroditus, Paul considered this the blossoming again of their thinking for him. According to Paul’s feeling, the sending of a gift with Epaphroditus was the blossoming again of their concern for him.
The words blossom anew are a beautiful expression, rich in their implication. How can something blossom without life? Paul’s use of the word blossom implies that the believers’ thought of him was a matter of life, something that expressed life. Furthermore, “blossom anew” implies that the believers’ concern for Paul had been dormant for a time, having passed through a winter season. For a plant to blossom anew requires that it undergo a period of withering or dormancy during the winter season. This winter season, during which the saints lacked the opportunity to care for Paul, was a time of suffering for him. But this suffering afforded him the opportunity to experience Christ in a richer way.

II. THE BELIEVERS’ THINKING FOR THE APOSTLE

In 4:10 Paul also says to the Philippians, “You did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.” These words show Paul’s experience and maturity. There were times that he rebuked the saints. For example, in writing to the Corinthians he rebuked them and asked if they wanted him to come with a rod (1 Cor. 4:21). In writing to the Philippians, however, he speaks in a very positive way, telling them that at length they caused their thinking for him to blossom anew, that they indeed did take thought, but lacked opportunity.
As we have indicated, the words blossom anew, a literal translation of the Greek, imply that the giving of material things is a matter of life and of the ministry of life. If this were not so, Paul would not have used such an expression.

We must pay careful attention to the word blossom. This word implies that our giving of material things to any church, to any servant of the Lord, and to any of the saints must be something living that is able to blossom. This fellowship involves more than participation; it involves the circulation of the current of life. According to the Bible, fellowship always comes from life. First John 1:2 and 3 reveal that fellowship issues from life. The source of fellowship is life. For this reason, in Philippians 4:10 Paul uses the word blossom, and in verse 14, the word fellowship: “Nevertheless you did well to have fellowship with me in my affliction.” It seems as if Paul is saying, “You ministered life to me and helped to sustain me in my imprisonment. When I was suffering, you helped me by ministering life to me. Surely you will receive a supply of life in return.”
The fellowship in life can be illustrated by the circulation of blood in the human body. On the one hand, as the blood circulates, it flows out; on the other hand, it returns. In like manner, our fellowship in life always has a going out with a return. Any outflow without a corresponding inflow is not true fellowship. Fellowship always involves circulation. The life goes out, and the life also returns. The life goes with a supply to the other party, and then it comes back with a supply from this party. Whenever we give material things under the leading of the Lord, we should experience such a fellowship in life. There should be the blossoming and the mutual supply of life.
The fellowship the believers in Philippi had with Paul was for the furtherance of the gospel (1:5). Their sending of the supply of material things was for the furtherance of the gospel. As we have pointed out, the gospel here equals God’s move on earth for His economy. The gospel includes not only the good news of salvation, redemption, forgiveness, justification, and eternal life. Especially in a book like Philippians, the gospel signifies the move of God in His economy. Therefore, fellowship, even in the sending of a material supply, is for the furtherance of God’s move in His economy.

The Living Operative Word of God spoken Forth by the Spiri

Ezekiel 12:23-28

23Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.

24For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

25For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.
26Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying.

27Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.

28Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.


Hebrews 12:25-28

25See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

26Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear

John 12: 24-26

24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

EXPERIENCING THE TRANSFORMING
AND BUILDING LIFE OF CHRIST

This is for my family...

As a student of the bible for many years, none of my experiences have come short of remarkable. But of the most reassuring and greatest blessing I have received was in accord with one promised to the church of Philadelphia in the book of Revelations...

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall by no means go out anymore, and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which descends out of heaven from My God and My new name.”

What does it mean to say that the Lord will make us a pillar in the temple of God and that He will write the name of God, the name of the New Jerusalem, and His new name upon us? These was revealed revealed to me in a very personal dream and confirmed among many brethren and the final proof of scripture. Allow me to share the dream...

Growing Up: The principles of Christ (MILK)

THE WORD OF THE BEGINNING OF CHRIST

I. THE FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN LIFE

The word of grace and the word of life, being the word of the beginning of Christ, are good. They are the foundation of our Christian life. Although the foundation is good, we should not lay it again and again.
"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]?Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish [it], all that behold [it] begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish."
If we don't grow up by allowing ourselves to be pruned, we become spoiled and not good for eating...hence no one is strengthened, built up, or nourished...BUT WHAT IS THE FOUNDATION, EXACTLY?
The word of the beginning of Christ includes the six items mentioned in 6:1 and 2. These six items, arranged in three pairs, constitute the foundation of the Christian life. The first item of each pair refers to our emergence from a negative situation, and the last speaks of our entering into the positive things.

II. THE FIRST PAIR

The first pair is that of “repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.” Repentance is on the negative side and faith toward God is on the positive side (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21). The Christian life is firstly based upon our repentance and faith. Repentance from dead works and faith toward God Himself are a real turn. The work we did before we were saved might have been good, but it was dead. We had to repent from our dead works and believe into God.

III. THE SECOND PAIR

The second pair is “the teaching of baptisms and of the laying on of hands.” On the negative side, baptism eliminates the negative things (Heb. 9:10) and terminates the old things (Rom. 6:4). “Baptisms,” the same word as washings in 9:10 and Mark 7:4, refers to the washings of the utensils and vessels used in the tabernacle or temple for God’s service (Lev. 6:28). The washings of the priests are probably also included (Exo. 30:18-21; Lev. 16:4).This, of course, is related to the background of the Hebrew believers. However, it is the same in principle as the New Testament baptism, that is, the washing away and terminating of the negative things with the Spirit od Christ. In our baptism we eliminated our old man and buried him. On the positive side, laying on of hands is the identification and fellowship with the divine things. Whenever a sacrifice was offered in the ancient times, the offerer laid his hands upon it, signifying that he was identifying himself with it (Lev. 1:4; 3:2). Hence, laying on of hands was for identification and union. It was also used for the imparting of gifts into others (1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6). When Paul laid his hands upon Timothy, a spiritual gift was imparted to him.

IV. THE THIRD PAIR

The third pair consists of “the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment.” Resurrection of the dead (Matt. 22:31; Acts 23:6; 24:21) is the coming out of death, Hades, and the tomb on the negative side. Eternal judgment (Rom. 2:5; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:11-12) is the entry into eternity and the eternal destiny on the positive side. Whether we are saved or not, judgment will bring us into eternity. The situation with the dead unbelievers has not yet been settled. Only when they all have been resurrected will they be judged, and through that judgment they will be brought into eternity.

These six items are the word of the beginning of Christ, the foundation of our Christian life. The writer of this epistle was encouraging the Hebrew believers to go on from this word to the word of righteousness. Today many Christians do not even adequately know the word of the beginning of Christ, much less the word of righteousness. Nevertheless, WE MUST GO ON. Our foundation has been laid and we must go on to build upon it. We have repented and believed. We have been baptized and have been identified with Christ and we are assured that there will be resurrection and judgment to come. Anyone who does not believe this is not a genuine believer. Since we all believe this and have laid the foundation, let us go on from the elementary word to the word of righteousness; from the word of foundation to the word of perfection, the word of building up; from the words of grace and life to the word of God’s righteous governmental dealings.

Submitted in the name of Jesus special thanks to Living Stream Ministry
and to God the Father for his Goodness MErcy and grace towards us!

Growing Up: Milk and Solid Food

Many say they want the Strong meat of the word and not just the milk. But what does this mean really? The bible apparently is showing us that it's content is not just for mere knowledge but for nourishment in our Spirit for our daily living.

Strong meat is referred to as the Word of righteousness and the milk as the Word of the beginning (principles) of Christ. We need both to grow maturely and completely. Let's take a look at the fundamental difference in the two so we can realize the full Revelation of the Word of God in due season.

THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
AND
THE WORD OF THE BEGINNING OF CHRIST

Although many Christians understand the word of grace (Acts 14:3; 20:32), the word of life (Phil. 2:16), and even the good word of God (Heb. 6:5), not many know what the word of righteousness is. Why must the word be the word of righteousness? The writer mentioned the word of righteousness at a time when he was speaking of Christ as the High Priest according to the order of Melchisedec.

Concerning Melchisedec he had “much to say” which was “hard to interpret” since the receivers of this epistle had “become dull of hearing” (5:11). They had been learners for quite a long time. In verses 12 and 13 the writer said of them, “For when because of the time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you what are the rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of God, and have become those who have need of milk and not of solid food.”

Although they should have been teachers, at the time of the writing of this epistle, they still needed someone to teach them. They were still babes. Since “everyone who partakes of milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness” (Heb. 5:13), we see that the word of righteousness is for the mature, not for babes. Now in this message we need to see what the word of righteousness basically is.

Hebrews 5:13 says that “everyone who partakes of milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.”

I. THE WORD OF GOD BEING OUR NOURISHMENT

If we would understand this matter of the word of righteousness, we must firstly be deeply impressed that the word of God is not mainly for knowledge. In this short portion of the Word (5:11-14), there seems to be a contradiction. Verse 12 uses the words “teachers” and “teach.” This surely refers to knowledge. However, in these verses it is clearly and definitely indicated that the word of God is for nourishment, for it likens His word to either milk or solid food. Milk and solid food are not for knowledge. People do not study them; they drink and eat of them as nourishment.

For years we have been saying that our need is not mere teachings; it is food. Many have argued with me, saying, “How can you say that we don’t need teaching? Don’t you believe that the Bible is a book of teaching? Even you yourself teach people.” Yes, the Bible is a book of teaching, but it does not teach us merely for mental knowledge; its teaching ministers food to us. The aim of the Bible is not for our mental comprehension and knowledge; it is absolutely for our spiritual realization and nourishment. According to the word of the Lord Jesus, the words of God are for us to eat. In order to live, we must take the word of God as our food.

When the Lord was tempted by the Devil, He answered him, saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). The word of God should be our food, and we must eat it daily and live by it. Even in the Old Testament times, Jeremiah said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them” (Jer. 15:16). The prophet realized that the word of God is for nourishment, not for knowledge. Furthermore, the New Testament not only tells us that we must feed ourselves with the word of God but that we must feed others with it. Paul’s concept concerning his ministry of the word was that of feeding. He fed the Corinthians with milk and desired to feed them with the solid food (1 Cor. 3:2). Therefore, according to the basic principles of the Bible, the word of God is for nourishment rather than for knowledge.

II. MILK

The Bible itself classifies God’s word into two categories— milk for babes and solid food for the mature (5:12-13). Paul told the Corinthians that because they were babes he could only feed them with milk (1 Cor. 3:1-2), and Peter, holding the same concept, said, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word” (1 Pet. 2:2). In Hebrews 5:12, milk refers to “the rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of God.” The Greek word translated “rudiments,” which also may be rendered as “primary elements,” denotes elementary things. For example, learning the twenty-six letters of the alphabet and the numbers from one to ten are the rudiments. If you were to talk with children in a philosophical way, they would be unable to understand. Recently, one of my grandchildren was pleased to show me how he could write the letters L E E. He was very happy with his elementary “candies.”

In Christianity there are many old babes who can barely write the letters of the spiritual alphabet. If you were to talk with them about Matthew 25, they would say, “Oh, that is too difficult. As long as I have been redeemed and will go to heaven when I die, that is enough for me.” They are content with “candy bars.” They can only take the rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of God, not solid food.

The “rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of God” in 5:12 are “the word of the beginning of the Christ” in 6:1. These are special terms found in the book of Hebrews. Even Christ, like your education, has a beginning. Some little children only know the ten numbers, being unable to do even the simplest addition. Likewise, in our spiritual education we have the word of the beginning of Christ. Many Christians can only say, “Christ died for me. I am a sinner and I should go to hell, but God loves me and sent Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. Now I believe in Him and I am saved.” This is the word of the beginning of Christ.
How poor is the situation among most Christians today! They are even unable to discern the difference between the human spirit and the Holy Spirit. Whenever they see the word “spirit,” they take it to mean the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, regarding the Holy Spirit, they are unfamiliar with the term “life-giving Spirit.” Many of them do not even want to hear about it. It seems that when they read 1 Corinthians 15:45, which tells us that the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit, they cover their eyes and pass it by.

Have you not also passed by many verses in your reading of the Scriptures? I am quite sure that many of you have skipped over the first seventeen verses of the Gospel of Matthew. Perhaps you never paid attention to these verses before coming into the church life. Others might even have advised you to begin your reading of the New Testament with Matthew 1:18. Then you might have proceeded to read a little of chapter two regarding the visit of the wise men and chapter three concerning the baptism of Jesus. Perhaps you skipped chapters like thirteen, twenty-four, and twenty-five, finding them too difficult to comprehend, and gave some attention to chapter twenty-six. Maybe you shed a few tears for the crucified Jesus in chapter twenty-seven and then were happy to hear that He was resurrected in chapter twenty-eight. As you came to the end of Matthew, you thought of the Lord Jesus as ascending to the heavens, although Matthew does not speak of His ascension; yet, according to your traditional mentality, you added an extra point about Christ ascending to the heavens. This is the way many Christians understand the Bible today.

There is only one Bible. However, nearly every Christian has his or her own version of the Bible. It is not the Bible printed with black and white letters as God revealed; it is the “Bible” printed with their kind of mentality. They have their own mental version of the Scriptures. Very few Christians care for the solid word of God. They only take the rudiments, the word of the beginning of Christ. Perhaps some would argue with me, saying that the word of the beginning is not wrong. Of course it is not wrong, but it is simply the A B C’s. We need to go on!

The word of the beginning of Christ is the good word of God (6:5). We all have tasted this good word. John 3:16 and Romans 6:23, both of which speak of eternal life, are examples of the good word. But even many Christians misinterpret these verses, taking eternal life to mean blessing and happiness in a heavenly merry land. What poverty in understanding the word of God! What a pitiful way of dealing with God’s holy oracle! This is the reason that in the Lord’s recovery we are burdened for the release of the richer, higher, and deeper word. In His mercy, the Lord is opening His word to us.

Please keep in mind that in this portion of the Word, milk refers to the rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of God and to the word of the beginning of Christ. May we all, especially the young people, become familiar with these terms and use them in our fellowship. We all need a new vocabulary. We should not stay in the region of old religious terminology, but cross the river into a new way of conversation and use the terms and phrases found in God’s pure word.

III. SOLID FOOD

Solid food, which is for the mature, refers to the word of righteousness (5:14; 1 Cor. 3:2). The word of righteousness is more difficult to discriminate than the word of grace and the word of life. Righteousness always refers to God’s government and governmental dealings. After considering the whole book of Hebrews, I have found that it is not only an unveiling of Christ on a higher level but also of God’s divine government among His chosen people. For instance, 10:31 says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Furthermore, 12:29 says that “our God is a consuming fire.” In 10:30 we are told that the “Lord will judge His people.” Verses like these can be found throughout the book of Hebrews. All five warnings in this book are based upon the fact that in Hebrews God is not the God of love but the God of righteousness, a consuming fire in His governmental dealings with His people. The book of Hebrews is not constructed with God’s love; it is constructed basically with God’s righteous government. It is a revelation of God’s dispensational and governmental dealings with His people.

Consider the children of Israel. Although God loved them, delivered them from Egypt, and took care of them in the wilderness, their whole history is a picture of God’s governmental dealings. In the wilderness God dealt with the Israelites in a governmental way. Because of this, not many of those who came out of Egypt during the time of the exodus entered into the good land of Canaan. Consider, for example, the way in which God dealt with Miriam, Moses’ older sister, who had criticized him for marrying an Ethiopian woman (Num. 12:1-15). As a result of her criticism, she became leprous and was shut out of the camp for seven days. Moreover, due to God’s governmental dealing, she was not allowed to enter into the good land but died in the wilderness (Num. 20:1). It was the same with Aaron (Num. 20:22-29). Even Moses touched God’s government wrongly and was governmentally dealt with by Him (Num. 20:12). He earnestly desired and longed to enter into the good land, but God, according to His governmental dealing with him, did not allow him to enter in. Sympathizing with Moses, He did allow him to look upon the good land (Deut. 3:23-27; 4:21-22; 32:48-52). By these cases we see that it is a serious thing to touch God’s government.
Christians do not understand the word of righteousness concerning God’s governmental dealings. Such words are like hard bones, and many, unable to understand them, throw them away. But whether we understand these words or not, we are still under God’s governmental dealings. In Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy we see God’s righteous governmental dealings. The word regarding God’s governmental dealings is the word of righteousness, not the word of grace nor the word of life.

If you still do not understand what the word of righteousness is, read Hebrews 3 and 4 again. The word about not entering into God’s rest is a word of righteousness, not a word of grace. In 3:15, a quotation from Psalm 95, we are told, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the provocation.” Hebrews 4:11, another word of righteousness, says, “Let us therefore be diligent to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.” Keep in mind that the word of righteousness is deeper than the rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of God, because it embodies the deeper thought of God’s justice and righteousness in His dispensational and governmental dealings with His people.

Very few Christians today care for this kind of word. When we began to teach people about Matthew 25 more than forty years ago, telling them that the slothful servant would be cast into outer darkness, many rumors were spread about us. Some would not take the word of righteousness which unveils the truth that a saved person can be cast into outer darkness. Matthew 25 is not a word of grace, nor a word of life; it is a word of righteousness. The same is true of 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. In that portion of the Word we are told to take heed how we build in the church life. If we build according to the human, fleshly, and earthly way, we shall be building with wood, hay, and stubble. Everything built with these materials will be burned, and those who build with them will suffer loss.

This does not mean that a saved person can be lost; it means that all he does may be burned and that “he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:15). This certainly is the word of righteousness. Few Christians care for such a word. They only want “candies,” messages that comfort and soothe them. If anyone would stand up and declare to them that if they do not heed the Lord’s word of righteousness they might be cast into outer darkness (Matt. 25:30) or be “saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:15), they would not listen to him, but rather would oppose and condemn him as heretical. While most Christians only want “candies,” in this Life-Study of Hebrews we are burdened to care for the solid food, the word of righteousness. We all must be careful about this, for someday the Lord will meet us.

In the past, I have pointed out a number of times that the book of Revelation closes with a promise and a call. The promise is in Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have right to eat the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Gk.). The call is in verse 17: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” In these two verses we have a word of grace (v. 14) and a word of life (v. 17). However, now I wish to point out that the book of Revelation also ends with a word of righteousness. We find this in Revelation 22:12: “And, behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

Are you ready for His coming? His coming will not be a time of grace nor of life; it will be a time of righteousness. This is the reason the Apostle Paul, who was very much concerned that when he had preached to others, yet he himself might be “a castaway” (1 Cor. 9:27), said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). Revelation 2:10 speaks of the crown of life, and 1 Peter 5:4 mentions a crown of glory, but here Paul refers to the crown of righteousness.
Many Christians are curious about the Lord’s coming, but they do not realize that He is coming with a reward. He will not come with two eyes of mercy but with seven burning and searching eyes of judgment. This is a word of righteousness. We do not need a word of “sweets,” “candies,” or “desserts.” We need solid food—the word of righteousness. In these messages the Lord has released a solemn word to us. We must cross the river and go on. Do not fool around with the Lord.

IV. THE DISCRIMINATING OF THE SENSES

Hebrews 5:14 says that “solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their faculties exercised for discriminating between both good and evil.” The Greek word translated “faculties” may also be rendered “senses,” implying powers of perception, depending not only on our mental capability but also on our spiritual apprehension. These senses, implying both our mind and our spirit, discriminate the distinction between the different kinds of words of God. The words “good and evil” used here refer to what is superior in contrast to what is inferior, such as, the superiority of Christ in contrast to the inferiority of the angels, Moses, and Aaron; the superiority of the new covenant in contrast to the inferiority of the old covenant. According to the context of this verse, it is similar to the matter of discriminating between different foods, with no reference whatever to the moral nature of things. We need to discern, to discriminate, God’s word as we do food, asking whether a particular word is like milk or solid food. In this way we can discern the word of righteousness.

Last remark on the book of Hebrews

This book is also about God's throne and about God's administration, and government, all a matter of authority, accountability, award or punishment. We were created by God for God. We were redeemed by God to God. To carry His administration because God has a government and administration in the universe: this is the word of His righteousness. This book is also unveiling of God's government among God's chosen people. To fall into the hand of God is a terrible thing. God is a consuming fire. God will judge His people. These are His judgmental and dispensational dealings with his people. This is His word of righteousness.

One place this SOLID MEAT is being shared is here at The Trumpet Call of God Online

For more of the sayings of our Lord visit The Gospel of Thomas Fully Interpreted

Submitted in Jesus name giving thanks to God the Father and giving credit to Living Streams Ministry in accordance with Watchman Nee and Witness Lee writings and publications....

old study in my walk earlier this year

I am posting this study from my walk with Christ a couple years ago for you all, thanking God and my father for running across it one more time. May you be blessed by it. Much grace!!

HEBREWS 5,6

¹For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

²Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

³And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

Paul in Galatians chapter 4 reveals that there was a time when he first preached in the infirmity of his flesh, but something changed...He now wanted the others likewise to break completely free from the weak and beggardly ordinances and walk totally in the Spirit of the new man born in Zion above. Psalm 87 reveals Christ as born in Zion and I believe Paul experienced and realized this as well. Realized what?...

That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

²But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

³Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

..⁹But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

...¹²Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

¹³Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

¹⁶Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

⁴And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

⁵So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

⁶As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

We need to understand that we were anointed and called with Christ as priest unto God. Christ as the head and we as the body...this is seen in Psalms 133 as the anointing oil poured upon Aaron's head ran down on the beard down to the skirts of his garments. Just as Christ himself was born from above so are we when Christ is formed in us.

⁷Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

⁸Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

⁹And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

¹⁰Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. ¹¹Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

Just as Paul preached in the infirmity of the flesh at first, and Christ lived for 33 1/2 years in the flesh we in following Christ out of the Harlot Church, and the Egypt of our day, into the wilderness are being brought out of the bondage of weak and beggarly elements through the overcoming Christ being formed in us. God desired an army to possess the land in Numbers, not the first unbelieving one, but the second one of the children, who became an army not of soldiers but of priests. This is a Holy War.

¹²For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

¹³For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

¹⁴But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

¹Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

²Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. ³And this will we do, if God permit.

⁴For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, ⁵And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, ⁶If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

⁷For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: ⁸But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

We are seated in heavenly places surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses when some fall away they fall back to earth like a drop of rain but there is still hope remembering that wherever the rain falls if the crop it produces on earth brings forth corn, or wine, or oil or positive good fruit they are blessed by the one for whom the land is dressed...And that that produces thorns and briers is nigh to cursing You may not be were you were but you should still wherever you find yourself endeavor to bring about a positive influence..

⁹But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

¹⁰For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

¹¹And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: ¹²That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

¹³For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

¹⁴Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

¹⁵And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

¹⁶For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

¹⁷Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: ¹⁸That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: ¹⁹Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; ²⁰Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Christ is our forerunner

(added) Let us go on to perfection. The priesthood that existed prior to Levi and Abraham (Melchisidec) traces back to God and has no beginning of days or end of days and was not established by any law nor any carnal commandment. Friends,  you who are not bound to any weak and beggarly elements saints are called to be like Christ in so much as he is this kind of priest...

Heb 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 

 7:26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 

 7:27  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 

We have entered the veil...free!! Able to intercede for those who may come to us through the life we've found in Christ. In a holy, harmless, undefieled, seperate from sinners, type of life he has given us...

Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 

Heb 7:13  For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 

Heb 7:14  For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 

Heb 7:15  And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 

Heb 7:16  Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Heb 7:17  For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 

Heb 7:18  For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 

Heb 7:19  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 

Heb 7:20  And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 

Heb 7:21  (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 

Heb 7:22  By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 

Heb 7:23  And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 

Heb 7:24  But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 

Heb 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 

Heb 7:26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 

Heb 7:27  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 

Heb 7:28  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

We are priests not after the law, but by the immutable word of his oath.  Yet remember....
.. it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, ⁵And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, ⁶If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
⁷For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: ⁸But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Bear good fruit brethrem  : )


Fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness (repentance) , faith,  meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

In the name of Christ Jesus the Son of God,
your brother in the faith,
Jason Massey

If God's On Our Side...

Someone sent me an e-mail stating "WW3 is coming."

It's true and it's here. The war is against the family of God and will move from the spiritual war in the heavenlies amongs the remnant who overcome right down to the earth and the rest of the church at large. Those who have not prepared are going to really have it coming.

"If God's on our side He'll stop the next war." - Bob Dylan

Mark 13:20

And except that the Lord had shortened those days,
no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake,
whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

With God On Our Side

Oh my name it is nothin'
My age it means less
The country I come from
Is called the Midwest
I's taught and brought up there
The laws to abide
And that land that I live in
Has God on its side.

Oh the history books tell it
They tell it so well
The cavalries charged
The Indians fell
The cavalries charged
The Indians died
Oh the country was young
With God on its side.

Oh the Spanish-American
War had its day
And the Civil War too
Was soon laid away
And the names of the heroes
I's made to memorize
With guns in their hands
And God on their side.

Oh the First World War, boys
It closed out its fate
The reason for fighting
I never got straight
But I learned to accept it
Accept it with pride
For you don't count the dead
When God's on your side.

When the Second World War
Came to an end
We forgave the Germans
And we were friends
Though they murdered six million
In the ovens they fried
The Germans now too
Have God on their side.

I've learned to hate Russians
All through my whole life
If another war starts
It's them we must fight
To hate them and fear them
To run and to hide
And accept it all bravely
With God on my side.

But now we got weapons
Of the chemical dust
If fire them we're forced to
Then fire them we must
One push of the button
And a shot the world wide
And you never ask questions
When God's on your side.

In a many dark hour
I've been thinkin' about this
That Jesus Christ
Was betrayed by a kiss
But I can't think for you
You'll have to decide
Whether Judas Iscariot
Had God on his side.

So now as I'm leavin'
I'm weary as Hell
The confusion I'm feelin'
Ain't no tongue can tell
The words fill my head
And fall to the floor
If God's on our side
He'll stop the next war.

Copyright ©1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

Threshers e-mail posted dated Sunday, January 25, 2009

Hey Threshers,

As you know we are to put on the whole armor of God. The helmet of salvation is Christ; the breastplate of righteousness is Christ, the armor of God is Christ, the Prince of Peace, the Truth, the Word. It is by putting on Him that we are able to stand. When God gave the land to the children of Israel he sent the armed men into the land across the Jordan first to possess it (Deu 3:16-18). They were told to leave there wives, little ones, and cattle until he gave them rest and then those would come.

DEU 3

18And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war.

19But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you;

20Until the LORD have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land which the LORD your God hath given them beyond Jordan: and then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.

2 TIMOTHY 2

1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

affairs here has to do with transactions, negotiations, trades, business, and etc. but a different word for affairs is used by Paul in Ephesians 6...remember they had to cross the Jordan to get to the land...

Eph 6:22

22Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

It's centered around his purpose...the root for this word affairs is

G4008 per'-an
Apparently the accusative case of an obsolete derivation of πείρω peirō (to “peirce”); through (as adverb or preposition), that is, across: - beyond, farther (other) side, over.

The land God gave us to possess was alloted to the different tribes of Israel. The inheritance of the saints is in light...

COLOSSIANS 1

12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

partakers
Feminine of G3313; a portion, that is, province, share or (abstractly) participation: - part (X -akers).

We've been given the land yet we must possess it. The land currently is occupied by rulers and inhabitants that don't belong there. It is the authority of darkness.

EPHESIANS 6

12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We aren't warring and wrestling against the 'world' but the principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness residing in THE LAND God has given us.

18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

I'm looking forward to the show on The Land and It's Inhabitants! May God's eternal purpose be made known unto you all and that he position you accordingly.

Proverbs 20:18

18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

Ephesians 1:11

11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 3:11

9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

2nd Timothy 1:9

9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

God Bless,

Jason M.