THE MANIFESTATION OF THE ANGELS
In our first message we saw the mystery of the angels and how we influence the unseen world.
In our second study we saw the making of the angels. God created them and gave them various positions in and around God’s throne, as well as various positions in this world in which we live.
In this study we want to look at the manifestation of the angels to mankind.
Often God’s angelic beings were revealed or manifested to man. What was the significance of this revealing and why?
There were four special angels revealed in Scripture but only three where given a name.
1 – Michael – Michael’s name means “who is like God.”
He must be the Angel of Battle or war. He seems to be always mentioned in the time of a spiritual fight with the enemies of God in the unseen world.
Illustration: In Daniel ten, Daniel had been praying and seeking God’s face for three full weeks and yet the answer never came. Then a beautiful angel appeared to Daniel with the answer.
He told Daniel that his prayer was heard the first day but there was a problem. Daniel 10: 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Now think! Daniel was living in the Persia Empire. Lucifer had a powerful principality over that mighty world empire that fought against this angel that was sent to give Daniel the answer to his prayer.
But, the dark prince of Persia fought against him and not till Michael, a chief prince and more powerful angelic being, arrived was the angel freed to carry the message to Daniel
Stop! Wait! We know today that the Holy Spirit of God today convicts us, cleanses us, comforts us, fills us, frees us, indwells us, teaches us, guides us and much more.
We also have the Word of God as all the “Revelation” we need to tell us about anything we need to know about time and eternity. But, is it the work of God’s angels to deliver special answers to prayers? I don’t believe so. Why?
Jesus said in John 16:23, “…Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.”
Thus, in the Old Testament dispensation the angels carried many messages from God to people on earth and in the Tribulation, the angels will be carrying many messages as well, but today we live in the dispensation of Grace and have access into the very throne room of God.
We don’t need the angels to give us information. But we do need to knowledge of God’s word. And we need cleanliness of hearts and humility as we come into God’s presences.
Today if there is a ministry of angels to us it is first, the ministry of protection. They protect those who shall be heirs of salvation from demons, from injury at times and from death until God is ready to call them home.
Hebrews 1: 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
But, angels have a second ministry today and that is to fight for God’s own.
In Daniel 12: 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
As the Church has the mighty working of the Holy Spirit in them, it seems that the Jewish people have the mighty archangel, Michael, and his army to watch over and protect them. Daniel thus foretells that Michael will stand for them in the last days.
John reveals that to us in Revelation 12: 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Lucifer will have such power during the tribulation period with the release of so many angels from the bottomless pit and other areas that he, in his madness, will think this is his opportunity to fight against heaven.
Michael the warring angel of God and his warriors will defeat Satan and he will be cast down to the earth.
To the Church: If Satan as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour, do God’s angelic beings protect you day by day? I would think so! But, we also have the Holy Spirit of whom the John reveals to us, “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
So Michael, God’s arch angel, one of God’s princes of angels, is a warring angel fighting for God, yea fighting for you, yea fighting against Satan.
2 – Gabriel means “man of God.”
He seems always to be on a mission for the Lord. He seems to be God’s “Top Gun” messenger.
We see that in Daniel eight. Daniel received a vision but could not interpret it and he prayed and almost immediately Gabriel showed up to reveal the truth to Daniel.
Daniel 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
Daniel heard the voice of the Lord Jesus as he spoke to Gabriel and gave him direction to interpret the vision Daniel had.
Then Daniel has another vision in Daniel 9 and immediately Gabriel shows up with the answer. Daniel 9: 21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Again, almost immediately Gabriel, God’s main messenger appears before Daniel immediately to deliver an interpretation.
In Luke 1:19 Gabriel carries a very important message to Zacharias. And in Luke 1:26 Gabriel carries a great message to a virgin named Mary.
Question: Where was Gabriel in Daniel 10? He was probably on another very important mission from God. That is why the answer was hindered for three weeks. The other angel was not as powerful as the prince of Persia and thus the archangel Michael had to come to his aid.
Thought: If God’s angels can leave heaven and stand in man’s presence in a moment of time, how much quicker can God give an answer to you and me if He lives in us in His Spirit? Amen! Selah!
But, keep in mind, His answers will come through His words. His answers will never contradict what He has written in the Bible. SO – when someone says, I prayed about something and God told me to do this or that, and it contradicts the Bible, God had not spoken to that person.
3 – Lucifer – is the third angel reveal by name in the Scriptures. His name means “light-bearer” (Greek) or “the bright one (Hebrew).”
Isaiah 14: 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
His name, Lucifer, is used but once in the Scripture but keep in mind that because of his name, he is not dressed in a red suit with horns, a pointed tail and a pitch fork.
The Hebrew word is heilel ben-shachar), meaning "Helel (bright one) son of Shachar (dawn)". The Babylonians worshipped the god “Helel”. Their very religion came from the worship of Lucifer.
He was probably the most beautiful creation of all the angels of God. Lucifer is light my friend. But you say, “Jesus is the light of this world.”
Yes he is, but for a world lost in sin and blinded by deception, billions have bowed to the fallen light, which breeds darkness in the souls of men.
It would very wise for you all of God’s children to have great knowledge of God’s word as to not bow to Lucifer’s false light.
Did you know that Lucifer’s light flows in every world religion including Christianity?
I John 2: 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
Any and all religions that deny that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world are religions from Lucifer’s light.
The following are the major religions of the world:
Hinduism claims to be the oldest religion (2,000 BC. They claim that people are reincarnated after death and due to their pass life of good works, one day they will achieve the ultimate Karma.
Buddhism –Siddhartha Gautama reached enlightenment in 535 BC and assumed the title Buddha. He taught that people would be reincarnated and as they learn his teaching, Tripitaka. Then they would attain Nirvana.
Islam – began in 622 BC. They believe in many of the Jewish and Christian teachings but believe that Mohammed is the final prophet of their god Allah.
Shintoism - Shinto is an ancient Japanese religion, that believes in various deities. The first two deities, Izanagi and Izanami, gave birth to the Japanese islands and their children became the deities of the various Japanese clans.
Confucianism - K'ung Fu Tzu (Confucius) was born in 551 BC. His teachings and writings dealt with individual morality and ethics, and the proper exercise of political power. He stressed the following values:
Li: ritual, propriety, etiquette; Hsiao: love among family members; Yi: righteousness; Xin: honesty and trustworthiness ; Jen: benevolence towards others; the highest Confucian virtue; Chung: loyalty to the state.
Christianity 30 AD– Judaism and Christianity have the same history up to the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world.
Judaism – Began with Abraham (1800 BC). God gave revelation and truth to the world through this religion. They believe they are God’s chosen people. When their Messiah came, they rejected Him as a nation.
Other religions are: Jainism Taiosm Sikhism Bahai .
All of the above deny that Jesus is the Christ except one, Christianity.
The greatest work of Lucifer has been in the realm of religion. He sends far more people to hell through religion than worldly sin.
Let me illustrate from the world of Christendom how false light has infiltrated it.
The worship of the Madonna (Mary and child) is not taught in Scripture, but it is practiced throughout Catholic Church and many protestant churches today. 2000 years before Christ, the Babylonians worshipped Semiramis and her child Talmuz. Thus the worship of the Madonna is as old as Babylon
Prayers for the saints are condemned in Exodus 20:3-5 and we are told there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus in 1 Timothy 2:5. But again it is practiced in the Catholic Church.
In Ancient Babylon, they prayed to Anu, Marduk, Tiamat, Nabu, Nimrod and Talmuz and hundreds of gods that they worshipped.
In Catholicism people are taught to pray to all the saints and there are hundreds of them. Go on line and you find hundreds of Saints you can pray to. They even quote scriptures but they are all taken out of context.
Prayer beads and the wearing of charms or the purchasing of relics to fight off evil spirits are not taught in the Bible, yet again it is practiced in both Catholic and Protestant religions.
Have you heard of priest climbing steps for penance for their sins? Sure, Martin Luther did so until he read the Scriptures that says, “The just shall live by faith.” It was called in Babylon the climbing of the Ziggurats. The belief was the higher one would climb the closer one would be to the gods.
In “The Two Babylon’s” by Hislop and in the historical writings of Bryan, we find that the Babylonian priest could forgive and absolve sins and administer salvation through sacraments.
These Sacraments, necessary to salvation ..began at birth with Infant Baptism, other sacraments throughout life, ending with a final anointing with oil at death to prepare one for the hereafter.
Now Since the Babylonian Priest was the only one who could administer these 'sacraments', the person was 'bound' to the Babylonian system helplessly for life!
The first essential sacrament Semiramis taught was Baptism by water. The fact that such "Baptism" was practiced 2000 years before it was even mentioned and practiced in Christianity is an established fact, and it can be traced right back to Babylon and Semiramis herself!
The Priests of Rome taught-and still do-that it is NOT possible even for newly born infants to be saved so as to enjoy the delights of heaven unless they are baptized. The COUNCIL OF TRENT catechism states in black and white:
"Infants, unless regenerated unto God thru the grace of BAPTISM, whether their parents be Christian or infidel, are born to eternal misery and perdition."
Lucifer in the “light-bearer.” But remember when he fell in pride that light was corrupted. Any teaching of any religion other than what comes out of God’s Holy Word is simply wrong.
4 – The Angel of the Lord is a forth angel mentioned in the Scriptures that people often ask, “Who is He?”
His name is never given but His character is truly that of the Son of God.
In Genesis 22 Abraham was about to offer his son to God and The Angel of the Lord cried out to him to do his son no harm.
In Exodus 3 there was a fiery bush burning and Moses went aside to see this strange sight. When he got there the Bible says The Angel of the Lord appeared in this flame of fire.
In the days of the Judges the Angle of the Lord spoke many times. Why? Because there were no prophets, Israel was backslid and the priest were worldly and many believe that the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in angelic form as a messenger and spoke to the People.
Elijah had his great battle with Ahab on Mount Carmel whereby he prayed and fire fell from heaven and 400 prophets of Baal were slain.
When Jezebel turned on him, he fled and the Bible says, The Angel of the Lord touched him and strengthened him.
Judges 13:14-23 tells the story of the Angel of the Lord appearing to Manoah and his wife and revealing to them that the would have a son who would judge Israel. Monoah ask his name of which the Angel of the Lord said, “it is secret.” The word secret an mean wonderful, extra-ordinary and incomprehensible.
Psalms 34: 7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
In conclusion: There is no mention of Michael the Archangel in the Church age. Nor is there mention of Gabriel. Why?
Because of the work of our Lord and the empowering of the saint by the Holy Spirit and the fulfillment of Revelation in the Bible, we have all the spiritual ingredients we need to make us strong and to cause us to stand for the Lord in these last days.
If you want a victorious Christian life, stay close to the Lord.
Read and stand upon His word.
Spend time in his Throne room in prayer.
Keep your heart clean. And worship the King of kings.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
THE JOY OF THE LORD
THE JOY OF THE LORD
Philippians 4: 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Rejoice means to celebrate, express joy or be glad.
Whenever God says something twice in one sentence He is letting you know that this is very, very important.
Thus, it is vital that the child of God rejoice.
The phrase “rejoice in the Lord” appear nine times in the Bible.
-Nine is the number of the fruit of the Spirit.
-Rejoicing is a sign of one of God’s children walking in His Spirit.
-Rejoice is used 220 times in God’s Word. Praise is used 287 times.
Sing is used 148 times. Joy is mentioned 190 times.
Paul doesn’t just say “rejoice in the Lord” but rejoice… alway and again I say rejoice. Why?
-Something that comes with joy is a smile, just like salt and pepper.
---Paul knows as God knows that as a special lure on the end of a fishing line will bring the fish to the fisherman, Joy is one of the lures of the Holy Spirit to attract an unsaved world to the Lord.
In Old Testament times during the days that Judah was coming out of Babylonian captivity they had finished the walls around the city of Jerusalem.
The temple was built but was not what it used to be and only ten percent or so of the Jews had returned to their homeland. But, they had a worship service:
Nehemiah 8:5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Nehemiah and Ezra read and taught the people the word of God from morning till evening and the people said, “Amen, Amen.”
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Joy is a sign of a person who is walking in the Spirit. Amen
Joy is a sign of a person whose heart is clean. Amen
Joy is a sign of a means of luring people to Christ.
Look at the many things that a child of God can rejoice in:
1 - Grace - Philippians 1:2 – We should rejoice in Grace - Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Grace is God doing for you individually what you could never in a billion years do for yourself. – Amen!
Grace comes from God through Jesus Christ.
God’s grace is seen on Calvary when God paid a debt that the world collectively could never pay.
Jesus satisfied the debt the world owed God. A debt that if the world stood for a billion, billion years and every man on the face of the earth paid God 100% of all his earnings, man could never repay God for the debt that Jesus paid on Calvary. That is grace!
Can you say “amen” to the grace of God.
His grace is offered to you to absolve your sin.
Grace is offered to you to for abundant joy .
Romans 5: 20b But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
To do as Judah did under Nehemiah will always brings God’s grace. They bowed before the Lord in holy worship and the joy of the Lord became their strength.
I still believe this truth. “If you are saved by grace you can live anyway you want to live,” but let me conclude. “If you are saved by grace God has placed His Spirit within you that will convict you and chasten your soul if you live contrary to God’s Word.” His Spirit will direct you to seek to live holy and at peace with Him first and others second.
A warning: John said in I John 4:1, Try the spirits to see whether they are of God. If the spirit in you tells you that you can live and enjoy the sins of the world, I would do what Paul said in Philippians 2:12: “work out your Salvation in fear and trembling.” Grace brings Joy – Amen?
2 - Peace – Philippians 1: 2: We should rejoice in Peace – Peace in nature is to think on that which is quiet and still and calm.
My wife and I have often driven up in the mountains to lovers leap.
You can stop and look out over a valley of great beauty. In the spring and fall of the year, with the wind slightly blowing and everything quiet it is so peaceful.
Peace with God is to know there is nothing between God and me.
“To have the peace of God you must know the God of peace.
Warning: -Don’t let things steal your peace with God.
-Don’t let people steal your peace with God.
-Don’t let unfulfilled expectations steal your peace with God.
Peace is not living in a world without poverty or war or strife. It is living a relationship with God so these things don’t steal your joy.
3 - Blessings – Philippians 1:3-4 We should rejoice in Blessings -
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Grace brings peace. Peace brings blessings. Blessings brings joy. Joy brings sweet fellowship (v 5).
--I like to come to church and greet my brothers and sisters in Christ who are enjoying the grace and peace of God.
--Sadly, some folks come to God’s house without the grace and peace of God. How do I know? No smile, No joy, No friendship. Don’t let that be you.
Illustration: A group of elderly, cultured gentlemen in China met often to exchange wisdom and to drink tea.
Each host tried to find the finest and most costly varieties of tea to create exotic blends that would arouse the admiration of his guests.
When each hosted the group he served his tea with an elaborate ceremony. On one occasion when the group met, the host measured the tea leaves from a golden box. The assembled party marveled and praised the taste of this exquisite tea. The host smiled and said, “The tea you have found so delightful is the same tea our peasants drink.
I hope this story will reminder you that the best things in life are common to all from God. They are neither the rarest nor the most costly. They are things like Grace, Peace, Brotherly love…
4 - Preaching - 1:18 We should rejoice in Preaching about Christ - What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Some of the folks that would preach because they had a grudge against someone (v 15) or they envied someone. That shouldn’t be but Paul says, It someone gets saved or right with the Lord, then I joy in it.
Ill I told a man that this pass week “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. I have invited him to church before. He is unsaved. I said, “Just come and listen and give God a chance to open your heart and give you eternal life in heaven.”
5 - Oneness – 2:1-2 – We should rejoice in Oneness or Unity -
2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Verse 2 is very true. Let me illustrate: If you and I are Carolina Basketball fans and I am saved and you aren’t, we could go to the game and have a good time because of our love for the team.
Now, you might drink and say a few words I might not say, but the fact that we are both wanting our ball team to win would allow both of us to get excited and rejoice over the game.
If this is true in the world, how much more should this be true in Church with a group of people who say, we are of the same mind. We love the Lord Jesus Christ. We are here to sing praises to Him. Amen and amen!
Now, lets say you are a Duke fan and I am a Carolina fan and we both go to the game, now wait! We aren’t going to get along. Why? We don’t love the same team.
But, stop and wait a minute. Let’s say, we are both saved. Now we go and shout for our team, but for the love of God we have, we go as friends and we come home friends, even though Carolina won.
Why? We have something deeper than our pet peeves. We have Jesus.
How much truer should that be at Church amongst Christians. AMEN!
Now, the reason why people don’t get along with others at work, at sporting events, at church is because of verse 3 and 4.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Paul says, do what you do for self glory. Do sing, don’t teach, don’t work, don’t do what you do to be seen. Do what you do humbly and for God’s glory. If you do, verse 3 says, You will put others before yourself.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Verse 3 says do what you do for God. Verse 4 says do for others. It never says do for self but verse 5 tells us…
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
If so, we (v 2) “fulfill Christ’s joy.” J-O-Y Jesus -1st, Others 2nd, Yourself - 0
6 - Praise – We should rejoice when God’s children praise Him.
Phil 2:17-18, “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith I joy, and rejoice with you all.
For the same cause also do ye joy and rejoice with me.
3:1 – Finally my brethren rejoice. Rejoice can refer to singing.
Joy not only puts a smile on your face but a song in your heart.
Psalms 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
God enjoys His children singing songs of praise to Him if those songs come from pure heart.
Ill. I have heard beautiful melodious music. I have heard a congregation of 17,000 people sing “Redeemed how I love to proclaim it” and my soul was lifted to heaven.
Our Choir blesses my soul. (quartets, trios, ladies, solos, music instruments)
I have listen to a 32 year old cripple boy name Bobby, sing a solo about the day he would walk through heaven. I rejoice and cried though he could not carry a note.
Praise is comely to God. He enjoys us praising in song or tongue.
Praise is comely to God’s people. Psalms 33:1
7 – Garments of Contentment – Our garments bring us joy.
Phil 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: forI have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
- Isaiah 61: 10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
There is an outward garment of Salvation and a robe of righteousness that Christians should wear.
That clothing is spiritual but it comes from the heart. It is only evident outwardly because it has been put on inwardly.
Remember when Samuel went to Jessie’s house to anoint one of his son’s to be the next king of Israel? As they marched by God said, “don’t look on the outward appearance but on his heart.” He went on and said, “for the Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
People jumped on that and justified living like hippies back in the fifties and sixties and today they justify it by even more worldly measures.
This scripture isn’t talking about the garments a person wears but it speaks of a person’s statue.
It is speaking of man’s height. David’s brothers were tall and broad and soldiers. David was a teenager, still wet behind the ears, but God saw in him a heart that loved Him.
Isaiah 61:10 is saying, “Put on the fruits of the Spirit” and you will be decked out with the most beautiful ornaments and jewels of heaven.
Every believer that lives this way will have God’s joy.
1 – The things of the Lord bring Joy to the Believer, not the unbeliever.
- The message I just preached does not bring joy to the lost.
- Reading God’s Word is joyful to the believer.
- Singing brings joy to God’s children.
- Going to Church is joyful to God’s children.
- Sweet fellowship among God’s people is joyful.
- Prayer with God’s people is peaceful and joyful.
- To talk about Jesus Christ is Joyful and to this we say “amen, amen.”
2 - On the other hand the Things of this world bring joy to the lost, not the believer.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
A – Verse 19 speaks of Sexual Sins:
Adultery – “pornia” is when you leave your mate for another person.
Fornication “akathasia” – Those relationships outside of marriage.
Uncleanness - This is wantonness. To want a man or woman who does not belong to you is sin.
Lasciviousness: Living to satisfy the lust of the flesh above the Spirit. This is as low as you can sink in sexual sins.
The unsaved man finds his or her greatest joy satisfying the flesh.
B – Verse 19 speaks of Spiritual sins:
Idolatry – This is religious flesh at its worse. It fails to see God as holy, pure, righteous.
Witchcraft - The word for witchcraft is pharmakia. It means sorcery. We get our English word, pharmacy from this word. It can also be interpreted as “enchantment with drugs.”
C – Verse 19-21 speak of Social sins:
Hatred -- literally means, “one who nurtures hostility.” They dislike someone and rather than getting their heart right with God, they focus so much on their hate, that their bitterness grows and grows till they don’t realize how far they are from God.
Variance - “eris” – strife, quarrelsomeness. Seemingly some folks aren’t happy unless they are in a fight with someone.
Emulations - To desire what another has or to desire to be like another.
Wrath -- This is the word thumos. When one gets upset easily and explodes it is a sign of wrath. Dr. John Philllps says, “A bad temper or even an outburst of rage can reveal deep unconfessed sin.
Strife - Is the word eritheia. It is translated “factions or ambition.”
It refers a group promoting their ideas as to cause a split.
It comes from the word “hireling”. It is a work of the flesh and is seen in a person who is more interested in winning their viewpoint than bring glory and harmony to God.
Seditions - Speaks of those who cause division. They speak against the boss man as a Union representative. They speak against the Pastor and cause divisions as well.
Heresies -- A heresy is an unbiblical doctrine or teaching.
Envyings, (to desire that which is not yours) Solomon said,
Murders, - To kill someone
Drunkenness – To get drunk
Revellings, It is always associated with drunkenness.
Are you joyful over spiritual things or does it take worldly things to make you happy? I hope the things of the Lord does. If not read Philippians 2:12 and obey what Paul says.
If you lose your peace, step back and examine your focus.
Do we rejoice in the Lord or do we rejoice in things?
If the Lord was our focus we would have joy continually because the Lord changeth not.
Let me illustrate: Let’s say you have a gold and diamond ring valued at $5,000 and if was given to you by your father right before he passed away. You cherish this ring.
You also have a picture you purchased for $1.00. You set both of them in the front seat of your car because you are going to the YMCA to watch your son play ball.
When you come out someone has picked your lock and stole your $1.00 picture and they left the $5,000.00 ring. You say, “Praise the Lord.”
And so if our heart and affections are on the right thing we can lose things worth a few dollars and if does not affect our joy, as long as we don’t lose our focus on our lovely Lord.
Psalms 16: 11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is
fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Ps 17: 7 Show thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
Philippians 4: 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Rejoice means to celebrate, express joy or be glad.
Whenever God says something twice in one sentence He is letting you know that this is very, very important.
Thus, it is vital that the child of God rejoice.
The phrase “rejoice in the Lord” appear nine times in the Bible.
-Nine is the number of the fruit of the Spirit.
-Rejoicing is a sign of one of God’s children walking in His Spirit.
-Rejoice is used 220 times in God’s Word. Praise is used 287 times.
Sing is used 148 times. Joy is mentioned 190 times.
Paul doesn’t just say “rejoice in the Lord” but rejoice… alway and again I say rejoice. Why?
-Something that comes with joy is a smile, just like salt and pepper.
---Paul knows as God knows that as a special lure on the end of a fishing line will bring the fish to the fisherman, Joy is one of the lures of the Holy Spirit to attract an unsaved world to the Lord.
In Old Testament times during the days that Judah was coming out of Babylonian captivity they had finished the walls around the city of Jerusalem.
The temple was built but was not what it used to be and only ten percent or so of the Jews had returned to their homeland. But, they had a worship service:
Nehemiah 8:5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Nehemiah and Ezra read and taught the people the word of God from morning till evening and the people said, “Amen, Amen.”
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Joy is a sign of a person who is walking in the Spirit. Amen
Joy is a sign of a person whose heart is clean. Amen
Joy is a sign of a means of luring people to Christ.
Look at the many things that a child of God can rejoice in:
1 - Grace - Philippians 1:2 – We should rejoice in Grace - Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Grace is God doing for you individually what you could never in a billion years do for yourself. – Amen!
Grace comes from God through Jesus Christ.
God’s grace is seen on Calvary when God paid a debt that the world collectively could never pay.
Jesus satisfied the debt the world owed God. A debt that if the world stood for a billion, billion years and every man on the face of the earth paid God 100% of all his earnings, man could never repay God for the debt that Jesus paid on Calvary. That is grace!
Can you say “amen” to the grace of God.
His grace is offered to you to absolve your sin.
Grace is offered to you to for abundant joy .
Romans 5: 20b But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
To do as Judah did under Nehemiah will always brings God’s grace. They bowed before the Lord in holy worship and the joy of the Lord became their strength.
I still believe this truth. “If you are saved by grace you can live anyway you want to live,” but let me conclude. “If you are saved by grace God has placed His Spirit within you that will convict you and chasten your soul if you live contrary to God’s Word.” His Spirit will direct you to seek to live holy and at peace with Him first and others second.
A warning: John said in I John 4:1, Try the spirits to see whether they are of God. If the spirit in you tells you that you can live and enjoy the sins of the world, I would do what Paul said in Philippians 2:12: “work out your Salvation in fear and trembling.” Grace brings Joy – Amen?
2 - Peace – Philippians 1: 2: We should rejoice in Peace – Peace in nature is to think on that which is quiet and still and calm.
My wife and I have often driven up in the mountains to lovers leap.
You can stop and look out over a valley of great beauty. In the spring and fall of the year, with the wind slightly blowing and everything quiet it is so peaceful.
Peace with God is to know there is nothing between God and me.
“To have the peace of God you must know the God of peace.
Warning: -Don’t let things steal your peace with God.
-Don’t let people steal your peace with God.
-Don’t let unfulfilled expectations steal your peace with God.
Peace is not living in a world without poverty or war or strife. It is living a relationship with God so these things don’t steal your joy.
3 - Blessings – Philippians 1:3-4 We should rejoice in Blessings -
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Grace brings peace. Peace brings blessings. Blessings brings joy. Joy brings sweet fellowship (v 5).
--I like to come to church and greet my brothers and sisters in Christ who are enjoying the grace and peace of God.
--Sadly, some folks come to God’s house without the grace and peace of God. How do I know? No smile, No joy, No friendship. Don’t let that be you.
Illustration: A group of elderly, cultured gentlemen in China met often to exchange wisdom and to drink tea.
Each host tried to find the finest and most costly varieties of tea to create exotic blends that would arouse the admiration of his guests.
When each hosted the group he served his tea with an elaborate ceremony. On one occasion when the group met, the host measured the tea leaves from a golden box. The assembled party marveled and praised the taste of this exquisite tea. The host smiled and said, “The tea you have found so delightful is the same tea our peasants drink.
I hope this story will reminder you that the best things in life are common to all from God. They are neither the rarest nor the most costly. They are things like Grace, Peace, Brotherly love…
4 - Preaching - 1:18 We should rejoice in Preaching about Christ - What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Some of the folks that would preach because they had a grudge against someone (v 15) or they envied someone. That shouldn’t be but Paul says, It someone gets saved or right with the Lord, then I joy in it.
Ill I told a man that this pass week “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. I have invited him to church before. He is unsaved. I said, “Just come and listen and give God a chance to open your heart and give you eternal life in heaven.”
5 - Oneness – 2:1-2 – We should rejoice in Oneness or Unity -
2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Verse 2 is very true. Let me illustrate: If you and I are Carolina Basketball fans and I am saved and you aren’t, we could go to the game and have a good time because of our love for the team.
Now, you might drink and say a few words I might not say, but the fact that we are both wanting our ball team to win would allow both of us to get excited and rejoice over the game.
If this is true in the world, how much more should this be true in Church with a group of people who say, we are of the same mind. We love the Lord Jesus Christ. We are here to sing praises to Him. Amen and amen!
Now, lets say you are a Duke fan and I am a Carolina fan and we both go to the game, now wait! We aren’t going to get along. Why? We don’t love the same team.
But, stop and wait a minute. Let’s say, we are both saved. Now we go and shout for our team, but for the love of God we have, we go as friends and we come home friends, even though Carolina won.
Why? We have something deeper than our pet peeves. We have Jesus.
How much truer should that be at Church amongst Christians. AMEN!
Now, the reason why people don’t get along with others at work, at sporting events, at church is because of verse 3 and 4.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Paul says, do what you do for self glory. Do sing, don’t teach, don’t work, don’t do what you do to be seen. Do what you do humbly and for God’s glory. If you do, verse 3 says, You will put others before yourself.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Verse 3 says do what you do for God. Verse 4 says do for others. It never says do for self but verse 5 tells us…
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
If so, we (v 2) “fulfill Christ’s joy.” J-O-Y Jesus -1st, Others 2nd, Yourself - 0
6 - Praise – We should rejoice when God’s children praise Him.
Phil 2:17-18, “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith I joy, and rejoice with you all.
For the same cause also do ye joy and rejoice with me.
3:1 – Finally my brethren rejoice. Rejoice can refer to singing.
Joy not only puts a smile on your face but a song in your heart.
Psalms 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
God enjoys His children singing songs of praise to Him if those songs come from pure heart.
Ill. I have heard beautiful melodious music. I have heard a congregation of 17,000 people sing “Redeemed how I love to proclaim it” and my soul was lifted to heaven.
Our Choir blesses my soul. (quartets, trios, ladies, solos, music instruments)
I have listen to a 32 year old cripple boy name Bobby, sing a solo about the day he would walk through heaven. I rejoice and cried though he could not carry a note.
Praise is comely to God. He enjoys us praising in song or tongue.
Praise is comely to God’s people. Psalms 33:1
7 – Garments of Contentment – Our garments bring us joy.
Phil 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: forI have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
- Isaiah 61: 10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
There is an outward garment of Salvation and a robe of righteousness that Christians should wear.
That clothing is spiritual but it comes from the heart. It is only evident outwardly because it has been put on inwardly.
Remember when Samuel went to Jessie’s house to anoint one of his son’s to be the next king of Israel? As they marched by God said, “don’t look on the outward appearance but on his heart.” He went on and said, “for the Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
People jumped on that and justified living like hippies back in the fifties and sixties and today they justify it by even more worldly measures.
This scripture isn’t talking about the garments a person wears but it speaks of a person’s statue.
It is speaking of man’s height. David’s brothers were tall and broad and soldiers. David was a teenager, still wet behind the ears, but God saw in him a heart that loved Him.
Isaiah 61:10 is saying, “Put on the fruits of the Spirit” and you will be decked out with the most beautiful ornaments and jewels of heaven.
Every believer that lives this way will have God’s joy.
1 – The things of the Lord bring Joy to the Believer, not the unbeliever.
- The message I just preached does not bring joy to the lost.
- Reading God’s Word is joyful to the believer.
- Singing brings joy to God’s children.
- Going to Church is joyful to God’s children.
- Sweet fellowship among God’s people is joyful.
- Prayer with God’s people is peaceful and joyful.
- To talk about Jesus Christ is Joyful and to this we say “amen, amen.”
2 - On the other hand the Things of this world bring joy to the lost, not the believer.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
A – Verse 19 speaks of Sexual Sins:
Adultery – “pornia” is when you leave your mate for another person.
Fornication “akathasia” – Those relationships outside of marriage.
Uncleanness - This is wantonness. To want a man or woman who does not belong to you is sin.
Lasciviousness: Living to satisfy the lust of the flesh above the Spirit. This is as low as you can sink in sexual sins.
The unsaved man finds his or her greatest joy satisfying the flesh.
B – Verse 19 speaks of Spiritual sins:
Idolatry – This is religious flesh at its worse. It fails to see God as holy, pure, righteous.
Witchcraft - The word for witchcraft is pharmakia. It means sorcery. We get our English word, pharmacy from this word. It can also be interpreted as “enchantment with drugs.”
C – Verse 19-21 speak of Social sins:
Hatred -- literally means, “one who nurtures hostility.” They dislike someone and rather than getting their heart right with God, they focus so much on their hate, that their bitterness grows and grows till they don’t realize how far they are from God.
Variance - “eris” – strife, quarrelsomeness. Seemingly some folks aren’t happy unless they are in a fight with someone.
Emulations - To desire what another has or to desire to be like another.
Wrath -- This is the word thumos. When one gets upset easily and explodes it is a sign of wrath. Dr. John Philllps says, “A bad temper or even an outburst of rage can reveal deep unconfessed sin.
Strife - Is the word eritheia. It is translated “factions or ambition.”
It refers a group promoting their ideas as to cause a split.
It comes from the word “hireling”. It is a work of the flesh and is seen in a person who is more interested in winning their viewpoint than bring glory and harmony to God.
Seditions - Speaks of those who cause division. They speak against the boss man as a Union representative. They speak against the Pastor and cause divisions as well.
Heresies -- A heresy is an unbiblical doctrine or teaching.
Envyings, (to desire that which is not yours) Solomon said,
Murders, - To kill someone
Drunkenness – To get drunk
Revellings, It is always associated with drunkenness.
Are you joyful over spiritual things or does it take worldly things to make you happy? I hope the things of the Lord does. If not read Philippians 2:12 and obey what Paul says.
If you lose your peace, step back and examine your focus.
Do we rejoice in the Lord or do we rejoice in things?
If the Lord was our focus we would have joy continually because the Lord changeth not.
Let me illustrate: Let’s say you have a gold and diamond ring valued at $5,000 and if was given to you by your father right before he passed away. You cherish this ring.
You also have a picture you purchased for $1.00. You set both of them in the front seat of your car because you are going to the YMCA to watch your son play ball.
When you come out someone has picked your lock and stole your $1.00 picture and they left the $5,000.00 ring. You say, “Praise the Lord.”
And so if our heart and affections are on the right thing we can lose things worth a few dollars and if does not affect our joy, as long as we don’t lose our focus on our lovely Lord.
Psalms 16: 11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is
fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Ps 17: 7 Show thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
THANK YOU, FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF CHARITY
Dear Members and Friends of Charity Baptist Church,
Karen and I want to thank you for your kind words, your thoughtful gifts and lovely cards.
I thank you for your prayers, your love for Christ, your service unto the Lord and your faithfulness.
You are a great group of people.
It is your love and prayers; your spiritual life and seeking the Lord’s face that gives us such sweet service each Sunday and Wednesday.
I hope and pray that we will grow together in the Lord and our lives may give more and more glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy path.”
Love in Christ,
Pastor and Miss Karen
Karen and I want to thank you for your kind words, your thoughtful gifts and lovely cards.
I thank you for your prayers, your love for Christ, your service unto the Lord and your faithfulness.
You are a great group of people.
It is your love and prayers; your spiritual life and seeking the Lord’s face that gives us such sweet service each Sunday and Wednesday.
I hope and pray that we will grow together in the Lord and our lives may give more and more glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy path.”
Love in Christ,
Pastor and Miss Karen
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Isaiah 6
ISAIAH’S VISION OF GOD’S THRONE
The Throne room of Almighty God has existed for hundreds of billions of years. No man would have the faintest idea what it looks like had God not privilege a few people in the Bible to view it. One of them was Isaiah.
Moses and the children of Israel saw the outward awesome fiery appearance of the Lord on Mount Sinai.
Solomon saw the smoky fog of God’s train that filled the temple and they could not enter it.
John the beloved described to us in Revelation four and five aspects of God’s throne room.
Ezekiel saw a vision of God’s throne in Ezekiel one.
And here Isaiah is privileged to receive a vision of God’s Throne Room.
Let me give you three thoughts about this Vision:
I - The Vision Changed how Isaiah looked at life v 1-5
A vision of God will change how you look at life as well.
6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
In the time that Isaiah received this vision the good King Uzziah who had reigned in Judah for 52 years died. The year was 740 B.C.
Wealth and prosperity reigned in Judah as it does in America today.
During this prosperity people were drifting away from God.
John Wesley the great Methodist preacher said, “I don’t know how to keep the Methodist poor.” His reason was that he knew that with prosperity people have the tendency to drift away from God.
He knew people had the tendency to use their money to get involved in more and more outside activities and thus forget God’s house and God’s word.
Today people buy boats, campers, guns, fishing poles, TV’s, gas grills and there is nothing wrong with those but when they keep us out of God’s house, our prosperity has caused us to drift.
Thus prosperity can be a great weight that causes people to quit praying, quit worshipping and quit witnessing. On the other hand prosperity used for God can be a great blessing.
1 - Isaiah valued the Spiritual life of Uzziah. He knew his righteous life made a difference in the nation and with God.
-It was at this time Judah’s life that Isaiah has a vision.
--What he saw was the most needed sight of the hour.
He saw “The Lord is on His Throne.”
--Isaiah realized that even though some political leaders would reign that would be far less spiritual than Uzziah and that their brother Israel would soon be conquered which would put more political and military pressure on Judah, that God was still in charge.
2 – A vision of God allowed Isaiah to realize God is in Charge of every thing.
When you listen to the news and hear of all that is going on in this world, war, famine, political unrest, realize something. God is still in
charge. The Lord is on His Throne.
The governments of this world aren’t in charge.
The scientists of this world are not in charge.
The educators of this world aren’t in charge. God is in charge.
The terrorist of this world are not in charge.
-- And the people who influence God are His children.
3 – The vision allowed Isaiah to see God’s Power an authority.
The train that filled the temple indicates that God is using his office as Judge. He is going to judge Judah. He will soon judge Israel. He judged Babylon, Greece, Rome.
He will one day judge Russia, China, the Muslim worlds and he will judge America.
The vision told Isaiah that the Judge of the universe is in Charge.
His eyes move from God’s throne to other sights:
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
He saw the Seraphim. These angels are ablaze with fire from standing in the presence of the very holiness of Almighty God.
The sight was stunning, spectacular and startling.
These creatures so close to the throne of God reflecting God’s holiness and righteousness.
The vision tells Isaiah and us, “God wants us to be holy.”
Ill. Have you ever been invited to an event and when you showed up you had on blue jeans and a t-shirt and everybody else was in a Suit and tie? Well you feel out of place. Could you imagine standing in the presence of the President of the U.S. at a formal meeting in a t-shirt.
- You would feel quite out of place if you had understanding of the position of the man you were about to meet.
- The reason God tells us about Isaiah’s vision is not just for Isaiah but for us. When we approach the throne of God, we should and will only approach in righteousness, reverence and respect.
Isaiah’s description of their appearance before God reveal that the Seraphims stand in reverence and respect and Humility.
Where there is no humility and reverence there is no worship.
We can not worship God with pride in our heart.
We can not worship God with an irreverent, half/hearted attitude.
We have a holy God, a holy Savior and a Holy Spirit.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Do you see what God revealed to Isaiah in that verse?
1) He revealed that God is the God of all the earth. His name is Jehovah.
It is not Allah. It is not Adam. It is not a higher power. He is the God of Israel. He is the creator of this world. He revealed Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ.
2) Another reason for the need of this vision was because the Jews thought that God was only their God.
-Isaiah saw that God was to be God of all the earth.
-The Jews were to so live and tell the world of their awesome God to convince and convert the heathen to believe but, they failed.
-Just like today in Christendom so many have adopted the false teaching of hyper-Calvinism; some by belief and some by life style.
-Hyper Calvinism teaches that God has ordained some people to go to heaven and others to go to hell and there is nothing you can do about it. So just live for Christ in your own little world and your own little church.
I don’t believe it! Jesus told his disciples to go into the world and proclaim the Gospel. And if you will read Acts 1:8, he said to first go to your home town. Be a witness at home, in your neighborhood, in your city and town before you go elsewhere.
Be a witness by your lips and your life.
Another thing in this vision catches Isaiah’s attention:
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
The words of praise shook the doorposts of heaven. May I say we can sing or we can sing? We can praise or we can praise. What do I mean? We can sing from our mouths and nobody and nothing on this earth or in heaven is moved. Or we can sing from our hearts filled with holy reverence for the God of heaven and move heaven and earth.
Are you embarrassed to sing songs from your heart about the God of heaven who sent his son to die for you and save your soul? I hope not!
If you are you may be lost or far from where you should be spiritually and you need a fresh vision of God!
Isaiah sees smoke. Smoke pictures the absolute divinity or holiness of God. God is holy. Jesus is holy. His spirit that lives in the believer is holy.
Ill. When the Holy Spirit moves in a service he doesn’t knock women down whereby their skirt goes up over their head. He is holy.
Ill. When someone claims to have gotten saved and their speech hasn’t changed and their lifestyle hasn’t changed somebody may have gotten another spirit besides God’s spirit. John 4:1 says, “Try the spirits and see whether they be of God.”
Here is how this vision affected Isaiah.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
1) Isaiah first saw his sinful condition before God.
You and I need a vision of God. You will never physically see the Lord but you can have a vision of God.
Who here would like to see what less than 1% of the people in the world today will ever see? Who would like a true vision of God?
You can have a vision but there is only one way. Inside the pages of the Bible you will see a great and awesome vision of God.
Your vision of God becomes larger and clearer as you gaze upon the One who sits upon the Throne. Less than 200 years ago Scientist said there were less than a billion stars. Today because of those who gazed upon the stars, we know there are 100 billion stars in our Galaxy, the Milky Way and there are 100 billion galaxies in space.
The vision he will give you is like the Michelangelo that painted the Sistine chapel. Years and thousands of hours he thought and stared and painted on that ceiling.
Every day you paint on the canvass of your mind the vision of God you see as you gaze in His Holy word. Have you added in new stokes today? What does your family see? What do your neighbors see?
This vision affected Isaiah: How? He was convinced more than ever of his sin.
It is one thing to say “I am a sinner.” It is another thing to feel in my soul that I am a sinner. God wants me to sense my position with him not just mentally but emotionally and spiritually.
Let me illustrate: To taste food in my mouth I enjoy. But not until it gets into my stomach and intestines does it give me strength and nourishment.
We taste the Bible with our ears and thoughts but it does us little or no good if it does not get into my heart, if it doesn’t become part of our life.
If we taste it with our minds but do not make it part of our lives we become guilty of being a spiritual anorexic.
Isaiah was a devout man of God. He was God’s prophet, but when he got a vision of God – he realizes first that he was sinful man.
And secondly, he realized his people were sinful as well.
Why is that revealed to us? Because the priest and false prophets of Israel and Judah were telling everybody, they were just fine as they were and they believed them.
Applications: Preachers aren’t OK because they are preachers.
They to must confess their sins and draw nearer to God. Those who don’t and won’t will never draw their congregation closer to God.
- The preachers on TV that only preach positive and don’t preached the whole Bible, have never seen God. God doesn’t command his ordained preachers to preach part of the Bible, but all of the Bible. He says, preach, teach, reprove, rebuke, exhort. Preach the whole council of God.
The preacher that gets a vision of God will preach the whole Bible.
-He will preach heaven holy and hell hot.
-He will preach repentance and he will preach redemption.
-He will preach the good and the bad, right and wrong, good and evil.
-He will preach for Christ and against sin.
When a people pray and the preachers cry against sin and ,revival comes, a great holy presence of God fill people’s heart. And a change takes place.
In Ireland in the late 1800’s such a revival hit the land that sin came to a halt. The judges had little or nothing to do. The police had no one to arrest.
I - The Vision Changed how Isaiah looked at life v 1-5
II - The Vision Cleansed Isaiah’s heart v 6-7
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
As Isaiah is viewing the throne of God one of the Seraphims leave God’s throne and flies towards him.
He took the tongs which represents God’s Holy Spirit.
The altar pictures Jesus Christ. On the altar there was a continual burnt offering of animals being killed and their blood being shed. This was a picture of the Lord Jesus sacrificing his life and shedding his blood on Calvary for the world.
That blood was a sacrifice that cleanse us. John said Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
This live coal symbolized the convicting and cleansing power of God’s Spirit. When we willingly allow God’s spirit to touch our lives – our speech will be changed and our sins are purged.
III - The Vision Commissioned Isaiah to preach truth v 8
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
When we get a vision from God we become alert not just to our sins, not just to the needs in our church and family, but we become alert to the heart of God.
“What was the commission?” “Go!” I’ve heard people in this church say this after salvation. “I want my mama saved.” “I want my brother saved.” “I want my friend saved.” It is a very common concern for one of God’s children.
9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
David Livingston went to Africa to tell a people about his Lord
Adoniram Judson went to Burma to tell a people about his Lord.
When I got saved, I wanted my family saved. I wanted my friends saved. I went to see and talk to all I could.
Go and tell your world about Jesus.
You say, “But I am afraid.” You give a vision of:
1 – Jesus on Calvary
2 – Jesus on the Throne
3 – Of the unsaved in Hell.
You and I have been commissioned to tell the world what Jesus did on Calvary and let’s do that. But that is just the beginning. In Matthew 28 Jesus said also teach them all things.
After this vision what did God tell Isaiah to preach? In v 9 God revealed to Isaiah that though he preached they wouldn’t understand what he was saying? Why?
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Their hearts were fat with sin. They spent their times feasting on the pleasures and prosperity of the times and not with the Lord.
Their ears were so filled with the songs of the world, that the songs of the LORD were not heard.
Their eyes were so full of the lust of life that in their hearts there was little love for the Lord.
They had hardened their heart and stiffen their necks. And they would close their eyes and turn their heads in rebellion.
Do you know what happens to a teenager or adult that does that? Their hearts become fat in sin and their ears with burdens with the conversation of the world. They become blind to spiritual truths. Thinking themselves wise they become fools, Paul said.
They reject truth and develop itching ears the Bible says. You say, “What are itching ears?” It is a people who want to hear only the positive preaching of God’s word and not the whole council of God.
11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,
-In 20 years Israel would fall to the Assyrians.
-In 136 years Judah would fall to the Babylonians.
-They would remain in captivity for 70 years.
-Freedom would then come so they could go back to their homeland and rebuild. But out of the millions of Jews in Babylon and around the world only 50,000 returned.
- 483 years after the command of Ahasaerus to rebuild the temple Jesus would come but because they had no vision of the Lord, no knowledge of the Scripture, they would reject the Christ and hang Jesus on the Cross.
Their hearts were fat and their ears heavy and their eyes blind to truth.
After they rejected God’s son their landed would be desolate for nearly 2,000 years.
NHow many of you parents want your children to be saved and to walk in truth? They will follow your example: Are you seeking a vision of God from his Word?
I heard about a 3 year old and I believe a 7 year old getting in their parents cars and cranking them up and taking them for a spin. The three year old was only able to back the car out of the drive into a telephone pole. Now, here is the question. Did mama and daddy teach them and instruct them to take the car for a joy ride? No! They simple watched their example. Our children will 75% of the time follow our example.
Isaiah asked in verse 11, “How long? God answers and says,
Preach till the end. Preach in the midst of war and tribulation and destruction. Preach until there isn’t a man standing alive.
The application today is this: Don’t let the devil say, “Quit witnessing, nobody is listening. Don’t listen when the devil says, “Well it is the Laodicean church age and nobody cares.”
Just keep on keeping on till Jesus comes.
--When the Assyrians conquered Israel, Isaiah preached.
--When Judah ignored Isaiah’s preaching, he kept preaching.
--When Judah was taken captive by the Babylonians, Haggai and Zephaniah and Malachi preached.
--When Jesus came and men hung him on the cross he rose again and the disciples preached.
--Throughout the dark ages, God’s people preached.
--Today, God’s men are to preach and His church is to witness.
-When the tribulation comes and the world lies in ruin – God’s men must preach.
What do they preach? The same truth John the Baptist preached. The same truth Jesus Christ preached. The same truth the disciples preached.
Repent! Turn to God! Trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Friend, Get a vision of the Lord!
12 And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.
It has been many years but in 1948 Israel went back to their land fulfilling scripture. But, that is not enough.
13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
They have no fruit.
The teil tree was an ever green tree. But in the midst of severe draught it could lose it’s leaves. And so the oak loses its leaves every winter and yet it is not dead.
Isaiah saw in his vision that Israel would lose their leaves, yea their fruit and yea their freedom.
But there are two applications:
1 – The Church is to be full of God’s fruit and yet at times churches lose their fruit. They lose their love for God and compassion for souls. They lose their joy in singing and peace in fellowship. They fuss and fight instead of pray and worship but inside is still the living God yea his Holy Spirit. That church needs a new vision of the Lord which will humble them and made them holy.
2 – The Christian is the second application. There are days and maybe weeks when famines come maybe due to prosperity, maybe due to another means and you individually lose your love for God, joy of the Lord and peace within. But, stop and get a vision of the Lord.
If by grace you have been saved then by grace you are saved. Take the prosperous fat from your heart and the worldly visions from your eyes and get a new vision of the king of kings and Lord of Lord who sits upon the throne.
The Throne room of Almighty God has existed for hundreds of billions of years. No man would have the faintest idea what it looks like had God not privilege a few people in the Bible to view it. One of them was Isaiah.
Moses and the children of Israel saw the outward awesome fiery appearance of the Lord on Mount Sinai.
Solomon saw the smoky fog of God’s train that filled the temple and they could not enter it.
John the beloved described to us in Revelation four and five aspects of God’s throne room.
Ezekiel saw a vision of God’s throne in Ezekiel one.
And here Isaiah is privileged to receive a vision of God’s Throne Room.
Let me give you three thoughts about this Vision:
I - The Vision Changed how Isaiah looked at life v 1-5
A vision of God will change how you look at life as well.
6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
In the time that Isaiah received this vision the good King Uzziah who had reigned in Judah for 52 years died. The year was 740 B.C.
Wealth and prosperity reigned in Judah as it does in America today.
During this prosperity people were drifting away from God.
John Wesley the great Methodist preacher said, “I don’t know how to keep the Methodist poor.” His reason was that he knew that with prosperity people have the tendency to drift away from God.
He knew people had the tendency to use their money to get involved in more and more outside activities and thus forget God’s house and God’s word.
Today people buy boats, campers, guns, fishing poles, TV’s, gas grills and there is nothing wrong with those but when they keep us out of God’s house, our prosperity has caused us to drift.
Thus prosperity can be a great weight that causes people to quit praying, quit worshipping and quit witnessing. On the other hand prosperity used for God can be a great blessing.
1 - Isaiah valued the Spiritual life of Uzziah. He knew his righteous life made a difference in the nation and with God.
-It was at this time Judah’s life that Isaiah has a vision.
--What he saw was the most needed sight of the hour.
He saw “The Lord is on His Throne.”
--Isaiah realized that even though some political leaders would reign that would be far less spiritual than Uzziah and that their brother Israel would soon be conquered which would put more political and military pressure on Judah, that God was still in charge.
2 – A vision of God allowed Isaiah to realize God is in Charge of every thing.
When you listen to the news and hear of all that is going on in this world, war, famine, political unrest, realize something. God is still in
charge. The Lord is on His Throne.
The governments of this world aren’t in charge.
The scientists of this world are not in charge.
The educators of this world aren’t in charge. God is in charge.
The terrorist of this world are not in charge.
-- And the people who influence God are His children.
3 – The vision allowed Isaiah to see God’s Power an authority.
The train that filled the temple indicates that God is using his office as Judge. He is going to judge Judah. He will soon judge Israel. He judged Babylon, Greece, Rome.
He will one day judge Russia, China, the Muslim worlds and he will judge America.
The vision told Isaiah that the Judge of the universe is in Charge.
His eyes move from God’s throne to other sights:
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
He saw the Seraphim. These angels are ablaze with fire from standing in the presence of the very holiness of Almighty God.
The sight was stunning, spectacular and startling.
These creatures so close to the throne of God reflecting God’s holiness and righteousness.
The vision tells Isaiah and us, “God wants us to be holy.”
Ill. Have you ever been invited to an event and when you showed up you had on blue jeans and a t-shirt and everybody else was in a Suit and tie? Well you feel out of place. Could you imagine standing in the presence of the President of the U.S. at a formal meeting in a t-shirt.
- You would feel quite out of place if you had understanding of the position of the man you were about to meet.
- The reason God tells us about Isaiah’s vision is not just for Isaiah but for us. When we approach the throne of God, we should and will only approach in righteousness, reverence and respect.
Isaiah’s description of their appearance before God reveal that the Seraphims stand in reverence and respect and Humility.
Where there is no humility and reverence there is no worship.
We can not worship God with pride in our heart.
We can not worship God with an irreverent, half/hearted attitude.
We have a holy God, a holy Savior and a Holy Spirit.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Do you see what God revealed to Isaiah in that verse?
1) He revealed that God is the God of all the earth. His name is Jehovah.
It is not Allah. It is not Adam. It is not a higher power. He is the God of Israel. He is the creator of this world. He revealed Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ.
2) Another reason for the need of this vision was because the Jews thought that God was only their God.
-Isaiah saw that God was to be God of all the earth.
-The Jews were to so live and tell the world of their awesome God to convince and convert the heathen to believe but, they failed.
-Just like today in Christendom so many have adopted the false teaching of hyper-Calvinism; some by belief and some by life style.
-Hyper Calvinism teaches that God has ordained some people to go to heaven and others to go to hell and there is nothing you can do about it. So just live for Christ in your own little world and your own little church.
I don’t believe it! Jesus told his disciples to go into the world and proclaim the Gospel. And if you will read Acts 1:8, he said to first go to your home town. Be a witness at home, in your neighborhood, in your city and town before you go elsewhere.
Be a witness by your lips and your life.
Another thing in this vision catches Isaiah’s attention:
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
The words of praise shook the doorposts of heaven. May I say we can sing or we can sing? We can praise or we can praise. What do I mean? We can sing from our mouths and nobody and nothing on this earth or in heaven is moved. Or we can sing from our hearts filled with holy reverence for the God of heaven and move heaven and earth.
Are you embarrassed to sing songs from your heart about the God of heaven who sent his son to die for you and save your soul? I hope not!
If you are you may be lost or far from where you should be spiritually and you need a fresh vision of God!
Isaiah sees smoke. Smoke pictures the absolute divinity or holiness of God. God is holy. Jesus is holy. His spirit that lives in the believer is holy.
Ill. When the Holy Spirit moves in a service he doesn’t knock women down whereby their skirt goes up over their head. He is holy.
Ill. When someone claims to have gotten saved and their speech hasn’t changed and their lifestyle hasn’t changed somebody may have gotten another spirit besides God’s spirit. John 4:1 says, “Try the spirits and see whether they be of God.”
Here is how this vision affected Isaiah.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
1) Isaiah first saw his sinful condition before God.
You and I need a vision of God. You will never physically see the Lord but you can have a vision of God.
Who here would like to see what less than 1% of the people in the world today will ever see? Who would like a true vision of God?
You can have a vision but there is only one way. Inside the pages of the Bible you will see a great and awesome vision of God.
Your vision of God becomes larger and clearer as you gaze upon the One who sits upon the Throne. Less than 200 years ago Scientist said there were less than a billion stars. Today because of those who gazed upon the stars, we know there are 100 billion stars in our Galaxy, the Milky Way and there are 100 billion galaxies in space.
The vision he will give you is like the Michelangelo that painted the Sistine chapel. Years and thousands of hours he thought and stared and painted on that ceiling.
Every day you paint on the canvass of your mind the vision of God you see as you gaze in His Holy word. Have you added in new stokes today? What does your family see? What do your neighbors see?
This vision affected Isaiah: How? He was convinced more than ever of his sin.
It is one thing to say “I am a sinner.” It is another thing to feel in my soul that I am a sinner. God wants me to sense my position with him not just mentally but emotionally and spiritually.
Let me illustrate: To taste food in my mouth I enjoy. But not until it gets into my stomach and intestines does it give me strength and nourishment.
We taste the Bible with our ears and thoughts but it does us little or no good if it does not get into my heart, if it doesn’t become part of our life.
If we taste it with our minds but do not make it part of our lives we become guilty of being a spiritual anorexic.
Isaiah was a devout man of God. He was God’s prophet, but when he got a vision of God – he realizes first that he was sinful man.
And secondly, he realized his people were sinful as well.
Why is that revealed to us? Because the priest and false prophets of Israel and Judah were telling everybody, they were just fine as they were and they believed them.
Applications: Preachers aren’t OK because they are preachers.
They to must confess their sins and draw nearer to God. Those who don’t and won’t will never draw their congregation closer to God.
- The preachers on TV that only preach positive and don’t preached the whole Bible, have never seen God. God doesn’t command his ordained preachers to preach part of the Bible, but all of the Bible. He says, preach, teach, reprove, rebuke, exhort. Preach the whole council of God.
The preacher that gets a vision of God will preach the whole Bible.
-He will preach heaven holy and hell hot.
-He will preach repentance and he will preach redemption.
-He will preach the good and the bad, right and wrong, good and evil.
-He will preach for Christ and against sin.
When a people pray and the preachers cry against sin and ,revival comes, a great holy presence of God fill people’s heart. And a change takes place.
In Ireland in the late 1800’s such a revival hit the land that sin came to a halt. The judges had little or nothing to do. The police had no one to arrest.
I - The Vision Changed how Isaiah looked at life v 1-5
II - The Vision Cleansed Isaiah’s heart v 6-7
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
As Isaiah is viewing the throne of God one of the Seraphims leave God’s throne and flies towards him.
He took the tongs which represents God’s Holy Spirit.
The altar pictures Jesus Christ. On the altar there was a continual burnt offering of animals being killed and their blood being shed. This was a picture of the Lord Jesus sacrificing his life and shedding his blood on Calvary for the world.
That blood was a sacrifice that cleanse us. John said Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
This live coal symbolized the convicting and cleansing power of God’s Spirit. When we willingly allow God’s spirit to touch our lives – our speech will be changed and our sins are purged.
III - The Vision Commissioned Isaiah to preach truth v 8
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
When we get a vision from God we become alert not just to our sins, not just to the needs in our church and family, but we become alert to the heart of God.
“What was the commission?” “Go!” I’ve heard people in this church say this after salvation. “I want my mama saved.” “I want my brother saved.” “I want my friend saved.” It is a very common concern for one of God’s children.
9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
David Livingston went to Africa to tell a people about his Lord
Adoniram Judson went to Burma to tell a people about his Lord.
When I got saved, I wanted my family saved. I wanted my friends saved. I went to see and talk to all I could.
Go and tell your world about Jesus.
You say, “But I am afraid.” You give a vision of:
1 – Jesus on Calvary
2 – Jesus on the Throne
3 – Of the unsaved in Hell.
You and I have been commissioned to tell the world what Jesus did on Calvary and let’s do that. But that is just the beginning. In Matthew 28 Jesus said also teach them all things.
After this vision what did God tell Isaiah to preach? In v 9 God revealed to Isaiah that though he preached they wouldn’t understand what he was saying? Why?
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Their hearts were fat with sin. They spent their times feasting on the pleasures and prosperity of the times and not with the Lord.
Their ears were so filled with the songs of the world, that the songs of the LORD were not heard.
Their eyes were so full of the lust of life that in their hearts there was little love for the Lord.
They had hardened their heart and stiffen their necks. And they would close their eyes and turn their heads in rebellion.
Do you know what happens to a teenager or adult that does that? Their hearts become fat in sin and their ears with burdens with the conversation of the world. They become blind to spiritual truths. Thinking themselves wise they become fools, Paul said.
They reject truth and develop itching ears the Bible says. You say, “What are itching ears?” It is a people who want to hear only the positive preaching of God’s word and not the whole council of God.
11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,
-In 20 years Israel would fall to the Assyrians.
-In 136 years Judah would fall to the Babylonians.
-They would remain in captivity for 70 years.
-Freedom would then come so they could go back to their homeland and rebuild. But out of the millions of Jews in Babylon and around the world only 50,000 returned.
- 483 years after the command of Ahasaerus to rebuild the temple Jesus would come but because they had no vision of the Lord, no knowledge of the Scripture, they would reject the Christ and hang Jesus on the Cross.
Their hearts were fat and their ears heavy and their eyes blind to truth.
After they rejected God’s son their landed would be desolate for nearly 2,000 years.
NHow many of you parents want your children to be saved and to walk in truth? They will follow your example: Are you seeking a vision of God from his Word?
I heard about a 3 year old and I believe a 7 year old getting in their parents cars and cranking them up and taking them for a spin. The three year old was only able to back the car out of the drive into a telephone pole. Now, here is the question. Did mama and daddy teach them and instruct them to take the car for a joy ride? No! They simple watched their example. Our children will 75% of the time follow our example.
Isaiah asked in verse 11, “How long? God answers and says,
Preach till the end. Preach in the midst of war and tribulation and destruction. Preach until there isn’t a man standing alive.
The application today is this: Don’t let the devil say, “Quit witnessing, nobody is listening. Don’t listen when the devil says, “Well it is the Laodicean church age and nobody cares.”
Just keep on keeping on till Jesus comes.
--When the Assyrians conquered Israel, Isaiah preached.
--When Judah ignored Isaiah’s preaching, he kept preaching.
--When Judah was taken captive by the Babylonians, Haggai and Zephaniah and Malachi preached.
--When Jesus came and men hung him on the cross he rose again and the disciples preached.
--Throughout the dark ages, God’s people preached.
--Today, God’s men are to preach and His church is to witness.
-When the tribulation comes and the world lies in ruin – God’s men must preach.
What do they preach? The same truth John the Baptist preached. The same truth Jesus Christ preached. The same truth the disciples preached.
Repent! Turn to God! Trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Friend, Get a vision of the Lord!
12 And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.
It has been many years but in 1948 Israel went back to their land fulfilling scripture. But, that is not enough.
13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
They have no fruit.
The teil tree was an ever green tree. But in the midst of severe draught it could lose it’s leaves. And so the oak loses its leaves every winter and yet it is not dead.
Isaiah saw in his vision that Israel would lose their leaves, yea their fruit and yea their freedom.
But there are two applications:
1 – The Church is to be full of God’s fruit and yet at times churches lose their fruit. They lose their love for God and compassion for souls. They lose their joy in singing and peace in fellowship. They fuss and fight instead of pray and worship but inside is still the living God yea his Holy Spirit. That church needs a new vision of the Lord which will humble them and made them holy.
2 – The Christian is the second application. There are days and maybe weeks when famines come maybe due to prosperity, maybe due to another means and you individually lose your love for God, joy of the Lord and peace within. But, stop and get a vision of the Lord.
If by grace you have been saved then by grace you are saved. Take the prosperous fat from your heart and the worldly visions from your eyes and get a new vision of the king of kings and Lord of Lord who sits upon the throne.
ANGELS - PART II
“THE MAKING OF THE ANGELS”
In the humanistic age in which we live few people understand the truth about angels. There are many skeptics and agnostics and unbelievers that simply and outwardly deny the existence of angels because they have no faith in God or His Word.
Then there are students of God’s word who know that in the “invisible realm” there are many unseen beings that are part of God’s invisible world. We should know about them and their purpose so they might influence us and so we might realize how our lives influence them and can be influenced by them.
Most people believe in angels, but there are many misconceptions about angels.
1) The knowledge gained by many folks about angels is what they have been taught by Hollywood and not God. Some folks believe that when they die, they come back as angles to do good for people or they float through heaven for eternity.
2) Religion has also give false teaching about angels. Some religions teach that angels should be prayed to and trusted in for spiritual benefits. This is of course a false teaching and against God’s word.
3) Some religions (false) even worshipped angels which is sin.
-A- God’s Second Commandment refutes angel worship:
Exodus 20: 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
-B- God’s angel refutes human worship: An angel had given John prophecy of the future in Revelation. John was so overwhelmed with his beauty that he bowed down to worship him and the angel rebuked him: Revelation 19: 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
In this study we want to get an overall picture of the truth, the beauty, the power of these unseen messengers of God.
I – The Creation of Angels
Where did angels come from? Have they always been? Do they die? Are they older than the earth? The Bible says in Genesis 1:1, ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Thus we know angels are created. They are not eternal beings. But because they were created by the eternal God they will now exist eternally.
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
The Bible declares that God created all the angels and placed them in different realms of power and authority.
Now here is a controversial question: When where they created?
Were they created in the Genesis creation or at another time?
There are two views:
1) One view says they were created within the six-day creation. And very shortly there after one of the Cherubs, Lucifer deceived one-third of them and they fell. Thus, Lucifer was cast down and came to the Garden of Eden to tempt Adam and Eve.
2) The second view is that God created the Cherubs and angelic beings at a special time for His special reasons before he laid the foundations of the earth.
The scripture used for this is Job 38:4-7 when God questions Job for questioning Him.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
The morning stars and sons of God represent names given to the angelic host of heaven. You may choose which ever time of their creation you wish, that isn’t the issue. What is more important is their reason for being here.
II – The Cause of the Angels
Heb 1: 13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
As governments have public servants which include everybody from the highest ranking government officials to servicemen to garbage collectors you must try to grasp the vastness of the ministry that God gives through angelic beings.
What you don’t see is your prayers, your righteous living, your relationship to your mate and your closeness to God moves God to command or direct his ministering spirits in certain ways in this world.
War, deaths, plagues, disease in the Bible were often given and refuted by angels.
Do you remember the angels that filled the mountains when the Syrians came to capture Elisha?
Do you recall when King David numbered the people in First Chronicles 22? God sent an angel that hover above the threshing floor of Ornan. The angel was sending forth a plague by wielding his sword. Men were dropping dead like flies. King David looked towards Ornan’s fleshing floor and saw this mighty angel and King David fell on his face in prayer with many of the men of Israel.
This mighty angel spoke not to David but to David’s seer, Gad. Gad told David to build and altar in the threshing floor of Ornan and make an offering to God. This David did and God stayed the hand of the angel. When all was over 70,000 men laid dead in the streets of Israel.
Angles are ministering spirits. God sends them forth as messengers as in Revelation 2-3. He sends them forth in power and with many plagues and judgments as He does throughout the book of Revelation. He sends them forth as ministers to those that shall be heirs of salvation in different capacities.
III – The Categories of Angels
There seems to be a ladder of angelic power reveal in the Scriptures. The first or closest angels and maybe the most powerful, but definitely the most holy are the Seraphims.
1 – Seraphims –
Isaiah 6: 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isaiah was given a vision of the Seraphims as they hovered above the throne of God in worship.
-The name Seraphims means a burning or glowing.
-They are fire-like since they stand before that One of Whom it is written: "For our God is a consuming fire." (Heb 12:29);
"His throne was like a fiery flame" (Dan 7:9);
"…The sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel." (Ex 24:17).
Standing before such glory, the seraphim are fire-like, as it said: "Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire" (Ps 103:4).
They are aflame with the holiness of God
Their occupation is twofold:
1) They celebrate the praises of Jehovah’s holiness and power (v 3).
They sing Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.
2) Act as a means of communication between heaven and earth (v 6)
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
2 – The Cherubims.
The second level of angelic beings we discover and may be the most powerful are the Cherubims.
Once over shadowing the throne of Almighty God was a perfect cherub whose wings spread was so enormous that it reached to the end of the very throne room of God and covered the Holy Trinity.
It was under this cherubs wings that the Seraphims worshipped God and sang “holy, holy, holy.”
This Cherub was in creation the most beautiful and possibly the most brilliant of all the cherubs. Music flowed from his body and his very appearance was that of radiant and shining lights even with the beautiful affect of the startling colors of the rainbow.
Ezekiel says of this cherub in Ezekiel 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Then one day sin was found in this cherub’s heart. It was the gross sin of pride. God threw this beautiful cherub out of heaven. His name was Lucifer. Today you call him, Satan or the devil.
He this day is the prince and power of the air.
Yes, he who once hover above the throne of Almighty God is your greatest enemy.
He who deceived 1/3rd of the angels fights against your soul.
And you are no match for him.
So he says to you walk in rebellion, live a lackadaisical life, think about your self ambition, neglect the Bible and prayer and you will live a defeated life.
Yes Jesus Christ did defeat Satan on Calvary. Yes, if you are washed in the blood of Christ, you will go to heaven. But, you remember he still has the power and calling to be the accuser of the brethren.
He’ll defeat you with his words and thoughts he places in your mind unless your mind is filled with the words and thoughts of God.
The next time we see cherubs we find them in Genesis. Man had sinned and God had to prevent man from ever eating of the tree of life.
Genesis 3: 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Why would God place many Cherubims at this place? If one of God’s angels could kill 185,000 soldiers in one night by himself, could not one Cherubim, mightier than a mere angel (angelos) keep Adam and Eve away from the garden?
Think! It was not just Adam and Eve they had to keep away, but the mighty cherub that once hover above God’s throne.
If it is so that a cherub is the most powerful of God’s unseen creation, it would be wise that God placed many cherubs at the entrance of the Garden especially since only one cherub was called the anointed cherub.
When God gave Moses direction to build the most holy place on earth, where He would meet with man he told them to build an Ark with two Cherubs on top. There he would meet with man.
Exodus 25: 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
The holiness of the mercy seat on earth was a picture of the holiness of the mercy seat in heaven.
No one was to approach it with the blood of a lamb.
No one was to approach it with out sins confessed and lives clean.
When Hezekiah prayed he said these words, “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. (2 Kings 19:22).
In I Chronicles 3 Solomon build two cherubs of gold in God’s temple with golden wings each with a fifteen foot wing span. Thus Cherubs were pictured as the mightest of God’s creatures with beauty and power and glory.
In Hebrews 9:5 we find an interesting statement. The writer who was probably Paul and Paul did get to go to heaven and see things which he said were unlawful to speak of, says there is a mystery to the Cherubs we can’t talk about.
After the Seraphim, before the All-knowing God, Who resides in inaccessible light, stand the many-eyed CHERUBIM in indescribable radiance.
More than the other lower orders of angels, they are always radiant with the light of the knowledge of God and with the knowledge of the mysteries of God and with the depths of His Wisdom.
Their name "cherubim" in translation from the Hebrew language, means: "great understanding" or "effusion of wisdom",
When Lucifer fell he offers his wisdom to others with just enough of a twist to send those who will believe him to hell.
3 - Dominions
The word “dominions” is used only three in the Bible (Daniel 7:27 and Colossians 1:16 and 2 Peter 2:10)
The DOMINIONS are angels of authority, with freedom to dominate over those under them. Whereas Seraphims and Cherabims protect the throne of God, Dominions may be the ultimate power over the rest of the angelic host.
They are so named because they dominate over the rest of the angels which follow behind them in rank and order.
A - As God has dominions that serve him, in Satan’s fall he took all classes of the unseen world with him. This class of angelic beings called (kuriotes) that join with Satan to fight against Christ by convincing the governments of the world to turn against Christ and Christianity will one day be defeated and all angelic order will serve and obey the Lord.
Daniel reveals that to us as he tells of the power of the coming Antichrist, then reveals that the Lord shall put him down and have power over him.
Daniel 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions (Kuriotes) shall serve and obey him.
B - Some scholars believe that Paul reveals that there is a possibly that this order of angels and below may fall even today.
In First Corinthians 11 Paul is giving the order of authority. He says the head of Christ is God and the head of man is Christ and the head of the woman is man. Then he says in verse 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
It may be this realm of angelic beings and those under them which may fall due to improper relationship in the home.
C) Peter reveals of the great growth in the influence of these creatures over human beings today.
2 Peter 2: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government (kuriotes). Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Peter denotes that the Satanic influence in the last days is evident by people not afraid to speak evil of Presidents, leaders, authorities, parents, pastors, military leaders, policeman, etc.
Listen to how our governmental leaders speak about our President.
Listen to how children speak to parents. Listen to how people speak against their employers. Listen and learn!
4 - Thrones
The “thrones” could be those remarkable creatures described in Ezekiel one. They are filled with great knowledge of the most high. Their name refers to royalty, thus giving power over governments in this world.
When one-third of the angels fell with Satan they fight against earthly thrones as God’s “thrones” fight for righteous leadership.
Daniel spoke of them in Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones (korce 3764) (assistants in spiritual world) were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
Paul speaks of them in Colossians 1: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones (thronoi) (kingly power in this world, assistant power), or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
The word seems to refer to those who assist the Dominons.
5 – Principalities
Principalities are those demons over governmental realms. They answer to the Thrones and Dominions. Under them you have various lower ranks of the angelic host which do their bidding in fighting against man
Ephesians 6: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (archai - The first, ultimate, leader, Princes over nations), (It refers to good and fallen angelic beings.), against powers (exousiai - This word means power of choice, liberty, rule over government), against the rulers (kosmokrator) of the darkness of this world (this refers to the lord of this age, the prince of the air, devils), against spiritual wickedness (pornia) in high places. (The demons bring malice and sins of immorality upon a nation).
Ephesians 1:17 That 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:
18 The 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,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality (archai) and power (exousiai) and might (dunameis), power to perform miracles, a power to give riches and wealth, power over militaries… and dominion (kuriotes), and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Do you see what Paul just revealed to the Church, that because of Christ’s victory over death, he is all powerful and that power has been given to His Church? We don’t have to fear the unseen spirit world for “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” But, our prayers, our worship, our righteous life does and will affect the unseen battle which we know little about.
6 - Powers
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
These Powers are said to be an elite guard protecting the borders of angelic movement between heaven and earth.
The word for “powers” is exousia. It speaks of a power of authority given to one or a jurisdiction, command or rule given to another.
Of course when Satan fell, many fell with him which now fight against God’s kingdom.
Ephesians 1: 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power (dunamis -power, ability, strength) to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power (exousia), and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
7 - Archangels
Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
The only two archangels we have record of in the Bible are Michael (Jude 9) and Gabriel (I Thess 4:16).
Archangel comes from archaggelon. It speaks of the chief of the angels.
They command God’s armies and have carried God’s messages to His prophets.
It may be that the seven angels of Revelation 8 are also archangels because of all the angels in revelation, only they are said to be stand before God.
8 – Angels
I Tim 3: 16 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.
Angels come from the word angelos and mean messengers.
Now, when the Bible speaks of angels, all those unseen powers can be placed into the category of angels just as all authorities and kings and powers of this world fit into the category of the human race.
God has his places for his angels. He had a place for them in the Old Testament and the New Testament. He has his place for them today during the church age and in the tribulation and in the millennium.
Angels are powerful spirit beings that will return with the Lord one day and take vengeance on those who trouble God’s people.
(2 Th 1:6,7) 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
In the humanistic age in which we live few people understand the truth about angels. There are many skeptics and agnostics and unbelievers that simply and outwardly deny the existence of angels because they have no faith in God or His Word.
Then there are students of God’s word who know that in the “invisible realm” there are many unseen beings that are part of God’s invisible world. We should know about them and their purpose so they might influence us and so we might realize how our lives influence them and can be influenced by them.
Most people believe in angels, but there are many misconceptions about angels.
1) The knowledge gained by many folks about angels is what they have been taught by Hollywood and not God. Some folks believe that when they die, they come back as angles to do good for people or they float through heaven for eternity.
2) Religion has also give false teaching about angels. Some religions teach that angels should be prayed to and trusted in for spiritual benefits. This is of course a false teaching and against God’s word.
3) Some religions (false) even worshipped angels which is sin.
-A- God’s Second Commandment refutes angel worship:
Exodus 20: 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
-B- God’s angel refutes human worship: An angel had given John prophecy of the future in Revelation. John was so overwhelmed with his beauty that he bowed down to worship him and the angel rebuked him: Revelation 19: 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
In this study we want to get an overall picture of the truth, the beauty, the power of these unseen messengers of God.
I – The Creation of Angels
Where did angels come from? Have they always been? Do they die? Are they older than the earth? The Bible says in Genesis 1:1, ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Thus we know angels are created. They are not eternal beings. But because they were created by the eternal God they will now exist eternally.
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
The Bible declares that God created all the angels and placed them in different realms of power and authority.
Now here is a controversial question: When where they created?
Were they created in the Genesis creation or at another time?
There are two views:
1) One view says they were created within the six-day creation. And very shortly there after one of the Cherubs, Lucifer deceived one-third of them and they fell. Thus, Lucifer was cast down and came to the Garden of Eden to tempt Adam and Eve.
2) The second view is that God created the Cherubs and angelic beings at a special time for His special reasons before he laid the foundations of the earth.
The scripture used for this is Job 38:4-7 when God questions Job for questioning Him.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
The morning stars and sons of God represent names given to the angelic host of heaven. You may choose which ever time of their creation you wish, that isn’t the issue. What is more important is their reason for being here.
II – The Cause of the Angels
Heb 1: 13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
As governments have public servants which include everybody from the highest ranking government officials to servicemen to garbage collectors you must try to grasp the vastness of the ministry that God gives through angelic beings.
What you don’t see is your prayers, your righteous living, your relationship to your mate and your closeness to God moves God to command or direct his ministering spirits in certain ways in this world.
War, deaths, plagues, disease in the Bible were often given and refuted by angels.
Do you remember the angels that filled the mountains when the Syrians came to capture Elisha?
Do you recall when King David numbered the people in First Chronicles 22? God sent an angel that hover above the threshing floor of Ornan. The angel was sending forth a plague by wielding his sword. Men were dropping dead like flies. King David looked towards Ornan’s fleshing floor and saw this mighty angel and King David fell on his face in prayer with many of the men of Israel.
This mighty angel spoke not to David but to David’s seer, Gad. Gad told David to build and altar in the threshing floor of Ornan and make an offering to God. This David did and God stayed the hand of the angel. When all was over 70,000 men laid dead in the streets of Israel.
Angles are ministering spirits. God sends them forth as messengers as in Revelation 2-3. He sends them forth in power and with many plagues and judgments as He does throughout the book of Revelation. He sends them forth as ministers to those that shall be heirs of salvation in different capacities.
III – The Categories of Angels
There seems to be a ladder of angelic power reveal in the Scriptures. The first or closest angels and maybe the most powerful, but definitely the most holy are the Seraphims.
1 – Seraphims –
Isaiah 6: 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isaiah was given a vision of the Seraphims as they hovered above the throne of God in worship.
-The name Seraphims means a burning or glowing.
-They are fire-like since they stand before that One of Whom it is written: "For our God is a consuming fire." (Heb 12:29);
"His throne was like a fiery flame" (Dan 7:9);
"…The sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel." (Ex 24:17).
Standing before such glory, the seraphim are fire-like, as it said: "Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire" (Ps 103:4).
They are aflame with the holiness of God
Their occupation is twofold:
1) They celebrate the praises of Jehovah’s holiness and power (v 3).
They sing Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.
2) Act as a means of communication between heaven and earth (v 6)
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
2 – The Cherubims.
The second level of angelic beings we discover and may be the most powerful are the Cherubims.
Once over shadowing the throne of Almighty God was a perfect cherub whose wings spread was so enormous that it reached to the end of the very throne room of God and covered the Holy Trinity.
It was under this cherubs wings that the Seraphims worshipped God and sang “holy, holy, holy.”
This Cherub was in creation the most beautiful and possibly the most brilliant of all the cherubs. Music flowed from his body and his very appearance was that of radiant and shining lights even with the beautiful affect of the startling colors of the rainbow.
Ezekiel says of this cherub in Ezekiel 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Then one day sin was found in this cherub’s heart. It was the gross sin of pride. God threw this beautiful cherub out of heaven. His name was Lucifer. Today you call him, Satan or the devil.
He this day is the prince and power of the air.
Yes, he who once hover above the throne of Almighty God is your greatest enemy.
He who deceived 1/3rd of the angels fights against your soul.
And you are no match for him.
So he says to you walk in rebellion, live a lackadaisical life, think about your self ambition, neglect the Bible and prayer and you will live a defeated life.
Yes Jesus Christ did defeat Satan on Calvary. Yes, if you are washed in the blood of Christ, you will go to heaven. But, you remember he still has the power and calling to be the accuser of the brethren.
He’ll defeat you with his words and thoughts he places in your mind unless your mind is filled with the words and thoughts of God.
The next time we see cherubs we find them in Genesis. Man had sinned and God had to prevent man from ever eating of the tree of life.
Genesis 3: 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Why would God place many Cherubims at this place? If one of God’s angels could kill 185,000 soldiers in one night by himself, could not one Cherubim, mightier than a mere angel (angelos) keep Adam and Eve away from the garden?
Think! It was not just Adam and Eve they had to keep away, but the mighty cherub that once hover above God’s throne.
If it is so that a cherub is the most powerful of God’s unseen creation, it would be wise that God placed many cherubs at the entrance of the Garden especially since only one cherub was called the anointed cherub.
When God gave Moses direction to build the most holy place on earth, where He would meet with man he told them to build an Ark with two Cherubs on top. There he would meet with man.
Exodus 25: 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
The holiness of the mercy seat on earth was a picture of the holiness of the mercy seat in heaven.
No one was to approach it with the blood of a lamb.
No one was to approach it with out sins confessed and lives clean.
When Hezekiah prayed he said these words, “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. (2 Kings 19:22).
In I Chronicles 3 Solomon build two cherubs of gold in God’s temple with golden wings each with a fifteen foot wing span. Thus Cherubs were pictured as the mightest of God’s creatures with beauty and power and glory.
In Hebrews 9:5 we find an interesting statement. The writer who was probably Paul and Paul did get to go to heaven and see things which he said were unlawful to speak of, says there is a mystery to the Cherubs we can’t talk about.
After the Seraphim, before the All-knowing God, Who resides in inaccessible light, stand the many-eyed CHERUBIM in indescribable radiance.
More than the other lower orders of angels, they are always radiant with the light of the knowledge of God and with the knowledge of the mysteries of God and with the depths of His Wisdom.
Their name "cherubim" in translation from the Hebrew language, means: "great understanding" or "effusion of wisdom",
When Lucifer fell he offers his wisdom to others with just enough of a twist to send those who will believe him to hell.
3 - Dominions
The word “dominions” is used only three in the Bible (Daniel 7:27 and Colossians 1:16 and 2 Peter 2:10)
The DOMINIONS are angels of authority, with freedom to dominate over those under them. Whereas Seraphims and Cherabims protect the throne of God, Dominions may be the ultimate power over the rest of the angelic host.
They are so named because they dominate over the rest of the angels which follow behind them in rank and order.
A - As God has dominions that serve him, in Satan’s fall he took all classes of the unseen world with him. This class of angelic beings called (kuriotes) that join with Satan to fight against Christ by convincing the governments of the world to turn against Christ and Christianity will one day be defeated and all angelic order will serve and obey the Lord.
Daniel reveals that to us as he tells of the power of the coming Antichrist, then reveals that the Lord shall put him down and have power over him.
Daniel 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions (Kuriotes) shall serve and obey him.
B - Some scholars believe that Paul reveals that there is a possibly that this order of angels and below may fall even today.
In First Corinthians 11 Paul is giving the order of authority. He says the head of Christ is God and the head of man is Christ and the head of the woman is man. Then he says in verse 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
It may be this realm of angelic beings and those under them which may fall due to improper relationship in the home.
C) Peter reveals of the great growth in the influence of these creatures over human beings today.
2 Peter 2: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government (kuriotes). Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Peter denotes that the Satanic influence in the last days is evident by people not afraid to speak evil of Presidents, leaders, authorities, parents, pastors, military leaders, policeman, etc.
Listen to how our governmental leaders speak about our President.
Listen to how children speak to parents. Listen to how people speak against their employers. Listen and learn!
4 - Thrones
The “thrones” could be those remarkable creatures described in Ezekiel one. They are filled with great knowledge of the most high. Their name refers to royalty, thus giving power over governments in this world.
When one-third of the angels fell with Satan they fight against earthly thrones as God’s “thrones” fight for righteous leadership.
Daniel spoke of them in Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones (korce 3764) (assistants in spiritual world) were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
Paul speaks of them in Colossians 1: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones (thronoi) (kingly power in this world, assistant power), or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
The word seems to refer to those who assist the Dominons.
5 – Principalities
Principalities are those demons over governmental realms. They answer to the Thrones and Dominions. Under them you have various lower ranks of the angelic host which do their bidding in fighting against man
Ephesians 6: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (archai - The first, ultimate, leader, Princes over nations), (It refers to good and fallen angelic beings.), against powers (exousiai - This word means power of choice, liberty, rule over government), against the rulers (kosmokrator) of the darkness of this world (this refers to the lord of this age, the prince of the air, devils), against spiritual wickedness (pornia) in high places. (The demons bring malice and sins of immorality upon a nation).
Ephesians 1:17 That 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:
18 The 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,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality (archai) and power (exousiai) and might (dunameis), power to perform miracles, a power to give riches and wealth, power over militaries… and dominion (kuriotes), and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Do you see what Paul just revealed to the Church, that because of Christ’s victory over death, he is all powerful and that power has been given to His Church? We don’t have to fear the unseen spirit world for “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” But, our prayers, our worship, our righteous life does and will affect the unseen battle which we know little about.
6 - Powers
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
These Powers are said to be an elite guard protecting the borders of angelic movement between heaven and earth.
The word for “powers” is exousia. It speaks of a power of authority given to one or a jurisdiction, command or rule given to another.
Of course when Satan fell, many fell with him which now fight against God’s kingdom.
Ephesians 1: 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power (dunamis -power, ability, strength) to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power (exousia), and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
7 - Archangels
Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
The only two archangels we have record of in the Bible are Michael (Jude 9) and Gabriel (I Thess 4:16).
Archangel comes from archaggelon. It speaks of the chief of the angels.
They command God’s armies and have carried God’s messages to His prophets.
It may be that the seven angels of Revelation 8 are also archangels because of all the angels in revelation, only they are said to be stand before God.
8 – Angels
I Tim 3: 16 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.
Angels come from the word angelos and mean messengers.
Now, when the Bible speaks of angels, all those unseen powers can be placed into the category of angels just as all authorities and kings and powers of this world fit into the category of the human race.
God has his places for his angels. He had a place for them in the Old Testament and the New Testament. He has his place for them today during the church age and in the tribulation and in the millennium.
Angels are powerful spirit beings that will return with the Lord one day and take vengeance on those who trouble God’s people.
(2 Th 1:6,7) 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
ANGELS - PART I
THE UNSEEN WORLD!
By natural instinct we live by sight but there is an unseen world operating for both the existence of man and the extinction of man.
The Christian acknowledges the Trinity. We believe in, and our main focus should be on God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, but there is more, much more that few people think about.
There is an unseen world of holy angels and hideous devils: The angels were created to obey and do the will of God. The devils are rebel angels that exist to obliterate and destroy the will of God.
In the Bible we find the word Angel nearly three hundred times. It comes from the word “Angelos” and it means “messenger.” Angels are created beings of God with superior intelligence, gigantic strength and surpassing holiness on a mission for God.
We also discover in the Bible the word “Devils”. The root word is “Daimon or Daimonion.” From this word we get our word demon though the word demon is never translated so in the King James.
It speaks of evil spirits or messengers and ministers of Satan. The word “devils” is used 55 times in the Bible, mostly in the New Testament.
The word “Devil” is used 61 times and only in the New Testament. It refers to Lucifer, the prince of the demons and means slanderer or accuser.
There are literally billions of angels and demons. With so many we must conclude God does have a very important purpose for them. In this study of “The Unseen World” we will examine various aspect of this world which we live in but know so little about.
**********
In this study we will examine many aspects of angels dealing with…
1 – THE MAKING OF THE ANGELS
2 – THE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE ANGELS
3 – THE MINISTRY OF THE ANGELS
4 – THE MYSTERY OF THE ANGELS
5 – THE MULTITUDE OF THE ANGELS
…And more but not necessarily in this order.
“THE MYSTERY OF THE ANGELS”
In this message I would like to address one thought: “The Influence of Angels.”
THE INFLUENCE OF ANGELS
In II Kings 6 the king of Syria warred against Israel. Before the battle the king would meet with his leaders and plan his strategy. But every time the Syrians planned an attack the plan was foiled. This happened over and over again. It seemed as if there was a spy within the ranks of the Syrian leaders.
The king of Syria calls his leaders into a private meeting and asks, “Who is the spy in our midst? Who is for the King of Israel?”
One of his servants speaks. Look at II Kings 6:12: 12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
The king then sent out spies to discover where Elisha lived and they found him in Dothan about sixty miles north of Jerusalem.
The king’s military tactic is to persuade the people of Dothan, through fear to turn Elisha over to them. So he takes his massive army of a hundred thousand and compasses Dothan during the night.
When Elisha’s servant sees the Syrian Army covering the valleys’ the next day in great trepidation and anxiety he runs to Elisha and ask, “What are we going to do?”
A smile creases Elisha lips as he speaks with clarity and confidence:
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Through prayer Elisha’s servant saw into a world that few people have the privilege of seeing into. There is a world of angelic beings doing the will of God that we know little about.
The application of this story is thus:
1 - Man throughout known history has fought wars almost constantly. As there are physical wars, there are also spiritual wars. Physical wars are controlled by the words of the king and those who persuade the king. Spiritual wars are controlled by King Jesus and those who have influence with Him. So here is the question: “Can we influence angels?”
2 – Keep in mind that the spiritual war is constant and only as you spend time with God can you foresee Satan’s battle tactics and divert his plan.
3 – Remember that there are more on our side that Satan’s side. Only 1/3 of the angels fell with Satan. God will open your eyes and give you both security and confidence as you walk with Him and spend time with Him.
Turn to Hebrews 1: 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
God in his sovereignty and foreknowledge knew you would be saved. He gave you what some call a “guardian angel” to minister to you, yea to protect you and to keep you from harm that you might do the service of the Lord. That is a mystery indeed as you think upon those words.
Question: What part do God’s children play in the roll of the spirit world?
-Does our walk influence or weaken the spirit world?
-Does our prayers build walls of defense against the devil’s tactics?
-Does it give power and greater availability to the righteous principalities?
Thought: Israel was a righteous and powerful nation under the reign of the man “Who sought God with all his heart, King David.”
When immorality, idolatry and apostasy spread through God’s people they were defeated again and again.
Thought: America was a Christian country for so many years. And because of that our families were strong our nation was strong and our churches were strong. Then something happened!
--Work and hobbies took the place of family devotional and prayer.
--Education and sports took the place of Bible teaching in our schools.
--Shopping and relaxation took the place of Sunday school and worship.
Then in 1962 prayer was voted out of the public school system.
--With that decision by our Supreme Court the Bible was thrown out next.
--The Ten Commandments were ripped off the walls.
-Our politicians and educators cried that we can teach morality without God.
Well, what happened?
-Divorce rate tripled and tripled again since 1962.
-Divorce rate in America after first marriage is from 41% to 50%.
-US divorce rate after second marriage is from 60% to 67%
-After 3 marriages the US divorce rate is from 73% to 74%
-Teenage pregnancy sky rocketed to over 1.5 million a year. Today it is about 750,000 per year. The decline is not due to morality but to the pill and abortion.
-Abortion on demand has been freely offered. About 45% of all pregnancy end in abortion today.
-Marijuana, cocaine, crack Methamphetamine and other drugs have filled our society.
-What many people don’t realize is that in third world countries drug usage and demon activity go hand and hand.
Those who invite devils in their lives do not call them devils but spirits. At the time of possession they are high on drugs. The witchdoctors take a drug into their system and then invite spirits to possess them.
Example: (Spirits of the Rain Forest)
They look at those spirits as power and influence over others.
Many of the “gurus” in eastern religions know the power of the spirits through the influence of drugs. One example is the Hara Krishna movement. Since his death in 1977 sex scandals, drugs and murder has been exposed world wide.
-Drugs in America are a sign of greater demonic activity.
Another great tactic of Satan that brings so much deception and rebellion in the hearts and minds of people is the “rock culture.”
-It isn’t the words, but the lyrics that declare a new philosophy of life.
-The rock beat has been used in heathen tribes for devil worship for thousands of years.
-It moved into the American culture in the 1950’s till this day.
What people don’t realize is that drugs, rock music and false worship so often go hand in hand.
George Harrison, one of the Beatles in the sixties was involved in all three. He had strong ties with the Hara Krishna movement.
Brad Pitt, a well known movie star grew up a conservative Southern Baptist. He was quoted in Parade Magazine in the Greensboro Paper, Sunday October 7 as saying, “I had a crises of faith… I would go to a Christian revival and be moved by the Holy Spirit, and I’d go to a rock concert and fell the same fervor (passion, enthusiasm, feeling).”
I will say, Mr. Pitt, your claim on the Holy Spirit was false. You may have felt a spirit but it was not God’s.
Many religions today because of such strong demonic activity have lowered their preaching on salvation to the point that they have dropped preaching repentance. They even preach a salvation with out a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Bible says in the last days they will have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof (2 Tim 3:5).
Humanism which was introduced into the American society in 1937 and again in 1977 has penetrated and taken over our political, journalistic and educational system of today. Humanism is based on man’s effort to achieve rather than a humble dependence on God.
Thus, man has become the center of his worship rather than God. What do I mean by that? When a man does what he chooses to do he is not under the authority of God’s Word. He throws out what he doesn’t like and accepts what he does. He looks for what is comfortable to him.
In Summary, because of the lack of worship, prayer, confession of sins, seeking God, living righteously, a vacuum is left where righteousness once reigned and the devil’s influence fills that vacuum and begins to control a government, a society, a home, a heart and a religion.
THEREFORE, We have seen a great spiritual decline in America’s morals, righteousness and Godliness and we have seen a great increase in evil.
THE CHRISTIAN living absolutely does affect the dealings of the unseen world in our society.
By doing righteously God’s hand moves in many ways.
By only existing we leave our lives open to demonic activity.
Four Simple Truths that assist the Unseen world:
1 - Our Submission to God 3 – Our Study of God
2 – Our Seeking God 4 – Our Stand for God
1 – Our Submission to God
James 4: 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Submission is a willingness to place ourselves under God’s authority.
Will you submit to God? Look at verse 8.
A - It carries the idea of drawing nearer to Him. That involves worship, prayer and time. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
B – It carries the idea of being right with people outwardly and with God inwardly. Thus, all inward sins confessed and all outward relationship corrected. 8b Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
C – When you make things right with the Lord, your heart will be broken over your sins. And you will mourn over your failures. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
D – All pride will be swallowed. You will die to your will and you will desire to do the will of the Lord. Then He will lift you up whereby your life can make a difference in the unseen world. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
2 – Our Seeking of God
Proof of our seeking God is the time we spend with Him and the prayers we offer to Him. It is seen in our changed lives and His great love and joy He gives us. (Matthew 6:33)
3 – Our Study of God’s Word
As we study we will see the unseen world. We will begin to trust and obey. We will begin to walk the talk. We will begin to have peace in life. We will give ourselves more to prayer and worship.
4 – Our Stand for God
Ezekiel 22: 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
In Ezekiel’s day God looked for a man who would submit, surrender, study, seek and stand in the gap.
If we do this our lives will influence the unseen world.
Our prayers and worship will influence angels as well as God?
In the twelfth chapter of Acts Herod kills James and takes Peter and throws him in prison with plans to kill him the next morning. He is chained to the guards and placed in the inner prison behind a number of iron gates.
That night there is a prayer meeting at Mary’s house, the mother of John Mark. They prayed all night. Because of their prayers God sends an angel to the prison to put the guards to sleep and to wake Peter up and set him free. Did the lives of God’s people influence the spirit world? Yes.
Their prayers touch the heart of God that moves his hand to send the angel to set Peter free.
Some people ask, “If we have God’s Spirit living in us, why do we need the ministry of angels?”
Jesus Christ began His ministry in Matthew 3. He is baptized by John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit of God descends on Jesus like a dove.
Thus, Jesus is filled with the Spirit. He enters a testing period in His life where for forty days and nights He is tested by Satan in the wilderness.
At the end of that period the Bible says, “Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him” (Matthew 4:11).
The word “ministered” means to assist, to serve, the wait, to minister.
In Luke 22 when Jesus prayed in the Garden with great agony the night of His crucifixion God sent an angel to strengthen Him.
We see that a nation, a people, a family a person who will 1) Seek God first, 2) Study God’s Word, 3) Submit to righteousness and 4) Stand in the Gap and pray will influence the Spirit world for a) God, b) for others and c) for their benefit.
Whereas Christian who will not will be of little use to resist Satan on our society and our families and our church.
Illustration: John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave.
A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men with you there?” Paton knew no men were present--but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.
***In HEBREWS 13:2 we read, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Illustration: Dr. Eli, missionary to Russia. A friend of mind many years ago by the name of Don Eli was a missionary with his wife and seven children in Russia. One one occasion they were traveling across Germany at 1:00 AM. The maps in Germany are in complete. They say if you do not already know where you are going the maps won’t do you much good.
At 1:00 in the morning they are on some dark mountain road totally lost. They cannot make heads of tails out of the map they had. Suddenly there was a tap on the window. Tim, Dr. Eli’s son, rolled down the window and there stood a man who said to them, “May I help you?” “Yes,” was the reply, “We are lost and need direction to a certain town?”
The man proceeded to give them exact directions. Tim said, “Thank you,” and rolled up the window. After just a moment, Tim thought where did this man come from? He opened his door and stepped out of the van. There was no car, no house and no man in sight. He then thought, “Here we are in Germany, lost on some highway and this man knocks on my window at 1:00 in the morning and speaks perfect English.”
Yes, some times God may send His angels with a message but it will never be “new revelation.” We have all of that we need in His Word.
Illustration: Thirty years ago I read this story in a missionary magazine. A missionary was heading to a tribe of natives in the dark regions of Africa many years ago. There had been other attempts to enter this are but no missionary ever returned. They were all killed. This missionary however, prayed many days and felt absolutely positive that God wanted Him to go. So he left as God directed.
As he neared the headhunters village, he felt a great demonic presence, but he kept going. He reached the village and was surprisingly accepted. He began reaching out to the people, working with them, helping them and sharing the gospel.
After many years he won many to the Lord including the chief.
One night as they sat around the fire, the missionary had a sudden thought, turned to the chief and asked, “You killed all the other missionaries that came to your village, “Why did you not kill me?”
The chief answered by saying, “We sent our warriors into the jungle that day to kill you. Now you answer my question, “Who were those shinny ones standing around you that day?”
By natural instinct we live by sight but there is an unseen world operating for both the existence of man and the extinction of man.
The Christian acknowledges the Trinity. We believe in, and our main focus should be on God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, but there is more, much more that few people think about.
There is an unseen world of holy angels and hideous devils: The angels were created to obey and do the will of God. The devils are rebel angels that exist to obliterate and destroy the will of God.
In the Bible we find the word Angel nearly three hundred times. It comes from the word “Angelos” and it means “messenger.” Angels are created beings of God with superior intelligence, gigantic strength and surpassing holiness on a mission for God.
We also discover in the Bible the word “Devils”. The root word is “Daimon or Daimonion.” From this word we get our word demon though the word demon is never translated so in the King James.
It speaks of evil spirits or messengers and ministers of Satan. The word “devils” is used 55 times in the Bible, mostly in the New Testament.
The word “Devil” is used 61 times and only in the New Testament. It refers to Lucifer, the prince of the demons and means slanderer or accuser.
There are literally billions of angels and demons. With so many we must conclude God does have a very important purpose for them. In this study of “The Unseen World” we will examine various aspect of this world which we live in but know so little about.
**********
In this study we will examine many aspects of angels dealing with…
1 – THE MAKING OF THE ANGELS
2 – THE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE ANGELS
3 – THE MINISTRY OF THE ANGELS
4 – THE MYSTERY OF THE ANGELS
5 – THE MULTITUDE OF THE ANGELS
…And more but not necessarily in this order.
“THE MYSTERY OF THE ANGELS”
In this message I would like to address one thought: “The Influence of Angels.”
THE INFLUENCE OF ANGELS
In II Kings 6 the king of Syria warred against Israel. Before the battle the king would meet with his leaders and plan his strategy. But every time the Syrians planned an attack the plan was foiled. This happened over and over again. It seemed as if there was a spy within the ranks of the Syrian leaders.
The king of Syria calls his leaders into a private meeting and asks, “Who is the spy in our midst? Who is for the King of Israel?”
One of his servants speaks. Look at II Kings 6:12: 12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
The king then sent out spies to discover where Elisha lived and they found him in Dothan about sixty miles north of Jerusalem.
The king’s military tactic is to persuade the people of Dothan, through fear to turn Elisha over to them. So he takes his massive army of a hundred thousand and compasses Dothan during the night.
When Elisha’s servant sees the Syrian Army covering the valleys’ the next day in great trepidation and anxiety he runs to Elisha and ask, “What are we going to do?”
A smile creases Elisha lips as he speaks with clarity and confidence:
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Through prayer Elisha’s servant saw into a world that few people have the privilege of seeing into. There is a world of angelic beings doing the will of God that we know little about.
The application of this story is thus:
1 - Man throughout known history has fought wars almost constantly. As there are physical wars, there are also spiritual wars. Physical wars are controlled by the words of the king and those who persuade the king. Spiritual wars are controlled by King Jesus and those who have influence with Him. So here is the question: “Can we influence angels?”
2 – Keep in mind that the spiritual war is constant and only as you spend time with God can you foresee Satan’s battle tactics and divert his plan.
3 – Remember that there are more on our side that Satan’s side. Only 1/3 of the angels fell with Satan. God will open your eyes and give you both security and confidence as you walk with Him and spend time with Him.
Turn to Hebrews 1: 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
God in his sovereignty and foreknowledge knew you would be saved. He gave you what some call a “guardian angel” to minister to you, yea to protect you and to keep you from harm that you might do the service of the Lord. That is a mystery indeed as you think upon those words.
Question: What part do God’s children play in the roll of the spirit world?
-Does our walk influence or weaken the spirit world?
-Does our prayers build walls of defense against the devil’s tactics?
-Does it give power and greater availability to the righteous principalities?
Thought: Israel was a righteous and powerful nation under the reign of the man “Who sought God with all his heart, King David.”
When immorality, idolatry and apostasy spread through God’s people they were defeated again and again.
Thought: America was a Christian country for so many years. And because of that our families were strong our nation was strong and our churches were strong. Then something happened!
--Work and hobbies took the place of family devotional and prayer.
--Education and sports took the place of Bible teaching in our schools.
--Shopping and relaxation took the place of Sunday school and worship.
Then in 1962 prayer was voted out of the public school system.
--With that decision by our Supreme Court the Bible was thrown out next.
--The Ten Commandments were ripped off the walls.
-Our politicians and educators cried that we can teach morality without God.
Well, what happened?
-Divorce rate tripled and tripled again since 1962.
-Divorce rate in America after first marriage is from 41% to 50%.
-US divorce rate after second marriage is from 60% to 67%
-After 3 marriages the US divorce rate is from 73% to 74%
-Teenage pregnancy sky rocketed to over 1.5 million a year. Today it is about 750,000 per year. The decline is not due to morality but to the pill and abortion.
-Abortion on demand has been freely offered. About 45% of all pregnancy end in abortion today.
-Marijuana, cocaine, crack Methamphetamine and other drugs have filled our society.
-What many people don’t realize is that in third world countries drug usage and demon activity go hand and hand.
Those who invite devils in their lives do not call them devils but spirits. At the time of possession they are high on drugs. The witchdoctors take a drug into their system and then invite spirits to possess them.
Example: (Spirits of the Rain Forest)
They look at those spirits as power and influence over others.
Many of the “gurus” in eastern religions know the power of the spirits through the influence of drugs. One example is the Hara Krishna movement. Since his death in 1977 sex scandals, drugs and murder has been exposed world wide.
-Drugs in America are a sign of greater demonic activity.
Another great tactic of Satan that brings so much deception and rebellion in the hearts and minds of people is the “rock culture.”
-It isn’t the words, but the lyrics that declare a new philosophy of life.
-The rock beat has been used in heathen tribes for devil worship for thousands of years.
-It moved into the American culture in the 1950’s till this day.
What people don’t realize is that drugs, rock music and false worship so often go hand in hand.
George Harrison, one of the Beatles in the sixties was involved in all three. He had strong ties with the Hara Krishna movement.
Brad Pitt, a well known movie star grew up a conservative Southern Baptist. He was quoted in Parade Magazine in the Greensboro Paper, Sunday October 7 as saying, “I had a crises of faith… I would go to a Christian revival and be moved by the Holy Spirit, and I’d go to a rock concert and fell the same fervor (passion, enthusiasm, feeling).”
I will say, Mr. Pitt, your claim on the Holy Spirit was false. You may have felt a spirit but it was not God’s.
Many religions today because of such strong demonic activity have lowered their preaching on salvation to the point that they have dropped preaching repentance. They even preach a salvation with out a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Bible says in the last days they will have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof (2 Tim 3:5).
Humanism which was introduced into the American society in 1937 and again in 1977 has penetrated and taken over our political, journalistic and educational system of today. Humanism is based on man’s effort to achieve rather than a humble dependence on God.
Thus, man has become the center of his worship rather than God. What do I mean by that? When a man does what he chooses to do he is not under the authority of God’s Word. He throws out what he doesn’t like and accepts what he does. He looks for what is comfortable to him.
In Summary, because of the lack of worship, prayer, confession of sins, seeking God, living righteously, a vacuum is left where righteousness once reigned and the devil’s influence fills that vacuum and begins to control a government, a society, a home, a heart and a religion.
THEREFORE, We have seen a great spiritual decline in America’s morals, righteousness and Godliness and we have seen a great increase in evil.
THE CHRISTIAN living absolutely does affect the dealings of the unseen world in our society.
By doing righteously God’s hand moves in many ways.
By only existing we leave our lives open to demonic activity.
Four Simple Truths that assist the Unseen world:
1 - Our Submission to God 3 – Our Study of God
2 – Our Seeking God 4 – Our Stand for God
1 – Our Submission to God
James 4: 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Submission is a willingness to place ourselves under God’s authority.
Will you submit to God? Look at verse 8.
A - It carries the idea of drawing nearer to Him. That involves worship, prayer and time. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
B – It carries the idea of being right with people outwardly and with God inwardly. Thus, all inward sins confessed and all outward relationship corrected. 8b Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
C – When you make things right with the Lord, your heart will be broken over your sins. And you will mourn over your failures. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
D – All pride will be swallowed. You will die to your will and you will desire to do the will of the Lord. Then He will lift you up whereby your life can make a difference in the unseen world. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
2 – Our Seeking of God
Proof of our seeking God is the time we spend with Him and the prayers we offer to Him. It is seen in our changed lives and His great love and joy He gives us. (Matthew 6:33)
3 – Our Study of God’s Word
As we study we will see the unseen world. We will begin to trust and obey. We will begin to walk the talk. We will begin to have peace in life. We will give ourselves more to prayer and worship.
4 – Our Stand for God
Ezekiel 22: 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
In Ezekiel’s day God looked for a man who would submit, surrender, study, seek and stand in the gap.
If we do this our lives will influence the unseen world.
Our prayers and worship will influence angels as well as God?
In the twelfth chapter of Acts Herod kills James and takes Peter and throws him in prison with plans to kill him the next morning. He is chained to the guards and placed in the inner prison behind a number of iron gates.
That night there is a prayer meeting at Mary’s house, the mother of John Mark. They prayed all night. Because of their prayers God sends an angel to the prison to put the guards to sleep and to wake Peter up and set him free. Did the lives of God’s people influence the spirit world? Yes.
Their prayers touch the heart of God that moves his hand to send the angel to set Peter free.
Some people ask, “If we have God’s Spirit living in us, why do we need the ministry of angels?”
Jesus Christ began His ministry in Matthew 3. He is baptized by John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit of God descends on Jesus like a dove.
Thus, Jesus is filled with the Spirit. He enters a testing period in His life where for forty days and nights He is tested by Satan in the wilderness.
At the end of that period the Bible says, “Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him” (Matthew 4:11).
The word “ministered” means to assist, to serve, the wait, to minister.
In Luke 22 when Jesus prayed in the Garden with great agony the night of His crucifixion God sent an angel to strengthen Him.
We see that a nation, a people, a family a person who will 1) Seek God first, 2) Study God’s Word, 3) Submit to righteousness and 4) Stand in the Gap and pray will influence the Spirit world for a) God, b) for others and c) for their benefit.
Whereas Christian who will not will be of little use to resist Satan on our society and our families and our church.
Illustration: John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave.
A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men with you there?” Paton knew no men were present--but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.
***In HEBREWS 13:2 we read, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Illustration: Dr. Eli, missionary to Russia. A friend of mind many years ago by the name of Don Eli was a missionary with his wife and seven children in Russia. One one occasion they were traveling across Germany at 1:00 AM. The maps in Germany are in complete. They say if you do not already know where you are going the maps won’t do you much good.
At 1:00 in the morning they are on some dark mountain road totally lost. They cannot make heads of tails out of the map they had. Suddenly there was a tap on the window. Tim, Dr. Eli’s son, rolled down the window and there stood a man who said to them, “May I help you?” “Yes,” was the reply, “We are lost and need direction to a certain town?”
The man proceeded to give them exact directions. Tim said, “Thank you,” and rolled up the window. After just a moment, Tim thought where did this man come from? He opened his door and stepped out of the van. There was no car, no house and no man in sight. He then thought, “Here we are in Germany, lost on some highway and this man knocks on my window at 1:00 in the morning and speaks perfect English.”
Yes, some times God may send His angels with a message but it will never be “new revelation.” We have all of that we need in His Word.
Illustration: Thirty years ago I read this story in a missionary magazine. A missionary was heading to a tribe of natives in the dark regions of Africa many years ago. There had been other attempts to enter this are but no missionary ever returned. They were all killed. This missionary however, prayed many days and felt absolutely positive that God wanted Him to go. So he left as God directed.
As he neared the headhunters village, he felt a great demonic presence, but he kept going. He reached the village and was surprisingly accepted. He began reaching out to the people, working with them, helping them and sharing the gospel.
After many years he won many to the Lord including the chief.
One night as they sat around the fire, the missionary had a sudden thought, turned to the chief and asked, “You killed all the other missionaries that came to your village, “Why did you not kill me?”
The chief answered by saying, “We sent our warriors into the jungle that day to kill you. Now you answer my question, “Who were those shinny ones standing around you that day?”
Monday, October 15, 2007
GOD'S WARNING TO AMERICA
GOD’S WARNING TO AMERICA!
In the midst of a world of false religions there was once a true religion.
It was called Judaism.
God gave truth to this people, to their prophets and to their priest.
This truth was the very mind and heart of God.
It was the will and ways of God.
It was the means of eternal hope and eternal life.
It was man’s salvation and security for time and eternity.
Judah once sought the Lord and stood for what was right. They loved the Lord and believed His Word. They had felt His sweet presence. They had experienced great revival. They demonstrated the sweetness of the Spirit in their lives but something happened.
They who once anchored their thoughts in the “Word of God” changed and began to acclaim the “Will of man.”
The spiritual vineyard of God that once produced sweet grapes began to produce sour grapes.
When Moses began their journey in the Wilderness he warned them, “Remember God’s goodness, greatness and grace; they forgot!
They forgot His Word, His will and His ways.
Their lives ceased to be a witness for God and wondered aimlessly in life.
At this time in Israel’s history their nation had been divided:
1) Israel, the Northern Kingdom and Judah, the Southern Kingdom.
Israel was only a few years from being conquered because they had cross a line of no return and God had pronounced judgment.
But for Judah there was still hope.
There was hope for them to submit and surrender to the Lord and to receive again God’s blessings and bounty.
Strangely, they did not think they were doing anything wrong.
Their attitude was, “I have a nice job, I have a nice home, I have money in my pocket and food on my table and I still have my liberty and freedom; why does Isaiah preach such hard messages to us?”
In Isaiah 5:8-20 Isaiah pronounces Six Woes or six warnings on Judah from God. Three of these woes are directed to Public Sins and three are directed towards Personal Sins. Let’s examine these woes and see if they apply to our nation or our lives and hear what God has to say.
I - PUBLIC SINS:
1 -- Isaiah 5:8 - 8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.
10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.
I – Israel as well as Judah had become guilty of Covetousness.
(Their main heart beat was, How can I Prosper?)
Coveteousness is a strong desire to possess what one doesn’t have.
Israel had taken their focus off of God and put it on themselves. That always bring discontentment which will lead to covetousness.
-Politicians and powerful and prosperous men in Judah and Israel began to expand at the expense of the little man.
Illustration: One day Abraham Lincoln was walking down the street with two small boys who were both crying loudly. A neighbor passing by inquired, "What's the matter, Abe? Why all the fuss?" Lincoln responded, "The trouble with these lads is what's wrong with the world; one has a nut and the other wants it!"
Covetousness is one of mankind's greatest sins. When giving the law, God specifically spoke against this wicked tendency. In fact, excessive desire was one of man's first offenses. Remember Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden? God had given them every thing to be content and happy but they wanted a little more.
John called covetousness the “Lust of the eye” in First John 2: 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
-Greed and covetousness stands at our heart’s door. Peace and contentment reside in God’s presence.
Illustration: Bob James tells this story: Recently I laid a small circle of poison around a hill of stinging ants. Thinking the tiny granules of poison were food, the ants began to pick them up and carry them throughout the colony. I returned later to see how well the poison was working. Hundreds of the stinging ants were carrying the poison down into their hill. Then I noticed a hole in the circle of poison. Some of the poison was moving the opposite way—away from the hill. Some smaller, nonstinging ants had found this “food” and were stealing it from their ant neighbors. Thinking they were getting the other ants’ treasure, they unwittingly poisoned themselves.
When we see someone with more than we have, we must beware. The hunger to beg, borrow, or steal our way into what is theirs may poison us spiritually.
The Judgment was a ten acre vineyard which should yield hundreds and hundreds of gallons of grape juice would yield one bath or 9 gallons.
Remember Isaiah was painting a physical picture of their spiritual lives.
They should have been filled with God’s love and their joy should have been evident to all, but their lives produces little love and little joy.
What do we learn from this story? How much of God’s life is seen in our life. How much are we like Christ? Selah!
2 – Isaiah 5:11 - 11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
2 – Judah was guilty of the sin of living for Carelessness or Pleasure.
The whole nation did not live this way. Like America today there are many, many Christians with convictions that do right. May God bless you and honor you for that. But, the nation as a whole lived to drink and dance the night away. One day was no different from another.
The idea, “Eat, drink and be merry” was the heart beat of most of the leaders of the day.
Sadly, the youth in our colleges and high schools across America have the same idea: “Eat, drink and be merry.”
In the New Testament Jesus told the story of a certain rich man that had built barns and stored away his wealth. But, he made more and more and said, “What am I going to do now?”
Then he thought, but he didn’t think about God or others that needed help. He thought of his self and he said, “This is what I will do, I will tear down my barns and build bigger and say to my soul, “Soul, thou has much good for many years, take it easy, sit down, eat, drink and be merry.”
But, God said to him, “Thou fool, this night they souls shall be required of thee, whose will those things be that you have accumulated. Or in other words, they won’t do you a bit of good where you are going.
Today, thank God for Christians that give to the work of the Lord and to missionaries and to the needy.
But, we are living in a nation, once Christians, where we the people of America spend more money on dog food that what is given to missionaries world wide each year.
Look at verse 12: …they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
And what happens to a nation, yea a people that forget God? v 13
13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
Question? “Preacher do you think another nation will take us over. Understand that when Israel fell and then Judah, they lost their freedom to worship God.
What is happening in America is we are slowly losing our freedom to worship God. God has been pushed out of our schools, out of our government, out of our business and we are told the only place we can worship God is in our churches and homes.
Soon, because of Bills like HR1592 which is called Hate crime legislation, our freedom to preach the whole council of God will be taken away from us.
Folks hate crimes are wrong. It is wrong to hurt, injure anyone that disagrees with us, but this bill will censure Bible preaching preachers from preaching against sin.
And if preachers do, they could be placed in jail. Now keep in mind after that bill is passed one day under liberal ideology, it won’t be enforced immediately but it shall be enforced in time.
When a nation lives for pleasure and not God it pictures a nation of unsaved people. That is why Isaiah says what he does in verse 14.
14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
We have seen to woes: Covetousness and Carelessness…
3 – Isaiah 5:18 - 18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:
19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
3 – Israel was guilty of Cords of sin.
What this nation use to hide behind dark doors and do in the allies, they now perform on stage in front of the whole world.
There was a time that in Hollywood, they would not show a unmarried couple kissing. They would not even show a couple fully dressed in PJ’s from neck to foot in the same bed.
I don’t want to sound unkind but today Hollywood should be call hellywood. They have taken that which should be done behind closed doors and put it in the living rooms of homes for every child to see. And they do it with a haughty spirit, spitting in the face of the Holy One of Israel.
But, it is worse. That which God forbids like homosexuality, pre-marital relationships and abortion is glorified as good and common.
Sensual sins, abominable sins, are committed on Stage in the sight of God and man in mockery to the Holy One of Israel and judgment will come to America as it came to Israel and Judah.
Though Isaiah did not tell of the judgment because it was too severe, nevertheless it took place. What was the judgment? (Ps 137:8-9) Their little ones were dragged from the mother’s arms and their brains dashed out upon rocks when they were taken into captivity.
Wait! You say, “That is a terrible thing. I hope it doesn’t happen in America?”
Let me explain it this way. A mother does not want her baby goes to a hospital or a clinic where she voluntarily lies on a table. Her cervix is dilated. The doctor takes a footling breech and positions the baby by extracting the baby’s entire body except for his or her head.
The baby may move, jerk grasp for something to hold. The doctor will then insert a sharp knife in the baby’s head, then a vacuum to suck out his or her brain. And I quote, “The fetus is otherwise intact.”
What the Babylonians did against the will of the women of Judah, over 50 million America women since 1973 have voluntarily done to their babies.
This is not the only way abortion is performed. Sometimes the mother is given a pill that kills the baby and then the body naturally aborts the baby.
Sometimes a saltine solution is injected into the mother’s womb and the baby is burned to death and is then aborted.
The D&C is when the doctor takes a sharp instrument and cuts the live baby into pieces, sucks it out with a vacuum and puts the baby back together to make sure infection won’t set up in the mother’s womb.
Folks, we as a nation have legalized abortion. It is a judgment of God on our nation for our rejection of truth. It isn’t going to happen it is happening.
Isaiah just mentioned 3 Public sins. Covetousness and Carelessness and Cords of Sin.
Now he mentions 3 Personal sins.
4 – Isaiah 5:20 - 20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
4 – Israel was guilty of being stupid. The Thesaurus says to be stupid is to be thick headed, stubborn, dense.
God’s people who know God’s word know right from wrong.
But one who does not know God’s word will call right wrong.
Solomon said it this way, “As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion” (Pro 11:22).
If you are a Christian and you know the Bible, you know that fornication, adultery, fighting, lying, gossiping, strife, hatred, drunkenness, homosexuality and abortion are wrong.
The great sin of Israel is they came to the place where actually believed they were right.
-Woe to the politicians and people of a country that calls murder a woman’s choice.
-Woe to a government that try to justify homosexual marriages.
-Woe to a nation that kicks God out of everything and tries to justify themselves.
We are not to destroy truth, Christian, we are to walk in truth, but you will fail if you don’t know truth. Read the book!
5 – Isaiah 5:21 - 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
5 – Israel was guilty of the sin of Selfishness.
A proud person is a selfish person and a selfish person is a proud person. A proud person thinks themselves better than others. But worse, he makes decisions apart from inquiring of God. He does as he pleases.
Often our kids get out of college they begin looking for a job with pride. They just naturally think they deserve this job because after all they have a BS or a BA. And so many are shocked to find out they were wrong.
I know that first hand. I got my B.A. and I thought, “Hey, I am ready to tackle the world with all my spiritual knowledge.” Boy was I in for a spiritual awakening.
God opened one door for me. It was teaching in a Christian school making 35% less than I made working in a warehouse while in college.
I needed money man, I needed money. God gave me another job. I became the Youth director of the Church. They paid me $25.00 a month.
I needed money, man, I had a baby and one on the way. I went to work for a man on Saturday’s. He paid me $20.00 a day.
Then I took a paper route from 2:00 till 6:30 in the morning.
I found something out early in life, “I am not near as important as I thought I was.” And just because I had a degree didn’t mean God was going to hand me anything.
Don’t trust in your self, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding, in all they ways acknowledge Him and He will lift you up. (Pro 3:5-6).
3 – Isaiah 5:22 – 22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
The sixth sin was that of being a sot. Isaiah was pulling any punches with Israel and Judah. He described them as stupid concerning God’s Word, Selfish in the life they lived and sots.
A sot is an offensive term for somebody who habitually drinks alcohol to excess.
When a person is void of righteousness and consume with self, he is going to feel guilty. To hide his guilt and the emptiness in his life, he seeks a life of drunkenness which leads to a lost of justice. Which means they lose all discernment and discretion and makes some very wrong decisions in life.
In the old theatrical play, “The Great Divide” there is a line that goes like this, “Wrong is wrong from the moment it happens until the crack of doom, and all the angels in heaven working overtime cannot make it different or less by a hair.” My friend if God says something is wrong, I don’t care if congress, the president or a preacher says it is right. It is still wrong.
Evil is wrong. Criticism is wrong. Gossip is wrong.
Unconfessed sin is wrong. Fornication is wrong.
Do you love God with all your heart? It is wrong not to.
Do you love your mate and are you right with your mate. It not it is sin.
Are you walking in the spirit? Do you have God’s joy and peace? It not it is sin.
We need to plant our vines in God’s Soil (his word) and produce good grapes. How long does it take? When you transplant a vine, it takes about three years to get good juice. How long have you been saved?
A man invited his skeptical neighbor over to his orchard to try some of his prized apples. But his friend did not come.
He saw his friend and said, "I would really like you to come and try some of my apples."
His neighbor replied, "Well, I have tried your apples and I think they are the sourest things I have ever tasted."
"Oh," said the first, "I thought so. You see, I planted the sourest trees I could find around the outside of the orchard, for the benefit of the boys who would steal them. But if you come into the center of the orchard you will find some apples as sweet as honey."
Application: God’s children nearest his throne are the sweetest, most loving and most joyful. Those farthest away you will find to be a little sour.
Where are you in God’s orchard?
In conclusion Isaiah gives sad news to Judah:
In verse 24 he tells Judah that because they had ignored and rejected God, God would now ignore and reject them.
24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
If we don’t take time to serve and sacrifice for God when things are going good, it may be that when we need him, he may ignore us.
The last few verses are sad words to Judah. Other nations will come upon you and swiftly. V 25-26
25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:
They will have no mercy on you. As you slumber and slept spiritually, the armies will not. They will come and do my discipline and you won’t escape.
27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:
28 Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind.
29 Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.
In the midst of a world of false religions there was once a true religion.
It was called Judaism.
God gave truth to this people, to their prophets and to their priest.
This truth was the very mind and heart of God.
It was the will and ways of God.
It was the means of eternal hope and eternal life.
It was man’s salvation and security for time and eternity.
Judah once sought the Lord and stood for what was right. They loved the Lord and believed His Word. They had felt His sweet presence. They had experienced great revival. They demonstrated the sweetness of the Spirit in their lives but something happened.
They who once anchored their thoughts in the “Word of God” changed and began to acclaim the “Will of man.”
The spiritual vineyard of God that once produced sweet grapes began to produce sour grapes.
When Moses began their journey in the Wilderness he warned them, “Remember God’s goodness, greatness and grace; they forgot!
They forgot His Word, His will and His ways.
Their lives ceased to be a witness for God and wondered aimlessly in life.
At this time in Israel’s history their nation had been divided:
1) Israel, the Northern Kingdom and Judah, the Southern Kingdom.
Israel was only a few years from being conquered because they had cross a line of no return and God had pronounced judgment.
But for Judah there was still hope.
There was hope for them to submit and surrender to the Lord and to receive again God’s blessings and bounty.
Strangely, they did not think they were doing anything wrong.
Their attitude was, “I have a nice job, I have a nice home, I have money in my pocket and food on my table and I still have my liberty and freedom; why does Isaiah preach such hard messages to us?”
In Isaiah 5:8-20 Isaiah pronounces Six Woes or six warnings on Judah from God. Three of these woes are directed to Public Sins and three are directed towards Personal Sins. Let’s examine these woes and see if they apply to our nation or our lives and hear what God has to say.
I - PUBLIC SINS:
1 -- Isaiah 5:8 - 8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.
10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.
I – Israel as well as Judah had become guilty of Covetousness.
(Their main heart beat was, How can I Prosper?)
Coveteousness is a strong desire to possess what one doesn’t have.
Israel had taken their focus off of God and put it on themselves. That always bring discontentment which will lead to covetousness.
-Politicians and powerful and prosperous men in Judah and Israel began to expand at the expense of the little man.
Illustration: One day Abraham Lincoln was walking down the street with two small boys who were both crying loudly. A neighbor passing by inquired, "What's the matter, Abe? Why all the fuss?" Lincoln responded, "The trouble with these lads is what's wrong with the world; one has a nut and the other wants it!"
Covetousness is one of mankind's greatest sins. When giving the law, God specifically spoke against this wicked tendency. In fact, excessive desire was one of man's first offenses. Remember Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden? God had given them every thing to be content and happy but they wanted a little more.
John called covetousness the “Lust of the eye” in First John 2: 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
-Greed and covetousness stands at our heart’s door. Peace and contentment reside in God’s presence.
Illustration: Bob James tells this story: Recently I laid a small circle of poison around a hill of stinging ants. Thinking the tiny granules of poison were food, the ants began to pick them up and carry them throughout the colony. I returned later to see how well the poison was working. Hundreds of the stinging ants were carrying the poison down into their hill. Then I noticed a hole in the circle of poison. Some of the poison was moving the opposite way—away from the hill. Some smaller, nonstinging ants had found this “food” and were stealing it from their ant neighbors. Thinking they were getting the other ants’ treasure, they unwittingly poisoned themselves.
When we see someone with more than we have, we must beware. The hunger to beg, borrow, or steal our way into what is theirs may poison us spiritually.
The Judgment was a ten acre vineyard which should yield hundreds and hundreds of gallons of grape juice would yield one bath or 9 gallons.
Remember Isaiah was painting a physical picture of their spiritual lives.
They should have been filled with God’s love and their joy should have been evident to all, but their lives produces little love and little joy.
What do we learn from this story? How much of God’s life is seen in our life. How much are we like Christ? Selah!
2 – Isaiah 5:11 - 11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
2 – Judah was guilty of the sin of living for Carelessness or Pleasure.
The whole nation did not live this way. Like America today there are many, many Christians with convictions that do right. May God bless you and honor you for that. But, the nation as a whole lived to drink and dance the night away. One day was no different from another.
The idea, “Eat, drink and be merry” was the heart beat of most of the leaders of the day.
Sadly, the youth in our colleges and high schools across America have the same idea: “Eat, drink and be merry.”
In the New Testament Jesus told the story of a certain rich man that had built barns and stored away his wealth. But, he made more and more and said, “What am I going to do now?”
Then he thought, but he didn’t think about God or others that needed help. He thought of his self and he said, “This is what I will do, I will tear down my barns and build bigger and say to my soul, “Soul, thou has much good for many years, take it easy, sit down, eat, drink and be merry.”
But, God said to him, “Thou fool, this night they souls shall be required of thee, whose will those things be that you have accumulated. Or in other words, they won’t do you a bit of good where you are going.
Today, thank God for Christians that give to the work of the Lord and to missionaries and to the needy.
But, we are living in a nation, once Christians, where we the people of America spend more money on dog food that what is given to missionaries world wide each year.
Look at verse 12: …they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
And what happens to a nation, yea a people that forget God? v 13
13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
Question? “Preacher do you think another nation will take us over. Understand that when Israel fell and then Judah, they lost their freedom to worship God.
What is happening in America is we are slowly losing our freedom to worship God. God has been pushed out of our schools, out of our government, out of our business and we are told the only place we can worship God is in our churches and homes.
Soon, because of Bills like HR1592 which is called Hate crime legislation, our freedom to preach the whole council of God will be taken away from us.
Folks hate crimes are wrong. It is wrong to hurt, injure anyone that disagrees with us, but this bill will censure Bible preaching preachers from preaching against sin.
And if preachers do, they could be placed in jail. Now keep in mind after that bill is passed one day under liberal ideology, it won’t be enforced immediately but it shall be enforced in time.
When a nation lives for pleasure and not God it pictures a nation of unsaved people. That is why Isaiah says what he does in verse 14.
14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
We have seen to woes: Covetousness and Carelessness…
3 – Isaiah 5:18 - 18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:
19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
3 – Israel was guilty of Cords of sin.
What this nation use to hide behind dark doors and do in the allies, they now perform on stage in front of the whole world.
There was a time that in Hollywood, they would not show a unmarried couple kissing. They would not even show a couple fully dressed in PJ’s from neck to foot in the same bed.
I don’t want to sound unkind but today Hollywood should be call hellywood. They have taken that which should be done behind closed doors and put it in the living rooms of homes for every child to see. And they do it with a haughty spirit, spitting in the face of the Holy One of Israel.
But, it is worse. That which God forbids like homosexuality, pre-marital relationships and abortion is glorified as good and common.
Sensual sins, abominable sins, are committed on Stage in the sight of God and man in mockery to the Holy One of Israel and judgment will come to America as it came to Israel and Judah.
Though Isaiah did not tell of the judgment because it was too severe, nevertheless it took place. What was the judgment? (Ps 137:8-9) Their little ones were dragged from the mother’s arms and their brains dashed out upon rocks when they were taken into captivity.
Wait! You say, “That is a terrible thing. I hope it doesn’t happen in America?”
Let me explain it this way. A mother does not want her baby goes to a hospital or a clinic where she voluntarily lies on a table. Her cervix is dilated. The doctor takes a footling breech and positions the baby by extracting the baby’s entire body except for his or her head.
The baby may move, jerk grasp for something to hold. The doctor will then insert a sharp knife in the baby’s head, then a vacuum to suck out his or her brain. And I quote, “The fetus is otherwise intact.”
What the Babylonians did against the will of the women of Judah, over 50 million America women since 1973 have voluntarily done to their babies.
This is not the only way abortion is performed. Sometimes the mother is given a pill that kills the baby and then the body naturally aborts the baby.
Sometimes a saltine solution is injected into the mother’s womb and the baby is burned to death and is then aborted.
The D&C is when the doctor takes a sharp instrument and cuts the live baby into pieces, sucks it out with a vacuum and puts the baby back together to make sure infection won’t set up in the mother’s womb.
Folks, we as a nation have legalized abortion. It is a judgment of God on our nation for our rejection of truth. It isn’t going to happen it is happening.
Isaiah just mentioned 3 Public sins. Covetousness and Carelessness and Cords of Sin.
Now he mentions 3 Personal sins.
4 – Isaiah 5:20 - 20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
4 – Israel was guilty of being stupid. The Thesaurus says to be stupid is to be thick headed, stubborn, dense.
God’s people who know God’s word know right from wrong.
But one who does not know God’s word will call right wrong.
Solomon said it this way, “As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion” (Pro 11:22).
If you are a Christian and you know the Bible, you know that fornication, adultery, fighting, lying, gossiping, strife, hatred, drunkenness, homosexuality and abortion are wrong.
The great sin of Israel is they came to the place where actually believed they were right.
-Woe to the politicians and people of a country that calls murder a woman’s choice.
-Woe to a government that try to justify homosexual marriages.
-Woe to a nation that kicks God out of everything and tries to justify themselves.
We are not to destroy truth, Christian, we are to walk in truth, but you will fail if you don’t know truth. Read the book!
5 – Isaiah 5:21 - 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
5 – Israel was guilty of the sin of Selfishness.
A proud person is a selfish person and a selfish person is a proud person. A proud person thinks themselves better than others. But worse, he makes decisions apart from inquiring of God. He does as he pleases.
Often our kids get out of college they begin looking for a job with pride. They just naturally think they deserve this job because after all they have a BS or a BA. And so many are shocked to find out they were wrong.
I know that first hand. I got my B.A. and I thought, “Hey, I am ready to tackle the world with all my spiritual knowledge.” Boy was I in for a spiritual awakening.
God opened one door for me. It was teaching in a Christian school making 35% less than I made working in a warehouse while in college.
I needed money man, I needed money. God gave me another job. I became the Youth director of the Church. They paid me $25.00 a month.
I needed money, man, I had a baby and one on the way. I went to work for a man on Saturday’s. He paid me $20.00 a day.
Then I took a paper route from 2:00 till 6:30 in the morning.
I found something out early in life, “I am not near as important as I thought I was.” And just because I had a degree didn’t mean God was going to hand me anything.
Don’t trust in your self, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding, in all they ways acknowledge Him and He will lift you up. (Pro 3:5-6).
3 – Isaiah 5:22 – 22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
The sixth sin was that of being a sot. Isaiah was pulling any punches with Israel and Judah. He described them as stupid concerning God’s Word, Selfish in the life they lived and sots.
A sot is an offensive term for somebody who habitually drinks alcohol to excess.
When a person is void of righteousness and consume with self, he is going to feel guilty. To hide his guilt and the emptiness in his life, he seeks a life of drunkenness which leads to a lost of justice. Which means they lose all discernment and discretion and makes some very wrong decisions in life.
In the old theatrical play, “The Great Divide” there is a line that goes like this, “Wrong is wrong from the moment it happens until the crack of doom, and all the angels in heaven working overtime cannot make it different or less by a hair.” My friend if God says something is wrong, I don’t care if congress, the president or a preacher says it is right. It is still wrong.
Evil is wrong. Criticism is wrong. Gossip is wrong.
Unconfessed sin is wrong. Fornication is wrong.
Do you love God with all your heart? It is wrong not to.
Do you love your mate and are you right with your mate. It not it is sin.
Are you walking in the spirit? Do you have God’s joy and peace? It not it is sin.
We need to plant our vines in God’s Soil (his word) and produce good grapes. How long does it take? When you transplant a vine, it takes about three years to get good juice. How long have you been saved?
A man invited his skeptical neighbor over to his orchard to try some of his prized apples. But his friend did not come.
He saw his friend and said, "I would really like you to come and try some of my apples."
His neighbor replied, "Well, I have tried your apples and I think they are the sourest things I have ever tasted."
"Oh," said the first, "I thought so. You see, I planted the sourest trees I could find around the outside of the orchard, for the benefit of the boys who would steal them. But if you come into the center of the orchard you will find some apples as sweet as honey."
Application: God’s children nearest his throne are the sweetest, most loving and most joyful. Those farthest away you will find to be a little sour.
Where are you in God’s orchard?
In conclusion Isaiah gives sad news to Judah:
In verse 24 he tells Judah that because they had ignored and rejected God, God would now ignore and reject them.
24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
If we don’t take time to serve and sacrifice for God when things are going good, it may be that when we need him, he may ignore us.
The last few verses are sad words to Judah. Other nations will come upon you and swiftly. V 25-26
25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:
They will have no mercy on you. As you slumber and slept spiritually, the armies will not. They will come and do my discipline and you won’t escape.
27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:
28 Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind.
29 Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.
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