Foundations

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

Foundations 

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:24-27

In the natural realm, any house must have a foundation. No one would build a house on sand but on something much more solid, like concrete. Likewise, any nation must have a firm foundation, a set of guiding principles. The United States was originally built upon religious freedom, liberty and justice for all ... one nation, under God. Not too many months ago, the current president of America said that we are no longer a Christian nation. Nations, no matter how mighty, that leave God out of the picture destroy their own foundation. The same principle applies to individuals.

3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

4 The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.

5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth. Psalm 11:3-5

These scriptures explain the reason for our confidence in the midst of shaking foundations, storms, and tempests. Although nations may reject the right of God to rule over them, they are unable to dethrone Him. God is on His throne despite the crumbling foundations. His government remains sure, steadfast, and sovereign. Individuals and nations can reject God as Sovereign, but He still remains Sovereign.

The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all. Psalm 103:19

God's throne is beyond the reach of the hands of men. No man, by his own efforts, can understand or fathom God. Whether by opposition to God or by cooperation with Him, men are destined to work out the ultimate purposes of God. There is no escape from His providential rule.

The foundations of men and nations must eventually collapse in order to prepare the way for the government of the Lord of lords and King of kings. God is removing the temporal in order to establish the eternal. Even the transient successes of the most ungodly nations in the history of the world have been, and are, but the scaffolding of God, which He has used and still uses for the execution of His own ultimate designs.

I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until He come Whose right it is; and I will give it to Him [Christ]. Ezekiel 21:27

Look at the decisive, triumphant statement in Psalm 2:6, 

"Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion.” 

That is a touch of absolute finality! God's own King, the rejected and crucified Messiah, will be established as the undisputed Sovereign over all the nations by the decree of God. This will be executed despite all possible defiance and opposition by men. In the meantime the foundations of the nations must be shaken until 

the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 11:15

6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

8 The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:6-9

In the meantime, the worldly conditions subject God's people to a crucial test. "His eyes behold, His eyelids try the children of men." The Lord trieth the righteous; He is trying His children with his eyelids. He is taking us into sharper focus, scrutinizing us closely in order to observe our reaction in a crisis. He sees our plight. He notices every arrow of persecution or affliction. He wants to see whether we are going to flee or trust Him. He watches to see whether we will doubt or will acknowledge Him as sovereign over all that transpires.

Some say that we simply have to trust and wait ... that all is well. However, a lovely hymn urges us to "trust and obey, for there's no other way." Obedience is better than sacrifice. Note below that action is required on our part.

And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Matthew 21:44

When a man builds a house, he does not stop when the foundation is built. That foundation is indeed critical and most important. But that house must also have walls and a roof. In other words, we must allow the Lord to build upon His foundation. It is His house. He is the Master Carpenter. He is building His church. Man cannot lay the foundation; neither can man build upon that foundation. All must be by the Spirit of God. We must let God be God. Trust and obey.

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Isaiah 28:16

Note that the foundation is laid in (spiritual) Zion, not in Israel, not in Judah, and not in Jerusalem. The precious corner stone, which is a sure foundation, can be none other than the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Note that the Verse above does not say that we are built upon the teaching or preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather on the Lord Himself. Note that the developing or building on the sure foundation is not quickly accomplished ("he shall not make haste”).

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Isaiah 28:10

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; Ephesians 2:19-20

Note that Verse 20 does not say that we are built upon the teaching, preaching, and doctrine of the apostles and prophets. Neither does it say that we are built upon the foundation of the pastors. Two possible meanings of Verse 20 are: (1) We are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, and (2) We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets themselves, which were laid by God. The latter interpretation is a mystery and is completely in the spiritual realm. We believe that both meanings are true.

Note the last part of Verse 10, below, which is a very serious admonition.

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 

1 Corinthians 3:10-13

In Verse 10, Paul said that "another buildeth thereon." Who is "another"? The Greek word is allos, which means another of the same kind; i.e., another apostle or prophet. It does not mean another pastor or teacher. Moreover, apostles and prophets have come and gone over the past many centuries, but the ministry continues forever. Paul said that the Lord had put him into the ministry (1 Timothy 1:12). You see, I do not have a ministry; neither do you. It is HIS ministry, which continues forever. He is our Apostle and great High Priest; He is the Prophet. For confirmation of this, try reading Acts 1:17, Acts 1:25, Ephesians 4:12, and Hebrews 9:21 (among others) again. It is not about you and me; it is all about Jesus!

When Paul said that he has laid the foundation, he, of course, did not mean that he preceded the Lord Himself. Man, even Paul or any true apostle or prophet, can only confirm that which God has spoken.

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; 

Hebrews 2:3

When Jesus walked the face of the earth, He even spoke that truth concerning Himself.

26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of [from] Him.

28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things.

38 I speak that which I have seen with My Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

40 But now ye seek to kill Me, a Man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of [from] God: this did not Abraham. John 8:26, 28, 38, 40

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of [with] My Father I have made known unto you. John 15:15

Jesus also said that when the Holy Spirit is come (at Pentecost), that He also would only speak that which He heard from the Father.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. John 16:13

That is also why the apostle John could say,

But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him. 

1 John 2:27

"The anointing which we have received of Him" is the Holy Ghost, given at Pentecost.

Given all of the above, do you find it strange that so few ministers ever teach on the importance of hearing the voice of the Lord for our self? Could it be that most ministers just assume that every one who claims to be born again automatically hears the voice of the Lord? Unfortunately there are a few ministers who want the people to hear from them rather than from the Lord. More unfortunate still is that even more believers actually want to hear from the pastor rather than from the Lord.

Perilous Times Are Upon Us

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Note in Verse 1 that "in the last days perilous times shall come." Peter, Paul, and John all said that even in their day we were in the last days. So there can be no denying that we are living in the last days; therefore, perilous times have already come!

The word "perilous" in Verse 1 is the Greek chalepos, which means "hard, difficult, grievous, rugged, furious, or ferocious." The only other time this Greek word is used is in Matthew 8:28, where it is translated as "exceeding fierce," to describe the two who were possessed with devils.

The "men" in Verse 2 are human beings, not simply males. These Verses not only describe heathens or non-believers; unfortunately they also speak of Christians who have succumbed to their carnal lusts. They are lovers of their own selves; they cater to the popular "me-centered" theology. They may love God but they love pleasures more than God. They have a form of godliness in that they go to "church" every week and outwardly appear to be good Christian folk; but they deny or do not allow the power of the Holy Spirit to crucify their flesh.

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 

2 Peter 3:3-7, 10

Who are the scoffers in Verse 3? heathens? No. They are carnal Christians. Heathens always walk after their own lusts.

The time is later than we think! Yet a little while and the door (to the kingdom of God) will be shut. This has nothing to do with being "saved" and going to heaven one day. The five foolish virgins (who also represent born-again believers) will not be allowed to enter (the kingdom of God). Our God, Who is love, and Who is full of grace and mercy, is also our God of judgment.

A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. Psalm 101:1

Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. Hosea 12:6

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. John 9:39

He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He. Deuteronomy 32:4

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 

1 Peter 4:17

Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but My people know not the judgment of the LORD. Jeremiah 8:7

According to Bullinger's Companion Bible, "knoweth" and "know" in the above verse are figures of speech which convey the sense of acting on the knowledge. Charismatic and Spirit-filled believers today have plenty of knowledge, but do we act on that knowledge? God's people did not act on that knowledge in the time of Noah; they did not in the time of Lot; they did not in the time of Isaiah; they did not in the time of Jeremiah; they did not when Jesus walked the face of the earth; they did not in the church at Corinth; they did not in what is called the Dark Ages; and they do not today! Human nature has never changed and never will. But even the stork, the turtle, and the crane act on their knowledge.

Now, the appropriate question is, "Why are perilous times upon us?" Quite simply because our foundations have been destroyed. We do not speak of worldly matters or the heathens. We speak of the Christian world. The message to the charismatic/Spirit-filled community today is the same as the word to the Church at Ephesus.

1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Revelation 2:1-5

First Principles

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

April 13, 2023 

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

In the King James version, only two places in the bible use the word "principle" or "principles." These are found in Hebrews 5:12 and Hebrews 6:1, just 3 verses apart from each other. I believe the book of Hebrews was written by Paul to the Diaspora, the Messianic Jews of his day who were scattered from Jerusalem throughout the known world. 

2 Peter 3:15-16, "And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." 

If Hebrews is not the letter written by Paul that Peter refers to, where is it? Also, Paul had a God-given burden for the new Christians in the churches of Galatia.

Galatians 2:14, "But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?"

Paul was saying in Galatians 2:14 that no one should ever mix any part of Judaism with Christianity. There is no such thing as Judeo-Christianity. You are either a Jew or you are a Christian. The epistle to the Hebrews was specifically written to Jewish converts who were tempted to revert to Judaism or to Judaize the gospel. The book of Hebrews also was written to all Christians over all of time, including us today, because many Christians have fallen into the snare of mixing parts of the Mosaic law with the true gospel. I have known several people who openly walked in that mixture. Scripture says, in 

Galatians 3:27-28, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." 

By the same token, there is no Baptist in Christ, no Methodist in Christ, no Anglican in Christ.

Hebrews 5:10-14, "Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Continuing in Hebrews 6:1-3, "Therefore leaving [or having left] the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit." 

Perhaps some of you old-timers, like me, know that Derek Prince wrote his Foundation Series booklets covering those six principles plus one more, titled "Purposes of Pentecost," in 1966. I have no intention of talking about those six principles except for one thought. Repentance from dead works (or works of the flesh) still pop up in too many instances with too many Christians today. To the best of my knowledge, I have not re-read any of those 7 booklets since 1968.

Derek Prince was always considered to be a very good teacher and I assume the great majority of what he wrote in those booklets was very good. However, it is all too easy to focus on doctrines rather on the weightier matters of the gospel. Further, although anyone can discern that which is evil, far too many of us Christians cannot discern the difference between that which is good (in the sight of man) and the will of God because our spiritual senses have not been exercised sufficiently. We might recall that Adam was forbidden to eat of the tree of the knowledge of both good and evil. I believe that the major significance of Hebrews 5:12 and Hebrews 6:1-3 may have been missed.

I assume that almost every Christian who has read the Bible would agree that there is a great difference between the operation of the church after Pentecost as recorded in the Book of Acts and the operation of our churches today. Therefore, it is important to understand why those differences exist and what we can do about it. Those are the reasons for this message.

Let us look first at Hebrews 5:12 more closely. 

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

Perhaps a better translation of "first principles" in Hebrews 5:12 is "rudiments of the beginning of the oracles of God." The word "principles" in Hebrews 5:12 is NOT the same Greek word as the word "principles" in Hebrews 6:1. In Hebrews 5:12, the word translated "principles" is stoicheion, which denotes the irreducible basic components or the foundations of Being.

Paul says that the recipients, chosen people of God, have been graced with sufficient knowledge of God that they ought to be teachers. Of course, we all should be teachers by our example to others. Being or becoming always trumps speaking and doing. Sadly, the recipients still need milk, but not strong meat. Someone needs to teach them again about the first principles of the oracles of God. In the Old Testament, oracles of God refer to the words or messages that God gave to His chosen people through prophets or priests, such as Moses, Samuel, or David. In the New Testament, oracles of God refer to the words or messages that God gave initially through Jesus and then the early apostles as Peter, Paul, and John. The only difference between the two is the manner of implementation of the nature or character of the Lord that is worked within us.

In every generation, there are those who serve the Lord and those who thought they serve the Lord but did not.

Malachi 3:16-18, "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not."

Those verses seem to give God's prescription for being able to discern between the righteous and the wicked and between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not ... namely, to fear the LORD, to think upon His name, and to speak often one to another. To speak often one to another does not mean that we talk about the next big game or whether we will go to the next big sale or our job situation. Most of what we Christians talk about after our church service is not fellowship; it is simply socialization at the natural level. From my limited observation, a lot of what Christians put on Facebook has to do with natural-level topics. I also believe the understanding of the fear of the Lord is rather lacking. We seldom hear any minister talk about the fear of the Lord but we hear many messages about the love of God. We need a balance.

Many years ago, a very mature pastor and brother told me that from his many years of walking with the Lord, he had seen experientially that when a church starts talking a lot about the love of God, it was a sure sign that the church was about to split up. Yes, God is love, but He also is a consuming fire.

The word "first" in Hebrews 5:12 is significant. If we want to "rightly divide the word of truth," a solid "first principle" is to go back into scripture and see where God first talks about a particular topic. The book of Genesis contains MANY such "first principles." Also, in scripture, what is mentioned first is generally more important or significant to us.

Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God." 

1 Corinthians 15:3, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" 

Mark 12:28-31, "And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

1 Timothy 2:1, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men:"

It is only after we are thoroughly grounded in the first principles that we are prepared for strong meat. The question is, "What are the first principles of the oracles of God?" 

Jeremiah 48:11, "Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed."

The temptation for us Christians to settle down is very strong. We have become satisfied with words. What occupies most of the time in the worship services of our churches? words ... teaching, preaching, oral testimonies, perhaps a prophecy or two, pre-printed prayers, most of which never reach the ceiling ... words. But Paul told us, in 

1 Corinthians 4:19-21, "But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?"

The Septuagint says that the name Moab means "he is of my father," a perpetual reminder of Moab's incestuous beginning through Lot and his oldest daughter. Another possible meaning of the name Moab is "water of a father of desire." Lot is a type of a Christian with a worldly mind. Moab's incestuous beginning is a type of inbreeding in the churches throughout the ages. Us four and no more. That attitude is particularly prevalent with, but not limited to, Evangelical Christians today. A number of years ago an Evangelical Christian asked me to mail to him 24 copies of a Christian book, so I did. A few weeks later he mailed all of those books back to me because one of the 38 chapters in the book did not agree with his Evangelical traditional teachings. Compare that attitude with the will of God as clearly revealed in 2 Corinthians 3:18,

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

A similar analogy is in 1 John, 2:12-14, 

"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."

In other words, it is time, and past time, for all professing Christians to grow up. How long did it take for Paul or the first apostles to grow up? Obviously, there are always more little children than young men and more young men than fathers. Young men know the reality of 

Galatians 2:20-21, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 4:15, 

"For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." 

Colossians 2:8-10, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:"

The word "rudiments" is the same Greek word as in Hebrews 5:12, which is there translated as "principles." So just as we have the rudiments of Christ, there are also rudiments of the world.

Galatians 4:9-11, "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain."

Galatians 4:1-3, "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:"

The phrase "weak and beggarly elements" in Galatians 4:9 and the word "elements" in Galatians 4:3 are the same Greek word as "principles" in Hebrews 5:12. They both refer to the elements of the world of the Mosaic law. They refer to the oral law or the traditions of men or the Jewish rituals to be followed or externalism or ceremony or formality or surface religion. The great majority of professing Christians would be amazed at the traditions of men which are commonly practiced in almost every church.

Now let us look at Hebrews 6: 1-3, 

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit." 

We can do nothing except by the grace of God. We cannot even take our next breath except for the grace of God.

Perhaps a better translation of "principles of the doctrine" in Hebrews 6:1 is "the word of the beginning of Christ." In Hebrews 6:1 the word translated as "principles" is arche, which means "the word of the beginning of Christ" or "the doctrine of the elementary principles relating to Christ."

Because of our human nature, far too many professing Christians have, perhaps unknowingly, reverted to legalism or what could be called externalism. That mode of living was highly prevalent when Jesus walked the face of the earth.

Matthew 23:13-31, "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by Him that sitteth thereon. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"

1 Corinthians 2:1-5, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

A radical reformation is needed. Without a reformation there can be no regeneration or revival or restoration. Religions invariably degenerate because of a spirit of degeneration and deterioration. Then, after a while, the love of God for His people sends someone along who starts a small revival. For example, just follow the story of the Hebrews as they came out of Egypt. Then follow the story of the Hebrews in the time of the judges and the time of the kings. Then there was no prophet in Israel for 400 years after Malachi. We all know the state of God's chosen people when Jesus came to earth. Then a man named Peter came along. God used him to bring thousands of folks to the knowledge of the saving grace of God. After that God sent a man named Paul to strengthen and enlighten the church. But in less than one century after Paul, the church at Ephesus, the premiere church at that time, degenerated. The last great revival in the United States began in the late 18th century. Why? We Christians don't like change. We prefer the status quo. Don't rock the boat. All is well. Evangelism rocks along and produces a lot of professing Christians who have never been born again. Leonard Ravenhill once said that the so-called "sinners' prayer" has sent more people to hell than all of the taverns in America.

But we continue to say that all is well. There are only two times in all of scripture when someone said "all is well." In both cases, all was not at all well ... just the opposite. The first occasion is recorded in 2 Samuel 18:28 when Ahimaaz brought news to David that Absalom had been killed. The name Ahimaaz means "brother of closed eyes." In reality, Ahimaaz had seen nothing. He just reported hearsay news to David. The other occasion is recorded in 2 Kings, chapter 5, after Elisha had healed Naaman, the Syrian of leprosy. Elisha refused to accept any reward from Naaman, but Elisha's servant, Gehazi, ran after Naaman and said, "All is well." Gehazi then accepted the reward for himself. For that, the Lord struck Gehazi with leprosy forever. A number of years ago I heard with my natural ears a believer of some substance say, "All is well." Today some professing Christians say the equivalent of "all is well." After all, we are "saved" and we will go to heaven one day, so what's the problem?

People just assume their church is ok. But where are the saints today who are producing fruit through their examples? Today's church produces few examples ... those who are willing to hear the voice of God. Instead, we have plenty of babies ... those who drink milk ... those who have closed eyes, know nothing, are irresponsible, and are content with their life of ease.

Today we have many substitutes for the fire from off the altar. Substitutes are first mentioned in

Genesis 11:3-4, "And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." 

The location was Shinar, the beginning of Babylon. Today, many church structures have tall spires or towers that point to heaven. And the great majority of churches have made themselves a name, such as The First Baptist Church or The Church at Fairfax County. However, there is NEVER a substitute (Or perhaps I should say there never SHOULD be a substitute) for hearing the voice of the Lord for yourself.

Every Sunday morning millions of professing Christians go faithfully to their church, as if an hour or two of church life is sufficient to carry us through until the next Sunday, where we repeat the process. We have form without worship. We don't live the doctrines that we teach. Meanwhile, God gets the leftovers. Surface religion. Externalism, based on the traditions of men and pretense. When we don't have something on the inside, we turn to accept what we can have on the outside.

Where are the Ezras today? Where are the Nehemiahs today? Where are the Elijahs today? Where art those ministers of the Lord who weep between the porch and the altar on behalf of God's chosen people? Where are those who seek after God? Where are those who say, let us go on? Where are those who identify with 

Psalm 42:1-4, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday."

The same Holy Spirit who gives joy will also give us the grief and burden that the Lord feels for His chosen vessels.

When the times of apostasy overtake God's chosen people, the Lord says, as in 

Hosea 5:15, "I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early." 

Many such times are recorded in scripture. I believe we are living in such a time today. Now for the good news. After some period of time, God always raises up a prophetic voice to stir up His people. That is the love of God in action. God has his people everywhere. They are not many in number but they are sufficient. They have all pleaded for a deeper life in the Spirit. There were 7,000 more that Elijah did not know about. I have a suggestion for you. If you have access to the internet on a computer or on a cell phone, go to sermonindex.com. At that site you will find tens of thousands of messages preached by various ministers over the years. Some of the messages are not worth listening to. But you can specify the messages from specific ministers. Two of the very best preachers on that site are A.W. Tozer and Leonard Ravenhill, who were 20" century preachers and authors. They both have about 500 different messages which will keep you busy for quite a while. Why do I specifically recommend them? because they both preached the truth, in love, in the right spirit. Neither did they shun to declare all the counsel of God. They called a spade a spade. Very few preachers today measure up to Tozer and Ravenhill in character or in understanding or in boldness.

Now, we have not yet declared what are the first principles of the oracles of God. First of all, we should see and understand the utter simplicity of the carly saints as recorded in the Book of Acts. Granted, since then the devil has added all sorts of distractions, like TV, worldly entertainment, and cell phones. David Wilkerson once said that he would never have a TV in his house. But there is forever a simplicity that is in Christ. Paul said, in 2 Corinthians 11:2-3,

"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

Those early Christians led a simple life, but a life filled with the love of God, grace, mercy, faith, worship and the power of the Holy Ghost. There we see the first principles of the oracles of God over all generations. God always uses prophets to try to bring us back to the reality of God. True prophets always protest against hollow words and external forms and traditions of men. Those early Christians had only one source of riches ... Christ Himself. He is our shield and our exceeding great reward. They were never concerned about obtaining a reputation with men. They never sought a high position. Paul said, in

Galatians 1:10, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

Paul also said, in 

Philippians 3:7-11, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."

Paul was never concerned about his ultimate salvation. He had already been caught up to the third heaven. His focus was always about pleasing the Lord, doing His will. Paul, and many others before and since, have learned the secret of true communion with God. That secret has nothing to do with eating a little piece of bread and drinking a sip of wine or grape juice once a week or once a month. Perhaps one day the Lord will allow me to expand on that truth.

Once more, who is seeking God? Who wants to know God? Have I described you in anything I have shared tonight? Are you satisfied with the status quo? Or do you long for more of the reality of God in your life? It is not a question of how far we have already come. The real question is who is headed in the right direction? The word "prize" occurs only two times in scripture. One occurrence is in 

Philippians 3:13-14, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." 

The other occurrence is in 

1 Corinthians 9:24, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." 

Who can identify with that attitude that Paul had? And what is the prize? Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is because I have such a hope for the body of Christ that I speak with such boldness.

By the grace and power of God may we all go on unto perfection. Amen and amen.

The Coming of the Lord

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

August 12, 20?? 

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

The Coming of the Lord

22 And when the days of her [Mary's] purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord; 

23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law,

28 Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word:

30 For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,

31 Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him.

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Luke 2:22-38

Those seventeen Verses in Luke constitute one of many examples in Scripture which are prophetic of the second coming of the Lord. The whole Bible, from Genesis through Revelation, speaks of the Kingdom of God and of the coming of the Lord. Verses 22-24 speak of the time when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to God and to offer a sacrifice according to the law of the Lord. The Bible gives us NO details about that presentation or sacrifice. Instead we are given details of two other people ... Simeon and Anna, who bear witness to Jesus in the temple. The Bible specifies, and in some cases in the Old Covenant Law even requires, the evidence of two witnesses to establish an important legal charge (Deuteronomy 17:6-7). Also, "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established" (2 Corinthians 13:1). Simeon and Anna are the two witnesses here, and they form a complementary pair. Both are devout and patiently waiting for Israel's redemption. They represent the whole human race, male and female. Simeon is the male witness and Anna is the female witness. The man comes first, but it is not good for him to be alone, so the woman then comes and joins in the work of the man, and together they complete their service to the Lord. After they complete their function and purpose on earth, we never again hear about them.

We should also note that eleven verses are devoted to Simeon, and primarily what he spoke, whereas only three verses are devoted to Anna, but primarily not what she spoke but her "hidden" work of God. Both aspects of the functioning of the body of Christ are equally important and divinely ordained.

Naturally speaking, Simeon and Anna had little to commend them. They were not people of position or power. They had no "official" part in the required ceremony of the presentation of Jesus in the temple. In fact, it is somewhat amazing that they were even allowed to say and do what they did in the temple. That was indeed the sovereignty of God.

Simeon, which means "one who hears and obeys," is a prophet, because God includes him in divine council, and Anna is a prophetess whom God blesses with favor and grace. Both confess Jesus is the Christ. Their combined evidence is greater than if only one confessed this truth. Simeon confesses Jesus as the Lord's Christ, and Anna confesses Jesus as the Redeemer of Israel. They both declared in truth that He was the one to redeem Israel.

It is important to remember that they were in the temple. Jesus' first appearance at the temple, which occurred at the time of His presentation, was a very significant event. The Old Testament prophets had spoken of the appearance of God's Messiah at the temple:

Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:1

Jesus' second visit to the temple was at the age of 12. His next visit to the temple in Jerusalem, as recorded by John's gospel (John 2:12-25), began with the cleansing of the temple, and with strong words of rebuke, just as the Old Testament prophecies concerning Messiah's appearance foretold.

God announces to His faithful people the birth of His Son and welcomes Him into His temple. What a contrast to unfaithful Israel! Herod already wants Jesus dead, and when Jesus grows up, temple leaders will scream for His crucifixion. Praise God for preserving a true people unto Himself. Unless God adopts us into His family, we would be blind to His Son and oppose His work in the world.

The occasion for the appearance of our Lord at the temple was His presentation, but nothing is actually said about that ceremony. It is not the ceremony, the ritual of the presentation of Jesus, which is most important, but the proclamation of these two saints, Simeon and Anna. We have no record here of the ritual, nor are we given the names of any of the priests involved in the ceremony. While the primary intent of Joseph and Mary was to fulfill the requirements of the Law pertaining to the birth of Jesus, the purpose of the passage in Luke is to disclose two more divinely inspired proclamations of the identity of this child as God's Messiah, God's Anointed One, God's Salvation. Simeon and Anna informed the godly Israelites, those looking for the Messiah, that He had come.

Here is a confession of Simeon's faith, that this Child in his arms was the Savior, salvation Himself. It is remarkable that Simeon sees Jesus' salvation as extending to all people ... Gentiles and Jews alike (Verse 32). This is the same message the angel spoke to the shepherds on a winter night: "I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Luke 2:10).

Simeon is a man who is somewhat like the Old Testament characters, Elijah and Melchizedek, in that he suddenly appears out of nowhere. We are told very little about this Simeon. We do not know what tribe he came from, although undoubtedly he was an Israelite. We know nothing about his family, whether he was married or had any children. We are told nothing about his occupation, but it does not appear that he was a Levitical priest, for he was directed by the Holy Spirit to go to the temple. In reality, Simeon was a priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The only things we are told about Simeon are those things which matter most to God ... things which pertain to his faith and his character, things which tell about his relationship with God. We are told that Simeon was righteous and devout (Verse 25), which speaks of his personal walk with God and his integrity. He was a man of faith and hope, for he "looked for the consolation of Israel," an expression which summarizes the faith of the Old Testament saint in the promises of God concerning the restoration of Israel through the coming of her Messiah.

Most importantly, Simeon was a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had directed Simeon to the temple on the particular day that Jesus' parents brought Him to be presented to the Lord. Finally, it was the Spirit of God who revealed to Simeon that this child was indeed the Messiah. While Simeon was a devout Jew, he did not view the Messiah's coming as only for the benefit of Israel. Messiah came as God's salvation to all men, not just to the Jews. This truth was taught in the Old Testament, and Simeon's words seem to reveal his knowledge of such Old Testament prophecies of a salvation for Gentiles as well as for Israel. For example, "All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (Psalm 98:3).

We are not given the age of Simeon, but only of Anna. Because he was ready to die, he must have been elderly, like Anna. The fact that he was in Jerusalem, that he was familiar with the Old Testament, that he was "righteous and devout," and that he was "looking for the consolation of Israel," all point to his being an Israelite. His highest priority was loving and serving God, and so at the Spirit's leading, he was at the temple, where he was enabled to recognize and proclaim God's Messiah.

Imagine the impact which the actions and prophecies of Simeon must have had on Joseph and Mary. "And His father and mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him" (Verse 33). Little wonder! It is quite amazing when a man who was probably a total stranger walks up and proclaims your child, a child who looks like any other six-week old boy, to be the Messiah of God. Simeon went on to bless Mary and Joseph and to direct a specific prophecy to Mary:

"Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Verses 34-35).

But now Simeon unveils Old Testament prophecies, such as those of Isaiah 53 ... prophecies of the rejection, crucifixion and death of Messiah, prophecies of His substitutionary atonement. Simeon's prophecy views the coming of Christ as revealing the hearts of men and of dividing men, so that because of Him some will rise and some will fall. Moreover, Simeon's words prepare Mary for the grief she must suffer, as the rejection of her Son by men will cause her to witness His death on the cross. This will be a sword that will pierce her soul.

Now that Simeon had seen God's Messiah, he was ready to leave his earthly dwelling behind. A number of years ago a well-known evangelist said that God would take his life if 8 million dollars were not donated to him within a few months. How sad! Why the frantic effort to stay alive if one's faith is in God? Simeon was ready to face death because he had seen God's Messiah; we should be ready to face death for in so doing we will see Him. As Paul wrote, death no longer has any sting (1 Corinthians 5:55). Paul also said, 

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. Philippians 1:21-24

Does life hold for us one single, dominating purpose? For the Christian, the Lord Jesus Christ must be our focal point of life, the governing principle and priority of life.

Next Luke gives us a brief summary of Anna's life. She was married seven years from the time she was a virgin, and then she was a widow until she turned 84, which is also symbolic. Eighty-four (7 x 12) represents the fullness of God's will in Christ. Seven is the number of spiritual perfection or completion, and 12 is the number of governmental perfection (for example, the twelve tribes of Israel). So 84 speaks of the fullness of time when God sent forth His only Son to earth. Anna's age represents the completion or perfection of God's chosen people in Christ.

Anna, like Israel, has come to the fullness of time. With the coming of Jesus, Anna shows us that the Old Covenant system is complete. Before Jesus, tribal associations were important. The Gospels record the genealogies of both Joseph and Mary, and they both go back to Abraham. From now on, Jesus replaces the genealogies. What matters is no longer what tribe we are from, but if we are born from above. These events signal the completion and fulfilment of the Old Covenant in Christ. Now, Jesus brings in a New Covenant. He will destroy the old temple and build a new one.

Verse 36 tells us Anna's name, her tribe, and her father's name. The meaning of each name is important. Anna is the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. The name Anna, which means favored or gracious, reminds us of the other famous Hannah in the Bible. Hannah presented her son Samuel in the temple as a boy before God. Now, Mary is presenting Jesus in the temple as a boy before God. Eli met Samuel in the temple and blessed Samuel. Simeon met Jesus in the temple and blessed Jesus. Just as Israel knew Samuel to be a prophet established over the whole land, so all of the true Israel knows Jesus to be The Prophet declaring the whole will of God. We see a replay of the events of Samuel in the life of Jesus. He is the new Samuel to judge all of Israel.

Anna was a remarkable woman. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. Anna was a faithful and godly Jew who received Jesus. She was a humble widow, so in her humility, she was able to see Jesus. Even many important Jewish leaders in her day could not recognize Jesus as the Son of God, but Anna saw Him and spread the word to the faithful Jews awaiting their Messiah. God exalts the humble but resists the proud.

Although we are told less about what she actually said, we are given more information about her background than Simeon's. Anna was an Israelite, of the tribe of Asher, one of the ten "lost tribes" of Israel which were scattered in the Assyrian captivity. Anna was a very godly woman who was very aware of Israel's sins but a woman who was looking for the coming of Messiah. The details of her life speak of her character. As a young widow, the natural thing for Anna to have done would be to remarry. She probably had a few such opportunities. Her greatest womanly contribution, as well as her natural womanly fulfillment, would have been marriage and child-bearing. Nevertheless she remained single and lived out her life in the temple, occupied with prayer and fasting.

Anna holds very high God's standards for singles. Anna is living testimony to the great contribution people can make who devote their life to God. No wonder Paul can instruct the churches to financially support such women (1 Timothy 5:3-16).

Phanuel is not mentioned in any other Scripture. The name Phanuel brings to mind the place where Jacob received his limp, Penuel (Genesis 32). Phanuel, like the limping Jacob, suggests a people wrestling with God. She was a faithful Israelite, waiting and longing for the redemption of Israel. Usually when a woman was married she was known by her husband's name. But Anna was identified by her father's name, Phanuel. A widow could either re-marry or go back to her father's house. Perhaps Anna went back to her father's house for a period of time until she made the temple her home.

The name Phanuel means "face of God." Anna has seen the face of God named Phanuel, her earthly father. Today, however, something better than seeing her earthly father, Phanuel, happens. Anna sees the face of God in Jesus Christ, the face of her Heavenly Father.

Jesus is Phanuel in the flesh. Paul calls Jesus "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). John 1:18 says, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." To see God we look at Jesus. Jesus is Phanuel, the face of God.

Asher was Leah's son. In Genesis 30:13 Leah says, "Blessed am I! For women have called me blessed." Therefore she named the child Asher, which means blessed. Leah's words resonate with Mary and her child Jesus. In Luke 1:48-49, Mary says "from now on all generations will call me blessed, for He who is mighty has done to me great things, and Holy is His name." Mary sounds just like Leah. Because of her child from the Lord, she is blessed and so she celebrates. Mary has become a new Leah and Jesus is her Asher.

In Anna's days, there were plenty of reasons for her to avoid going to the temple. Her fasting and prayers speak to a dilemma in her day. Anna's fasting recognizes the need for a redeemer. She removes herself from the desecration, the all too common leaven of self-righteousness, the distraction of people who want the temple to serve their purposes rather than God's, a distraction even today found in God's house. Anna's plea is for God to bring about the redemption of Jerusalem. Anna's fast makes a statement against the sinful activities hindering the activity of God among His people, and she prays to God for salvation.

The religious officials looked with disdain on people like Anna. She was always there, always under foot. And her kind of super-spirituality was probably viewed as creating an unwanted environment. After all, if she were mourning over and confessing Israel's sins, then she was backhandedly condemning the religious leaders. Because Anna was a widow and the Lord condemned the religious leaders for taking advantage of widows (e.g. "you devour widows' houses," Matthew 23:14), Anna may well have been a victim of the religious leaders with whom she continually came in contact. Anna is faithful to meet God at His place and pray for redemption. She witnesses injustice, but her faithful prayers, night and day, are heard. The Redeemer of Israel has arrived.

There are many ways in which the lives of Simeon and Anna apply to us believers today. The most important is as a reminder of what really matters in life. For Simeon, his occupation was not the most important thing, for we are not even told what his life's work was. It was not even "full-time Christian service," which some think to be the ultimate calling in life. What set Simeon apart from many others, including the religious leaders at the temple (none of whom are named in this account), was that he was a man who trusted in God, who obeyed His Word, who looked for His kingdom, and who was indwelt and led by the Holy Spirit. What ultimately mattered in Anna's life was not marriage or family, but faithfulness to God. The seemingly unproductive activities of prayer and fasting, proclamation and praise was, and still is, most important. The early church devoted itself to such activities. The apostles made prayer and the preaching of God's Word the priority of their ministry (Acts 6:1-4). The coming of the kingdom of God was the one great hope, the one great motivation, the one great occupation of these two saints, and it should be ours as well.

Another great system of Christianity has been built up on this earth. It is a very earthy system. Too many Christians are bound up with this historic Christianity, but that whole system must be shaken. The second coming of the Lord will be accompanied by a terrible judgment upon this earth, when everything that is not heavenly will be shaken, so shaken that it will just collapse.

The church is a broken thing on earth, but we no longer belong to this world. The real church is a spiritual thing, not an earthly, temporal thing. We have become members of a new Israel, a heavenly people with a new spiritual nature (Romans 9:6 and Galatians 3:16).

The world-wide natural disasters, of which we have already seen many, are only the beginning of sorrows. These signs in the earth speak of the soon coming of the Lord. They also speak of tribulation. Then those signs are followed by signs in the heavens, which speak of even greater tribulation and the imminent coming of the Lord. Further, the Lord is going to bring about an economic collapse world-wide. This soon coming economic collapse will make the Great Depression in the United States back in 1929-1932 look like a tea party. I have been waiting and hoping for 50 years that all religious organizations would be taxed. After all, they are all big businesses too. The time is soon coming when no one can buy or sell unless they have received the mark of the beast.

The last book of the Bible is a record of the events which will occur in the last days, at which time the Lord will come and establish His eternal kingdom. His second coming, just as with Simeon and Anna, should be the preoccupation of our lives.

Now if what we have just declared only stirs up our emotions for a season, then we miss the most important part of this passage in the Book of Luke. There must be and there will be a repeat of the actions of Simeon and Anna in our time. There must be a preaching of the Person of Christ in truth, not simply what He has done, is doing, or will do, and not simply to stir the emotions with some new revelation. Preaching was Simeon's part when Jesus first came to the temple. Anna's part has not yet been fulfilled in our day.

Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? Joel 2:17

And what follows that? the second coming of the Lord. That will be the final coming of the Lord to His temple, which is His body. 

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21