This was the last book that was written by my father before he passed away in May of 2023, this never made it to print. I cannot tell you just how exciting it was when this was found on his computer. Even though my father is now with the Lord, through all of his writings, I can still hear his voice every day. I hope that his writings are an encouragement to you as well. All that is written below are his words.
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
Acknowledgments
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
I would also like to acknowledge my wife, Linda, who provided me with great encouragement and support. She also gave me her valuable comments for improvement.
All verses quoted herein are taken from the Authorized or King James' version, except as specifically noted at the appropriate places.
Permission is freely given to anyone to copy all or parts of this book and to distribute this word in any way that you desire to whomever you desire, PROVIDED that you do so without any monetary remuneration. The word of God is free (or at least should be). "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8).
No Limitations In Christ
Often, the decision to accept Christ is accompanied by an action on our part such as repeating a "sinner’s prayer," signing a decision card, holding up a hand, or similar activity. This false association can lead and has led to many false conversions, because someone who responds to such a request may think he is saved, based on an emotional experience, when there has been no work of God in his heart. Coming forward in response to an altar call based on an emotional appeal is not the same thing as coming to Christ. We must act on that commitment. That is called repentance. We must correct every deviation every day of our life. It all begins with brokenness. Today, many Christians pray to be blessed; few pray to be broken.
The Purpose and Theme of This Book
The primary purpose of every Christian message should be to glorify God and to build up and edify His chosen people so that we will be better able to understand and walk in His ways, His will, and His purposes which He foreordained before the foundation of the world. Any other purpose must be completely secondary. We need to enlarge our vision of Christ … that heavenly vision that Paul was obedient to. Your vision is too small. My vision is too small. Our vision must be the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The purpose of any gathering of the saints, whether two or three or thousands, should be to try to enlarge our vision of the Lord Himself, not in the sense of what He has done for us, but who He is! It is VERY important for everyone to understand that this book is intended ONLY to set forth what may be a higher vision than that which we all have walked in before. No one should try to walk in any word until the Holy Spirit makes that word real in our heart. Otherwise, that would become legalism. Only the Lord, through His Spirit, can make His word flesh within us.
The theme of this message is based upon the time when Jesus told Peter to get out of the boat and walk on water to Him. This theme could be conveyed in many different ways.
The words of one song says, “When I look into Your holiness, when I gaze into Your loveliness, when all things become as shadows in the light of You; when I’ve found the joy of reaching Your heart, when my will becomes enthroned in Your love, when all things that surround become shadows in the light of You, I worship You. I worship You. The reason I live is to worship You.” Is the reason we live to worship the Lord?
I hope, by the grace of God, to share with you my understanding of what the boat represents, the need to get into the boat, the need to come out of the boat, when and how to come out of the boat, and what to expect after we come out of the boat. May the Lord open our eyes to His piercing word regarding “the boat.”
On July 7, 2021, the Lord woke me up about 5 a.m. For about 90 minutes before I got out of bed the Lord was speaking to me about a message for as many leaders in various churches as possible. My definition of a “leader” is any true Christian who is following the Lord Jesus with all of his heart. The Lord did not give me many specific words to say … just a general sense that He wanted to do a powerful work within every leader who would hear. It is no coincidence that the Lord spoke such a powerful word on the seventh day of the seventh month in the year 2021 (twenty-one is a multiple of seven), ending about seven a.m. that day. The Lord could have given this word at any time, any day, any month, and any year. What an amazing God we serve! Therefore, I believe this is an extremely urgent word for the body of Christ in this hour.
If you have been born again, baptized in the Holy Ghost, and have been grounded in the fundamentals of the faith, this book is for you. If you are a relatively young Christian, this book may only contain a word that will set forth a vision for your later walk with the Lord.
I make no claim that everything in this book is the absolute truth of God. It is simply what I believe I have received up to this point in time. No man except the Lord Himself has all of the truth for He IS the Truth.
I will share a few personal experiences ONLY to point out what an amazing, awesome, wonderful God we serve. Without the grace of God none of us can take our next breath. A man with an experience is never at a disadvantage with a man with a doctrine. That is a big lesson from John Chapter 9 when Jesus opened the eyes of the man who had been blind from birth. The Pharisees had a doctrine but the former blind man had an experience.
In any event, we sincerely hope that this book will be a blessing to you. May the Lord continue to bless you as you both rest and labor in His Vineyard.
Matthew 14:22-33
22 And straightway [immediately] Jesus constrained [compelled or commanded] His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
Why did Jesus need to "constrain" the disciples, which indicated some definite resistance on their part? The account of this same event in John, Chapter 6, follows immediately after the time when Jesus fed the 5,000 with five barley loaves and two small fishes. John 6:15 gives the reason why Jesus sent everyone away. It was because the people were so affected with the miracle of the loaves that they were about to take Him by force and make Him a natural king, something the disciples fervently desired and would have supported in every possible way if Jesus had not ordered them to the other side of the lake. Human nature is always looking for something, anything to benefit me. He immediately scattered the people and sent away the disciples, lest they should join with the multitude. Then He, Himself withdrew. When human honors were offered to Jesus and almost forced upon Him, He retired for private prayer - an example for all who are tempted the applause of men. Nothing is better to keep our mind humble and unambitious than to seek some lonely place - to shut out the world with all its honors - to realize that the great God, before whom all creatures and all honors pale to nothing, is all in all - and to ask Him to keep us from pride and vainglory. This current pandemic has given us a wonderful opportunity to be shut in with God.
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone.
I do not recall any verse in the Bible when Jesus prayed with His disciples. He certainly prayed for His disciples and continues to do that. Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” It seems that Jesus always prayed alone … well, not really alone because He always communed with His Father.
Back to Matthew 14.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
The fourth watch of the night was between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. The sea was stormy and tumultuous; the darkness made things even more fearful for His disciples. Note that Jesus went to His disciples. Unless He comes to us, we cannot go to Him. A stormy sea usually speaks of works of the devil. The Lord allows storms to arise in our life from time to time. Why? to prove us, whether or not we really trust Him. The Lord is more interested in our character than our comfort.
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
The disciples probably believed that no man could walk on water, but of course Jesus was not an ordinary man.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.28 And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
The disciples, although in a ship, were in grave danger, but He who walks on the waves was in no danger at all, by which action He showed himself to be the Lord of the sea and to be truly God. Job 9:8, speaking of God, says, “Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.”
29 And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
God in the past has suspended His own rules for men at least a dozen times as recorded in the Bible. When Peter walked on water briefly, that was one of the times when God suspended the natural laws of the universe for men. I do not believe that Jesus wants us to walk on natural water. Once the Lord bids us to come to Him by walking on stormy seas, we must overcome all self-doubts and desires, overcome the works of the devil, and obey and trust in Him.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Verses 30 and 31 represent what the heart attitude and response of all Christians should be to Jesus every day and in every circumstance of our life. The phrase “save me” can be translated as “protect me,” “deliver me,” “preserve me,” or “make me whole.” No man can do any of these things for us. Only the Lord Jesus Himself can rescue us from any and all situations.
The word “immediately” in Matthew 14:31 occurs only in the New Testament. When Jesus healed or delivered anyone, the results were immediate. Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught Peter. That means that Peter, as he walked on the water, was almost to where Jesus was waiting. Almost! Are there any “almost” Christians today? Not all who start a race but those who finish the race receive the prize.
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.”Matthew 6:7-8, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.”Isaiah 65:24, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”Hebrews 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
Back to Matthew 14.
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
The Lord sometimes will put us in difficult situations just to prove us, whether or not we really trust Him. The Lord allows storms to arise in our life from time to time. Why? The Lord is more interested in our character than our comfort.
The lesson is keeping our eyes upon the Lord. Every Christian would agree and even say “Amen,” but actions speak louder than words. That is so important for us. It is so easy for us to get our eyes on our circumstances. As we start looking around at our boisterous problems, we begin to sink. Every one of us is faced with daily situations that can really sink us, if we allow it. We need to keep our eyes on the Lord, who is the Master over the sea and over the winds. Looking at Jesus, Peter was able to take a few steps on the water. Getting his eyes off Jesus and on the waves, he began to sink. Why did Jesus do miracles? so that everyone might know that Jesus Christ is Lord. In the Book of Ezekiel, we read sixty-some times that the Lord said, “that they might know that I am the Lord.”
Now let us review the sequence of events in Matthew 14 with respect to Peter and the other disciples. First, Jesus commanded His disciples to get into the boat. Next, at the invitation of Jesus, Peter got out of the boat and walked a few steps on water toward Jesus, but then Peter began to sink. Then, in Matthew 14:32, all of the disciples, including Peter, went back into the boat. Why? because neither Peter nor any of the disciples were prepared to come out of the boat. That changed on the Day of Pentecost. Of course, Jesus knew, when He told Peter to get out of the boat and walk on water to Him, that Peter was not prepared spiritually to do that. But Jesus had to show Peter that he was not yet ready to get out of the boat. Of course, Jesus could have told Peter that he was not yet prepared to walk on water and come to Him, but we learn best by our failures.
There is a song that says, “Every new day His glory unfolds, filling my eyes with Your treasures untold; the beauty of Holiness now comes into view, my greatest love is You. Call me deeper into Your grace, The river that flows from the Holy Place. Wash over me, cleansing me through. My greatest love is You.” Is the Lord Himself our greatest love? or are the words of that song just some nice words to stir our emotions from time to time?
What Is the Boat?
We need to understand the significance of the “ship” or “boat” that Jesus commanded His disciples to get into. The boat represents some structured church organization. The boat speaks of the place where new believers are taught the fundamentals of the faith, particularly as written in the book of Romans and then in the book of Ephesians. New believers need to see the love of God and His wisdom and order through godly men. In Matthew 14:22 Jesus commanded the disciples to get into the ship.
The Lord told Noah to build a big boat, which he did, undoubtedly with a lot of help from other folks. Other than what we call “Noah’s Ark,” I am not aware from Scripture that the Lord told anyone else to build a natural boat. It is safe to say that all boats have been built by men. We are not really concerned about natural boats. We are very much concerned with spiritual boats and what they represent.
Today we have a Baptist boat, a Methodist boat, an Anglican boat, a Pentecostal boat, a New Testament house church boat, and all different types and sizes of boats. Some boats are “better” spiritually than others. However, the Lord is longsuffering and infinitely patient, molding and making us in our boats.
Of course, there is no such thing in Scripture as denominations. In 1 Corinthians 1:12-13, “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” Therefore, denominations result from the carnal minds and wills of Christians.
Today we have a huge variety of boats. When Jesus walked the face of the earth, the boats had no electrical engines or motors. Men used oars to propel the boats and men steered the boats with their oars and sails. Oh, but now we have become more sophisticated. Now we have motor boats. We have big boats (mega churches) and little boats (house churches). We no longer have to spend so much of our energy to get our boats to where we want to go. Now we can steer our boats to any place we desire. And we can get to where we want to go so much faster. Is that called progress?
Today, men give names to streets, towns, companies, boats, and churches. Whenever we choose any name for our local church, we are taking the first baby step down a slippery path to religious mediocrity. Oil and water do not mix. Too many churches use the best ways of the world to try to “improve” the spread of the Gospel. One characteristic of all man-made “boats” is that it takes money to build them and money to maintain and operate them. Of course, if we do not have a church “name,” we cannot get a bank account. Then we cannot deduct our tithes and offerings from our tax return. When Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, he did not ask for a tax receipt. There is no place in the Bible that hints at such a thing. The church that the Lord is building (without money) is a living organism, not an organization which uses the best ways of the world. Our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Amaziah hired, for one hundred talents of silver, 100 thousand men of war to fight against the Edomites. Then, in 2 Chronicles 25:7-9, “But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down. And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.”
Rowing a boat depends upon self-effort. Even for expert oarsmen, rowing becomes tiresome, even painful. Everyone is familiar with a nursery rhyme which is for very young children. The words are, “Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.” Are you still rowing your personal boat by your own effort? Do you go to church every Sunday, sing some nice, soothing songs, put a few shekels in the pot, read your Bible when you have time, try to live a morally good life, pray for some folks occasionally, and really pray when things get tough? There is a better way. It is called rest … rest from all of our works, as Hebrews, Chapters 3 and 4 tell us 10 times. Stop rowing. Just put up your sail and submit to the wind, the Spirit of God, the very breath of God, as He blows into and upon you to take you to where He wants you to go. Then watch God work in your life.
Around 1973 the Lord told us to start a “neighborhood meeting” in our home. We invited our neighbors next door, across the street, and a few who lived several blocks from us. We called it a Bible study. Only about six folks accepted our invitation. We had no idea if any of them were Christians and we never asked. We met once a week in our living room. We started our sessions with the topic of “Who is Jesus Christ?” Then we started through the Gospel according to John. One evening the Lord lengthened some arms and legs of most of us, making them of equal length. I never talked about the baptism in the Holy Ghost, but several of those who joined us were baptized in the Holy Ghost in their own homes, all by themselves. Nobody laid hands on them. That happened on the Day of Pentecost. Why would we think it strange if the same thing happened today? It was like we just sat back and watched God move on those folks. One night one of the women said that before we started our session, she needed to share something with us. Immediately, the Lord quickened John, Chapter 8, which speaks of the woman who was caught in adultery. Sure enough, the woman told all of us that she had been unfaithful to her husband … she had committed adultery with the man next door. Then she said, “Even though I have committed the unpardonable sin and will never go to heaven, I am still going to serve Him while I am on earth.” That is what I call true commitment! Amazing! Of course, the Lord assured her, using the example from John, Chapter 8, that she had not committed the unpardonable sin. She still serves the Lord today.
From the late 1960’s through the early 1980’s we were part of a New Testament house church in Northern Virginia. That church was closer in operation to the early church at Jerusalem after the day of Pentecost than any other church I have ever seen. We had spontaneity. We also had “order” and “structure” in our gatherings. But we had an unwritten program ... ask the Lord’s blessing, sing three fast songs, then three slow songs, sing in the Spirit, wait for the prophecies, someone brings a teaching, ask if anyone needs prayer, and then fellowship. But in 1978 the Lord told us we would have to leave that church or the ministry the Lord had put us into could never be fulfilled. Nevertheless, we waited for the timing of the Lord, which happened two years later, on May 30, 1980. That house church totally disintegrated one year after we left. The Lord revealed many reasons why He removed that candlestick.
One of the deacons in our old New Testament house church back in the 1970’s was a man who I will call Joe (not his real name). I never knew him too well in our house church days together. One day, around 1973, he asked my witness about something very important in his life. He and his wife at that time both had high-paying civil service positions and lived very comfortably. He said that they believed they were to quit their jobs and move to another state. I never told him yes or no. That gets into what is called directed prophecy, which I try to avoid completely. I said, if you believe the Lord told you to do that, then you need to take a step of faith in that direction. Take just one step and ask the Lord to open the door if it is the Lord’s will and close the door if it is not His will. He and his wife did quit their jobs, moved to another state and soon started a house church in their area. Never in my life have I ever seen any man mature so rapidly after that. He became very bold in Christ … probably approaching the boldness of Peter and Paul. It is significant that Joe greatly matured only after he left that same house church boat.
Before the Lord ever apprehended Joe, he had bought two large pieces of beautiful, matching, hand-carved wood, but he said he did not know why he bought them. One was a three-foot wide wooden sword. The other was a four-foot-wide boat, mounted in a 3’ X 5’ frame, similar in appearance to those used when Jesus was on earth. After he became a mature leader in the church, he told me that he could easily see the significance of the sword, representing the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. But he said he never knew the significance of the boat. As soon as I looked at the boat, which had no oars, the Lord revealed the significance from Isaiah 33:20-21, “Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.”
First, we must see the context, which is Zion. Zion speaks of overcomers … a remnant. A galley with oars means that men are steering the ship. A gallant ship is showy in dress, speech, or bearing. That speaks of a minister which some Christians almost idolize. I remember many years ago a charismatic Christian woman told me that she liked “prophet so-and-so” because he always kept her laughing.
A true prophet once said, “Once a man has tasted one morsel from the table of the Lord, the very sweat from the pores of his skin will eat away the chains that bind him to the oars of the galley of the religious system.”
The Need to Get Into the Boat
About 60% of a man’s weight is from water. Without water, barring a miracle, we cannot physically live. Without living, spiritual water we can exist but we cannot live. Approximately 71% of the Earth’s surface is water. In the natural realm, men have always used boats to travel on water.
Please recall that Jesus, in Matthew 14:22, told His disciples to get into the boat. After we are born from above, we must initially enter a boat (of the Lord’s choosing), which represents some structured church group. Unfortunately, far too many Christians enter a boat of their own choosing, based on what agrees most with our family background or our personal likes and dislikes. Many years ago some leader in another church had suggested that each church in the Washington, D.C. area write down their beliefs, which would be combined together into one pamphlet. Then, when a new Christian came to this area, he could read all of the pamphlet and then decide which church to attend. One of the elders in our New Testament house church proposed in an elders’ meeting that we participate in that. That may be a good work, but it is a work of the flesh. If any church functions in that manner, then we don’t need the Holy Ghost.
The boat is absolutely necessary. The purpose of entering a boat is so that each individual might travel in spiritual water toward our destination, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. In Genesis 7:1, after Noah had finished building the ark, the big boat, the Lord told Noah and his family to come into the ark and they did. Then, the Lord shut him in. But the Lord never intended for Noah and his family to stay in the ark forever, because he had a task to perform … to “Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28). He was charged to subdue the earth – to subdue his own flesh and to “bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Then after the waters of the flood subsided, the Lord told Noah to “go forth out of the ark.” So there is a season to enter the boat and a season to come out of the boat. Both seasons are determined for us by the sovereignty of God. VERY IMPORTANT!!! Coming out of our boat does NOT mean that at some point in our Christian walk we must leave all churches. However, as a generality I believe we must leave all of man’s churches while remaining steadfast in God’s one and only true Church. The final “key” to all of our decisions, however, is “whatsoever He says unto you, do it.” A million or so Israelites came out of Egypt, but Egypt came out of only three adults … Moses, Joshua, and Caleb. Is the Church a natural organization or a spiritual organism? Over the years I have sensed a closer spiritual connection with some men who lived a thousand or more miles from us than some who lived less than one mile from us.
Every professing Christian who has read the Bible is no doubt familiar with Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” But there is no conflict between that verse and “come out of the boat.” Is our purpose to stay in our boat forever or to come to Jesus? Also, that verse does not specify how many times a day a week or month we should assemble ourselves together. Neither does that verse specify the number of believers who should assemble together. In Luke 9:14, when Jesus fed the 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes, He told His disciples to make the people sit down in companies of fifties. I believe that when any church group exceeds 50 families, it is time for that group to split into two groups. Also, each group of fifty families should have a teaching elder, a pastoral elder, and, hopefully, a prophet or two. Of course, Jesus also said, in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” That means “are gathered together by the Spirit of God,” not where man decides to gather with other men. Hebrews 10:25 also says we are to exhort one another more and more as we see the day of the Lord approaching. Hebrews 3:13 says we are to exhort one another daily. Does every Christian do that? Also, after the Day of Pentecost, the disciples continued daily in one accord in the temple.
As we mentioned earlier, our boats are necessary. However, we must understand that it is not our boat, but the Lord’s boat. While we are in the Lord’s boat (or what should be the Lord’s boat), the Lord is making and molding us into our unique vessel as it pleases Him. We are learning His foundational doctrines and principles, the function of His Body, and hopefully walking in light as the Lord reveals His truth to us. Your experiences and my experiences may be very different, but the end product is the same … Christ in you, the hope of glory. The Lord alone knows when we are ready to come out of the boat and He alone bids us to come unto Him.
No amount of good words will draw anyone to the Lord. Non-Christians want to see something different in us that will cause them to seek after the Lord. We hear a good word at church, say “Amen,” etc., and then go home and continue where we left off. But make no mistake ... the Lord is in the process of doing a quick, hidden work in the hearts of a remnant.
Romans 9:25-28.25 “As He saith also in Osee [Hosea], I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:28 For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.”
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). As a new believer, we need to see and be fed by visible, human ministers; we feel comforted by symbols that we can see (such as a little metal or wooden cross). A pastor who truly exhibits the love of God is a source of much comfort to us. However, the primary purpose of any minister, including pastors, is to help each believer to mature to the point where he comes to realize and walk in the fact that the Lord is my Shepherd, not a man. In other words, there is a season to enter our boats and a season to come out of our boats. The boat and the five-fold ministries are simply means to an end, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. At the same time, as we grow into greater spiritual maturity and understanding, we must continue to walk in a spirit of humility and submission.
The Need to Come Out of the Boat
About 20 years ago I visited a “charismatic” church nearby. At least 200 professing Christians were there. After about 30 or 40 minutes of singing, clapping, smiling, and swaying back and forth, the pastor strutted out on the huge raised platform. The pastor’s message that morning was “Get Out of the Boat,” referencing the time that Jesus told Peter to come out of the boat and walk on water to Him. That pastor’s pride was so evident that he might as well have hung a big sign around his neck, saying “look at me.” Three different times he said, “Boy, I sure am preaching a good message today!” He emphasized many times how his church needed to “get out of the boat.” Of course, if he believes that, then he should get out of the boat first and demonstrate to “his” church how to walk on water. I doubt that he even knew what the boat is, much less how to get out of the boat. I feel sorry for that man and can only pray that he repents. I feel even more compassion for those 200 professing Christians because they were trapped in man’s boat with no way out. I have witnessed the same type of event far too many times. Hindsight, the Lord wanted me to be there that specific Sunday to see and hear what happened and what that pastor said.
Most of us are becoming increasingly aware of the tragic, tumultuous conditions today, both in the world and even in the visible church. The world is going from darkness to gross darkness. Our world is full of anger, hatred, political upheaval, wars and rumor of wars, natural disasters, lawsuits, stress, anxiety, fear, divisions, depression, divorces, and random killing. Men have lost respect for the law. It seems as if evil is winning and always will.
2 Timothy 3:1-5.1 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.
From such turn away … who represents “such”? heathens of course, but the Bible is written for Christians. Is it possible that “such” includes some professing Christians?
The good news is that Scripture promises that one day Jesus will return, sin will be banished from His presence for good, and He will make all things right. But what shall this man do today?
Any Christian who has eyes to see, an ear to hear, and a heart to understand the signs of the times has been witnessing a crisis in the church for at least 100 years. The divorce rate within the church is almost as high as that within the world. Too many of those in leadership positions have had affairs with other women. Moral erosion has affected far too many professing Christians. Apathy and being lukewarm is a great description of far too many Christians. Too many “ministers” beg for money so they can “continue to spread the Gospel.” The annual budget of the largest mega church in the United States is 90 million dollars a year! Gospel music and “Gospel” preaching is big business!
Back in the 1970’s another brother and I were invited to fellowship with another Christian and his wife who lived in a very large city in another state. They had rented a very large ballroom, which was packed to overflowing with several hundred professing Christians. At least a dozen or more were standing up because all seats were filled. Today, the number of Christians who can be gathered in that same city fit nicely in the host’s living room because of the divisions among different local churches. The condition of local churches has changed drastically in the past 50 years. We now see church divisions in almost every city of any size.
An increasing number of Christians are talking about the need for some rather drastic changes in our church life. There also seems to be a scarcity of those who are the priests, the sons of Zadok, as prophesied in Ezekiel 44:23, who will come forth in these last days to “teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” In addition, where are the sons of Issachar who have understanding of the times and know what spiritual Israel should do in our day? (1 Chronicles 12). Where are the priests, the ministers of the Lord, who will weep between the porch and the altar on behalf of the body of Christ? (Joel 2:17).
Nehemiah 13:1-3, “On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.”
Today, every church has a mixed multitude (those who are professing Christians but who have never been born again). But separate all the mixed multitude? Never! Besides, if we teach them some more, maybe they will see the Light. Moreover, how would you determine which people are part of the mixed multitude? the same way that Nehemiah did. What would you do if you could determine who was part of the mixed multitude? hopefully the same thing that Nehemiah did. He separated the true believers from the mixed multitude (Nehemiah 13:3)
Concerning the pandemic of Covid-19, historically over all of time, many millions of people have died through pandemics, wars and other means. The Lord either allowed it, or more likely, He ordered it because of the great evil on the part of man. That was certainly true in the time of Noah and the great flood. Second, many Christians in the past have prayed that the Lord would remove the virus so we Christians could get back to what we were doing. Have you ever considered that the Lord does not want us to continue what we were doing? That is illustrated by the Tabernacle of David, which is a whole message in itself. Amos 9:11, “In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:”
There may be no local church in the United States today where every member is experiencing the full blessing of the Lord. That is because the Lord is no longer working with church groups as a whole. That is true scripturally, historically, and experientially. It was true in the time of Moses when the Israelites came out of Egypt. It was true in the days of Jeremiah. It was true when Jesus walked the face of the earth. However, the Lord is definitely working with individuals and small groups, although that is largely a hidden work. The Lord is calling individuals to Himself. There is and always has been a “church within a church.”
John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto Him [Jesus], What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” Here is another way to state our problem. We are trying to do the works of God.
In most denominational churches, after the service is over, many folks shake the pastor’s hand and say, “Good word, pastor.” The word of God was never designed just for our enjoyment or pleasure. Revelation without application is of no value to us. Unless the word of God changes us from glory to glory, we receive no benefit.
In these last of the last days, deception is sweeping over both the world and the church. In Matthew 24, Jesus describes some events that will take place just before His second coming to earth. However, perhaps the greatest warning that Jesus speaks about in that chapter is that in these last of the last days, the deception will be so great that if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived. First, the “very elect” does not refer to every born-again believer. More importantly, probably no Christian believes he is being deceived. That is the nature of deception. At what men call the “Last Supper,” Jesus said that one of the twelve disciples would betray Him. In Matthew 26, every one of the disciples said, “Lord is it I?” Today if we were to ask a similar question of “who is being deceived?” most Christians would answer, “It’s not me; it’s those Christians over there in that other church.” Have we lost the fear of God?
One of several reasons why far too many Christians are deceived is because of a lack of discernment. Almost every Christian believes he has proper discernment. Historically, scripturally, and experientially, that is just not true. In Acts 16, apparently it even took the great Apostle Paul “many days” before he discerned the spirit of divination in the young damsel, partly because every word that damsel spoke was true.
In Jonah 4:11, the Lord said there were more than 120,000 persons who could not discern between their right hand and their left hand. Yet they repented at the words of the Lord through Jonah. Now some might say, but brother, the folks in Nineveh were not the equivalent of Christians. Perhaps that may be true, but if it is true, what an indictment that would be against us Christians today. That would mean that we Christians do not know what repentance actually means (which may be very true).
Leonard Ravenhill was a highly respected 20th century English evangelist and preacher. I heartily recommend that you read his book, “Why Revival Tarries,” and listen to his messages, some of which you can easily find on the internet. A few of his many quotes are as follows: (quote)
“The fault in declining morality is not radio or television. The whole blame for the present international degeneration and corruption lies at the door of the Church!
We're so far removed from God's way of doing things -- we think a man is a good man if he can draw a crowd these days. Do you know what Finney did? Finney preached sometimes, and the whole congregation got up and walked out on him. That's a good meeting! He sent them out horrified! I only preach for two reasons these days: either to send people out that door blazing mad at me or blazing with the peace of the Holy Ghost! That's all!
Christians don't tell lies, they just go to church and sing them. How many times have you stood and sang, "Take my life and let it be" and haven't given Him a scrap?
We hear (about) many (who) go to a conference or a meeting and say "Boy, wasn't that good? weren't we challenged?" The question isn't "weren't you challenged?" The question is, "Were you changed?" (end quote)
Ravenhill, during his ministry on earth, was like a porcupine to the church. Every church needs a porcupine to keep us stirred up or else we get hard and set in our ways. Back in the 1970’s a prophecy came forth: “The kingdom of God is like unto a concrete mixer truck and the people chosen by God are like the concrete inside that truck. We have to be constantly stirred up or we get hard and set in our ways. But that concrete was never designed to stay inside the truck forever. We must be poured out into the mold that the Master of the truck desires. Then we are prepared to be stepped upon, spit upon, and even obtain small cracks because of time and the abuse that we endure. But throughout the lifespan of that concrete, we support and hold up many people.”
Now this is not to imply that everything and everyone in the church has problems. I am sure there are some good men of God, all of whom have a God-given burden to glorify God and to see each member of the body of Christ mature into perfection. By the grace of God, some leaders understand and walk in God’s ways and will. Of course, there are 7,000 more that we do not know about. However, many years ago, the Lord spoke the following word. “There are a lot of good pastors who love the Lord and sincerely desire for all of the people to grow in maturity in Christ. But they are trying to fit more of the Lord into their own format and routine.” Of course, the Lord will never allow that.
Unfortunately, most leaders are using their own efforts to try to get believers to mature. That will never work. That is the Old Testament approach. That is Christian man’s approach to the work of God. That is a real problem. Let us try to clarify more specifically the difference between the Old Testament approach and the New Testament approach regarding how new believers can be brought to maturity.
Jesus’ disciples before Pentecost had no real understanding of the teachings of Jesus. They heard His words, but there was seldom, if ever, any revelation in their hearts. Let us consider Matthew 16:13-16, “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” The Greek word translated as “revealed” in that last verse is apokalupto, from which we get our English word, apocalypse. Although that was revelation to or unto Peter, that same revelation within his heart had to wait until the Day of Pentecost.
Those verses emphasize an eternal truth … no apostle, no prophet, no evangelist, pastor, or teacher, no flesh and blood can reveal within us any word of God. Yes, they can speak or reveal the truth of the word of God to us and we can agree and memorize the spoken word, but only the Holy Spirit of God can reveal His truth within us. Throughout our walk with the Lord, we have learned many things; but that does not mean that we have made use of them.
1 Corinthians 3:5-6, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
Unless God gives the increase, all any minister can do is to speak the truth.
In Galatians 1:11-16, Paul said,
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,16 To reveal his Son in [or within] me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Paul said that God separated him from his mother’s womb. What was his mother’s womb? Judaism … the Jewish religion. Our mother’s womb is our boat. My mother’s womb was first, the Methodist Church, and second, the New Testament house church. What is your mother’s womb? The ministry of Paul never began until God separated him from his mother’s womb.
The Greek word translated as “reveal” in Verse 16 is also apokalupto. Note from Galatians 1:16 that before Paul could preach Christ among the heathen, the Lord had to reveal Christ within him. The Lord had prior to that time revealed Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus. Note also that Paul did not immediately confer with the rest of the apostles who dwelled in Jerusalem. Instead, He was taught by God, sovereignly, for three years in the deserts of Arabia and in Damascus (Galatians 1:17-18). Every believer in a leadership position must minister out from his personal experience … not simply from what he has read or heard.
Romans 8:19, “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” The Greek word translated as “manifestation” comes from the same root word as apokalupto.
The above three sets of verses (Matthew 16:16, Galatians 1:16, and Romans 8:19) seem to indicate a three-part sequence of revelation … to us, within us, followed by a manifestation to others. All three parts come from God. Today, and in all the days of men, whenever we professing Christians hear a word spoken by any minister, if we agree mentally with that word, we tend to think that now we have it. That is called human nature. That is also what we could call presumptuous faith, which is when we believe we are in a spiritual state which is a bit higher than the reality. There are three opinions of where we are spiritually: where we think we are, where others think we are, and where the Lord knows we are. At times, perhaps all of us, including myself, have heard a spoken word and we say, either inwardly or outwardly, “I agree.” But that is just the first phase of revelation. It takes the “making” of a word within us (Genesis 1:26, “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness …” and Luke 15:29, “and make me as one of the hired servants …”).
It is absolutely essential that the Lord reveal Himself to us and within us, but not so we can be an island to ourself. The purpose for the first two phases is so we can be manifested to the world and to other members of the body of Christ. Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Only the Christ within us can minister effectively to other Christians or to the heathen.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3.1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
Perhaps no generation in the history of man has been exposed to so much teaching as this generation in which we live. Much of the teaching has been good; some has been not so good. We have read all of the books, listened to all of the DVDs, been to all of the conferences, and listened to all of the teachers in our local church. Our minds are full of knowledge about the scriptures. Jesus said, in John 5:39-40, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” Life is not in the scriptures; life is in Christ. He IS life! The scriptures only point to the Author of the scriptures … the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now we can set forth the difference between the Old Testament approach and the New Testament approach with respect to seeking the maturity of God’s chosen people. It is the difference between man teaching man and the Spirit of God teaching man. Jesus said, in John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Trial, temptation, strife, and contention characterized the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. That was also true many centuries later in the Church at Corinth. Does any of that exist today in some churches?
It seems as though the church has majored in minors and minored in majors. The majors are given in Colossians 1:25-29, where Paul says, “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.”
Striving in the flesh is bad; striving in the Spirit is good. We must discern the difference. We have been trying to get the people mature. The motivation behind that is good, but we are using the Old Covenant approach. That is the theme of Raul Arce’s book titled, “Building God’s Way.” I will be happy to mail you a copy of his book if you sincerely desire to move on with the Lord. I also have a few copies in Spanish.
Good teaching and good preaching will never get the job done. That is quite necessary but not sufficient. To prove the truth of that statement, just look at the example of Paul, who spent three years teaching twice a day to the church at Ephesus. According to my arithmetic that amounts to about 2000 teachings from the best prophetic teacher who ever lived, except for Jesus, of course. We must teach, but that does not get to the root of the problem, because for any communication we must have both a transmitter and a receiver plus a static free airwave.
Ezra and Nehemiah both knew the reality of 1 Corinthians 12:26, “If one member of the body of Christ suffers, we all suffer with it and if one member be honored all the members rejoice with it.” Would that all Christians today would know that same reality to the depth as did Ezra and Nehemiah.
Exodus 10:24-26, “And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you. And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.”
That speaks of the spontaneity that should exist in all of our gatherings. Another way to say that is that we must be led by the Holy Spirit at all times and be ready to shift gears during our gatherings, if necessary.
In July of 2011, we had a 30-year “reunion” of our old New Testament house church. During the picnic, a young woman, whom I will call Mary, asked me if there would be any time that weekend for testimonies. I responded that I had not planned any specific agenda but I was sure there would be time available for testimonies. On Saturday night, about 50+ from the old house church met in our home. It was a carbon copy of almost every one of our meetings from 1968 through 1980. Almost everyone seemed to really enjoy what we did 45 years ago and repeated that evening. There was a lot of exuberance in the singing and the playing of the guitars. We went through the same fixed routine that we had done 45 years ago.
Then the next day, on Sunday morning, one young man played one song and put down his guitar. He must have sensed that was not the time for singing. At that point, I asked Mary if she would come forward and share her testimony. Because Mary was a rather quiet, shy woman she was very hesitant to stand up. After a few minutes her husband said that he would stand up with her, so she agreed. She told us that when she was a small child, her father had physically and emotionally abused her and her mother. Then she shared how, after a period of time, the Lord had healed her of all those terrible memories. She started weeping; I started weeping. I am not sure there was a dry eye in the room of the 35 of us. It was like a spirit of weeping just flooded the room. What a difference between that Sunday morning and the “traditional” meeting the night before! Saturday night was like the “old.” Sunday morning was like the “new.” On Sunday morning we were led by the Spirit; Saturday night we were led by traditions of the past.
Hebrews 6 references the principles of the doctrine of Christ, but we are exhorted to leave those principles and to go on unto perfection. Kindergarten is nice. We have cookies and punch, color in coloring books, hear a few nice stories, have recess, etc. But the error for us Christians is staying there forever. When Jesus was transfigured in the presence of Peter, James, and John, in Matthew 17, Peter said, “Lord let us build here three tabernacles.”
Any kind of boat is confining, but the boat is necessary for a season. However, if we stay in the boat, we will never walk on water to Jesus. As long as we are in the boat, spiritually, we cannot see that which is outside the boat … we cannot see, understand, or experience what great things the Lord has available for us. Obviously, there is a season for each of us to depart spiritually from our boat. If all we have eaten is hamburger, then we have no idea what filet mignon tastes like. How do you explain to a man who was blind from birth what the color red is?
The Israelites were in bondage and captivity 400 years. Starting with the second generation, all those Israelites grew up in an environment of slavery. They never knew that life could be different because they had never experienced anything else. Why did those Israelites wait 400 years before they finally cried out to God? because the persecution and suffering finally became more than they could bear. So shall it be in these last of the last days with the church of today. Some Christians today may never repent and turn to the Lord and cry for mercy until the soon coming persecution becomes greater than they can bear. The Lord sovereignly sent a deliverer, named Moses, to lead His people through the Red Sea and out of harm’s way. They no longer would see their former captor, the Egyptians. So shall it be in these last of the last days. Obadiah 21, “And saviours [or deliverers, plural] shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD's.” Zion speaks prophetically of all overcomers over all of time.
Revelation, Chapter 12, says the same thing. A good question at this point is … who wants to be a deliverer, like Moses, and who wants to be in the great multitude of Christians who need to be delivered? Ezekiel 44 says the same thing. Ezekiel 44 describes two types of priests … the priests, the Levites, who have committed abominations (Ezekiel 44:1-14), and the priests, the sons of Zadok, who will minister to the Lord in the Holy of Holies (Ezekiel 44:15-31). The Lord still will use the former group of priests, who have committed abominations, to minister in His sanctuary, or the Holy Place. Concerning the priests, the sons of Zadok, “And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” That verse clearly has not yet been fulfilled in these last of the last days. That verse cannot refer to the natural Zadok of many years ago because he had only one son, named Ahimaaz, which means “brother of closed eyes.” In David’s time, Ahimaaz insisted on running to bring news to David, although he had seen nothing. Unfortunately, today we see too many professing Christians who are “brothers of closed eyes” … those who think they are ready to bring news to David, those who run fast, but those who really have no news to bring to the King. Far too many times some otherwise good men of God speak about 40-year-old manna or the “good old glory days.”
Another Scriptural truth, with respect to God’s dealings with the first Adam (which includes all natural men thereafter), is that the false almost always emerges before the true … Cain before Abel, Ishmael before Isaac, Esau before Jacob, the first Adam before the last Adam, Saul before David, the false church before the true church, etc. Why does God allow this? because He wants us to trust in Him, and see if we believe Him or our natural senses. But He created us with a will, which means that we have to choose. Man does not like to choose.
We are very much creatures of habit. Almost every church goes through their same routine every Sunday. We sing different songs and have a different teaching every week, but the general format remains fixed. Human nature does not like to change. Christian man, in general, does not like to change. We are all, more or less, bound by our traditions. Give me that old time religion; it was good enough for Paul and Silas and it’s good enough for me. Sadly, each new set of Christians has been persecuted by the previous group, even though there is progressive revelation from the Lord. The life of a believer and all gatherings should be dynamic, ever changing. How can we change in a static, fixed environment?
From my personal experience, nothing will hinder the flow of the Holy Spirit more than when we follow the same routine every Sunday. Then we find ourselves running on our own steam and never knowing that the real life of the Spirit has left us to our ways, and we are led by man, perhaps a really good Christian man, not by the Holy Spirit. Some in your choir or in your music ministry might say, but brother, we always ask the Lord what songs we will sing next Sunday. Fine, but did the Lord tell you that you have to sing any songs on Sunday? Or is your reasoning to always start off with singing, clapping, and dancing? I am also certain that almost every pastor asks the Lord what word to share on Sunday. But here again, did the Lord tell you that you have to teach or preach at all on Sunday? or is it because we always do things that way?
Other Examples of This Theme
The Lord Jesus Christ loves us so much that He has put the same message in various scriptures, hoping that we will see His truth in at least one place and walk in that light. In addition, from time to time the Lord will use one of His servants to speak the same theme through parables or other means which are not necessarily found verbatim in the Bible. Let us look at some other examples of the same principle of “come out of the boat and walk on water to Jesus.”
The Procession Caterpillar
In December 1979, we received a letter from one of the very few true prophets we have ever met. In his letter to us he included a parable, titled “The Procession Caterpillar.”
“Many years ago a certain man was walking through a beautiful, well-kept garden. He was not only admiring the gorgeous floral array but carefully observing the various forms of life therein. He found himself preoccupied with a company of caterpillars whose characteristic were very unique and quite different from all others. They were called, “The Procession Caterpillar.” They travel in great companies, in single file and in straight lines. The feelers of each one rests on the hindquarters of the one immediately in front. In this, they have no sense of individuality and are completely lost when they fall out of line.
The man picked up a dead stick and slowly maneuvered the lead caterpillar until its feelers made contact with the end caterpillar. Hour after hour he periodically returned to watch them. He saw them march in a circle until they perished for lack of nourishment. A beautiful creation, with a unique function, foiled by a dead stick in the hands of a man experimenting with a life that could never be fulfilled through manipulation. They who have an ear, let them understand this Word.”
Isaiah 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.
Many years ago when I read this verse, I found myself reading it this way: “In the year that king self died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. “Uzziah” does not mean “self” but that interpretation is certainly true. Before we can see ourselves as the Lord sees us, king self has to die. John 8:28, “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.” The phrase “lifted up” means to “exalt.” “His train” speaks of all of His sheep over all of time who have had the same vision that Isaiah had received. The “temple,” of course, speaks of the body of Christ, not an earthly temple. The name, “Uzziah” means “strength of the Lord.” Uzziah started out well and brought prosperity to all of Judah. It is written of Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26:5, that “as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.” However, God finds it difficult to entrust prosperity to many of His people because it turns their heads and leads to pride, as with Uzziah. Uzziah exchanged the “strength of the Lord for the “strength of man.” 2 Chronicles 26:16, “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.” In other words, he usurped the role of the priests; he said, “I am king,” therefore I can do anything I want to do.” As a result, he was smitten with leprosy for the rest of his life. Therefore, Uzziah is a clear warning against the spiritual pride that brings presumption. Such a warning is also needed today for all of us. Two of the major snares of Satan for the servants of God are spiritual pride and fleshly lust.
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.
The word “seraphim” means “fiery, burning ones.” This is the only place in the Bible that specifically mentions the seraphim.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Apparently the seraphims had been granted much power because their very voice moved the posts of the door.
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.
In the first 5 chapters of Isaiah, the prophet Isaiah had already been prophesying the word of the Lord. But after Isaiah had seen the Lord and His holiness and the mighty power even of the seraphims, he repented because he saw that all men are unclean. He repented because of his human nature, not because he had said anything “wrong” or done anything “wrong.” This is the level of repentance that the Lord expects of each of us. Once we see the filthiness of our flesh and spirit, in contrast to the holiness and purity of the Lord, we too must repent.
2 Corinthians 7:1, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”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.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.9 And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
“This people” are the chosen people of God. The Bible was not written for non-Christians.
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.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,12 And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.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.
The teil tree is seldom seen in clumps or groves, never in forests, but stands isolated in some bare ravine or on a hillside where nothing else towers above the low brushwood. An oak tree produces about 10 million acorns during its lifetime; it is known for its strength and may live up to 1000 years. Oaks are one of the oldest and most widely spread trees on earth. Early humans built their homes, created tools, and constructed strong ships from oak wood. Of course, Verse 13 is not talking about natural trees. Trees in scripture speak of human beings. Verse 13 says that that the remnant constitutes one-tenth of the church.
Esau
Deuteronomy 2:1-3, “Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days. And the LORD spake unto me, saying, Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.”
Are there any Christians today who have compassed the mountain of self long enough? The primary significance of Mount Seir is that this mountainous region was the territory that God gave to Esau. Because Seir belonged to Esau’s descendants, Israel was forbidden from invading or capturing that territory. God said, in Deuteronomy 2:5, “Meddle [or contend] not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.
Esau seems to be a type of a carnal Christian, just like many in the church at Corinth. Therefore, Esau, in type, falls into the category of those Christians in Revelation 7.
Obadiah 1:21, “And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S. Obadiah was a descendant of Esau.
Revelation 7 and 21
Both Revelation Chapter 7 and Chapter 21 declare that “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Of course, God is not going to wipe away all of our tears twice. The two different chapters in Revelation speak of two different sets of Christians.
Revelation 7:9-17.9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
The great multitude in Revelation 7 speaks of those true Christians who never got out of the boat. They cried salvation because all they knew in life on earth was being born again. Therefore, from Verse 14, they had to go through great tribulation on earth. They were crying because they finally saw what they had missed, but they did “go to heaven.”
Then, in Revelation 21:1-4,1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
These verses speak of the overcomers … the remnant over all of time. They had been crying over the body of Christ. They also had cried because of the goodness of the Lord in their life.
Babylon
Scripture exhorts us, in Revelation, 18:4, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” The Bible is written for true Christians, not for heathens. Since the word says, “My people,” those two verses clearly are spoken to true born-again believers. The question is, “Who or what is ‘her’?” I assume that most Christians would say that “her” refers to Babylon. However, do we come out of Babylon twice? Surely we come out of Babylon when we are first born again and baptized in water. “Her” refers to man’s attempt to reach God, as first recorded in Genesis, Chapter 11, but has continued over all of time and certainly exists today.
Zac Poonen, who lives in India, has written quite a number of good Christian books. In his book, “The Final Triumph,” is this exhortation: “Come out of every system that has religion without purity and where man’s traditions have replaced the Word of God.”
Although that exhortation is 100% true, a problem arises that few Christians can differentiate between man’s traditions and the Word of God. We have all grown up in some specific boat and just assume that what the pastor is teaching is the pure Word of God. The pastor may indeed love the Lord and his motivation may indeed be pure, but unfortunately, most pastors have grown up under traditions of men and pass along that which they have been taught, with a few tweaks here and there. However, I believe in “progressive revelation,” which means that the Lord is still revealing more of Himself and His Word to those who will hear.
Many ministers believe that the seven churches recorded in Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3, represent seven ages in the history of the church. If that is true, for at least the past 150 years we have been living in the age of the church at Laodicea, which is characterized by deception and apathy. In Laodicea, they were "spiritual" only in their own eyes. The vast majority of us believers seem to have a far higher opinion of our personal spirituality than the Lord has of us. God's evaluation and man's evaluation of a church also can be quite different. The Lord wants our hearts to be on fire for Him and other believers at all times. “The fire shall ever be burning on the altar; it shall never go out,” (Leviticus 6:13). This should be the normal state of the true disciple of Jesus. If we continue to seek our own, then we will end up like undigested food - spued out by the Lord.
However, the Lord still has hope for this Laodicean church. He is always seeking to redeem that which is wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. Even the worst among us can have hope - if we repent. We must be zealous and wholehearted about our repentance. How can we open our hearts and will to Him? by repenting and burning with zeal. When our will is yielded, then the Lord enters in and fellowships with us.
Babylon
Scripture exhorts us, in Revelation, 18:4, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” The Bible is written for true Christians, not for heathens. Since the word says, “My people,” those two verses clearly are spoken to true born-again believers. The question is, “Who or what is ‘her’?” I assume that most Christians would say that “her” refers to Babylon. However, do we come out of Babylon twice? Surely we come out of Babylon when we are first born again and baptized in water. “Her” refers to man’s attempt to reach God, as first recorded in Genesis, Chapter 11, but has continued over all of time and certainly exists today.
Zac Poonen, who lives in India, has written quite a number of good Christian books. In his book, “The Final Triumph,” is this exhortation: “Come out of every system that has religion without purity and where man’s traditions have replaced the Word of God.”
Although that exhortation is 100% true, a problem arises that few Christians can differentiate between man’s traditions and the Word of God. We have all grown up in some specific boat and just assume that what the pastor is teaching is the pure Word of God. The pastor may indeed love the Lord and his motivation may indeed be pure, but unfortunately, most pastors have grown up under traditions of men and pass along that which they have been taught, with a few tweaks here and there. However, I believe in “progressive revelation,” which means that the Lord is still revealing more of Himself and His Word to those who will hear.
Many ministers believe that the seven churches recorded in Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3, represent seven ages in the history of the church. If that is true, for at least the past 150 years we have been living in the age of the church at Laodicea, which is characterized by deception and apathy. In Laodicea, they were "spiritual" only in their own eyes. The vast majority of us believers seem to have a far higher opinion of our personal spirituality than the Lord has of us. God's evaluation and man's evaluation of a church also can be quite different. The Lord wants our hearts to be on fire for Him and other believers at all times. “The fire shall ever be burning on the altar; it shall never go out,” (Leviticus 6:13). This should be the normal state of the true disciple of Jesus. If we continue to seek our own, then we will end up like undigested food - spued out by the Lord.
However, the Lord still has hope for this Laodicean church. He is always seeking to redeem that which is wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. Even the worst among us can have hope - if we repent. We must be zealous and wholehearted about our repentance. How can we open our hearts and will to Him? by repenting and burning with zeal. When our will is yielded, then the Lord enters in and fellowships with us.
1 John 1:1-4.1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
The Government of the Lord
A number of Christians have written books and argued about whether the Church at Jerusalem (where the pastor is the dominant figure) or the Church at Antioch (based on multiple leadership) is the scriptural pattern for church government. I believe that both groups have missed the point. NEITHER the Church at Jerusalem NOR the Church at Antioch is the scriptural pattern for church government. Church government, like the life of a believer, cannot (or at least should not) be a static pattern. We are being changed daily as we cooperate with the Spirit of the Lord. How can a people who are being changed daily continue to operate under a fixed, static form of government? Surely, somewhere toward the bottom line of God's purpose for the Church is "Christ in you, the hope of glory." God desires that the fullness of Christ be formed within each member of the body of Christ, which is His true Church.
No instant maturity is available. Paul said, "I die daily" (1 Corinthians 15:31). John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). It is amazing how many ministers REVERSE the order and quote the verse as, "I must decrease, but He must increase." The order is significant. If we concentrate on Christ increasing within us, the result is inevitable, namely that I MUST decrease. No man can serve two masters. However, it is possible for me to decrease with no increase of Christ within. The pattern for church government, as well as the life of a believer, must be DYNAMIC, a daily "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).
One day in the late 1970's, the Holy Spirit began to quicken His word on church government from the book of Acts. In Acts 1:15, "And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together was about a hundred and twenty,) ..." Then in Acts 2:14, "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said ..." The Holy Spirit instantly correlated the 120 in Acts 1:15 with the 11 in Acts 2:14. Then the Spirit revealed that in Acts, Chapters 3 through 8, Peter and John are ALWAYS mentioned together. You never see one without the other. But in Chapters 9-28, you NEVER see Peter and John mentioned together. So there is a progression in the life of Peter, as recorded in the book of Acts, which parallels the dynamics of church government as it is meant to be. Peter with the 120, then Peter with the 11, then Peter and John, and finally Peter and no man, but the Lord. Of course, this does not mean that Peter never saw or related to John or any of the other disciples again. It simply is not recorded in scripture. That same pattern applies to the growth in maturity for an individual believer in Christ. The important point for us Christian believers is that this word of “Come Out of the Boat” applies both to individuals and to church groups.
An excellent scripture pertaining to church government, as well as the life of a Christian, is:
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7
Verse six lists a progression of 4 stages:
(1) unto us a child is born(2) unto us a son is given(3) the government shall be upon His shoulder (NOT the shoulders of elders or a pastor, but upon HIS shoulder)
(4) and His name shall be called ...
These SAME 4 stages are typified in the life of Peter, as recorded in the book of Acts. Stage one MAY be typified by the Church at Jerusalem (where the pastor is dominant), but the error is in staying there forever. Stage two MAY be typified by The Church at Antioch (with multiple leaders), but the error is in staying there forever. Stage 3 takes a lot of maturity (seldom, if ever seen in a group as a whole) and can be typified by the "father" stage in 1 John 2. This stage can rarely operate except in individuals who have a revelation of what lies beyond Pentecost. Stage 4 involves the realization and manifestation of the time when the Son turns everything over to the Father that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).
The major point is that church government is NOT patterned after the Gettysburg address ... a government of the people, by the people, and for the people (where people in our context signifies genuine believers). Church government must always be a progression TOWARD the government OF God, BY God (sovereignly), and FOR God, and AWAY from government of, by, and for believers. Again, the order is significant. We can move away from the government of, by, and for believers and be nothing more than a rebel.
Church government has no relationship to democracy (one elder - one vote - majority rule). Neither is Church government a dictatorship through one man called a pastor. We need to change our mind-set from the typical pastor-dominated local church.
A pertinent question at this point might be, "Well, how do you implement this dynamic pattern of church government?" First of all, We do NOT implement it; the Holy Spirit does. Second, if this revelation does not produce a corresponding vision, then this word may be premature in your spiritual journey. Third, this pattern cannot be implemented if your vision of the church is The Church at Antioch. As far as the mechanics are concerned (if there is any such thing), "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it!" The Holy Spirit must have a freedom to operate.
Now we need to be very careful, lest we fall into the snare of becoming an independent rebel. This word does NOT propose that there is no place for our initial boats, or for elders, pastors, teachers, etc. Quite the contrary! Each of the four stages in church government (or the life of a believer) is necessary.
How and When to Come Out of the Boat
The answer to “when” we must come out of the boat is simple … whenever the Lord tells us to come out. A good scriptural example is found in in Acts 8:1, “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.” For whatever reason the thousands of new Christians at Jerusalem loved to be spectators and listen to the apostles teach and preach. But the Lord had other things in mind for them. The Lord never intended for those early believers to be nothing more than spectators when they all assembled together. Therefore, I believe that the Lord sovereignly brought about persecution to get the disciples to do what they were reluctant to do by their own decisions … namely to scatter abroad to carry the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to Samaria and Judaea. Later, they were to scatter throughout the world.
Today, we too are tempted to sit back, enjoy being spectators and listen to what the pastor says every Sunday. We humans don’t learn well from divine principles declared by Scripture. Therefore, I believe Acts 8:1 is soon to be repeated. The Lord Himself could very well send great persecution to the churches in the United States so that we will be forced to cry out to the Lord for deliverance from our eight captors (Isaiah 11:11). That will be the love of God in action, and He will be gracious unto us when he hears our cry (Isaiah 30:19). How much better it would be for us if we could only cry out to Him early rather than later! But just like the church at Laodicea, we do not see our great need … yet.
Clearly, we as individuals have to keep our own garments clean. Also clearly, we must do and say whatever the Lord tells us to do or say to those individuals whose eyes have been blinded by self. Oh, but there is so much more! The first step for us to get out of the boat and walk on stormy water to Jesus must be the same as what happened with Peter … Jesus first must bid us to come to Him. Jesus said, in John 6:44, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” Everything in our walk with the Lord originates from Him. That is the sovereignty of God. Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. Everything begins with Him and ends with Him. The key for us today is the same key that has always been there ... coming to Jesus.
It is only by the grace of God that we have been allowed to come unto Jesus initially and experience His saving grace. When we come to Jesus, we must come as a little child, trusting completely in Him.
Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Luke 18:16
Some wonderful results of coming to Jesus are a quenching of our thirst, eternal life, and rest.
39 Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.40 And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. John 5:39-40
If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. John 7:37Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
This rest that Jesus spoke about is the same rest spoken of ten times in Hebrews, Chapters 3 and 4. That rest is a ceasing of our works and an entering into the works that the Father has ordained for us to walk in from before the foundation of the world. However, coming to Jesus, except for the initial salvation experience, is not free. There is a price to pay.
And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Mark 8:34
To deny our self speaks of repentance. In Job 1:8, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” When Job recognized his sin, 41 chapters later, He said, in Job 42:5-6, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job, 15 different times asked, “Why?” It is not necessarily wrong to ask the Lord why He tells us to do something. It depends on our heart, on our motivation behind our question. If our motivation is based on unbelief, then we are terribly wrong. Even if our motivation is good, the Lord may not answer us immediately.
What was the sin of Isaiah? Isaiah had prophesied the pure word of God for five chapters. Then, we know what happened in Isaiah 6. He was allowed to see the Lord, high and lifted up. What did Isaiah then do? He repented because he was a man. And he was a man trying to do the works of God.
What was the sin of Ezra and Nehemiah? They both said, “we have sinned.” I cannot find any sinful acts that they committed.
Far too many professing Christians seem to believe either that repentance only applies to what we do prior to being born again or when we say or do something “wrong” after we are born again.
The only way we can truly know Jesus is to come to Him, dwell with Him and He with us, be taught by Him, learn to trust Him. Knowing the Lord was/is a sign of Israel’s blessing.
My maternal grandmother received much wisdom from the Lord. After her departure from this earthly home, I read many of her wise sayings which she had written in one of her Bibles. She wrote, “Lord, let me create hunger in their hearts, for until they hunger they cannot be fed.” How true! If we are not hungry for natural food. We probably will not eat. If we are not thirsty, we probably will not drink.
The further answer to the question, “How do we get out of the boat?” is really quite simple. First, we must be hungry and thirsty spiritually. Who today is hungry for more of Christ? If we see no need, we will not pursue more of the Lord. Now some pastors may say, “But brother, there are many people in my church who know there is more of Christ for them and sincerely desire to know and walk in that higher realm.” Well, that is wonderful! But what is the level of their hunger and thirst after righteousness? In Matthew 5:6, Jesus said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” That hunger and thirst after righteousness speaks of a level of hunger and thirst of a man who is almost desperate. Are those folks in your church ready to give up all that they have in order to receive all that the Lord has for us? Why are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness blessed? because even that very hunger and thirst must come from the Lord. It does not come naturally. What comes naturally to us mortals is a hunger for more money, more power, more recognition, more blessings, more of everything that pertains to the flesh. Back in my dark ages in a Methodist church, after the collection plates had been passed, the choir always sang, “All things come of Thee, Oh Lord; and of Thine own have we given Thee.” Those words meant nothing to me at that time and probably meant very little to anyone in that church. Traditions dull our spiritual senses. Nevertheless, all spiritual things, including hunger and thirst, DO come from the Lord, by His grace. “For it is God who works within you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
Therefore, the next question is, “how do we become hungry and thirsty after righteousness?” What love, what grace and mercy flows from that Man of Galilee! He always knows exactly what each one of us needs to propel us out of the boat and into His arms. Therefore, He sends suffering and persecution our way, if need be, to help us to finally cry out to Him. What an awesome God we serve!
In Luke, Chapter 7, we read the account of the woman who was a sinner but who washed the feet of Jesus. That event took place in the home of a Pharisee. When the Pharisee rebuked Jesus because the sinner woman washed the feet of Jesus, Jesus said, in Luke 7:47, “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”
Every day every person makes many decisions. Some of those decisions are rather inconsequential … like what clothes shall I wear, what, if anything, shall I eat for breakfast, or even shall I get up at all? However, other decisions may very well affect our eternal destiny.
Joshua 24:15-16, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;”
Words are cheap. Actions matter. It seems that many of us do not like to make decisions. We like for someone else to tell us what to do.
Exodus 32:25-28, “And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)
Aaron, the first high priest under the Mosaic Law, had made them naked. The word “naked” here is not the same word as in Genesis 2:5 when Adam and Eve were both naked (physically) and they were not ashamed. This use of “naked” means “loosened of restraint.” The people no longer had the spiritual covering and blessing of the Lord. The tragic part is that even the high priest, who was only a man, had contributed greatly to their being naked. Even the enemies of God’s chosen people could see their hypocrisy and idolatry.
26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.”
We will come back to Verse 26. From Verses 27 and 28, we must put the sword to anything that grieves the Lord. We must come to the point when everything that grieves the Lord grieves us. The dearest things to us must go. Take the sword of the Spirit and crucify self. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.; and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave His life for me” (Galatians 2:20).” Hosea 10:12, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.”
Back to Verse 26, “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.”
Let him come unto me! What a powerful word! Of course, we do not want to side with any man. We must side with the Lord.
35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;36 And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God.37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto Him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest Thou?39 He saith unto them, Come and see. John 1:35-39
The two disciples, in the above verses, asked where Jesus dwelt physically ... what house or tent. However, Jesus gave them a spiritual answer, and one that they did not understand. That last verse may be translated as, “Come and you shall see!” See what? more scriptural truth? NO! Come to Jesus where He is and you shall see the Truth ... Jesus Himself, the personification of all truth. Where does Jesus dwell today? The same place that he has always been ... in the realm of the Spirit. The key for us today is the same key that has always been there ... coming to Jesus. Jesus prayed,
Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24
Note that Jesus did NOT pray that they might be with Him where He would be, but where He was, even before His crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Where was Jesus? in the realm of the Spirit! Man is forever trying to pull Jesus down to where we are, but Jesus wants to draw us, by His Spirit, up to where He is! When Jesus was crucified, we were crucified with Him. When Jesus died on the cross, we died with Him. When Jesus arose from the grave, so did we. In all points we must identify with the Lord Jesus! It is only by the grace of God that we have been allowed to come unto Jesus initially and experience His saving grace.
Historically, we can (and do) hear, understand, and recover scriptural and doctrinal truth (by the grace of God). We also can (and do) become satisfied and even ecstatic with any newly unveiled scriptural truth. We can go to our nice meetings, sing some nice, worshipful songs, hear a nice polished teaching or preaching, say some nice prayers, and never know what we are missing! We need to be careful that we are not “playing” church. We need to be very careful that we do not fall into the category of, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5).
We can NEVER be fully satisfied until the experiential life of Christ is made manifest within us! Christ in you, the hope of glory! The ONLY way we will ever be satisfied is given by:
As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness. Psalm 17:15
We will NEVER have a fruitful local church simply by reading a book, not even the Bible! Jesus said to the Jews,
39 Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.40 And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. John 5:39-40
“The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). A good book about the Church can only point us in the right direction. The ONLY way to have a fruitful, thriving local church is to “Come and see Jesus.” Seek Him who is the author and finisher of our faith. After all, He is the one who founded the Church. He has ALL of the keys to success. Unless the Lord is satisfied, neither will a local church be satisfied or fulfilled. Only the Lord can bring about fulfillment and satisfaction in a life or in a church. Never lose sight of our priorities. The Lord MUST be first. He must come first before our spouse, our children, our job, and even our God-given ministry.
We must take sides against our self. The source of our problems is self. More than that, we must take sides with the Lord. He is not on our side. We must be on His side. Joshua was commander in chief of the Israelites (or so he thought) just before they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land.
Joshua 5:13-15, “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto Him, What saith my lord unto His servant?15 And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.”
Eleven tribes sided with Aaron. Only the Levites sided with Moses. One tribe out of twelve. God had done something in the hearts of the Levites.
Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Christians today want the best of two worlds.1 Kings 18:21, “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”Matthew 12:30, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”
There are only two camps. We are either on the Lord’s side or on our own side. We cannot sit on the fence. Back in Old Testament days, most folks feared the Lord but also worshipped their own gods. The first of the ten commandments says that we shall have no other gods before Him. Too many professing Christians want to live our own lives and do our own thing. We have one foot in the world and the other foot in the church. Then when tragedy strikes, we expect God to save us. Indeed, because God is love, He will no doubt save us from tragedy once, twice, some number of times. However, if we persist in doing our own thing, then …
Genesis 6:3, “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh:”
There is a catchy little song called, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” The words are: “I have decided to follow Jesus (repeat 3 times); no turning back, no turning back. Though none go with me, I still will follow (repeat 3 times); no turning back, no turning back. The world behind me, the cross before me (repeat 3 times); no turning back, no turning back.”
Unfortunately, those are just words to many folks. When our New Testament house church totally disintegrated in 1981, the great majority of folks went back to various denominational churches … Baptist, Episcopal, Anglican, even Catholic. I never understood why.
Therefore, who is wholly on the Lord’s side? Who is on the Lord’s side when no one else is? Weak natures always go with the crowd. If we see multitudes of professing Christians going in one direction, look at it very carefully. God never worked with a multitude.
Some time ago I heard a good brother say, (quote) “Only dead fish float downstream with the current.” (end quote) Live fish go upstream to find life and reproduce.
Faith Without Works Is Dead
In the past, hundreds of good men have probably emphasized to every audience they could muster that unbelievers must make a “decision for Christ,” consciously accepting Jesus as Savior. Nowhere in the Bible are "decisions for Christ" mentioned, nor is anyone commanded to "ask Him into your heart." Man in his natural state is not capable of choosing Christ. He is "dead" in sin, he cannot please God, and he is utterly helpless to come to God on his own. There are "none who seek after God" (Romans 3:11). New birth is not the result of any human decision (John 1:13). Asking a non-Christian to make a decision for Christ is like asking a dead man to sing or dance.
Often, the decision to accept Christ is accompanied by an action on our part such as repeating a "sinner’s prayer," signing a decision card, holding up a hand, or similar activity. This false association can lead and has led to many false conversions, because someone who responds to such a request may think he is saved, based on an emotional experience, when there has been no work of God in his heart. Coming forward in response to an altar call based on an emotional appeal is not the same thing as coming to Christ. We must act on that commitment. That is called repentance. We must correct every deviation every day of our life. It all begins with brokenness. Today, many Christians pray to be blessed; few pray to be broken.
If there is any word for God’s chosen people today, it is “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” followed by “prepare ye the way of the Lord.” In a very real sense, we prepare the way of the Lord by our repentance.
Psalm 51:16-17, “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”Psalm 34:18, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”Exodus 24:3, “And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.”
All the people repeated that decision or declaration in Verse 7 of that same chapter. That scenario probably has been repeated a countless number of times over the years, but in far too many cases the people never did what they declared they would do. That is called human nature, usually as a result of an emotional decision. Making the right decision is not sufficient. Our decisions must be followed by appropriate action. John the Baptist said, “Bring forth fruits meet for repentance.” James said, “Faith without works is dead.”
After We Come Out of the Boat
When Jesus walked the face of the earth the Jews were in expectation (Luke 3:15). They were waiting for their long-awaited Messiah to come and deliver them from the cruel bondage of Rome. Expectation can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending upon our motivation. If we are motivated by something for me, that is a bad thing. If we are motivated by expecting the Lord to be glorified, that is a good thing.
Lord, may each one of us be in expectation of that which You desire to impart to us every day, and may You be glorified in all things. We are eternally grateful to You, oh Lord, for You are Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
We can never exhaust the Word of God. There is always more. Some church leaders are earnestly trying to get the people mature. The motivation behind that is good, but too often we are using the Old Covenant approach.
Luke 5:37-39, “And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.”
The Lord always wants to challenge His chosen people to come up higher. God has so much more for us that we have not yet experienced. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” Those verses do not mean after we get to heaven! Those verses are for right now. Has God revealed to you those deep things that eye
has not seen, nor ear heard, neither entered into your heart?
20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,21 Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
Note that Verse 20 says, “is able to do.” Yes, God can do anything and at any time that He so desires. But for us as believers, there is nothing automatic. There is a difference between going to heaven one day and becoming, by the power of the Holy Spirit, an overcomer and thus qualifying to rule and reign with Christ on earth during His millennium. We will not here substantiate those statements but it is not difficult to do so.
The phrase “exceeding abundantly” deserves our consideration. In Greek the phrase is one word, huperekperissos, which occurs only two other times in Scripture (1 Thessalonians 3:10, where it is translated as “exceedingly” and 1 Thessalonians 5:12, where it is translated as “very highly”). In effect, “exceeding abundantly” is the ultimate possible measure of that which Christ is and what He can do; i.e., nothing beyond. It means “no limitations.” When Jesus came to earth in the form of a man, He limited Himself considerably. He could only be in one place at a time. He set aside the fullness of His glory. He only did and said that which He saw and heard from the Father. But there are no limitations to the risen Christ; therefore, there are few limitations at this time to the Christ in you the hope of glory. We are limited only by our own decisions and our earthly body.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?35 Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?36 For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Romans 11:33-36
Back in the 1970’s a true prophet of the Lord shared with my wife and me a vision or dream that he once had. He said that he found himself in a room with four walls that had no windows and no doors. He examined all of the furniture in the room. Then he saw a small opening in the ceiling, which was just large enough for him to squeeze through, but he could not take any furniture with him. On the second floor, again there were no windows and no doors. Just as before he examined all of the (different) furniture in the room. Again, he looked up at the ceiling and saw a small opening, just large enough for him to squeeze through, but he could not take any furniture with him. That process repeated six times. On the sixth floor, just as before, there were no windows and no doors. He examined all of the (different) furniture in the room. Then he saw a small opening in the ceiling, just large enough for him to squeeze through, but he could not take any furniture with him. Each of the six floors had some beautiful, God-given furniture. When he arrived at the seventh floor, there were no windows, no doors, no furniture, and no walls … just an unlimited open space.
It is very important to understand the significance of that vision. When we are first born from above, we enter the first floor. We get very excited as we thoroughly examine all of the new furniture that we never knew existed. Our zeal exceeds our wisdom. All of the furniture on the first floor is indeed wonderful because it was all built by God Himself for our benefit. Unfortunately, some believers become so enamored with the first floor that they never look up, never receive a higher vision, and are quite content to stay there until they go to heaven.
Some Christians, however, receive a higher vision, look up, and squeeze into the second floor. There they see and experience an even more magnificent set of furniture, also built by the Lord. Then the process repeats. Clearly, the number of believers who press on to know the Lord dwindles from floor to floor. A Christian who is on the third floor may share all of the beauty of the Lord to a Christian who is on the second floor, but no one can really comprehend what is on floor number three until they get there experientially. Unfortunately, Scripture indicates (in Revelation 7, Revelation 12, and other verses), that a great multitude of born-again Christians have and will be so enamored with the furniture on each of the first six floors, that they will be content to settle in and build three tabernacles therein.
Zechariah 2:4, “… Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:” The word, “cattle” comes from an unused root which probably means to be “mute.” If and when we persevere in following Jesus to the seventh floor, we will be so overcome by the glory of the Lord that we will be mute, with nothing to say. We will be awestruck. We will sense a new-found freedom and liberty to follow the Lamb wherever He goes (Revelation 14:4) … free of all bondages and the traditions of men. These are the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
That is why the great Apostle Paul, after 30 years of ministry, said, in Philippians 3:10-14, “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. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 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.” His statement reflects a brokenness and a true humility, without which none of us will progress very far. Many Christians today pray to be blessed; few pray to be broken.
The question is … what floor are you on? What floor am I on? Only the Lord can answer that question. There are three different opinions of what floor each of us are on … the floor that we think we are on, the floor that others think we are on, and the floor that the Lord knows we are on. Romans 12:3, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
Leonard Ravenhill once said, “When did you last tip-toe out of the sanctuary? When you couldn't say a word to anybody because you were so overwhelmed with the glory of God? God wants to bring us into a glory we know nothing about.”
Leviticus 25:10-12.10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.11 A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.12 For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”Romans 8:19-21.19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope,21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.2 Corinthians 3:17, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”Galatians 5:13, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”
In conclusion we are fast approaching the time for the fulfillment of Revelation 22:9-14.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.10 And He saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Today is the day of our salvation. We know not what tomorrow will bring. Jesus bids us to come out of the boat, walk on the stormy seas unto Him, and thereby experience the glorious liberty of living and walking in the Spirit. Amen.
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